- Music
- 08 Jun 20
Singer and producer Finneas took the reins over the remix.
U2's 'Beautiful Day' has been covered during YouTube's "Dear Class of 2020" special, with a moving introduction from Bono himself.
The four-hour celebration featured appearances from Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Camila Cabello, Ty Dolla $ign, Tove Lo, Khalid, Leon Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Platt and Noah Cyrus, with producer Finneas ultimately taking control of the U2 "remix".
Before the rendition of the band's 2000 hit, Bono addressed the Class of 2020 with a short commencement speech regarding the current political climate in America.
“As an Irishman, I’ve always believed that America is not just a country, it’s an idea, it’s a dream that belongs to the whole world,” Bono said.
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“Now I know in recent times, the world is being reminded that America is an idea that doesn’t even belong to a lot of Americans. And for many Black Americans, Lady Liberty’s torch is far from a beacon of hope. It’s often a flashlight in the face.”
“Now there were storm clouds over Dublin when U2 recorded ‘Beautiful Day,’ things were not as they might have been," the singer added.
"But the song was not a description of where we were at, it was a prayer for where we could go, and a dream — like America is a dream — of where we might be. We now know that America is a song yet to be written. That America might be the greatest song the world has never heard. It’s a wild thought, that America is yet to exist. And even wilder that the Class of 2020 might be the very people to bring it into being.”
YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” special also featured commencement speeches and appearances by Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, the Obamas, BTS, Lizzo, Justin Timberlake and many more.
When Bono turned 60 in May, the singer shared his “60 Songs That Saved My Life” playlist - which included the song 'Everything I Wanted' by Finneas and his sister Billie Eilish.
Check out the powerful, full cover below:
https://youtu.be/xhNkdCYGEYA