Lotus (song)

Single infobox |
Name = Lotus


Artist = R.E.M.
from Album = Up
Released = December 7, 1998
Format = 7", cassette, CD, Japanese 3" CD
Recorded = 1998
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 4:31
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Producer = Pat McCarthy and R.E.M.
Last single = "Daysleeper" (1998)
This single = "Lotus" (1998)
Next single = "At My Most Beautiful" (1999)

"Lotus" is a song by R.E.M., released as the second single from their eleventh studio album "Up".

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 song is somewhat mimimalist, with Stipe singing surreal lyrics in a robotic manner. The song is based around a 4 note keyboard part, with an aluminium tinged solo at beginning and after the chorus.

The 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 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 McLaine 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."

For live performances of the song, 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."

Track listing

All songs written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.

CD
# "Lotus" - 4:31
# "Surfing the Ganges" - 2:25
# "Lotus" (Weird Mix) - 4:33

7" and cassette
# "Lotus" - 4:31
# "Surfing the Ganges" - 2:25

Japanese 3" CD
# "Lotus" - 4:31
# "Suspicion" (live in the studio)¹ - 5:39

Notes

¹ This version is different from the Ealing Studio recording found on the "Suspicion" single.

Charts

External links

* [http://www.remhq.com/shared_assets/videography/videos/lotus.html Video clip at REMhq.com]
* [http://www.stephanesednaoui.com stephanesednaoui.com] - official Stéphane Sednaoui website.