Losing My Religion by R.E.M.

This 1991 nugget holds a special place in the history of R.E.M. For one thing, it was the biggest hit single they ever had in the US, going to #4 and proving that even the quirkiest cult bands could top the charts. Whenever anyone accused R.E.M. of selling out, guitarist Peter Buck would dare them to name any other hit single whose lead instrument was a mandolin.

The Georgia band was going through a few transitions when this song was recorded. After five years of continuous roadwork, they announced that they wouldn’t be touring again for awhile—Neither the Out of Time album (which included “Losing My Religion”) nor its followup, Automatic For the People, ever got toured—and their label really couldn’t complain, since those wound up being the most successful albums of R.E.M.’s career.

It didn’t hurt that "Losing My Religion" had one of their first, fully-produced videos; something they’d hedged about doing in the past. Fans from R.E.M.’s neck of the woods had an easier time figuring what the song was about: “Losing My Religion” is a love song about a hopeless relationship, and the title is a Southern way of saying you’ve lost your faith or your patience.

R.E.M.’s fans tended to mis-hear their song lyrics, and “Losing My Religion” was no exception. According to bassist Mike Mills introducing the song onstage, one fan in Europe heard the lyric “Oh, life” and requested the song about the guy named Olaf.

None needed. A true band of the people, R.E.M. have a great song that non-experts can master easily.

Still going strong, though original drummer Bill Berry bought the farm. No, he didn’t die—he literally left the band and bought a farm.