R.E.M., the rock band whose dense lyrics once garnered it mainly a cult following, has pushed further into mainstream pop with a leading nine nominations for the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards.
The Athens, Ga., group's "Losing My Religion" video from its best-selling "Out of Time" album was nominated in categories including best video, best group, best direction, best editing and best cinematography.Funk-dance group C&C Music Factory and plaintive soloist Chris Isaak tied for the second-highest number of nominations, six each. "Gonna Make You Sweat" got a bid for best video, as did Isaak's "Wicked Game."
Nominations were announced by talk show host Arsenio Hall, who will be the host of the Sept. 5 awards broadcast from the Universal Amphitheater. Also appearing in the eighth annual awards presentation will be the rock group Van Halen and rap star LL Cool J.
The nominations are made by 1,200 members of the music industry, including journalists who cover it. Nominees in 22 categories are:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR: R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"; Chris Isaak, "Wicked Game"; Queensryche, "Silent Lucidity"; Divinyls, "I Touch Myself"; Deee-Lite, "Groove Is in The Heart"; C&C Music Factory, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)."
MALE: Jon Bon Jovi, "Blaze of Glory"; Chris Isaak, "Wicked Game"; George Michael, "Freedom"; Gerardo, "Rico Suave."
FEMALE: Janet Jackson, "Love Will Never Do Without You"; Amy Grant, "Baby Baby"; Neneh Cherry, "I've Got You Under My Skin"; Madonna, "Like A Virgin (Truth or Dare)"; Paula Abdul, "Rush Rush."
GROUP: R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"; Queensryche, "Silent Lucidity"; Black Crowes, "She Talks to Angels"; Divinyls, "I Touch Myself."
NEW ARTIST: Deee-Lite, "Groove Is in The Heart"; Jesus Jones, "Right Here, Right Now"; C&C Music Factory, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"; Seal, "Crazy"; Gerardo, "Rico Suave."
RAP: LL Cool J, "Mama Said Knock You Out (The Hard Way)"; Monie Love, "It's A Shame (My Sister, My Sister)"; Ice T, "New Jack Hustler"; 3rd Bass, "Pop Goes the Weasel"; DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, "Summertime."
DANCE: C&C Music Factory, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" Deee-Lite, "Groove Is in The Heart"; Bingo Boys, "Show Me How To Dance"; EMF, "Unbelievable."
METAL-HARD ROCK: Aerosmith, "The Other Side"; AC-DC, "Thunderstruck"; Queensryche, "Silent Lucidity"; Warrant, "Uncle Tom's Cabin"; Guns N' Roses, "You Could Be Mine"; Faith No More, "Falling To Pieces"; Black Crowes, "She Talks To Angels"; Alice In Chains, "Man in The Box."
ALTERNATIVE: Jesus Jones, "Right Here, Right Now"; R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"; Jane's Addiction, "Been Caught Stealing"; The Replacements, "When It Began."
VIDEO FROM A FILM: Jon Bon Jovi, "Blaze of Glory (Young Guns 2)"; Chris Isaak, "Wicked Game (Wild At Heart)"; Bryan Adams, "Everything I Do (I Do For You) (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves)"; Guns N' Roses, "You Could Be Mine (Terminator 2)."
LONG FORM: Aerosmith, "Things That Go Pump In The Night"; R.E.M. "Tourfilm"; Madonna, "Immaculate Collection"; Peter Gabriel, "P.O.V."
DIRECTION: R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"; Chris Isaak, "Wicked Game"; Queensryche, "Silent Lucidity"; George Michael, "Freedom."
CHOREOGRAPHY: C&C Music Factory, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"; Madonna, "Like A Virgin (Truth or Dare)"; M.C. Hammer "Pray (Jam The Hammer Mix)"; Janet Jackson, "Love Will Never Do Without You."
SPECIAL EFFECTS: Faith No More, "Falling To Pieces"; Seal, "Crazy"; Bart Simpson, "Do The Bartman"; The Replacements, "When It Began"; M.C. Hammer, "Here Comes The Hammer"; Neneh Cherry, "I've Got You Under My Skin."
ART DIRECTION: R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"; George Michael, "Freedom"; Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, "Mama Help Me"; Jellyfish, "The King Is Half Undressed"; Faith No More, "Falling To Pieces"; C&C Music Factory, "Things That Make You Go Hmmm . . . ."
EDITING: R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"; George Michael, "Freedom"; C&C Music Factory, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"; Seal, "Crazy"; Chris Isaak, "Wicked Game"; LL Cool J, "Mama Said Knock You Out (The Hard Way)."
CINEMATOGRAPHY: R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"; George Michael, "Freedom"; Chris Isaak, "Wicked Game"; LL Cool J, "Mama Said Knock You Out (The Hard Way)."
BREAKTHROUGH: R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"; Seal, "Crazy"; Deee-Lite, "Groove Is in The Heart"; Enigma, "Sadeness, Part I."INTERNATIONAL
MTV AUSTRALIA: Ratcat, "Don't Go Now"; Yothu Yindi, "Treaty (Filthy Lucre Mix)"; Third Eye, "The Real Thing"; Crowded House, "Chocolate Cake."
MTV EUROPE: EMF, "Unbelievable"; Pet Shop Boys, "Being Boring"; Roxette, "Joyride"; Seal, "Crazy."
MTV ASIA: Cui Jian, "Wild in The Snow"; Chris Ho, "Fictional Stuff"; Kenny Bee, "Be Brave To Love"; Bird, "Prick Kee Noo."
MTV BRASIL: Paralamas Do Ducesso, "Caleidoscopio"; Kid Abelha, "Grand Hotel"; Cidade Negra, "Falar A Verdade"; Engenheiros Do Hawaii, "Refrao Di Bolero."