The 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s are home to the country’s classics. Whether it is the Beatles, Rolling Stones, or U2, these decades had their amount of “big hits”.  U2’s song “Where the Streets Have No Name” was one of their most popular releases of their phenomenal career. The song achieved on landing at number 13 on the Billboard Top 100 count and at number 11 on the Album Rocks Tracks chart. 

            Although there can be songs that hit a high spot on critic’s lists due to the message the song sends through its lyrics or by the singer capturing listeners by their voice, the main reason a song earns its ratings it because of the music video it produces along with its song. Music videos are made either to depict or illustrate a songs meaning or to completely entertain its viewers. Setting, costume, makeup, dance, are all factors that contribute the producer’s goal when filming a music video. These factors can make or break the producer’s sole purpose of the video; either scoring viewers off the charts, and being shared by millions, or becoming just another video on YouTube. 

            With over eight million views, the music video for U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” succeeded in becoming an Internet sensation. The hit video is filmed on the roof of a liquor store in downtown Los Angeles, a more causal setting than most music videos because it is filmed as though it is a concert and not a flashy MTV music video. Throughout the whole seven minutes and twenty-one seconds the setting, and the performers themselves do not change. They are shown to be performing to a crowd watching down below cheering them on. If one viewer did not know that this was indeed U2’s music video for their song, they might determine that it is just the filming of a concert with a few unusual elements such as the police attempting to shut down the performance, or the fact that it was performed on a roof.

            U2’s sole purpose when producing this music video was to entertain. Their goal was to entertain with their unexpectedly ordinary setting, and the way the band conducted their production. The setting on the roof is exciting and real. Typically music videos are filmed in authentic settings while this one is filmed on a street in downtown LA. Seeing crowds of people swarm under the roof causes viewers of the video to vividly be able to picture them there also watching U2. Along with the setting, U2 itself sang their song with intense feeling and passion, clearly capturing every word that left their mouth. They directly address their audience below and the police by creating the impression that they are singing specifically to them, “getting busted was an integral part of the plan,” says Director Meiret Avis. The planned not only ended up attracting over 1,000 spectators, nearly shutting down Downtown LA, it also took home the Grammy for Best Performance Music Video in 1989, accomplishing its goal to be unforgettable.

http://laist.com/2013/09/23/flashback_monday_u2_performs_on_a_r.php