U2: Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel

The verse melody of White as Snow on U2's newest LP is Veni, Emmanuel, to which the Advent hymn Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel is sung. It's a beautiful melody.

I like it when hymns get used like this. I loved it when, back in 1973, Paul Simon used Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen, the melody of the Lenten hymn, O Sacred Head Now Wounded, for his American Tune.

I don't like it so much when advertisers use hymn melodies to drum up business, as when Odd Lots sang a jingle to the tune of Silent Night this past December. Tacky.

[The singer is Bryan Duncan]

Listen here. (More information here.)

I also like it when a pop song is turned into a sacred one. For example, take a listen to this great song by Pete Townsend.

Then, listen to how Audio Adrenaline turned it into a love song from God to you and all people.