R.E.M.’s 1991 hit “Losing My Religion” turned a mandolin riff into an unlikely global smash. Despite its title, the song isn’t about religion but unrequited love and obsession (the Southern phrase “losing my religion” means losing one’s temper or hope). Michael Stipe’s yearning vocals and the song’s mysterious lyrics struck a chord worldwide, taking it to #4 in the US and making it one of the era’s biggest alternative hits. The moody music video with religious and surreal imagery won numerous awards, further cementing the track’s impact. Decades later, “Losing My Religion” remains R.E.M.’s signature song and a towering achievement of ’90s music — a haunting, beautifully crafted anthem of longing that still resonates.