U2 and a Harlem Choir Sing ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’
In 1987, choir director Dennis Bell arranged a version of U2’s #1 hit I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For for his choir, the New Voices of Freedom. After hearing a recording of the arrangement, U2 asked Bell & the choir to join the band for an upcoming show at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Before the show, the band and the choir rehearsed together at Greater Calvary Baptist Church in Harlem:
Here is some behind-the-scenes footage of the rehearsal (more); Bono’s arm is in a sling for some reason?
The live recording of the song from that MSG show appeared on their next album, Rattle and Hum; here’s the (music-only) video from U2’s YouTube channel:
And here’s an actual video of the MSG performance (taken from the Rattle and Hum DVD):
You can also find the MSG version of the song (and the rest of Rattle and Hum) on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
Bell and the New Voices of Freedom recorded their own version of the song, which you can listen to on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
P.S. That same day, the band walked around Harlem and stumbled across street musicians Satan & Adam; a clip of their song made it onto the album and DVD.
(via laura olin)
Comments 3
This performance always reliably brings me to tears. The way the NVF choir just steals the song, and the song's meaning, from Bono and runs away with it. I don't know why it means so much to me but there it is, hard to parse the heart I guess.
Goosebumps from the first moment the choir comes in to the end.
Thank you for this reminder that my friends and I used to watch the Rattle and Hum movie on VHS at least once a week after school.
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