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Losing My Religion - The song

Losing My Religion - The song: Encyclopedia II - Losing My Religion - The song

The title comes from an expression from the southern region of the United States for losing one's temper and flying off the handle, i.e. losing one's civility. Like Rod Stewart's "Maggie May", "Losing My Religion" features the mandolin as a lead instrument, which is rarely heard on a pop hit record. Michael Stipe has said he wrote the lyrics thinking of the song as a sequel to The Police song "Every Breath You Take". The song is still the band's largest hit in the U.S, reaching #4 on the Billboard charts. In the U.K., it charted at #19. The song also won the 1991 Grammy Award for Bes ...

Losing My Religion: Encyclopedia II - Losing My Religion - The song

Losing My Religion - The song

The title comes from an expression from the southern region of the United States for losing one's temper and flying off the handle, i.e. losing one's civility.

Like Rod Stewart's "Maggie May", "Losing My Religion" features the mandolin as a lead instrument, which is rarely heard on a pop hit record.

Michael Stipe has said he wrote the lyrics thinking of the song as a sequel to The Police song "Every Breath You Take".

The song is still the band's largest hit in the U.S, reaching #4 on the Billboard charts. In the U.K., it charted at #19. The song also won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

The song was banned in Ireland due to its religious connotations, which could be humorous since the song has nothing to do with religion.

In November 2004, Rolling Stone magazine listed the song at #169 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."