Losing my religion is still one of the most famous in the world. Released as the first single from the album Out of Time released on March 12, 1991, it is REM’s best-known song and marked its worldwide success, reaching fourth position on the American Billboard Hot 100.
Losing my religion was written by REM guitarist Peter Buck who says he composed it while watching TV. Buck was holding a newly purchased mandolin in his hands and was trying to learn to play it by himself. It is no coincidence that the riff of the song is performed with this instrument.
Recording began in September 1990 at Bearsville Studio A in Woodstock, New York. The song was arranged in the studio with mandolin, electric bass and drums.
The meaning of the song
Many have wondered about the true meaning of this passage: is it really about faith? Was it a romantic or political message? Michael Stipe himself clarified this in a famous interview given to the New York Times in 1991.
First of all, “Losing My Religion” has nothing to do with religion as a spiritual doctrine. The title draws on a typical expression from the South of the United States, which is more or less equivalent to “losing one’s temper” or “going out of one’s mind”. It is therefore a cry of desperation: the protagonist is in love without being reciprocated, and this torment consumes him until he reaches an insurmountable limit. Stipe also confessed that the piece owes a lot to “Every Breath You Take” by The Police, thus resulting in it being a deeply spiritual song, but with roots firmly planted in the feeling of love.
However, there is a further level of reading. In the essay “A Companion to Media Studies” edited by Angharad N. Valdivia, it is argued that the singer’s discomfort with his own notoriety is hidden among the words of the song – consciously or not. Almost an invitation to fans to look at him beyond the spotlight (“That’s me in the spotlight”) to grasp his most authentic essence.
Whatever interpretation you want to embrace, the charm of this song remains intact: “Losing My Religion” has crossed generations and geographical borders, and will continue to do so, immune to fashion and the passage of time.
The Losing my religion video
The video clip was directed by Tarsem Singh. It was named “Video of the Year” at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. It shows images of various religions and especially of Saint Sebastian.
Press
The band and the song won two awards, such as Best Short Form Music Video and how Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Reference sources: RDS, Wiki
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