George Harrison: Why ‘My Sweet Lord’ Appeared in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
“My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison appeared in a scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. During an interview, director James Gunn explained why he chose to use the song in his film. Notably, Gunn said the song was related to one of the characters in the film.
How James Gunn chose the songs of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 features classic hits such as Fleetwood Mac‘s “The Chain,” Cat Stevens‘ “Father and Son,” and the Electric Light Orchestra‘s “Mr. Blue Sky.” According to Rolling Stone, Gunn said the music in the film is supposed to reflect the taste of Meredith Quill, Star-Lord’s mother. “She’s a music lover, but she’s completely not elitist,” Gunn said. “If it’s something that’s thought of as goofy and pop, she likes it. If it’s cool or funk, she likes it.”
“She just likes hooks and melodies,” he continued. “She’s a very quirky, young girl who fell in love with, you know, as it ends up, an alien. And falling in love with an alien is right up there in Meredith Quill’s alley. She’s an oddball, like her son.”
James Gunn said George Harrison’s ‘My Sweet Lord’ connected to the character of Ego
Gunn connected the use of “My Sweet Lord” in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to the character of Ego. Ego is a malevolent god in the film. “It was one of the first songs that I picked out to try to use in the movie and it has to do a little bit with the origin of Ego,” Gunn revealed. “And there’s this big creation myth about how he came about and it was kind of lined up with that. I’ve always been into Hindu creation myths and there’s some similarities there.”
Notably, “My Sweet Lord” makes reference to George’s Hindu faith. The song includes the refrain “Hare Krishna,” a tribute to Krishna. Krishna is a famous Hindu god associated with creation, love, and wisdom.
The way audiences reacted to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ and its soundtrack that includes George Harrison’s ‘My Sweet Lord’
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 became a major financial success. According to Box Office Mojo, the film cost over $200 million. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 earned more than $146 million during its opening weekend. The movie made over $389 million in the United States and over $473 million internationally. Ultimately, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 grossed more than $863 million worldwide.
The soundtrack of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 became a hit as well. The soundtrack reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. With its classic oldies, the soundtrack managed to hold its own against competition from new albums by superstars like Drake and Logic. Gunn felt “My Sweet Lord” connected to the film — and the song still seemed to connect with listeners.
