Synopsis

Michael Stipe appears shirtless in a stark, dreamlike setting, moving between still poses and sudden, sensual gestures as glowing forms seem to pulse beneath his skin. The imagery shifts between intimate close-ups and distorted tableaux, turning his body into something both physical and painterly. Inspired by the uneasy anatomy and dramatic figures associated with Francis Bacon, the video matches the song's abrasive glam-rock energy with an atmosphere that feels erotic, surreal, and faintly unsettling.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Lotus" was released as the second single from R.E.M.'s 1998 album "Up." The video runs approximately four and a half minutes.

• The video's visual language draws strongly on Francis Bacon's paintings, including his distorted anatomical studies and his variations on Diego Velazquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X.

• Michael Stipe later said he had wanted to work with Stephane Sednaoui after seeing the director's video for Bjork's "Big Time Sensuality." Stipe also joked that the finished clip showed off his "incredible stomach muscles."

• The video became part of R.E.M.'s home-video legacy when it was included as a bonus feature on the DVD edition of "In View: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003."

• Contemporary commentary on Sednaoui's work noted the video's striking use of light to suggest activity beneath Stipe's skin, making the human body itself the clip's central special effect.