The_Sweetest_Thing
MacPhisto's serving wench
From @tu2.com - Part of U2's Top Ten Music Videos of all time
2. Sweetest Thing (director: Kevin Godley)
You don't need to know a lot about U2 to find "Numb" funny. "Sweetest Thing," on the other hand, is an in-joke fest for U2 trainspotters. It is ideally suited to the Internet era of fandom; those who knew the significance of the marching band, the big puppet Bono and Edge heads, the boxer, etc. shared their knowledge with any who missed the references.
Like "Numb," the plot is simple ("Bono uses everything within his considerable means to apologize to his wife") and so is the setting-the camera stays focused on Bono who never leaves his carriage seat. Not calling attention to the other elements of the scene enhances their humor -- for instance, the "I'M REALLY SORRY" banner appears without comment and then retreats into the background. Unlike "Numb" there is a wide field of vision, allowing the jokes to have a cumulative effect -- the "I'M REALLY SORRY" banner is still visible when the "I'M REALLY, REALLY SORRY" banner appears.
I have a few questions:
...what IS the significance of the marching band?
...the big puppet heads were ZOO TV, right?
...the boxer, the firemen, all that other stuff going on...what IS the significance of all this (or the 'inside joke' if you will)?
Anything you can tell me would be awesome. I love the video, it's one of my favourites, but (having never been to ZOO TV) I had no idea there was so much significance here, so many inside U2 jokes.
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Ain't love the sweetest thing?
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