lyrics project

Me in the Corner
Artist: REM
Song: Losing My Religion
Album: Out of Time
Model: Carla Monaco
Location: Upper Minety, Wiltshire

Notes:-
I couldn’t put together a list of songs that meant something to me without including an REM entry. They produced a style of music I wasn’t familiar with and Stipes’ vocals and lyrics always intrigued me. Part of the reason I liked them so much was the fact his voice has a similar range to mine and I could belt out songs with him whenever they were on my playlist. The other reason was that they are so damned good! They introduced mandolins, strings and other instruments that shouldn’t really have worked for me but they did.

This song is an anthem to many. For me, although the words were about a lost or unfulfilled love, the song never had negative connotations. It’s quite upbeat tempo wise and the video of Stipe’s mad (but cool) dancing always somehow excited me together with the angel wings and desaturated and toned colours, playing in MTV’s relative infancy, were brilliant. I often wondered (and hoped) if it was about Stipe’s homosexuality but I’m not sure.

I also wondered if I liked it because of my dislike of religion. It’s literal meaning suggesting that maybe I wasn’t alone in not believing in a God. Perhaps others were as cynical as I was about mythologies designed to keep the populace in line.

I had always envisioned this shot on a theatre stage with big red curtains behind the model but I then knew the song was about personal misery. When I’ve felt that way I’ve often been at home. We hurt alone, trying to make sure those around us think we’re ok. Its personal, nobody else understands. So, I shot it at Carla’s house, in the corner of a bare room used as a small studio. We tried several poses but I liked this one. It shows her feeling exposed, naked and vulnerable, miserable and alone. The spotlight, of course is metaphoric in the song but I wanted it to be real here. It’s how we feel at these times, trying to hide our true feelings from those around us in real life. The hat came by chance at the end of the session. I liked it and included it as it hints at her ‘other’ life, the one where she pretends everything is ok.

Me in the Corner
Artist: REM
Song: Losing My Religion
Album: Out of Time
Model: Carla Monaco
Location: Upper Minety, Wiltshire

Notes:-
I couldn’t put together a list of songs that meant something to me without including an REM entry. They produced a style of music I wasn’t familiar with and Stipes’ vocals and lyrics always intrigued me. Part of the reason I liked them so much was the fact his voice has a similar range to mine and I could belt out songs with him whenever they were on my playlist. The other reason was that they are so damned good! They introduced mandolins, strings and other instruments that shouldn’t really have worked for me but they did.

This song is an anthem to many. For me, although the words were about a lost or unfulfilled love, the song never had negative connotations. It’s quite upbeat tempo wise and the video of Stipe’s mad (but cool) dancing always somehow excited me together with the angel wings and desaturated and toned colours, playing in MTV’s relative infancy, were brilliant. I often wondered (and hoped) if it was about Stipe’s homosexuality but I’m not sure.

I also wondered if I liked it because of my dislike of religion. It’s literal meaning suggesting that maybe I wasn’t alone in not believing in a God. Perhaps others were as cynical as I was about mythologies designed to keep the populace in line.

I had always envisioned this shot on a theatre stage with big red curtains behind the model but I then knew the song was about personal misery. When I’ve felt that way I’ve often been at home. We hurt alone, trying to make sure those around us think we’re ok. Its personal, nobody else understands. So, I shot it at Carla’s house, in the corner of a bare room used as a small studio. We tried several poses but I liked this one. It shows her feeling exposed, naked and vulnerable, miserable and alone. The spotlight, of course is metaphoric in the song but I wanted it to be real here. It’s how we feel at these times, trying to hide our true feelings from those around us in real life. The hat came by chance at the end of the session. I liked it and included it as it hints at her ‘other’ life, the one where she pretends everything is ok.