R.E.M. To Fox News: Stop Playing 'Losing My Religion'

During its incessant coverage of the removal of the word "God" from the Democratic National Committee platform, Fox News sometimes played "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M. But, as Raw Story reports, the rock group was not amused. Their music publisher sent a cease and desist letter demanding that Fox stop using their song. Furthermore, Michael Stipe, the group's lead singer, had some choice words for Fox News and their brand of reporting.

From R.E.M.HQ:

“We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage,” lead singer Michael Stipe said. “Our music does not belong there.”

Do you like this post?

	Tweet

Showing 10 reactions

bemused commented 2012-09-08 02:20:55 -0400 · Flag

Shouldn’t the RNC organisers have contacted the group for permission before using the song during a public event? We always did that when I was working with organisers of sports events.

Thx4 Fish commented 2012-09-07 23:47:31 -0400 · Flag

Joseph West agreed! And a lot of their propaganda is an effort to sanctify the romantic idea of the Constitution, which, like their sanctification of God-Jesus-Bible is merely a way to reflect and to worship their own thoughts and feelings. Eww I’m grossed out typing that.

vermont dave commented 2012-09-07 21:32:31 -0400 · Flag

James Hedrich, I’m a nutmegger, thanks for that.

@ Joseph West, Spot on!
peace

James Hedrich commented 2012-09-07 20:46:49 -0400 · Flag

In early January of 1788 Connecticut delegates gathered to consider ratification of the US Constitution. On the second day of the convention a gentleman by the name of William Willams took to the floor and voiced his objections to the proposed Constitution; 1) God was not mentioned in the preamble and 2) Article VI, Paragraph 3, which states that “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust in the United States.” Williams opined that it should be changed so state that only Christians could hold elected office, and unless that change was made and God added to the preamble there was no way he could vote in the affirmative.

The other delegates listened politely, and when he finished speaking they basically told him to sit down and shut the hell up. A few days later the delegates ratified the Constitution by a final count of 128 to 40.

Aria Prescott commented 2012-09-07 16:42:06 -0400 · Flag

This marks how many musicians that have told Fox News they don’t have permission to play their stuff on the air? It has to be at least 100 by now.

Joseph West commented 2012-09-07 14:12:10 -0400 · Flag

@Georgia Sam: I sometimes think that right-wingers have their own Constitution that includes “God” at least once per paragraph and omits any positive references to government. (And their Constitution has a First Amendment that mentions the various freedoms “but only for Christians and proper-thinking Jews.” It also omits or edits most of the Amendments after number 12.)

scooter commented 2012-09-07 14:09:13 -0400 · Flag

Sue the shit outta them, they have deep pockets. They’ll pay just to make the suit go away.

Georgia Sam commented 2012-09-07 14:02:18 -0400 · Flag

I wonder if REM’d allow the song to accompany a story about the absence of the word “God” in the US Constitution.

doors17 commented 2012-09-07 13:18:46 -0400 · Flag

When I think of Fox it would be Barry McGuire’s 1965 hit Eve of Destruction.

http://youtu.be/ntLsElbW9Xo

Lakeview Greg commented 2012-09-07 13:10:44 -0400 · Flag

Why can’t they use Ted Nugent or Hanky Jr? They write plenty of uplifting crap.