Lose | 5ive Songs

In the 47^th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with the word LOSE in some form or fashion.  

Welcome to 5ive Songs, where we keep things short and sweet – no extra calories or needless fluff! There’s a theme/topic, five songs, and a short blurb.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  On the 47th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with the word LOSE in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it!

1. R.E.M., “Losing My Religion”

💿 Out of Time • 🏷 R.E.M. / Athens L.L.C. / Concord Music Group • 🗓 1991

“That’s me in the corner / That’s me in the spotlight / Losing my religion.” Losing your religion, 🎙 Michael Stipe? You’re not allowed to lose religion – you’ll go to a burning, flaming HELL! Okay, okay, okay – I’m totally messing around.  First and foremost, if Stipe and R.E.M. are okay with 🎵 “Losing My Religion”, then, so am I. Honestly, the 🏆 Grammy-winning record just happens to be one of the greatest of all time.  Furthermore, this gem from 💿 Out of Time (1991), isn’t even about religion! The pre-chorus, a key section, continues, “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.” Sigh, regardless of the fact we can’t be judgmental about actually losing religion, we can show this marvelous pop/rock classic some love.

“I thought that I heard you laughing

I thought that I heard you sing

I think I thought I saw you try.”

My, my, my! “Losing My Religion” is about obsession, which should be crystal clear in the first verse and confirmed by the excerpted chorus.  “Oh, life is bigger / It’s bigger than you, and you’re a not me,” Stipe sings, continuing, “The lengths that I will go to / The distance in your eyes / Oh, no, I’ve said too much / I’ve set it up.” Woo! Stipe remains obsessed in the second verse, admitting to “Trying to keep an eye on you / Like a hurt, lost, and blinded fool.” Stipe is right – his longing for this person who won’t reciprocate the feelings/ keep the same energy is a waste of time.  As outlandish as his obsession may be, can’t we all relate to some degree? 🎵 “Losing My Religion” ranks among the most kick-ass songs of all time.

Appears in 🔻:

• R.E.M., “Losing My Religion”: Outlandish Rock 🎸🤘 No. 5 (2022)

2. Selena Gomez, “Lose You to Love Me”

💿 Rare • 🏷 Interscope • 📅 2020

“I saw the signs and I ignored it / Rose-colored glasses all distorted / Set fire to my purpose / And I let it burn / You got off on the hurtin’ / When it wasn’t yours.” 🎙 Selena Gomez is reflective on the standout ballad, 🎵 “Lose You to Love Me”, where she parts ways with her lover to ultimately learn to love herself.  On this particular single, she sounds respectable, not overreaching or underwhelming vocally. The performance is balanced, suiting the piano and pad-driven backdrop well.

In the chorus, Gomez gets a boost from backing vocals, elevating the intensity level. Ultimately, there are plenty of things to like about “Lose You to Love Me.” That includes the message made by Gomez, which is thoughtful and quite relatable. It’s a noteworthy moment for the pop singer from her 2022 album, 💿 RARE.

3. Daft Punk, “Lose Yourself to Dance”

💿 Random Access Memories • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2013

“Everybody’s dancing on the floor / Getting ready for more / (Come on, come on, come on…) / Lose yourself to dance!” 2013 was a big year for the French electronic music duo, 🎙 Daft Punk (🎙 Thomas Bangalter and 🎙 Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo).  The collective (who sadly called it quits in 2021) released their highly successful album, 💿 Random Access Memories, which debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200, and went on to win 🏆 four Grammys including Album of the Year. Pretty epic! Among the gems from this fine album is 🎵 “Lose Yourself to Dance” which appears as the sixth track on the album beginning a trio of three epic records (🎵 “Touch” and 🎵 “Get Lucky”).

On “Lose Yourself to Dance,” 🎙 Pharrell Williams makes his first of two appearances on Random Access Memories.  Sure, his second appearance is the most heralded (“Get Lucky”), but he’s on-point on “Lose Yourself to Dance” too. His falsetto is a perfect match for Daft Punk’s soul-soaked production work, period. Williams delivers such memorable lines as “Here take my shirt and just go ahead and wipe up all the sweat! Sweat! Sweat!” as well as the repeated titular lyric.  Running nearly six minutes in duration, “Lose Yourself to Dance” is a total electronic vibe, particularly the ripe rhythmic guitar, courtesy of the legendary 🎙 Nile Rodgers.

Appears in 🔻:

• 15 Songs Featuring Music Genres in their Title

4. Sam Smith, “Love is a Losing Game”

💿 In The Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition) • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2015 

“For you I was a flame / Love is a losing game.” Songs about love, particularly the plight of love, never grow old.  🎙 Amy Winehouse had a terrific record about being on the losing end of it with 🎵 “Love Is a Losing Game”.  The gem appeared on her Grammy-winning, Back in Black, the album that made her a star.  Sadly, Winehouse would become a member of the infamous 27 club, succumbing to alcohol poisoning in 2011.

“Love is a Losing Game” has been covered by various musicians – it’s just an EPIC song. One of the best renditions comes from 🏆 Academy and Grammy Award-winning musician, 🎙 Sam Smith.  It appears on 💿 In The Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition), released in 2015. Smith possesses a truly gorgeous, haunting voice – one that’s the definition of ‘one of a kind.’  They masterfully capture the emotion of the record, never under- or over-singing.  Smith finds the right balance, accompanied by warm piano and lush strings.  Clearly, this is and will always be Amy’s song, but Smith truly makes it his own.  His authenticity goes a long way.

5. Little Beaver, “I’m Losin’ the Feelin”

💿 Joey • 🏷 Henry Stone Music • 🗓 1972

“I’m losing the feeling / Baby the feeling I used to have for you.” Oh my, 🎙 Little Beaver (Willie Hale)! Well, at least the Arkansas-born funk/soul singer/guitarist is honest about his feelings on 🎵 “I’m Losin’ the Feelin”.  “I’m Losin’ the Feelin” appears on his 1972 album, 💿 Joey.  Why is Hale not feeling the same way about her anymore? She’s changed. “Now I remember all the sweet love we once had / Baby I used to thrill to hear you call my name,” he sings in the second verse, adding, “Oh, but now through the years / You made me shed so many tears / All the thrill is gone / Your loving just ain’t the same.” Woo!

Even though love has clearly burned out for Little Beaver, his pain is our listening pleasure.  His guitar playing is absolutely awesome.  I love his melodic riffs and soloing, while his rhythmic, and chordal are equally alluring.  Also alluring are his soulful pipes.  If you had to choose between his guitar skills and his commanding, nuanced vocals, it would be a tough choice.  That’s not even considering the relatable songwriting he serves up of this waning love. Perhaps not the first soul joint that comes to mind, 🎵 “I’m Losin’ the Feelin” this Little Beaver record is worthwhile and definitely deserves wider recognition.  

Appears in 🔻:

• Little Beaver, “I’m Losin’ the Fxeelin”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 74 (2022)

Lose: 5ive Songs No. 47 (2022) [📷: Ashford Marx, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Clovis Cheminot, Columbia, Henry Stone Music, Interscope, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay]