Magnificent by U2 - Songfacts

Album: No Line on the Horizon (2009)

Charted: 42 79

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Themes of faith are evident throughout No Line on The Horizon, but especially on this hymn of praise. This song of worship is arguably U2's most up front Christian-based number since 1981's "Gloria."
This song features additional keyboards by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.
This was at one time titled "French Disco."
Co-producer Daniel Lanois told the Canadian newspaper The National Post about his contribution to this song: "That was born in Fez. We wanted to have something euphoric and Bono came up with that little melody. And he loved that melody, and stuck with it. Almost like a fanfare. And then I was involved in the lyrical process on that, because we wanted to talk about sacrifice that one makes for one's medium or one's art. I thought it had for a setting New York in the '50s; looking out a small bedroom window. Maybe a Charlie Parker kind of figure. That's what we started with. We placed ourselves in Charlie Parker's body."
This song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #79 the same week as Rick Ross' entirely different track "Magnificent" debuted at #88. Two other instances of different songs with the same title debuting the same week were on the chart July 3, 1976, when both Fleetwood Mac (#74) and D.J. Rogers (#100) arrived with two entirely different songs titled "Say You Love Me", and on Feb. 13, 1993, when Mary J. Blige (#47) and Mick Jagger #84) debuted simultaneously with songs titled "Sweet Thing."

Comments: 10

Katia from DallasSuch great energy! Makes me want to get up and dance, especially at 4:03 (in the full-length version http://youtu.be/q5StJhm5tv0).
Banana from Canberra, AustraliaI would like to mention Psalm 8, where it says "<> O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger"
And Jesus quoted this too - when they were compaining about people shouting Hosanna in Matthew 21:16
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise?”

"My first cry it was a joyful noise" makes me think of this
Dan from Philly, PaThis is one of the best U2 songs that only U2 fans know. Not a hit but EXCELLENT! When was it last played in concert?
Christopher L. from Fort Worth, TxGod I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!
Chris from Islip, NySuch an amazing song! Almost blew out my speakers in the car blasting this.
Chris from Oakland, CaI agree with Jose, that line is awesome
Jim from North Providence, RiThis song is absolutely amazing! It is the best song on the new album. I have heard that it is about two lovers who live their lives in worship and praise of God.
Rob from Sydney, AustraliaI love this song. This will go down as one of THE great songs of history. Definately the best song on the album.
Jose from Guadalajara, --"Only love can leave such a mark, but only love can heal such a scar". Intense and strong, what a phrase.
Tim from Charlotte, NcThis song is U2's version of the Magnificat. (Luke 1:46-55)

see more comments

More Songfacts:

CenterfieldJohn Fogerty

"Centerfield" by John Fogerty was the first song enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

Something In The AirThunderclap Newman

Pete Townshend never had a #1 UK hit with The Who or as a solo artist, but he did produce and play on a song that hit the top spot there: "Something In The Air" by Thunderclap Newman, a group he assembled.

Carolina In My MindJames Taylor

Before it was part of a Pink Floyd album title, James Taylor put the line "still I'm on the dark side of the moon" in his 1968 song "Carolina In My Mind." He was living in London and missing his home in North Carolina.