Why would Michael Stipe play "Losing My Religion"?

[riqster]

93. Let me clarify

The OP was assuming that Mr. Stipe made an inappropriate choice: this assumption was based on the OP's projection of his own interpretation of the song onto the artist.

That projection lies at the root of the post, and is what I attempted to address ( obviously not very well).

Once we do a song, it becomes a living breathing piece of shared consciousness, and I love it when people tell me what a song means to them. I don't appreciate it when they think themselves telepathic and tell me what I meant by it.

If people are going to make assumptions at all, I suggest people consider that the artist is clearly a caring, giving, compassionate man ( as evidenced by his participation in the concert) and so he probably had good intentions with the song choice.

But it would be even better to just appreciate the contribution of the singer to a very worthy cause and leave it at that.