\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div> \t\t\t\t\tMichael Stipe \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLexie Moreland\/WWD\/Shutterstock<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tFor Stipe, who has been deliberate about how he re-enters the recorded music world since R.E.M. dismantled in 2011, the proposition came as both a leap and an honor. He has never been a solo artist in any sustained way before, and writing in a character\u2019s voice for someone else\u2019s show meant accepting notes from collaborators. \u201cI was jumping off a cliff,\u201d Stipe says. \u201cAndrew and I barely knew each other. I felt like this was something I hadn\u2019t really done before \u2014 certainly as a solo artist. And it\u2019s a real challenge for me to write in someone else\u2019s voice and take notes from people like Steve Carell, Andrew Watt and Bill Lawrence. And I did take notes.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tWhat unlocked the song was the chorus. \u201cAs soon as I got the \u2018Oh, I played the fool,\u2019 that opened it up for me,\u201d Stipe says, briefly singing the line a cappella. \u201cTo think, OK, what\u2019s going on in this guy\u2019s head? How do I get inside of that, and how do I represent this character and his story through a pop song?\u201d \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto: Adali Schell<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tThe collaboration has since opened other doors for Stipe, who says the experience of working with Watt has been the headline regardless of any awards recognition that may follow. \u201cIf it kicks open the Emmy door a little bit, among all those doors that it\u2019s opened, then I\u2019m absolutely thrilled to stroll in,\u201d Stipe says. \u201cI love the challenge and I love the show, and I\u2019m really proud of the song.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tFor Watt, the awards conversation was never the point. \u201cIt\u2019s always amazing to be recognized by the people making art and the community, but that was not the reason why we made the song.\u201d \n\tStipe and Watt are on the Emmys ballot in the category of main title theme<\/a>. Emmy nomination voting runs through June 22.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nLunchbox Fund Benefit Dinner presented by Prada, New York, USA \u2013 15 Oct 2018<\/span><\/p>\n
Watt, who was coming off the Oscar-nominated title song for the Elton John documentary \u201cNever Too Late,\u201d brought Stipe a piece of music that was initially \u201ca little more detailed.\u201d Stipe had him strip it back to a piano sketch so the chords could carry more weight on their own. \u201cWatching the show, it feels very upbeat, but it also has pain, sadness and emotion to it,\u201d Watt says. \u201cSo the idea was trying to make a piece of music that felt upbeat but still had minor chords and made you feel.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/themes\/pmc-variety-2020\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
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I guess Elton John picked the right time to break the rules.<\/p>\n