“Magnificent,” which Bono told Rolling Stone in 2009 has its roots in the Magnificat (a Bible passage spoken by the Virgin Mary) is one of the best later-day examples of this approach.

“Magnificent” Ĭontrary to the dominant narrative, U2 never completely eschewed electronics after the ’90s they just figured out how to incorporate them in subtler ways. Bono sheepishly references his propensity for “shooting off my mouth,” but also reassures Ali he’s a charmer: “I’m the kind of trouble that you enjoy.”Ģ3.

So it goes with his latest mash note for Ali, “You’re The Best Thing About Me.” The pop-rock song is a sleek, carefree sonic pastiche encompassing rippling guitars, fizzy keyboards and propulsive grooves, along with plenty of rakish asides. The lyrics Bono writes about family - namely, his late mother, Iris, and long-time wife, Ali - rank among his best, most honest work. In concert, however, the song is transformed into an extended epic whose cry of “I’m wide awake” feels like a pledge for survival rather than last-ditch desperation.Ģ4. On disc, the song blooms slowly, driven by increasingly urgent chiming guitars, rattlesnake percussion and a cushion of lush keyboards. Case in point: The Unforgettable Fire album cut “Bad,” a delicate song about addiction’s wrenching effects that’s said to be inspired by Dublin’s mid-’80s heroin epidemic. U2’s songwriting genius often reveals itself live, when the band members break free from studio formalities and allow emotion to take the wheel. 1 album, we present our picks for the 25 greatest U2 songs. The members of U2 are loathe to rest on their laurels - and that permeates every fiber of their being.Īs they continue to tour the world behind their eighth No. Last year, U2 commemorated the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree by performing the album in full, while this year’s Experience + Innocence Tour saw both the return of Bono’s devilish, Zoo TV-era MacPhisto character and cutting-edge flourishes, such as augmented reality. U2 on 2017's 'Swing to Extremism' and Why Unity Is As Important As Resistance

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