"Losing My Religion" -- The video seems way gayer watching it now. See for yourself!

Hey Pridesters! Today on the blog each of our lovely contributors will offer up a little personal post about a tune that sort of signifies what it was like when we came out, or the tune that was playing in our heads and hearts when we were each going through that ritual recognizing that yep, we’re not only just as cool as all the other kids, we’re even moreso. (Um... ’cuz we’re all gay, fyi).

My choice is a wee bit obvious and old, but here goes... It's “Losing My Religion” from Out of Time by R.E.M. and it totally told my story as I was living it. (Watch the video above!) Michael Stipe wasn’t officially out then either (this was 1991—yep, I’m old), and this tune and video may have well been his own coming out party. The song is a gorgeous plea and rumination on identity, coming to terms, revealing yourself (“that’s me in the spotlight...”) and casting aside stale comforts and choosing a different path.

"Out of Time" was right on time for me, thanks. And here's R.E.M., still a foursome in the late 1990's.

More "Losing My Religion" and gay-ish R.E.M. stuff after jump!

Wings were all the rage in 1991...

It’s all quite hilarious now as I watch the video (which is soooo filled with super-queery imagery: Scantily clad boys in wings and impaled as St. Sebastian; swarthy men in leather-daddy-ish hats; old men posing in classic mythological tableaus, and one man even inserting his finger into another man’s wound... Subtle!), but the song nailed it for me, as I was trying to figure out how to let the world know that I was, er... kinda gay. “Consider this, the hint of the century / Consider this the slip / That brought me to my knees...” and “What if all these fantasies come flailing around / Now I’ve said too much...” It was a hymn of uncertainty, letting go and “choosing my confessions.” Har! God bless Michael Stipe (who had hair back then!) for wearing his heart on his lovely white linen, rolled-up sleeves.

A video still, or The Anvil, circa 1982? Plus, a fey little impaled saint... Awwww!

Hey, let me stick my finger in this old man's wound... Heh, heh... Meanwhile, this chiseled, pouty Grecian boy will just sit around looking pretty... You go, Myth Thing!

Their next album, Automatic for the People also featured the tune “Nightswimming,” another gorgeous, romantic rumination that still makes me swoon. There’s a video for it, but it’s not as nearly as good as the one in my head that involves (duh... ) swimming in a secret lake with boys from college. Urgh... Oh no, now I’ve said too much.

The other R.E.M. song from my college days that still rocks me out is another obvious one: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” Which also has kind of a queerish video, to my mind. But it’s also a great college party dancefloor flashback. Where’s the keg?

Pensive Michael (with hair!) back in 1988... And fully out with Cher in 2002. Shiny! Happy!

Anyway... Happy Pride! More of these to come today... That’ll be me in the corner, losing my religion all over again... (gack!)