Synopsis

Simple Minds perform "Sanctify Yourself" before an energized concert audience, with the performance edited together from multiple camera angles and intercut with black-and-white images of the band. The video emphasizes the song's communal, arena-rock character rather than presenting a separate narrative. Close-ups capture the musicians onstage, while wider shots reveal the scale and excitement of the crowd. The result is a straightforward concert film that turns the track into a visual celebration of the band's live presence during the Once Upon a Time era.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed in Brussels, Belgium, during the band's tour on December 12, 1985.

• Six 35mm film cameras were used simultaneously, an unusually film-intensive setup for a promotional music video.

• The close-up material was shot during the day without an audience. Medium shots used a small invited group of fans, while the wide shots came from the full evening performance.

• The footage was transferred directly from the color negative at Trilion in London.

• The song was released as the second single from Once Upon a Time in January 1986. It reached No. 10 in the UK and No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

• The concert-based video was later included in Simple Minds' video compilation Seen the Lights: A Visual History.