# New official video for George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 15, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120 "2021-12-15T21:18:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/1 "2021-12-15T21:18:40Z")
So continuing the 50th anniversary celebration of All Things Must Pass, a new official video for “My Sweet Lord” was released today. And I don’t know what to think. It’s a parade of random celebrities and “celebrities,” loosely connected by a weird Men-In-Black storyline. Is it supposed to be funny? It features Fred Armisen, Weird Al Yankovic, Vanessa Bayer, Jon Hamm, Mark Hamill, and that dude from Workaholics, as well as George’s old bandmates Ringo Starr and Jeff Lynne. Strange mix. [Here it is](https://youtu.be/04v-SdKeEpE), and again, I just don’t know what to think of this thing. The video doesn’t seem to work with the theme of the song. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/2 "2021-12-15T21:31:35Z")
Disclaimer: I’m a big George Harrison fan, and I was eager to see this new video, which I’d heard about on Facebook a few days ago. I agree, it’s a weird video, seems to not have anything to do with the song (one of my favorites), and seems to be more an excuse to have a bunch of cameos. I’m not sure what to make of it, either. A few years ago, Olivia and Dhani Harrison (George’s wife and son) held a competition for filmmakers to create a new “official” video for another of his songs, “What Is Life”; the winning video, too, is quirky, but I think it’s still a better video, and a better fit with its song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fiH9edd25Bc/maxresdefault.jpg "George Harrison - What Is Life") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiH9edd25Bc) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/3 "2021-12-15T21:38:36Z")
When the first scene was in an old library, I immediately thought it was a tie-in to the new Ghostbusters movie. I mean, there was arched book stacking. No human would stack books like that. But then that went nowhere. This feels to me like a lot of famous people really wanted to be in a George Harrison video, but no one really knew what to do. So it seemed to be essentially a mechanism for showing lots of hollywood peoole, and not much else. There was no point to it other than that. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/4 "2021-12-15T21:58:13Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > No human would stack books like that. I guess you never read Gaston Lagaffe, by Franquin. A genius in a very unusual way. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f5/20/37/f520370cda344f9e699c9caeceec51e5.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f5/20/37/f520370cda344f9e699c9caeceec51e5.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/5 "2021-12-15T22:01:41Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I guess you never read Gaston Lagaffe, by Franquin. You might have gotten whooshed there; Sam was, I believe, quoting from the original _Ghostbusters_, from the scene where they encounter their first actual ghost, in a library. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/6 "2021-12-15T22:04:32Z")
Oh! Well, now we know where they stole the idea from. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/7 "2021-12-15T22:09:33Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I just don’t know what to think of this thing. The video doesn’t seem to work with the theme of the song. My reaction exactly. I wonder what George would think. If he were still alive, I can’t imagine this is the video he would have made for that song. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/8 "2021-12-15T22:12:55Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I wonder what George would think. If he were still alive, I can’t imagine this is the video he would have made for that song. Indeed. George certainly was not averse to featuring his friends and celebrities in his videos, some of which _were_ quirky and offbeat (see “Crackerbox Palace” and “When We Was Fab,” among others). And, generally, I’ve felt that Olivia and Dhani have done a really good job of nurturing and protecting his legacy. But, this one feels like a miss. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/9 "2021-12-15T22:19:35Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > You might have gotten whooshed there; Sam was, I believe, quoting from the original _Ghostbusters_ , from the scene where they encounter their first actual ghost, in a library. Here’s the scene: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Cmy-4QC0U0g/hqdefault.jpg "Listen, do you smell something?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmy-4QC0U0g) The library scene in the Harrison video looks like it was shot to invoke memories of this scene, which made me think of it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/10 "2021-12-15T22:23:04Z")
So many familiar faces and the music is still great, but the video was kind of eh in the end. I love the [What is Life video linked by kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/2). ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2021, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/11 "2021-12-15T23:45:58Z")
I thought the intent of the video was to parallel a quest for the mysterious beyond of Hindu mysticism with a real-world counterpart, but nah, the director said in a statement quoted in many places: > Making this was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The approach was to represent the song visually while these agents and inspectors kept missing the metaphysical wonder around them. Images are choreographed to the sounds of vocal melodies, guitar strums, drum patterns, chord changes. > > George threaded a sense of humor through all of his videos, so we kept that spirit and filled the cast with friends and admirers of his music, many coming from the current comedy landscape. I tracked down vintage prime lenses from some of the films George’s HandMade Films had produced, and I hope that viewers can feel a sense of wonder and searching while they watch it, and that the song continues to add to all of our lives. So…(shrug emoji) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/12 "2021-12-16T00:02:02Z")
I don’t really have much of a reaction beyond “what the fuck was _that_?” ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/13 "2021-12-16T00:47:30Z")
I love GH. He made the best music post-Beatles… > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > George certainly was not averse to featuring his friends and celebrities in his videos, some of which _were_ quirky and offbeat (see “Crackerbox Palace” and “When We Was Fab,” among others). And, generally, I’ve felt that Olivia and Dhani have done a really good job of nurturing and protecting his legacy. But, I’ve never liked his videos. The Crackerbox Palace one is especially grating. That goofy look on his face being pushed in a baby carriage. I get it, he was trying to follow some of the earlier silliness but he and his music had matured, it just didn’t fit anymore. I’m not sure Olivia and Dhani are doing his legacy any favors. Check out the serious George: > **[George Harrison - Bangladesh - Vidéo Dailymotion](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9swu0)** > > 1971 - Concert for Bangladesh. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/14 "2021-12-16T01:11:08Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I agree, it’s a weird video, seems to not have anything to do with the song (one of my favorites), and seems to be more an excuse to have a bunch of cameos. Even if it was meant as an excuse, it’s incredibly badly conceived. They clearly wanted there to be a story to it, but it’s impossible to figure out what it is. Is it a play on Men in Black? Or Ghostbusters? What’s the significance of the movie theatre? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/15 "2021-12-16T01:40:26Z")
Since George is dead, there can’t be an ‘official’ anything in regards to **his** music. Grumble, grumble. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/16 "2021-12-16T03:29:55Z")
_My Sweet Lord_ is my favorite George Harrison song. I’m happy his family and friends can get something out of it, too > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I thought the intent of the video was to parallel a quest for the mysterious beyond of Hindu mysticism with a real-world counterpart, but nah, the director said in a statement quoted in many places: > > > Making this was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The approach was to represent the song visually while these agents and inspectors kept missing the metaphysical wonder around them. Images are choreographed to the sounds of vocal melodies, guitar strums, drum patterns, chord changes. > > > > George threaded a sense of humor through all of his videos, so we kept that spirit and filled the cast with friends and admirers of his music, many coming from the current comedy landscape. I tracked down vintage prime lenses from some of the films George’s HandMade Films had produced, and I hope that viewers can feel a sense of wonder and searching while they watch it, and that the song continues to add to all of our lives. > > So…(shrug emoji) But, yeah, I don’t get this interpretation. All I can see is a meta level of searching for their intended meaning and not finding it. :meta shrug: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/17 "2021-12-16T03:33:26Z")
I really loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/18 "2021-12-16T03:35:46Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > A few years ago, Olivia and Dhani Harrison (George’s wife and son) held a competition for filmmakers to create a new “official” video for another of his songs, “What Is Life”; the winning video, too, is quirky, but I think it’s still a better video, and a better fit with its song. That video captures that song perfectly. Feels like George. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/19 "2021-12-16T03:45:22Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > But, I’ve never liked his videos. The Crackerbox Palace one is especially grating. That goofy look on his face being pushed in a baby carriage. I get it, he was trying to follow some of the earlier silliness but he and his music had matured, it just didn’t fit anymore. I’m not sure Olivia and Dhani are doing his legacy any favors. Even as he recorded more serious music (and became more involved in humanitarian work and Eastern religion), George still always kept one foot in his quirky sense of humor. He was a huge fan of Monty Python (and financed _Life of Brian_), and “Crackerbox Palace” was an homage to an offbeat comedian, Lord Buckley, whom Harrison had admired (and the song is named after Buckley’s home in Los Angeles). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8Ac34Khe-fc/maxresdefault.jpg "George Harrison - Crackerbox Palace") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ac34Khe-fc) (But, FWIW, I find that video, and George’s grin in it, unsettling.) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120/20 "2021-12-16T06:02:48Z")
I’m pretty sure Eric Idle directed the Crackerjack in fact. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-official-video-for-george-harrisons-my-sweet-lord/956120.md?page=2)