Lotus (R.E.M. song)

Song by R.E.M.

"Lotus"

Single by R.E.M.
from the album  Up
B-side| "Surfing the Ganges"
Released| December 7, 1998 (1998-12-07)
Genre|

* Glam rock[1]
* psychedelic rock[2]

Length| 4:30
Label| Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)|

* Peter Buck
* Mike Mills
* Michael Stipe

Producer(s)|

* Pat McCarthy
* R.E.M.

R.E.M. singles chronology
| "Daysleeper"
(1998)  | "Lotus"
(1998)  | "At My Most Beautiful"
(1999)

|
|

"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 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."

## Music video

[edit]

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 listings

[edit]

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]

1. "Lotus" (LP version) – 4:30
2. "Surfing the Ganges" – 2:25
3. "Suspicion" (live in the studio) – 5:39
4. "Lotus" (Weird mix) – 4:34

UK CD single[6]

1. "Lotus" – 4:30
2. "Surfing the Ganges" – 2:25
3. "Lotus" (Weird mix) – 4:34

UK cassette single and European CD single[7][8]

1. "Lotus" – 4:30
2. "Surfing the Ganges" – 2:25

UK mini-CD single[9]

1. "Lotus" – 4:31
2. "Suspicion" (live in the studio) – 5:39

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Lotus"  | Chart (1998–1999)  | Peak
position

|

Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[10] | 18
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] | 32
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[12] | 56
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[13] | 25
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] | 88
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] | 1
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[16] | 9
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] | 50
Scotland (OCC)[18] | 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] | 60
UK Singles (OCC)[20] | 26
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] | 4
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[22] | 31
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[23] | 31

### Year-end charts

[edit]

Annual chart performance for "Lotus"  | Chart (1999)  | Position

|

US Triple-A (Billboard)[24] | 34

## Release history

[edit]

Overview of formats for "Lotus" single releases  Region  | Date  | Format(s)  | Label(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

United Kingdom  | December 7, 1998  |

* CD
* cassette

| Warner Bros. | [25]
Japan  | December 16, 1998  | CD  | [26]
United States  | January 11, 1999  | Active rock radio  | [27]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 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.
2. ^ Hill, Stephen (May 5, 2022). "Every R.E.M. album ranked from worst to best". Louder Sound. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
3. ^ R.E.M. (1998). Lotus (Canadian CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. CD 44600.
4. ^ R.E.M. (1998). Lotus (Australian CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. 9362446002.
5. ^ R.E.M. (1998). Lotus (Japanese CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. WPCR-2309.
6. ^ R.E.M. (1998). Lotus (UK CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. W466CD, 9362 44601 2.
7. ^ R.E.M. (1998). Lotus (UK cassette single sleeve). Warner Bros. Records. W466C.
8. ^ R.E.M. (1998). Lotus (European CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. 5439 17115 9.
9. ^ R.E.M. (1998). Lotus (UK mini-CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. W466CDX, 5439 17114 9.
10. ^ "R.E.M. – Lotus" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7350." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
12. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7152." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
13. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7450." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 52\. December 26, 1998. p. 7. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn (5.3–12.3. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 5, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
16. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 7\. 13 February 1999. p. 27.
17. ^ "REM – Lotus". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
19. ^ "R.E.M. – Lotus". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
21. ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
22. ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
23. ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
24. ^ "The Best of '99: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52\. December 24, 1999. p. 38.
25. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 5, 1998. p. 23.
26. ^ "ロータス | R.E.M." [Lotus | R.E.M.] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
27. ^ "Adds for January 11 & 12". Gavin Report. No. 2237\. January 8, 1999. p. 37.

## External links

[edit]

* Music video on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

R.E.M.

* Bill Berry
* Peter Buck
* Mike Mills
* Michael Stipe

* Bertis Downs
* Jefferson Holt

Studio albums|

* Murmur
* Reckoning
* Fables of the Reconstruction
* Lifes Rich Pageant
* Document
* Green
* Out of Time
* Automatic for the People
* Monster
* New Adventures in Hi-Fi
* Up
* Reveal
* Around the Sun
* Accelerate
* Collapse into Now

Live albums|

* R.E.M. Live
* Live at The Olympia
* Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions
* R.E.M. at the BBC
* Live at the Borderline 1991

Compilations|

* Dead Letter Office
* Eponymous
* The Best of R.E.M.
* The Automatic Box
* Singles Collected
* In the Attic
* In Time
* iTunes Originals
* And I Feel Fine
* Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011
* Complete Rarities (I.R.S. · WB)
* 7IN—83–88

EPs|

* Chronic Town
* Not Bad for No Tour
* Vancouver Rehearsal Tapes
* Live from London
* Reckoning Songs from The Olympia

Other albums|

* Man on the Moon
* r.e.m.IX

Singles|

* "Radio Free Europe"
* "Talk About the Passion"
* "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)"
* "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville"
* "Cant Get There from Here"
* "Driver 8"
* "Wendell Gee"
* "Fall on Me"
* "Superman"
* "The One I Love"
* "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"
* "Finest Worksong"
* "Orange Crush"
* "Stand"
* "Pop Song 89"
* "Get Up"
* "Losing My Religion"
* "Shiny Happy People"
* "Near Wild Heaven"
* "Radio Song"
* "Drive"
* "Man on the Moon"
* "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite"
* "Everybody Hurts"
* "Nightswimming"
* "Find the River"
* "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?"
* "Bang and Blame"
* "Crush with Eyeliner"
* "Strange Currencies"
* "Tongue"
* "E-Bow the Letter"
* "Bittersweet Me"
* "Electrolite"
* "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us"
* "Daysleeper"
* "Lotus"
* "At My Most Beautiful"
* "Suspicion"
* "The Great Beyond"
* "Imitation of Life"
* "All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)"
* "I'll Take the Rain"
* "Bad Day"
* "Animal"
* "Leaving New York"
* "Aftermath"
* "Electron Blue"
* "Wanderlust"
* "#9 Dream"
* "Supernatural Superserious"
* "Hollow Man"
* "Man-Sized Wreath"
* "Until the Day Is Done"
* "Mine Smell Like Honey"
* "Überlin"
* "Oh My Heart"
* "We All Go Back to Where We Belong"

Other songs|

* "Sitting Still"
* "Gardening at Night"
* "Perfect Circle"
* "Pretty Persuasion"
* "7 Chinese Bros."
* "Begin the Begin"
* "Cuyahoga"
* "Ages of You"
* "Turn You Inside-Out"
* "Texarkana"
* "Country Feedback"
* "First We Take Manhattan"
* "Ignoreland"
* "Dark Globe"
* "Star 69"
* "New Test Leper"
* "All the Right Friends"
* "Out in the Country"

Videos|

* Succumbs
* Tourfilm
* Pop Screen
* This Film Is On
* Parallel
* Road Movie
* In View
* Perfect Square
* When the Light Is Mine
* R.E.M. Live
* Live from Austin, TX
* REMTV

Support and
side projects|

* Nathan December
* Buren Fowler
* Peter Holsapple
* Barrett Martin
* Scott McCaughey
* Bill Rieflin
* Ken Stringfellow
* Joey Waronker
* The Baseball Project
* Filthy Friends
* Hindu Love Gods
* The Minus 5
* Tanzplagen
* Tuatara
* Tired Pony

Related articles|

* Discography
* List of songs
* Awards
* Tours
* 170 College Avenue
* Peter Buck
* Athens Andover
* "I Belong to You"
* Hib-Tone
* Surprise Your Pig: A Tribute to R.E.M.
* Drive XV: A Tribute to Automatic for the People

Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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