Oh, Can’t you see what Love has done?

I think this is my favorite music video ever. Naturally, from my absolute Favoritest Rock Band EVAR!!!, U2.

A lot of people don’t realize that very early in their career, U2 albums tended to be filed by record sellers under “Christian/ Gospel”, because their lyrics were so very religious– even in Latin for one song (That would be “Gloria”, from the October album). Well, at the time, “Christian” music meant a very limited audience, and the band wanted to be heard by more people than that. They realized that if they replaced “Jesus” with “You”, or even “Love”, suddenly they were listed under Rock. All while the meanings remained the same, especially if people took the time to examine the lyrics. I don’t know how many other rock bands write songs about the Holy Spirit (Mysterious Ways), or the Last Supper from the point of view of Judas (Until the End of the World), but there you go.

What makes this video so touching, aside from the song, is the tribute it pays to so many other musicians and artists, across genres and times. Very, very nice.

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