Joy
Joy , beautiful spark of Gods, daughter of Elysium, we enter, burning with fervor, heavenly, your sanctuary! Your magic brings together what custom has sternly divided. All men shall become brothers, wherever your gentle wings hover. Wow. I don't know where even to begin in my testimony that the foregoing lyrics are among the most iconic in all of music. It was originally a poem written by eighteenth century German poet Friedrich Schiller; however, it was made famous by Ludwig van Beethoven, who set its German lyrics to music, and mind you, it is instantly recognizable the world over. Even to those who have never had a taste for classical music. It is the official anthem of the European Union, and it is an ode. An Ode to Joy. Freude, schöner Götterfunken, tochter aus Elysium, wir betreten feuertrunken, himmlische, dein Heiligtum! Deine Zauber binden wieder was die Mode streng geteilt; alle Menschen werden Brüder, wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. If aliens from another world visi...