Losing My Religion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Losing My Religion" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by R.E.M. | ||
| from the album Out of Time | ||
| Released | 19 February 1991 (US) 25 February 1991 (UK) |
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| Format | CD, 7", 12" | |
| Recorded | 1991 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:28 | |
| Label | Warner Bros. | |
| Producer(s) | Scott Litt & R.E.M. | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| 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 |
[edit] The song
- R.E.M. - "Losing My Religion" (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- 26 seconds (of 4:28)
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
"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."
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.
In November 2004, Rolling Stone magazine listed the song at #169 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
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.
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.
[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. Contrary to popular belief, the promotional music video was not banned in Ireland due to its use of religious imagery because the Republic does not ban music videos.
[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
- "Losing My Religion" – 4:29
- "Rotary Eleven" – 2:32
[edit] 12" and CD Single
- "Losing My Religion" – 4:29
- "Rotary Eleven" – 2:32
- "After Hours" (Lou Reed) (live)1 – 2:08
[edit] UK "Collector's Edition" CD 1
- "Losing My Religion" – 4:29
- "Stand" (live)1 – 3:21
- "Turn You Inside-Out" (live)1 – 4:23
- "World Leader Pretend" (live)1 – 4:24
[edit] UK "Collector's Edition" CD 2
- "Losing My Religion" – 4:29
- "Fretless" – 4:51
- "Losing My Religion (Live Acoustic Version/Rockline)" – 4:38
- "Rotary Eleven" – 2:32
[edit] Notes
1 Taken from the live performance video, Tourfilm.
[edit] Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA – USA | Gold | September 12, 1991 |
