Tommy James & the Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion -- Visual Interpretation

A visual interpretation of Crystal Blue Persuasion. The audio is from a live performance. They still sound great! I love this song.

For some reason, the comments section of this video was the forum for a debate about religion and what Tommy James had in mind when he wrote this song. For me, Crystal Blue Persuasion is a transcendent song... about more than a specific religious view... about "peace and good and brotherhood" It is simultaneously a plea and a message of hope... "the sun is rising... people are changing... a new vibration... maybe tomorrow..." i don't know what specific influences (religious or otherwise) motivated Tommy James to write and perform this gem, but I am certain that the message is about how we should be treating other members of the human family and that it is a message of hope.

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[jimixdnb]

they really had the balls to wait FIVE seasons till they brought this song! this is why I love BREAKING BAD so much!

[Ashley Hier]

Like if you think Todd needs to die.



[George Tea]

Thanks for the reference 22: 1-3 - and the "transcendence" interpretation.

The Eckankar Blue Light is not physical. It is purely spiritual and you have to have the eyes to see it. Similarly the Eckankar Sound is also not physical. The two together allow one to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. You must have the eyes to see and the ears to hear.

So, does anyone think the songwriter - or group itself - sings about purely spiritual phenomenon, or merely water?

[Faith Rada]

Each 'hears' Jesus' teachings according to their current understanding of "God" or Divine Consciousness... 2 different names for THAT same, all pervasive Divine ONE. Jesus of Nazareth is no more and no less that the formless 'Christ' Consciousness IN FORM.

"God" is both immanent AND Transcendent. THAT infinite ONE can remain formless OR take ANY form THAT ONE so chooses. Jesus, Buddha&Krishna are all different FORMS of that same Divine ONE. This is what Grace alone reveals.

[3riversnorth]

Sorry this song is about Christianity and Revelation 22: 1-3. Nothing about consciousness. Its even in a Tommy James interview he talks about. Its about the River of Life in the New Heaven and Earth.

[3riversnorth]

This song is actually about becoming a Christian of sorts. From what I understand this song is about Revelation 22: 1-3 which talks about the crystal blue water of the River of Life described in those versus.

[buyakga1946]

Thanks for sharing this.  Very nice visualization. Also, great version of the song and excellent audio quality! Good job!

[Faith Rada]

Agreed... the Ultimate song. I wanna die listening to this.  VBG

[Faith Rada]

Yes... Blue is the actual color of Consciousness... for anyone who has seen it in deep meditation.. it is this scintlating enery which permeates and activates everything. It is what String Theory is really all about. It is US.

Namaste 

[George Tea]

The phrase is "crystal clear", not crystal blue. So wherre does the blue come from? The religion called Eckankar where you search for the "blue light" during spiritual exercises.