GAY OR NOT, round 1: R.E.M.

GAY

10 (50%)

NOT

10 (50%)

Total Members Voted: 14

[Alex Libman 15]

[youtube=425,350]eB3VTX0pxoE[/youtube]

[Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith)]

I think it's about apathy.  Don't think it's gay.

[blackie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stipe

In 1994, Stipe officially came forward about his sexuality describing himself as "an equal opportunity lech"[11] and said he doesn't define himself as gay, straight, or bisexual, but that he was attracted to and had relationships with both men and women. In 1995 Stipe was on the cover of Out Magazine. Stipe described himself as a "queer artist" in Time Magazine in 2001 and revealed that he had been in a relationship with "an amazing man" for three years at that point.[10] Stipe was also featured on the cover of BUTT Magazine in 2003.

[Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith)]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stipe

In 1994, Stipe officially came forward about his sexuality describing himself as "an equal opportunity lech"[11] and said he doesn't define himself as gay, straight, or bisexual, but that he was attracted to and had relationships with both men and women. In 1995 Stipe was on the cover of Out Magazine. Stipe described himself as a "queer artist" in Time Magazine in 2001 and revealed that he had been in a relationship with "an amazing man" for three years at that point.[10] Stipe was also featured on the cover of BUTT Magazine in 2003.

Hahaha.  I guess my gaydar is off.

[Rillion]

Sheesh, I've known Michael Stipe was gay (or at least bi) since I was 14.  Didn't make me love REM any less. 

[Alex Libman 15]

It's not an exact science.  Straight people can express gay ideas and emotions in their art (as will be speculated in Round 2), and vice versa.  I'm just surprised people can listen to REM, particularly Losing My Religion, and not think it's gay.  Whenever someone brings it up on SongMeanings.net everyone's like "no way".  The lyrics:

Oh, life is bigger It's bigger than you And you are not me The lengths that I will go to The distance in your eyes Oh no I've said too much I set it up That's me in the corner That's me in the spotlight Losing my religion Trying to keep up with you And I don't know if I can do it Oh no I've said too much I haven't said enough I thought that I heard you laughing I thought that I heard you sing I think I thought I saw you try Every whisper Of every waking hour I'm Choosing my confessions Trying to keep an eye on you Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool Oh no I've said too much I set it up Consider this Consider this The hint of the century Consider this The slip that brought me To my knees failed What if all these fantasies Come flailing around Now I've said too much I thought that I heard you laughing I thought that I heard you sing I think I thought I saw you try But that was just a dream That was just a dream That's me in the corner That's me in the spotlight Losing my religion Trying to keep up with you And I don't know if I can do it Oh no I've said too much I haven't said enough I thought that I heard you laughing I thought that I heard you sing I think I thought I saw you try But that was just a dream That was just a dream

The second and fifth lines clearly demonstrate that it's not a relationship with God.  Masculine love toward a woman is supposed to be assertive and overt, but this song is as vulnerable and self-doubting as it gets.  A man doesn't usually struggle to "keep up" with a female romantic interest, finds himself "in the corner", nor gets "brought to his knees".  Heterosexual love can be guilty and vulnerable too, but not to that degree, and the video makes it clear there are no females involved.  What I'm sensing in this song is a shy and/or repressed gay man trying to work up the courage to approach another man he thinks is gay in a conservative society, and he's having doubts.  There's an unmistakable sense of either unrequited love or love that is "wrong" and needs to be kept secret.  There are frequent subtle expressions of the need to drop "hints" and "set up" a mutual understanding in expressing this love without "saying too much".

Not that there's anything wrong with that.  In fact, I think understanding it on that level makes the song much more powerful, whether you're gay or straight.

[Bill Brasky]

I don't care who he fucks, they get fifteen minutes before I'm bored.  

[Rillion]

Masculine love toward a woman is supposed to be assertive and overt, but this song is as vulnerable and self-doubting as it gets.  A man doesn't usually struggle to "keep up" with a female romantic interest, finds himself "in the corner", nor gets "brought to his knees".  Heterosexual love can be guilty and vulnerable too, but not to that degree

You've already shown how little you understand of heterosexual relationships-- of any sexual relationships, for that matter.  No need to press the issue. 

[Alex Libman 15]

Yes, not everyone can be an asexual übermensch like me. 

But, back on topic - what's your interpretation exactly?  You think that song is about a woman?

[TimeLady Victorious]

rem's faggotry is legendary

...

oh, you were talking about sexuality

[Alex Libman 15]

And yet the poll is so close... 

[Diogenes The Cynic]

REM isnt gay. They're pretty cool.

[Alex Libman 15]

It says gay, not ghey.

[davann]

Don't care if the the group members are gay or not.  "Its the End of the World" is a great song either way. I like their music. It would be rare that a group member's sexuality plays any part in my taste of music. Joan Jett being the a rare example. Her bi-ness just makes her and her music even better.

[hellbilly]

Don't care if the the group members are gay or not.  "Its the End of the World" is a great song either way. I like their music. It would be rare that a group member's sexuality plays any part in my taste of music. Joan Jett being the a rare example. Her bi-ness just makes her and her music even better.

Didja know Alton Brown of the Food channel directed that video?