'Dear Class of 2020': Bono speaks of an 'America that is yet to exist' as he introduces 'Beautiful Day' cover
On YouTube's special 'Dear Class of 2020', U2's Bono introduced an all-star cover of 'Beautiful Day', the band's classic hit off their album 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' which released in 2000. The four-hour celebration boasted an appearance by Finneas & Co as Finneas delivered a remix of 'Beautiful Day' with a joined effort from the likes of Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Camila Cabello, Ty Dolla $ign, Tove Lo, Khalid, Leon Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Platt and Noah Cyrus.
Before their performance, Bono addressed the Class of 2020 with a commencement speech that captured America's spirit and the current state of the country. He said, “As an Irishman, I’ve always believed that America is not just a country, it’s an idea, it’s a dream that belongs to the whole world." He continued, “Now I know in recent times, the world is being reminded that America is an idea that doesn’t even belong to a lot of Americans. And for many Black Americans, Lady Liberty’s torch is far from a beacon of hope. It’s often a flashlight in the face.”
Bono added, “Now there were storm clouds over Dublin when U2 recorded ‘Beautiful Day,’ things were not as they might have been. But the song was not a description of where we were at, it was a prayer for where we could go, and a dream — like America is a dream — of where we might be. We now know that America is a song yet to be written. That America might be the greatest song the world has never heard. It’s a wild thought, that America is yet to exist. And even wilder that the Class of 2020 might be the very people to bring it into being.”
The YouTube 'Dear Class of 2020' special has included a host of commencement speeches and appearances from music industry giants, including Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, BTS, Lizzo and many more. According to Rolling Stone, Bono shared his '60 Songs That Saved My Life”' playlist with the publisher in May, with the singer listing 'Everything I Wanted' by Finneas and his sister Billie Eilish.