R.E.M. won Video of the Year at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards for “Losing My Religion.”
The song’s video, directed by Tarsem Singh, became one of R.E.M.’s signature visual works. It combined religious imagery, references to Renaissance paintings, and dramatic theatrical staging, helping turn the song into the band’s biggest international hit.
“Losing My Religion” came from R.E.M.’s 1991 album Out of Time. Although the track features prominent mandolin rather than conventional rock guitar, its emotionally intense performance and distinctive video made it highly visible on MTV. The video received several nominations at the 1991 awards and won multiple prizes, including Video of the Year.
A common mix-up is to associate the award with the video’s director, Tarsem Singh, or with another major 1991 nominee such as U2. The award, however, went to R.E.M. as the performing artist. At the same ceremony, the band also won Best Group Video and Breakthrough Video.