Sting - Gabriel's Message

Ultra-rare promotional video for Sting's cover of "Gabriel's Message," featured on the first "A Very Special Christmas" album, released in 1987 as a benefit for the Special Olympics. The song itself is based on a 13th-Century Basque carol, translated in the 1800s. Lyrics:

The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came
His wings as drifted snow
His eyes as flame
"All Hail!" said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary,"
"Most Highly Favoured Lady,"
Gloria!

"For know a Blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee
Thy Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold
Most highly favoured Lady,"
Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;
"To me, be as it pleaseth God," she said.
"My soul shall laud and magnify His holy Name"
Most highly favoured Lady!
Gloria!

Of her Immanuel, the Christ was born,
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn.
And everyone throughout the world will ever say,
"Most highly favoured lady!"
Gloria!

• Category

  Music

[Deborah Hitayezu]

this was in major rotation on both MTV and Much Music, so not so "ultra-rare"

[snidelywhiplash]

Really...huh. I don't recall seeing it on MTV at all, except around Christmastime - Christmas Eve specifically, when they'd run a Christmas video marathon. Can't speak to MuchMusic's playing of it.

In any case, "ultra-rare" denotes the fact that at the time I posted this (over six years ago, you'll note), it was in fact a very difficult video to get hold of - no postings on the Webs, no DVD releases, etc.

[Tina Bush]

What a sexy silhouette he has <3

[ham burger]

I agree with u elfbride

[ham burger]

Such a good song. Makes me think of Christmas :)

[Aswannable]

Je vois, c'est un peu comme le comment et le pourquoi...

[Laurel Casey]

Took me forever to find this song! So glad I did! I wish it was longer that it is though - I'm always having to hit the replay button!

[elfbride]

Beautiful, yet somehow creepy. I love it.

[7472986]

The first time I ever heard of this was on Spain's TVE in one of their restrospective clips. Thank you for this posting. Now if I could just get a complete version of theGolden Gate Quartetsong that was part of the same program. I'm not sure of the title, but it sounded like a gospel version of "Hark The Hearld".

[arbresistance]

Religion & Science? Toujours elles ont été UN. UN, comme la mélodie et le rythme, inséparables. Chaque membre du grand orchestre joue séparément. Mais la symphonie est UNE. Une fois, c'est le violon qui conduit, une autre fois, c'est le violoncelle. Une fois, la religion, une autre fois, la science. Mais aujourdhui c'est le rien ! Car ils ne servent pas, mais chacun veut diriger. Surtout le tambour parce qu'il est le plus bruyant. Dialogues avec l'Ange - transcrit par Gitta Mallasz 24 Dec 1943

[iamofthelight13]

Why so wicked, Sting? Beautiful angels surround. The smallest flicker of light burns out a room filled with darkness.

[TheFifimagoo]

I remembered this video after Newtown and seeing all of the the child angels running around was touching. Except I forgot how malevolent Sting looked in this video.

Very beautiful video. Still have the song on album.