"Lotus" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from their eleventh studio album, Up (1998). The song is somewhat minimalist, with Michael Stipe singing surreal lyrics in a percussive manner. It builds on a four-note keyboard part, with a distorted guitar riff at the beginning and after the second chorus. The song's recurring line "I ate the lotus" appeared in an alternate form ("I'll eat the lotus...") in a previous R.E.M. song, "Be Mine". The line "dot dot dot and I feel fine" is a reference to R.E.M.'s 1987 hit "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)".
For live performances of the song, Peter Buck alternates between electric guitar (chorus) and keyboard (verse). "Playing keyboard always excites me," Buck explained in a soundbite during MTVUplink, a recording of the band's performance at New York's Bowery Ballroom in October 1998, "even though it's only with one finger." "But it's a big finger," joked Mills. "It's great."
The single's video, directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, was included as a bonus video on the DVD release of In View - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003. "I wanted to work with Stephane for a long time," Stipe explained to MTV UK during An Hour with R.E.M. in 2001 after selecting the video for airplay. "Since I saw the video that he did with Björk for, what was that called, 'Big Time Sexuality' or something? Where she looks exactly like Shirley MacLaine, 1959–1961. The Apartment, I think, was the name of the film. Shirley MacLaine and Björk as Shirley MacLaine on the back of a pick-up truck driving down 5th Avenue in New York City, probably. But I thought this guy exudes sex, he's like sex on a stick, and I wanted to work with him for that reason. He somehow transmogrified that very thing through me. I look very, very foxy in this video, which is why I chose it; it shows off my incredible stomach muscles."
Track listingsedit
All songs were written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated. The live version of "Suspicion" is different from the Ealing Studio recording found on the 1999 "Suspicion" single.
Canadian, Australian, and Japanese CD single[3][4][5]
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Lotus is a song by American rock band R E M released as the second single from their eleventh studio album Up 1998 The song is somewhat minimalist with Michael Stipe singing surreal lyrics in a percussive manner It builds on a four note keyboard part with a distorted guitar riff at the beginning and after the second chorus The song s recurring line I ate the lotus appeared in an alternate form I ll eat the lotus in a previous R E M song Be Mine The line dot dot dot and I feel fine is a reference to R E M s 1987 hit It s the End of the World as We Know It And I Feel Fine Lotus Single by R E M from the album UpB side Surfing the Ganges ReleasedDecember 7 1998 1998 12 07 GenreGlam rock 1 psychedelic rock 2 Length4 30LabelWarner Bros Songwriter s Peter Buck Mike Mills Michael StipeProducer s Pat McCarthy R E M R E M singles chronology Daysleeper 1998 Lotus 1998 At My Most Beautiful 1999 For live performances of the song Peter Buck alternates between electric guitar chorus and keyboard verse Playing keyboard always excites me Buck explained in a soundbite during MTV Uplink a recording of the band s performance at New York s Bowery Ballroom in October 1998 even though it s only with one finger But it s a big finger joked Mills It s great Contents 1 Music video 2 Track listings 3 Charts 3 1 Weekly charts 3 2 Year end charts 4 Release history 5 References 6 External linksMusic video editThe single s video directed by Stephane Sednaoui was included as a bonus video on the DVD release of In View The Best of R E M 1988 2003 I wanted to work with Stephane for a long time Stipe explained to MTV UK during An Hour with R E M in 2001 after selecting the video for airplay Since I saw the video that he did with Bjork for what was that called Big Time Sexuality or something Where she looks exactly like Shirley MacLaine 1959 1961 The Apartment I think was the name of the film Shirley MacLaine and Bjork as Shirley MacLaine on the back of a pick up truck driving down 5th Avenue in New York City probably But I thought this guy exudes sex he s like sex on a stick and I wanted to work with him for that reason He somehow transmogrified that very thing through me I look very very foxy in this video which is why I chose it it shows off my incredible stomach muscles Track listings editAll songs were written by Peter Buck Mike Mills and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated The live version of Suspicion is different from the Ealing Studio recording found on the 1999 Suspicion single Canadian Australian and Japanese CD single 3 4 5 Lotus LP version 4 30 Surfing the Ganges 2 25 Suspicion live in the studio 5 39 Lotus Weird mix 4 34UK CD single 6 Lotus 4 30 Surfing the Ganges 2 25 Lotus Weird mix 4 34UK cassette single and European CD single 7 8 Lotus 4 30 Surfing the Ganges 2 25UK mini CD single 9 Lotus 4 31 Suspicion live in the studio 5 39Charts editWeekly charts edit Weekly chart performance for Lotus Chart 1998 1999 PeakpositionBelgium Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders 10 18Canada Top Singles RPM 11 32Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 12 56Canada Rock Alternative RPM 13 25Europe Eurochart Hot 100 14 88Iceland Islenski Listinn Topp 40 15 1New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 16 50Scotland OCC 17 23Sweden Sverigetopplistan 18 60UK Singles OCC 19 26US Adult Alternative Songs Billboard 20 4US Alternative Airplay Billboard 21 31US Mainstream Rock Billboard 22 31 Year end charts edit Annual chart performance for Lotus Chart 1999 PositionUS Triple A Billboard 23 34Release history editOverview of formats for Lotus single releases Region Date Format s Label s Ref United Kingdom December 7 1998 CDcassette Warner Bros 24 Japan December 16 1998 CD 25 United States January 11 1999 Active rock radio 26 References edit Zaleski Annie October 26 2018 20 Years Ago R E M Find Their Way as a Trio With Up Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved March 31 2021 Hill Stephen May 5 2022 Every R E M album ranked from worst to best Louder Sound Retrieved June 30 2023 R E M 1998 Lotus Canadian CD single liner notes Warner Bros Records CD 44600 R E M 1998 Lotus Australian CD single liner notes Warner Bros Records 9362446002 R E M 1998 Lotus Japanese CD single liner notes Warner Bros Records WPCR 2309 R E M 1998 Lotus UK CD single liner notes Warner Bros Records W466CD 9362 44601 2 R E M 1998 Lotus UK cassette single sleeve Warner Bros Records W466C R E M 1998 Lotus European CD single liner notes Warner Bros Records 5439 17115 9 R E M 1998 Lotus UK mini CD single liner notes Warner Bros Records W466CDX 5439 17114 9 R E M Lotus in Dutch Ultratip Retrieved May 24 2013 Top RPM Singles Issue 7350 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved February 19 2020 Top RPM Adult Contemporary Issue 7152 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved February 19 2020 Top RPM Rock Alternative Tracks Issue 7450 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved February 19 2020 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 15 no 52 December 26 1998 p 7 Retrieved February 19 2020 Islenski Listinn 5 3 12 3 1999 Dagbladid Visir in Icelandic March 5 1999 p 10 Retrieved February 19 2020 REM Lotus Top 40 Singles Retrieved May 24 2013 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved February 19 2020 R E M Lotus Singles Top 100 Retrieved May 24 2013 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved May 24 2013 R E M Chart History Adult Alternative Songs Billboard Retrieved May 24 2013 R E M Chart History Alternative Airplay Billboard Retrieved May 24 2013 R E M Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved May 24 2013 The Best of 99 Most Played Triple A Songs Airplay Monitor Vol 7 no 52 December 24 1999 p 38 New Releases Singles Music Week December 5 1998 p 23 ロータス R E M Lotus R E M in Japanese Oricon Retrieved August 29 2023 Adds for January 11 amp 12 Gavin Report No 2237 January 8 1999 p 37 External links editMusic video on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lotus R E M song amp oldid 1198715804, 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