Gloria (U2 song)
Encyclopedia
"Gloria" is a song by U2
. It is the opening track and second single from the band's 1981 album, October
.
It features a chorus in Latin
, from the liturgical "Gloria in Excelsis Deo
." It was one of their lowest-charting singles, peaking at #55 on the UK singles chart
.
as it features three styles of playing in one song (using a pick for the most part, playing with fingers during the slide guitar by The Edge, then a "slap & pop" solo towards the end).
The chorus "Gloria in te Domine / Gloria exultate" translates to "Glory in you, Lord / Glory, exalt [him]" with "exalt" in the imperative mood, a reference to Psalm
30:2 (in te Domine, speravi). The song also contains references to Colossians
2:9-10 ("Only in You I'm complete") and James
5:7-9 ("The door is open / You're standing there").
prior to the release of the album, and was introduced as "Gloria and Gloria" by Bono. It was played on every tour up to and including the Lovetown Tour
, after which it was not played for fifteen years until the Vertigo Tour
where it made several appearances. Its most recent performance was on 14 December 2005.
Live recordings of the song appear on Under a Blood Red Sky
and the Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky
DVD. A live version from the Hammersmith Palais is also available on the October (Special Edition) CD.
, was filmed in October 1981 on a barge in Grand Canal Basin in Dublin, near Windmill Lane. "Gloria" was the first U2 music video that received heavy airplay on MTV
. The video featured U2 playing on a barge while a crowd of onlookers danced. Neither the song or video has been included in any of the band's compilations.
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
. It is the opening track and second single from the band's 1981 album, October
October (album)
October is the second album by Irish rock band U2, released in 1981. The album featured spiritual themes, inspired by Bono, The Edge, and Larry Mullen, Jr.'s memberships in a Christian group called the "Shalom Fellowship", which led them to question the relationship between the Christian faith and...
.
It features a chorus in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, from the liturgical "Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
"Gloria in excelsis Deo" is the title and beginning of a hymn known also as the Greater Doxology and the Angelic Hymn. The name is often abbreviated to Gloria in Excelsis or simply Gloria.It is an example of the psalmi idiotici "Gloria in excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest")...
." It was one of their lowest-charting singles, peaking at #55 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Composition
"Gloria" highlights bassist Adam ClaytonAdam Clayton
Adam Charles Clayton is a musician, best known as the bassist of the Irish rock band U2. Clayton has resided in County Dublin since the time his family moved to Malahide when he was five years old in 1965...
as it features three styles of playing in one song (using a pick for the most part, playing with fingers during the slide guitar by The Edge, then a "slap & pop" solo towards the end).
The chorus "Gloria in te Domine / Gloria exultate" translates to "Glory in you, Lord / Glory, exalt [him]" with "exalt" in the imperative mood, a reference to Psalm
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
30:2 (in te Domine, speravi). The song also contains references to Colossians
Epistle to the Colossians
The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, usually referred to simply as Colossians, is the 12th book of the New Testament. It was written, according to the text, by Paul the Apostle to the Church in Colossae, a small Phrygian city near Laodicea and approximately 100 miles from Ephesus in Asia...
2:9-10 ("Only in You I'm complete") and James
Epistle of James
The Epistle of James, usually referred to simply as James, is a book in the New Testament. The author identifies himself as "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ", with "the earliest extant manuscripts of James usually dated to mid-to-late third century."There are four views...
5:7-9 ("The door is open / You're standing there").
Live performances
"Gloria" has been played in concert over 350 times. It was debuted on the October TourOctober Tour
The October Tour was a concert tour by Irish rock band U2 that took place in 1981 and 1982 to support the band's second studio album, October, which was released in October 1981.-Itinerary:...
prior to the release of the album, and was introduced as "Gloria and Gloria" by Bono. It was played on every tour up to and including the Lovetown Tour
Lovetown Tour
The Lovetown Tour was a concert tour by the Irish rock band U2, which took place in late 1989 and early 1990.-Itinerary:It was limited in scope, but did try to reach places that their 1987 Joshua Tree Tour had missed, all the while avoiding the United States entirely.The tour's opening night was on...
, after which it was not played for fifteen years until the Vertigo Tour
Vertigo Tour
The Vertigo Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Irish rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the band visited arenas and stadiums from 2005 through 2006. The Vertigo Tour consisted of five legs that alternated between indoor arena shows in...
where it made several appearances. Its most recent performance was on 14 December 2005.
Live recordings of the song appear on Under a Blood Red Sky
Under a Blood Red Sky
During the performance of "The Electric Co.", Bono included a 27 second snippet of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns". When Under a Blood Red Sky was released, U2 failed to get permission and pay the appropriate licensing and royalty fees to include that piece of Sondheim's tune on the album...
and the Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky
Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky
U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky is a concert film by Irish rock band U2. It was recorded on 5 June 1983 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, United States on the group's War Tour...
DVD. A live version from the Hammersmith Palais is also available on the October (Special Edition) CD.
Music video
The "Gloria" video, written and directed by Meiert AvisMeiert Avis
Meiert Avis is an Irish music video and commercial director. Avis has directed videos for artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez, New Found Glory and Josh Groban amongst many others....
, was filmed in October 1981 on a barge in Grand Canal Basin in Dublin, near Windmill Lane. "Gloria" was the first U2 music video that received heavy airplay on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. The video featured U2 playing on a barge while a crowd of onlookers danced. Neither the song or video has been included in any of the band's compilations.
Track listing
Chart positions
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
10 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
15 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
55 |