The Mystical Genius of Sting’s “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You”

I’m not exactly sure what triggered this train of thought—perhaps it’s the bag of Harry Potter–themed Hershey Kisses staring back at me from my desk. However, every time I watch Sting’s music video for “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,” I find myself enveloped in the same enchanting atmosphere reminiscent of worlds like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. There’s an almost spellbinding quality woven through the visuals—smoke, shadow, symbolism—that feels straight out of a wizard’s realm.

What captivates me the most is the video’s layered imagery. Initially, it comes across as surreal, dreamlike, and theatrical, but there’s an underlying tension that grapples with deeper themes: the decline of trust in institutions, religion, society, and perhaps even in oneself. Sting has always been a poet keenly attuned to the human experience, and this video feels like a window into that internal struggle, all cloaked in magic and metaphor.

As I revisit it, I grow increasingly impressed by the craftsmanship on display. This was created at a time before the digital tools and AI-driven effects that we have today. Though IMAX theaters began appearing as early as 1971, music videos still depended heavily on practical creativity—using lighting, staging, camera movements, clever editing, and symbolic visuals. Yet this video feels so rich, imaginative, and meticulously composed that it tricks the mind into believing it originated from a more modern toolkit.

The creative process shines through in every single frame, harmonizing flawlessly with the song itself. The way the chorus builds—both musically and emotionally—aligns perfectly with the evolving tones of the video. It creates a truly remarkable piece of music, enhanced by visuals that feel timeless, reflective, and strangely magical.

The song itself emerges as a masterpiece, and its profound emotional resonance elevates the visuals even further. When the chorus climaxes, it feels like a spiritual awakening—musically rich, warm, and full of momentum—so much so that the video acts as an extension of that emotional ascent. The arrangement, dynamics, and the unmistakable warmth of Sting’s voice all reinforce the song’s central themes: losing faith in the world, finding solace in a single unwavering individual, and attempting to navigate the chaos in between. It’s rare for a music video to match a song this seamlessly, particularly from the pre-digital age, but this one manages to do so with exceptional grace.