As a fellow Southern songwriting great, Jason Isbell paid tribute to R.E.M. by recording covers of their songs “Nightswimming” and “Driver 8” for his album Georgia Blue. The album was released after Joe Biden won Georgia in the 2020 presidential election, and during a performance in NYC, Isbell also performed a third R.E.M. song, “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).”
Isbell’s tribute to R.E.M. showcases the influence the band had on his own music and career, highlighting their lasting impact on the music industry. During his speech honoring R.E.M., Isbell praised their unique sound and the impact their music had on him growing up in a small Southern town. He described R.E.M as a band that moved like a single instrument, creating songs that served a real purpose for listeners like himself.
