Losing My Religion

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"Losing My Religion"
Single by R.E.M.
from the album Out of Time
Released	19 February 1991 (US) 25 February 1991 (UK)
Format	CD, 7", 12"
Recorded	1991
Genre	Rock
Length	4:28
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer(s)	Scott Litt & R.E.M.
Chart positions
#4 (US) #19 (UK Singles Chart)
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Get Up" (1989)	"Losing My Religion" (1991)	"Shiny Happy People" (1991)

"Losing My Religion" is a song recorded by the rock band R.E.M. from their 1991 album Out of Time.

Contents 1 The song 2 Covers and references 3 Music video 4 Single covers 5 Track listing 5.1 7" Single 5.2 12" and CD Single 5.3 UK "Collector's Edition" CD 1 5.4 UK "Collector's Edition" CD 2 6 Certifications 7 References 8 External links

[edit] The song

"Losing My Religion" is an expression from the southern region of the United States, and means losing one's temper or civility, or "flying off the handle." The song itself was described by singer and lyricist Michael Stipe as covering similar thematic ground to "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, and is, despite the title and the video, entirely irreligious in its subject matter. He has also stated that the song was inspired by the Sinead O'Connor song "The Emperor's New Clothes."

In the UK it charted at #19. "Losing My Religion" still receives considerable air time and is possibly the best-known R.E.M. song. It won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

The song was placed on R.E.M.'s Warner Bros. "best of" album In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 in 2003. It was the only song from Out of Time to get onto the album, as the band left out worldwide top ten hit "Shiny Happy People", amongst other songs. In November 2004, Rolling Stone magazine listed the song at #169 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", which contains only three songs ranked higher than that.

[edit] Covers and references

• The song title was used as the title to the second season finale of Grey's Anatomy.
• In the Weird Al Yankovic song "Polka Your Eyes out", part of this song is covered, in the style of Polka.
• Tori Amos has performed the song live several times.
• The post-hardcore band Scary Kids Scaring Kids covered the song for the Punk Goes '90s compilation.
• The melodic black metal band Graveworm covered the song as a bonus track on the album (N)utopia.
• Rockstar Supernova contestant Ryan Star performed the song on the reality TV show to an overwhelming response.
• Immortal Technique mentioned this song in his own song, Crossing the Boundary, in which he says " Like them white boys, Losin' my religion!".

[edit] Music video

The video, directed by Tarsem Singh, was declared Best Video of the Year at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. The video also won for Best Group Video of the Year, Best Breakthrough Video, Best Art Direction in a Video, Best Director of a Video and Best Editing of a Video.

The video is heavy with religious imagery, and notably features images of Saint Sebastian. Soviet poster art imagery is also prominently featured, and the overall dark tone and lighting was heavily inspired by the paintings of Caravaggio.^[1] Contrary to popular belief,^[1] the promotional music video was not banned in Ireland due to its use of religious imagery because the Republic does not ban music videos.

The concept of the video is based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez' short story, "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings".^[1] The first scene is based on a scene from Andrei Tarkovsky's Offret.

[edit] Single covers

US Single cover

UK Single cover

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe.

[edit] 7" Single

1. "Losing My Religion" – 4:29
2. "Rotary Eleven" – 2:32

[edit] 12" and CD Single

1. "Losing My Religion" – 4:29
2. "Rotary Eleven" – 2:32
3. "After Hours" (Lou Reed) (live)¹ – 2:08

[edit] UK "Collector's Edition" CD 1

1. "Losing My Religion" – 4:29
2. "Stand" (live)¹ – 3:21
3. "Turn You Inside-Out" (live)¹ – 4:23
4. "World Leader Pretend" (live)¹ – 4:24

[edit] UK "Collector's Edition" CD 2

1. "Losing My Religion" – 4:29
2. "Fretless" – 4:51
3. "Losing My Religion (Live Acoustic Version/Rockline)" – 4:38
4. "Rotary Eleven" – 2:32

¹ Taken from the live performance video, Tourfilm.

[edit] Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – USA	Gold	September 12, 1991

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Video sample at R.E.M.hq
• Losing My Religion at YouTube

R.E.M.
Peter Buck • Mike Mills • Michael Stipe • Bill Berry
Other musicians: Scott McCaughey • Bill Rieflin • Ken Stringfellow • Nathan December • Buren Fowler • Peter Holsapple • Barrett Martin • Joey Waronker
Management and producers: Bertis Downs, IV • Pat McCarthy • Jefferson Holt • Scott Litt Joe Boyd • Don Dixon • Mitch Easter • Don Gehman
Discography
Albums: Chronic Town • Murmur • Reckoning • Fables of the Reconstruction • Lifes Rich Pageant • Document • Green • Out of Time • Automatic for the People • Monster • New Adventures in Hi-Fi • Up • Reveal • Around the Sun
Singles: See here
Compilations: Dead Letter Office • Eponymous • In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 • And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
Remix album: R.E.M.IX
Soundtrack: Man on the Moon
Videos: Succumbs • Tourfilm • Pop Screen • This Film Is On • Parallel • Road Movie • In View: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 • Perfect Square • When the Light Is Mine: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
Related articles
Alternative rock • Hindu Love Gods • I.R.S. Records • Warner Bros. Records
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