1001 Songs Challenge #751: Losing My Religion (1991)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenging of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post everyday (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be…

R.E.M. – Losing My Religion (1991)

We’re leaving Ireland today, dear reader, and making our way back to the US and to Athens, Georgia. It is a third appearance on our list from R.E.M. after Radio Free Europe (1981) and The One I Love (1987). Now established as a successful band, R.E.M. have released their seventh album, Out of Time, and 1001 Songs have decided to trust in their faith by selecting Losing My Religion.

Losing My Religion is one of R.E.M.’s most famous songs but it is only in the last year that I have learned what the song is actually about. Naturally, I went with the title and put the song down to being a loss of faith and even the music video with a fragile and tortured looking Michael Stipe seemed to convey this. However, the reality is that “losing my religion” is actually an expression from the southern region of the United States and concerns frustration or losing one’s temper. When you apply this idea to the lyrics and follow it through it makes sense. The song is one of unrequited love as Stipe struggles to declare his feelings for someone he loves. He seems to want to express something but then panics and retreats, worried he has been too obvious and said more than he should. It is a painful cycle and he continues to beat himself up at his inability to be more open and honest.    

Losing My Religion is one of the first songs that comes to mind when you think of R.E.M. Everybody Hurts would be another obvious choice too. Although all my prior beliefs about Losing My Religion were shattered when I learned the meaning behind the lyrics, I feel the song is much better for being a song of undeclared love. We have all been there at some point I am sure, having a desire for someone, but not the courage to be open and declare the truth. Out of Time would be a big success for R.E.M. followed by Automatic for the People in 1992. The group disbanded amicably in 2011 bringing an end to a truly great American rock band.

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? (1984)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)