The phrase “losing my religion” in R.E.M.'s song of the same name is a Southern expression that means to lose one's temper, feel frustrated, or feel desperate. The song's lead singer, Michael Stipe, has said that the song is not about religion, but rather about unrequited love and romantic expression. The song's ambiguity was intentional, allowing listeners to find their own meaning in it.
Always takes me back to 1991 working in a Greenpeace tent at the Phoenix music festival because we had a display explaining the problem of global warning, and why we needed to take urgent action on it, as the video had that track playing on loop every 15 minutes or so. It also reminds me of a taxi ride back home after a “no blood for oil” event protesting against the potential for war in Iraq - and we heard the news in the taxi that the “shock and awe” attack on Iraq had started, and we started singing that song…and arguably, that moment was the “end of the world as we knew it” as it marked the start of the on going perpetual war and new wave of terrorism and the drastic shift in world politics which we are still seeing the consequences of, with arguably everything like 9/11 and Afghanistan, and even Ukraine and Trump all being linked back - as before Iraq, it had been the cold war. So that “end of the world as we know it” song has so many memories and meanings for me and was so prophetic :)
There was a time when alternative rock was just something you heard on college radio stations. Then REM came along and changed how the world viewed alternative rock.
"college rock" back in the 80's was so good, Vandys student radio station in Nashville during the 80's was legit great. XM/Sirius had a "college rock" channel for a while and it was awesome, they took it off and even when they added internet/stream only channels through the app it did not come back :( REM = Rapid Eye Movement (you may have heard it in the context of REM dream deep sleep)
Something else that I think is interesting is that in films milk is often used to symbolize innocence. The falling of the milk and shattering against the floor could also mean the loss of innocence and the once held perception of someone being broken and no longer seeing them through that lens as once did at the beginning of the relationship.
@nancystein5414 thankyou, it's been 14 years and I chose to go on because she would not of wanted me to do otherwise, but sometimes little things bring it all back, I suppose this song did this to me this time. Hope you have a wonderful 2025x
Don’t be anxious Jesus said throw all your anxiety on God because he cares for us, furthermore your daughter is only sleeping again as Jesus said, the hour is coming when all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, Jesus wept when he heard his friend Lazarus had died but resurrected him four days after he died and in so doing showed us he has the power to do what’s recorded at John chapter 5 verses 28,29. God will set ALL matters straight when His heavenly kingdom takes charge of the earth very shortly-Daniel cpt 2 verse 44.
REM, Rapid Eye Movement....as in dreaming while asleep or awake....I feel he is talking about losing himself, his own religion so to speak, and it is changing....REM has always been kind of cerebral, mystical and emotional
The meaning of this song (officially, according to Mike Stipe of REM) is about unrequited love, meaning unreturned love. (the person recounting this song loves somebody, who has no interest in him). It is quite a sad song, and a has a very lonely feeling to it. "Oh, life is bigger It's bigger than you" Here he is trying to convince himself that the person he loves is NOT larger than life - she doesn't have to be the centre point of his existence. He is trying to push her out of his mind. "The lengths that I will go to The distance in your eyes" I can relate to this. Constantly following someone around, clinging to them, trying to make them connect with you or notice you. "That's me in the corner That's me in the spotlight Losing my religion Trying to keep up with you" Same thing really. "Losing my religion" is a southern American way of saying "reaching the end of one's rope" or "losing your temper" or "losing your civility". Basically these verses mean that he is getting angry and frustrated trying to stay ahead of the game and keep up with the competition over this woman. He's behind the game, in the spotlight, failng. "Every whisper Of every waking hour I'm Choosing my confessions Trying to keep an eye on you Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool Oh no I've said too much I set it up" Here he pours his heart out to a greater extent. He obsesses over the person, constantly watching them - he can't think of anything else but this person, and he feels "lost" and "blinded" when not knowing what she's doing or who she's with. "He said too much" but he "hasn't said enough" - he's telling his mates and friends more than he should say about his feelings for this person, but not the person herself. "interpretation by Mausman".
Another added dimension to the song is Stipe is gay, so his fear of unrequited love is the fear of losing a male friendship by stating he is sexually attracted to someone who may not be able to return his affection.
I'm 62 years old. How I grew up with the saying losing my religion. It was losing your life base. How you grew up, your values, maybe your morals. It is a leap in the way you live and look at life.
This song is one of the deepest in popular music. All of REM's songs are like that, full of metaphors & symbolism. Many layers to peel off in most of the their songs. Brilliant songwriters.
¡¡ I´ll NEVER FORGET the first time I heard this song !! In a discoteque, being a teenager, watching a very "particular" girl dancing this tune with such passion I couldn´t get my eyes off of her.
"Losing my religion" is a phrase used in the R.E.M. song of the same name, and it actually means "losing my temper" or reaching a breaking point, not referring to a loss of religious faith; it's a Southern expression signifying extreme frustration or exasperation, not a literal loss of religious belief, as explained by the song's writer, Michael Stipe.
@@pewterz2821I was born and raised in Georgia, and in 45 years have never heard anyone use that phrase. People keep saying it's a southern thing, but..... Lol.
REM stands for Rapid eye mouvement but for me it's remember every moment. Am 76 Years old and still crazy with that band. Today the 4th of January is Michael Stipe the front man of the band birthday.🎉❤
Don't cry over spilt milk, which fell off the window sill at the beginning. Another gold hit dude. Thanks so much for the music. My first concert was The Guess Who!! 😊
I love The Guess Who ❤ Was lucky enough to see them play a gig at a night club, many years after their big concert days. It was AMAZING!!! I never thought about the size of their music library. But me and my buddies sang along all night long to every song. And they were playing for like 3 hours 😮 And the crowd... awesome people! Overcrowded club (can hold 150 legally but had way over 400 in it) was so deep you couldn't even move. Not to the bathroom or the bar. But pass your empty beer bottle, with a $5 bill, forward and a few minutes later you'd get a fresh beer and the exact change back! Everyone had an unbelievable night. One of the best, and my most favorite, of the many concerts I went to as a younger man.
Saw them in 03 in Toronto in front 500,000 crazy Canadians. The place was hopping when they took the stage and they did BTO Taking care of business and it was lit..my first concert Bob Seger 1980 I was 10 😅
I am an 80s kid and I love the way you interact with your subs! You are just fun to listen too. REM has some other great songs to listen too! Thanks for all your hard work
Back in my late teens we used to go to a little hole in the wall bar in Athens, Georgia and see them for free we paid like 5 dollars cover charge to get in. They got their start here❤❤❤❤
Michael Stipe said the song was about romantic expression and unrequited love. The lines "That's me in the corner / That's me in the spotlight" were originally "That's me in the corner / That's me in the kitchen", describing a person at a social event too shy to approach the person they like.
R.E.M. and the B-52s are both from Athens, Georgia. R.E.M. had a ton of hits beginning in the 80s through the 2000s. This one is from 1990. “The One I Love” was their first mainstream hit in 1987. Right after that was “It’s the end of the world, as we know it (And I feel fine)”.
I agree, This song means different things to me as I grow older. When I first heard it in my 20's, I sang along but didn't think about the words too much. As I get older - it means so much more.
When I hear this song, I see myself sitting in my student's room, listening over and over (and over...) again. These are kind of bitter sweet memories. Another great REM song is "Nightswimming"❤
REM was my favorite band back in the 90s. I was watching an interview they did on the CBS Morning UA-cam channel this year (which I highly recommend) and they mention that for most of their songs, the music is written first and then given to Michael Stipe to craft the lyrics and vocals. These guys are such a great band and I hope you check out more of their music!
"Losing My Religion" means getting angry or frustrated. Michael Stipe said that the song is about unrequited love. So yeah, it's being frustrated about being in love with someone that doesn't love you back and losing your temper at times during the process
Great timing, posting this on Michael Stipe's birthday, as he joins the official Medicare generation! R.E.M. was one of the Athens, Georgia bands that were wildly popular from the late '70s through the '80s and into the '90s. They and the B-52s were the two most successful of them. Some hate R.E.M. because they were so overplayed on the radio, this song, especially. Stipe's singing was always emotional and passionate...when you could understand his lyrics. They're uncharacteristically clear in this song. One of my favorites of theirs is "Nightswimming" from the 1992 "Automatic for the People" album. I don't know if it ever charted, but it's a nice song. "The End of the World As We Know It" is another one like Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" that lists tons of pop culture references, with a punkier sound to it. Lots of danceable songs or those good for listening to while driving. And the feeling you described at the end of this video is what the term "losing my religion" refers to in southern slang.
Speaking of the Automatic for the People album always loved "Find the River" - it really just carries you downstream (probably didn't chart) and Sidewinder, along with pretty much the whole album.
One of the things that really makes this song unique and memorable is the fantastic mandolin part, an instrument that you would never associate with rock music.
I do love the mandolin. You're right that it isn't as common in rock, but there are quite a few rock songs that do indeed have mandolin in it. It can be found in songs by Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Steve Winwood, Hooters, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Bruce Hornsby, Rod Stewart, Elton John, The Band, Jethro Tull, Styx, Soul Asylum, Train, etc. There are many more. Sure, I concede that it isn't AS common, but it is common enough that I wouldn't say it's never associated with rock.
@ yes, but usually it’s usage has been reserved for songs aiming for a more country rock feel. This one is different in that it never aimed really for that country sound at all, which was neat. I actually learned mandolin because of this song
@@STS125 That's awesome that it inspired you to learn the mandolin. It's a great instrument. And I get what you say about the country sound. Many rock songs that have it do sound a bit more country, but not all. I do love how it's used in this one.
This song was #1 on my playlist for at least two years, but I never had the same take on it as you did. Yours is better, and I love the song even more now! Thanks for that! Great reaction!
Dude, you are very inciteful.. I never thought about it being about a relationship. I don't think I every told you I am so happy I found your channel. Keep it going!! Would love for you to react to Warrant. Jani is incredible.
Weird…i just watched your reaction now-just happened to hear this on radio in my car yesterday 👀 grew up singing along-yet never broke down the lyrics until you did 😱 but yes a great song to jam & sing along to…💯❣️ Love your reactions/channel, thanx.
Love this song and the whole "Out Of Time" album. I went to visit an old boyfriend who had moved to Tucson and listened to the album on a loop the whole flight. My favorite song on the album is actually a deep cut "Texarkana" in which bass guitarist Mike Mills sings the lead.
R.E.M.s music and videos are very thought provoking. I love them just for those two things. Then go ahead and add the lyrics, the instrumentation, and that VOICE and I'm totally lost (in a good way) in their music and I'm feeling it in my soul ❤ And one of the top 5 of the many concerts I've been to when I was a younger guy.
I was in college during the mid-1970s when these guys were just a house party band and bar band. Then they hit the big-time and most of us thought this song was about how fame and fortune changes you--sometimes into someone you don't like. I'm probably wrong, but then I never got to talk to them like I did talk with some of the members of the B-52s, or Love Tractor or some of the other local musicians. I was barely out of my teens back then, and painfully shy to boot. Athens, GA has always been a hub of incredible musical talent. The '70s was a fun time. --Dan
Losing My Religion is an old Southern saying that people would say when other people made them mad. They would say, "You are making me so made I'm losing my religion".
Edited for clarity. You asked about the old saying about spilled milk. It's 'no sense crying over spilt milk'. I see that others have explained the 'losing my religion' phrase. As far as the video, I believe it's the best cinematography I've ever seen in a music video. I don't understand it either, but it feels like going to a museum and seeing great art masterpieces. Love your channel, btw
it doesn't mean "no sense in crying over spilt milk" it means to lose one's temper or civility and give in to anger. The idea is that religion teaches patience and empathy and forgiveness, but if you lose those things and give into anger, you are losing your religion.
Thanks, Peg.. (Random Eye Movement.. during sleep cycles..lol)... appreciate your reaction.. p.s. perfectly fine to ignore the video... sometimes 80's bands got a little "artsy".. lol
REM's records Out of Time and Automatic for the People define my late teen years and college years. I had those 2 CDs playing daily for YEARS!! This was a great song to react to. Thanks for the upload!
The phrase you are referring to is” Don’t cry over spilt milk”. The song is very catchy and yes keeps me hooked into it. Although I am thinking it might be loosing my religion might be loosing his mind, as one line is there is me in the corner, as he looks at himself in awe or disbelief that he is in this state of mind, and yes it could be about lost love that got him there and in this state of mind.
My favorite R.E.M. song is "Everybody Hurts" it sounds depressing, but it's actually very uplifting. R.E.M. was HUGE for a few years. Pretty sure THIS song isn't actually about religion as much as it is about love that's not reciprocated.
Got into REM in the mid-80s when our biggest rock music station started playing "altenative" stuff at times. I was sold on the entire "Document" album and started picking up earlier stuff. They were my favorite band from the mid-80s thru the mid-90s. Michael Stipe's vocals were sick.
I really think you hit the nail on the head with your interpretation of "don't cry over spilt milk" that related to the beginning of the video. The water, like a waterfall of emotions loudly echoing in the air, and the repeated phrase of "losing my religion" DOES all speak to the inner feelings and belief structures we hold onto, regarding any deeply felt person or topic. And having a religion is VERY MUCH like having any other belief - no matter how delusional it may be, it feels right & true to the believer for as long as they have it. And obsessing over a person & having a "liminal mental-emotional relationship" in your head is also very much like a religion, in the way a person can be devoted to that, and find enjoyment in it. Which gives the person a delusion of personal intimacy & connection, even when there is absolutely no substance for it in the outer reality. So in the end, the outer reality can only do 2 things for that person: either confirm the belief, making it REAL - or destroy it, which will rip the delusion away and force 'the believer' to wake up. Just as it says in the last verse : "But that was just a dream.... that was just a dream... just a dream.... dream."
❤R.E.M. music always has a message. Michael Stioe has said Losing my religion is an expression used in the Southern U.S. for losing one's temper, feeling frustrated, exasperated, and desperate.
This is the anthem of my relationship with my Father. I wanted desperately for him to recognize me as a person, always seeming to fall short in his opinion. He has passed now and the song can still make me go back in time watching my young self chasing something I never achieved.
This song came out during a soul-crushing time in my life: watching a person destroy themselves in addiction. At this point in that 16 year journey - the rehab center would not admit someone with a tolerance so high that a BAC of .458 did not invoke unconsciousness. After 2 weeks in the hospital, with a BAC of .22, we tried again. I supported every attempt. I died a little inside with every failure. I was there every day during 14 months of hospice care. The end was both sorrowful at the tragedy and relief at the release from suffering. I lived every line of that song. I was in the corner watching myself in the spot light of that relationship. Addiction was something to keep hidden. She did try but, in the end, trying wasn't enough. Escape from addiction was just a dream. So many lines in that song encapsulate that period of my life.
You can really go down the rabbit hole with R.E.M. My opinion is that you really have to listen to them live. They are amazing. Most of my record collection is live and bootleg records. The name R.E.M. was selected when they opened up the dictionary and put their finger on R.E.M. This song becoming a hit was the last thing they expected, a mandolin lead in with no bridge in the song!! I got to see them in 1982, 1985, and 1987. Their early music is different, try "Wolves, Lower," "Radio Free Europe," "Gardening At Night," "Fall On Me," and "So. Central Rain" R.E.M. broke up in 2011. Michael Stipe is working on a solo album, Bass Player Mike Mills and guitarist Peter Buck are now in a band called "The Baseball Project," where the songs are all related to baseball, and drummer Bill Berry is now with a band called "The Bad Ends." They are still all friends
You should check out their video “Everybody Hurts”. The song is beautiful and the video is a masterpiece. The song alone is one piece of art, the song and the video make another. You have to read the captions in the video and watch it to the very end. I think even what is on the flatbed trailer has meaning.
They’re from Athens GA The term “loosing my religion “ means you lost your shiiii out of anger and went OFF and is kinda regionally specific to Athens, northern GA. This video won mega awards and recreated famous pieces of art.
I thought it was about him losing his religion literally. Like he doesn't like the way the church wasn't accepting his behavior or beliefs....Like he's not religious enough no matter what he does. I don't know.
@@PhillyGirl64 Michael Stipe himself said it has nothing to do with religion and is about unrequited love and he used that common southern expression as a way to express how he is losing his shit over the love not being reciprocated.
The phrase “losing my religion” in R.E.M.'s song of the same name is a Southern expression that means to lose one's temper, feel frustrated, or feel desperate. The song's lead singer, Michael Stipe, has said that the song is not about religion, but rather about unrequited love and romantic expression. The song's ambiguity was intentional, allowing listeners to find their own meaning in it.
ChatGPT search for the win!
@@4arrows4all Anything involving ChatGPT is a loss
Nah, I've lived in the deep south@4arrows4all
@@mandarinlearner but did you live in the south in the 70s and 80s?
@4arrows4all 60s, 70s
Happy birthday to REM singer, Michael Stipe. He turns 65 today, January 4, 2025.
Guy is a legend
Great song, very cryptic and no chorus, so unique
nice!
Actually his birthday was Dec 17 and not Jan 4
Happy Birthday 🎉
***IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT*** (and I feel finnnneee)
Always makes me think of the beginning of “Independence Day”.
Always takes me back to 1991 working in a Greenpeace tent at the Phoenix music festival because we had a display explaining the problem of global warning, and why we needed to take urgent action on it, as the video had that track playing on loop every 15 minutes or so. It also reminds me of a taxi ride back home after a “no blood for oil” event protesting against the potential for war in Iraq - and we heard the news in the taxi that the “shock and awe” attack on Iraq had started, and we started singing that song…and arguably, that moment was the “end of the world as we knew it” as it marked the start of the on going perpetual war and new wave of terrorism and the drastic shift in world politics which we are still seeing the consequences of, with arguably everything like 9/11 and Afghanistan, and even Ukraine and Trump all being linked back - as before Iraq, it had been the cold war.
So that “end of the world as we know it” song has so many memories and meanings for me and was so prophetic :)
@@terri2494always wondered where I knew it from and why I liked it!!!
That one is from my favorite REM album, "Document."
@ I think unknown to me, I’m quite a fan! not heard anything from them I don’t like!
Everybody Hurts is one of the most timeless songs of all-time.
That’s the first one that comes to mind when I hear REM
He's done it..that's how he got to this one
There was a time when alternative rock was just something you heard on college radio stations. Then REM came along and changed how the world viewed alternative rock.
"college rock" back in the 80's was so good, Vandys student radio station in Nashville during the 80's was legit great. XM/Sirius had a "college rock" channel for a while and it was awesome, they took it off and even when they added internet/stream only channels through the app it did not come back :( REM = Rapid Eye Movement (you may have heard it in the context of REM dream deep sleep)
And a couple of their songs in the 80s sounded a lot like what we later called grunge.
"Don't cry over spilled milk" = Don't cry over things that you can't change.
Something else that I think is interesting is that in films milk is often used to symbolize innocence. The falling of the milk and shattering against the floor could also mean the loss of innocence and the once held perception of someone being broken and no longer seeing them through that lens as once did at the beginning of the relationship.
This song has one of my favorite lines ever "I think I thought I saw you try" what a turn of phrase
This song makes me cry, I lost my daughter in 2010, it broke me, my family and everything I believed in to tiny pieces.❤
I'm so sorry for your loss.
I'm so sorry for your loss, praying for hope and faith for you.
@nancystein5414 thankyou, it's been 14 years and I chose to go on because she would not of wanted me to do otherwise, but sometimes little things bring it all back, I suppose this song did this to me this time. Hope you have a wonderful 2025x
Wow, I'm soooo sorry for your loss
Sending healing hugs.
Don’t be anxious Jesus said throw all your anxiety on God because he cares for us, furthermore your daughter is only sleeping again as Jesus said, the hour is coming when all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, Jesus wept when he heard his friend Lazarus had died but resurrected him four days after he died and in so doing showed us he has the power to do what’s recorded at John chapter 5 verses 28,29. God will set ALL matters straight when His heavenly kingdom takes charge of the earth very shortly-Daniel cpt 2 verse 44.
Shining happy people and Man on the moon ❤
REM, Rapid Eye Movement....as in dreaming while asleep or awake....I feel he is talking about losing himself, his own religion so to speak, and it is changing....REM has always been kind of cerebral, mystical and emotional
How TF he doesn’t know this?? Did he go to an all black school that only taught basketball? Like wtf dude- basic high school knowledge.
❤❤I love watching Michael dance. It makes me smile!! This song never gets old.❤❤
The meaning of this song (officially, according to Mike Stipe of REM) is about unrequited love, meaning unreturned love. (the person recounting this song loves somebody, who has no interest in him).
It is quite a sad song, and a has a very lonely feeling to it.
"Oh, life is bigger It's bigger than you"
Here he is trying to convince himself that the person he loves is NOT larger than life - she doesn't have to be the centre point of his existence. He is trying to push her out of his mind.
"The lengths that I will go to The distance in your eyes"
I can relate to this. Constantly following someone around, clinging to them, trying to make them connect with you or notice you.
"That's me in the corner That's me in the spotlight Losing my religion Trying to keep up with you"
Same thing really. "Losing my religion" is a southern American way of saying "reaching the end of one's rope" or "losing your temper" or "losing your civility". Basically these verses mean that he is getting angry and frustrated trying to stay ahead of the game and keep up with the competition over this woman. He's behind the game, in the spotlight, failng.
"Every whisper Of every waking hour I'm Choosing my confessions Trying to keep an eye on you Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool Oh no I've said too much I set it up"
Here he pours his heart out to a greater extent. He obsesses over the person, constantly watching them - he can't think of anything else but this person, and he feels "lost" and "blinded" when not knowing what she's doing or who she's with. "He said too much" but he "hasn't said enough" - he's telling his mates and friends more than he should say about his feelings for this person, but not the person herself.
"interpretation by Mausman".
Well said!
This is my anthem nowadays. I'm literally that guy. 😢
"I think I thought I saw you try, but that was just a dream"
Another added dimension to the song is Stipe is gay, so his fear of unrequited love is the fear of losing a male friendship by stating he is sexually attracted to someone who may not be able to return his affection.
I'm 62 years old. How I grew up with the saying losing my religion. It was losing your life base. How you grew up, your values, maybe your morals. It is a leap in the way you live and look at life.
Exactly...
This song is one of the deepest in popular music. All of REM's songs are like that, full of metaphors & symbolism. Many layers to peel off in most of the their songs. Brilliant songwriters.
¡¡ I´ll NEVER FORGET the first time I heard this song !!
In a discoteque, being a teenager, watching a very "particular" girl dancing this tune with such passion I couldn´t get my eyes off of her.
Ok. I really need to hear your breakdown of "It's the End of the World as we Know it" ...Two of my favorite songs..
"Losing my religion" is a phrase used in the R.E.M. song of the same name, and it actually means "losing my temper" or reaching a breaking point, not referring to a loss of religious faith; it's a Southern expression signifying extreme frustration or exasperation, not a literal loss of religious belief, as explained by the song's writer, Michael Stipe.
It's amazing how many reactors don't know what that phrase means.
@@pewterz2821I was born and raised in Georgia, and in 45 years have never heard anyone use that phrase. People keep saying it's a southern thing, but..... Lol.
This song immediately captured the feeling of being in a relationship where you have to "walk on eggshells" for me. Great song!
REM stands for Rapid eye mouvement but for me it's remember every moment. Am 76 Years old and still crazy with that band. Today the 4th of January is Michael Stipe the front man of the band birthday.🎉❤
Michael Stipe's Grandma told him " Remember Every Moment."
Nice...
Remember every moment is really nice ❤
I think you would really love their so "Everybody Hurts"!
This is a f***ing brilliant song. REM owned the early 90s.
Don't cry over spilt milk, which fell off the window sill at the beginning. Another gold hit dude. Thanks so much for the music. My first concert was The Guess Who!! 😊
I love The Guess Who ❤
Was lucky enough to see them play a gig at a night club, many years after their big concert days. It was AMAZING!!!
I never thought about the size of their music library. But me and my buddies sang along all night long to every song. And they were playing for like 3 hours 😮
And the crowd... awesome people! Overcrowded club (can hold 150 legally but had way over 400 in it) was so deep you couldn't even move. Not to the bathroom or the bar. But pass your empty beer bottle, with a $5 bill, forward and a few minutes later you'd get a fresh beer and the exact change back!
Everyone had an unbelievable night. One of the best, and my most favorite, of the many concerts I went to as a younger man.
@sedatedape315 yeah, they are awesome. I saw them in 1972. During the big days. Sweet life!!!
Saw them in 03 in Toronto in front 500,000 crazy Canadians. The place was hopping when they took the stage and they did BTO Taking care of business and it was lit..my first concert Bob Seger 1980 I was 10 😅
I am an 80s kid and I love the way you interact with your subs! You are just fun to listen too.
REM has some other great songs to listen too! Thanks for all your hard work
Back in my late teens we used to go to a little hole in the wall bar in Athens, Georgia and see them for free we paid like 5 dollars cover charge to get in. They got their start here❤❤❤❤
Lucky buggers!
Michael Stipe said the song was about romantic expression and unrequited love. The lines "That's me in the corner / That's me in the spotlight" were originally "That's me in the corner / That's me in the kitchen", describing a person at a social event too shy to approach the person they like.
R.E.M. and the B-52s are both from Athens, Georgia. R.E.M. had a ton of hits beginning in the 80s through the 2000s. This one is from 1990.
“The One I Love” was their first mainstream hit in 1987. Right after that was “It’s the end of the world, as we know it (And I feel fine)”.
Did they ever play together? IF so that would of been a mind opening evening.
@ not sure about that, but Kate Pierson did “Shiny Happy People” with them.
I agree, This song means different things to me as I grow older.
When I first heard it in my 20's, I sang along but didn't think about the words too much. As I get older - it means so much more.
I’m finding as I age there are quite a few songs like that! ❤
You're absolutely right, it's about opening yourself up to someone - laying yourself wide open....
When I hear this song, I see myself sitting in my student's room, listening over and over (and over...) again. These are kind of bitter sweet memories. Another great REM song is "Nightswimming"❤
REM were just golden in the 90s they could do no wrong. Just impeccable album after impeccable album.
You were right about a relationship that never was Micheal Snipe said it's a about unrequited love 😊
REM was my favorite band back in the 90s. I was watching an interview they did on the CBS Morning UA-cam channel this year (which I highly recommend) and they mention that for most of their songs, the music is written first and then given to Michael Stipe to craft the lyrics and vocals. These guys are such a great band and I hope you check out more of their music!
Love this song
"Losing My Religion" means getting angry or frustrated. Michael Stipe said that the song is about unrequited love. So yeah, it's being frustrated about being in love with someone that doesn't love you back and losing your temper at times during the process
Thank you for this reaction ❤. I love this song and have forever! I hope you are having a great start to the new year!
You nailed the meaning of this song! Fantastic reaction
Absolutely 🔥
Orange crush
The one I love
Drive
I am a huge Outlaw country music fan. However, this song is one of my go-to songs for almost any situation. Love it.
Love the Outlaws.
You got more out of this after 1 listen than many have.
Great song and reaction.
My Fav band. ❤ REM has many, many beautiful songs. Michael is an amazing human. Happy Bday Michael!
Great timing, posting this on Michael Stipe's birthday, as he joins the official Medicare generation! R.E.M. was one of the Athens, Georgia bands that were wildly popular from the late '70s through the '80s and into the '90s. They and the B-52s were the two most successful of them. Some hate R.E.M. because they were so overplayed on the radio, this song, especially. Stipe's singing was always emotional and passionate...when you could understand his lyrics. They're uncharacteristically clear in this song. One of my favorites of theirs is "Nightswimming" from the 1992 "Automatic for the People" album. I don't know if it ever charted, but it's a nice song. "The End of the World As We Know It" is another one like Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" that lists tons of pop culture references, with a punkier sound to it. Lots of danceable songs or those good for listening to while driving. And the feeling you described at the end of this video is what the term "losing my religion" refers to in southern slang.
Speaking of the Automatic for the People album always loved "Find the River" - it really just carries you downstream (probably didn't chart) and Sidewinder, along with pretty much the whole album.
My older brother was blasting REM all the time in the late 80’s. They had a lot of cool songs!
I love this band ❤️ they have their own playlist on my computer n phone, and this is my favorite song of there's😍
One of the things that really makes this song unique and memorable is the fantastic mandolin part, an instrument that you would never associate with rock music.
I do love the mandolin. You're right that it isn't as common in rock, but there are quite a few rock songs that do indeed have mandolin in it. It can be found in songs by Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Steve Winwood, Hooters, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Bruce Hornsby, Rod Stewart, Elton John, The Band, Jethro Tull, Styx, Soul Asylum, Train, etc. There are many more. Sure, I concede that it isn't AS common, but it is common enough that I wouldn't say it's never associated with rock.
@ yes, but usually it’s usage has been reserved for songs aiming for a more country rock feel. This one is different in that it never aimed really for that country sound at all, which was neat. I actually learned mandolin because of this song
@@STS125 That's awesome that it inspired you to learn the mandolin. It's a great instrument. And I get what you say about the country sound. Many rock songs that have it do sound a bit more country, but not all. I do love how it's used in this one.
Led Zeppelin. Bruce Hornsby. Beatles.
Is there an echo in here?
REM!
Uniquely Perfect!
This song was #1 on my playlist for at least two years, but I never had the same take on it as you did. Yours is better, and I love the song even more now! Thanks for that! Great reaction!
Classic images of genius and religious awe are not enough in th3 face of ordinary life , the distance in your eyes and loneliness
BP,you nailed it, definitely metaphorical
Lyricism at it's finest ❤🎉
This is one of my all time favorite music videos
you did a good job! pretty much spot on!
R.E.M. has so many great songs, and their early albums are always a full listen through for me.
Dude, you are very inciteful.. I never thought about it being about a relationship. I don't think I every told you I am so happy I found your channel. Keep it going!! Would love for you to react to Warrant. Jani is incredible.
Weird…i just watched your reaction now-just happened to hear this on radio in my car yesterday 👀 grew up singing along-yet never broke down the lyrics until you did 😱 but yes a great song to jam & sing along to…💯❣️ Love your reactions/channel, thanx.
Still one of my favourite songs.
Love this song and the whole "Out Of Time" album. I went to visit an old boyfriend who had moved to Tucson and listened to the album on a loop the whole flight. My favorite song on the album is actually a deep cut "Texarkana" in which bass guitarist Mike Mills sings the lead.
⭐You gave an Excellent analysis of this great song. Thank U
You got it. It's more as being about unrequited love and not feeling good enough, and losing your sh*t when you're concerned you'll be exposed.
R.E.M.s music and videos are very thought provoking.
I love them just for those two things. Then go ahead and add the lyrics, the instrumentation, and that VOICE and I'm totally lost (in a good way) in their music and I'm feeling it in my soul ❤
And one of the top 5 of the many concerts I've been to when I was a younger guy.
Excellent video. Love his dancing.
I love this song!!!!! (I love REM!)
I was in college during the mid-1970s when these guys were just a house party band and bar band. Then they hit the big-time and most of us thought this song was about how fame and fortune changes you--sometimes into someone you don't like. I'm probably wrong, but then I never got to talk to them like I did talk with some of the members of the B-52s, or Love Tractor or some of the other local musicians. I was barely out of my teens back then, and painfully shy to boot. Athens, GA has always been a hub of incredible musical talent. The '70s was a fun time. --Dan
Losing My Religion is an old Southern saying that people would say when other people made them mad. They would say, "You are making me so made I'm losing my religion".
***MAN ON THE MOON*** (always do their mini movie videos, symbolism)
Great tune!
Edited for clarity. You asked about the old saying about spilled milk. It's 'no sense crying over spilt milk'. I see that others have explained the 'losing my religion' phrase. As far as the video, I believe it's the best cinematography I've ever seen in a music video. I don't understand it either, but it feels like going to a museum and seeing great art masterpieces. Love your channel, btw
it doesn't mean "no sense in crying over spilt milk" it means to lose one's temper or civility and give in to anger. The idea is that religion teaches patience and empathy and forgiveness, but if you lose those things and give into anger, you are losing your religion.
I was unclear. He asked about the spilled milk saying. thanks, I'll edit it for clarity.
@@patclark3024 oh, sorry. I miss understood you. And I must have missed him asking about the spilled milk.
R.E.M is different. Smart...you have to pay attention to the lyrics on them for sure. :)
I love a lot of their music
Rem means rapid eye moment. There early stuff is amazing and nightswimming. But this makes me cry and his voice is amazing
Thanks, Peg.. (Random Eye Movement.. during sleep cycles..lol)... appreciate your reaction.. p.s. perfectly fine to ignore the video... sometimes 80's bands got a little "artsy".. lol
REM....a pretty cool trip to take. 😊 The way he moves/dances in this video is iconic...the song is iconic, and the words. Not like anything else.
Man on the moon is a must!
Cutter & Ms C
Love REM, never got to see them live, great reaction as always, thank you BP 🙏🦉❤️🐊👍
REM's records Out of Time and Automatic for the People define my late teen years and college years. I had those 2 CDs playing daily for YEARS!! This was a great song to react to. Thanks for the upload!
The phrase you are referring to is” Don’t cry over spilt milk”. The song is very catchy and yes keeps me hooked into it. Although I am thinking it might be loosing my religion might be loosing his mind, as one line is there is me in the corner, as he looks at himself in awe or disbelief that he is in this state of mind, and yes it could be about lost love that got him there and in this state of mind.
My favorite R.E.M. song is "Everybody Hurts" it sounds depressing, but it's actually very uplifting. R.E.M. was HUGE for a few years. Pretty sure THIS song isn't actually about religion as much as it is about love that's not reciprocated.
REM = remember every moment
I got to see them live in 2003, it was a truly amazing experience. Stripe’s voice is truly unique, and his rapport with the audience is incredible ❤
Got into REM in the mid-80s when our biggest rock music station started playing "altenative" stuff at times. I was sold on the entire "Document" album and started picking up earlier stuff. They were my favorite band from the mid-80s thru the mid-90s. Michael Stipe's vocals were sick.
I really think you hit the nail on the head with your interpretation of "don't cry over spilt milk" that related to the beginning of the video. The water, like a waterfall of emotions loudly echoing in the air, and the repeated phrase of "losing my religion" DOES all speak to the inner feelings and belief structures we hold onto, regarding any deeply felt person or topic. And having a religion is VERY MUCH like having any other belief - no matter how delusional it may be, it feels right & true to the believer for as long as they have it. And obsessing over a person & having a "liminal mental-emotional relationship" in your head is also very much like a religion, in the way a person can be devoted to that, and find enjoyment in it. Which gives the person a delusion of personal intimacy & connection, even when there is absolutely no substance for it in the outer reality. So in the end, the outer reality can only do 2 things for that person: either confirm the belief, making it REAL - or destroy it, which will rip the delusion away and force 'the believer' to wake up.
Just as it says in the last verse : "But that was just a dream.... that was just a dream... just a dream.... dream."
Right from the get go I've loved this song 🎵 ❤
Happy Birthday Michael Stipe he is amazing
Every time I see this video i think of the artwork of Maxfield Parish. It's perfect for the song.
❤R.E.M. music always has a message. Michael Stioe has said Losing my religion is an expression used in the Southern U.S. for losing one's temper, feeling frustrated, exasperated, and desperate.
This is the anthem of my relationship with my Father. I wanted desperately for him to recognize me as a person, always seeming to fall short in his opinion. He has passed now and the song can still make me go back in time watching my young self chasing something I never achieved.
Ten Years did an amazing cover of this and personally my preferred version...👊👍😎
#TENYEARS🔥🐐🔥
This song came out during a soul-crushing time in my life: watching a person destroy themselves in addiction. At this point in that 16 year journey - the rehab center would not admit someone with a tolerance so high that a BAC of .458 did not invoke unconsciousness. After 2 weeks in the hospital, with a BAC of .22, we tried again. I supported every attempt. I died a little inside with every failure. I was there every day during 14 months of hospice care. The end was both sorrowful at the tragedy and relief at the release from suffering.
I lived every line of that song. I was in the corner watching myself in the spot light of that relationship. Addiction was something to keep hidden. She did try but, in the end, trying wasn't enough. Escape from addiction was just a dream. So many lines in that song encapsulate that period of my life.
Dude, I got your back. I support you always bro
You can really go down the rabbit hole with R.E.M. My opinion is that you really have to listen to them live. They are amazing. Most of my record collection is live and bootleg records. The name R.E.M. was selected when they opened up the dictionary and put their finger on R.E.M. This song becoming a hit was the last thing they expected, a mandolin lead in with no bridge in the song!! I got to see them in 1982, 1985, and 1987. Their early music is different, try "Wolves, Lower," "Radio Free Europe," "Gardening At Night," "Fall On Me," and "So. Central Rain"
R.E.M. broke up in 2011. Michael Stipe is working on a solo album, Bass Player Mike Mills and guitarist Peter Buck are now in a band called "The Baseball Project," where the songs are all related to baseball, and drummer Bill Berry is now with a band called "The Bad Ends." They are still all friends
Video is part of the song... works great together
Such a great song....
You're correct. It's deeper than you thought. But it's also just a Southern expression!
5:09 Yes! You tend to focus too much on that that you miss the forest for the trees.
So true
You should check out their video “Everybody Hurts”. The song is beautiful and the video is a masterpiece. The song alone is one piece of art, the song and the video make another. You have to read the captions in the video and watch it to the very end. I think even what is on the flatbed trailer has meaning.
Good analysis!
These guys are legit artists.
great song!
It is about disappointment in love. Michael Stipes is an amazing creator and performer.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) is the dream state of sleep identified when you can see a person's eyes moving behind their lids.
Love it. Thank you
REM is for Rapid Eye Movement and to either dreaming and eyes blinking or something close to that hun looool x
They’re from Athens GA
The term “loosing my religion “ means you lost your shiiii out of anger and went OFF and is kinda regionally specific to Athens, northern GA.
This video won mega awards and recreated famous pieces of art.
I thought it was about him losing his religion literally. Like he doesn't like the way the church wasn't accepting his behavior or beliefs....Like he's not religious enough no matter what he does. I don't know.
@@PhillyGirl64 Michael Stipe himself said it has nothing to do with religion and is about unrequited love and he used that common southern expression as a way to express how he is losing his shit over the love not being reciprocated.
@keithbond9423 Thanks, I had no idea!