Which R.E.M. song was the lead single from the 1994 album Monster?

The lead single from R.E.M.’s 1994 album *Monster* was “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”

Released in September 1994, the song introduced the album’s sharper musical direction, built around distorted guitar, a forceful rhythm section and Michael Stipe’s urgent vocal. It was the first of five singles issued from *Monster* and preceded the album’s release later that month.

The song’s title refers to the strange 1986 attack on journalist Dan Rather in New York City. According to accounts of the incident, the attackers repeated the question “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” even though the phrase had no clear meaning.

Listeners sometimes confuse the lead single with later *Monster* releases such as “Bang and Blame,” “Crush with Eyeliner” and “Strange Currencies.” “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” came first and helped announce R.E.M.’s deliberate move away from the softer sound of *Out of Time* and *Automatic for the People*.