HelloAngel
ONE love, blood, life
<img src=http://forum.interference.com/gallery/data//585/11265BonoMiroslava20050921-sml.jpg><br />
<b>By Carrie Alison, Chief Editor<br />
2005.10</b><br />
<br />
<br />
U2?s first hip-shaking dance song in possibly 10 years is probably something you haven?t heard yet if you don?t dig through its extensive unreleased track archives, surf message boards or own the limited edition of ?How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.?<br />
<br /><!--more-->
It's called "Fast Cars" and is receiving the kind of mass dance party reaction usually reserved for U2's other obvious dance songs?"Discotheque" and "Mysterious Ways," neither of which have had regular rotation on Vertigo Tour set lists to varying fan reaction. <br />
<br />
Though it doesn't have the "boom cha" the girls love or the Village People-esque video treatment?in fact it doesn't have a video at all, yet (director Lian Lunson was spotted filming a performance of the song in Toronto)?"Fast Cars" is becoming the sort of word-of-mouth phenomenon U2 hasn't seen at concerts in ages.<br />
<br />
What's the big deal?<br />
<br />
Let's start with Edge's deliciously sexy Spanish-tinged guitar work, Bono's rapid-fire verse talking about pictures in pockets, cell phones ringing and someone in the desert ?to dismantle an atomic bomb.? He claims, ?I know these fast cars will do me no good.? You get a vision from the undeniable guitar rhythm of the members of U2 in a sexy car or limo on a Friday night zooming around Miami or Manhattan going from one hot party to the next. It?s all high speed and rollicking good times. Interested yet?<br />
<br />
Well, you should be because chances are you might just hear the song during the encore portion of any given Vertigo show given the audience reception to the song. Clearly U2 enjoy playing it; Bono even brings the ladies up on stage to dance with him. If the song gains any more traction with fans, we might just see a full-blown tango break out on stage come December. But by then it?ll be too late as the tour ends in Portland on the 19th.<br />
<br />
Miroslava, 28, from Michigan by way of Mexico and Spain, and Kimla, 29, from New York and Chicago by way of Jamaica, have been lucky enough to get their groove on beside Bono during "Fast Cars" at shows in Chicago and New York, respectively. They are also good friends who first met in May outside the loading docks of Madison Square Garden and, in testament to the unique bonds forged by U2 fans, have been close ever since?even traveling to Dublin this summer for U2's three-show run at Croke Park.<br />
<br />
Miroslava and Kimla spoke with Interference.com about the song's burgeoning popularity, why it makes your hips move and what it?s like to dance with the world's biggest rock star.<br />
<br />
<b>Just what is it about "Fast Cars" that makes you want to dance?</b><br />
<br />
Miroslava: Well, prior to this, I don't think I ever thought, "Ooh 'Fast Cars.' Let's dance!" Obviously, I liked the rhythm of it and was very much aware of the Spanish/Moorish undertones but it?s not like I had ever danced to it around the house. I guess that having seen enough U2 shows and having witnessed "Fast Cars" in Toronto I knew that if Bono was pulling a girl up there during this song, it was to dance. <br />
<br />
Kimla: It's Larry's syncopated drumbeat with Edge's Flamenco-styled guitar sounds. It just makes me want to move the same way "Mysterious Ways" made me want to dance. I fell in love with "Fast Cars" the first time I heard it.<br />
<br />
<b>Do you feel U2 should release it as a single?</b><br />
<br />
M: I think it would definitely get people's attention. I think it would have a bit of a surprise aspect similar to what "Vertigo" had. It seems as if the more "traditional" U2 songs that have been released as singles from this record have not gotten the attention that "Vertigo" did. I would be very surprised if it was picked as a single though.<br />
<br />
K: If U2 decides to release it that would be great. If they don't, it's just as great.<br />
<br />
<b>Should U2 play "Fast Cars" at every Vertigo show?</b><br />
<br />
M: I don?t think they should play it at every single show, certainly not in cities where they are playing multiple dates. However, I do think that it should remain on set list rotation along with other songs such as "Discotheque."<br />
<br />
K: No. "Fast Cars" is a welcomed surprise to hardcore U2 fans. However, having <br />
it played at every show would make people get tired of it very soon.<br />
<br />
<b>How did you get Bono's attention initially, to then get pulled up on stage?</b><br />
<br />
M: I have this dorky sign that I have carried with me to five shows, counting both of the Chicago shows in September. Though the sign offers "Free Spanish Lessons & Mysterious Dances" I never thought I would ever be asked to actually give either of those. And out of those two, I certainly did not expect the dancing. I am 5'10" and, well, there have not been that many girls of that height ever asked to dance as far as I know. On a best-case scenario I was just looking to make them smile and maybe get Bono to sing a line or two to me. A terribly fangirl thing to do, I know.<br />
<br />
At the September 20th show, just as "All Because of You" had ended, I hear Bono say "Free Spanish lessons ?" At that particular instance, I was looking in Adam's direction. I whipped my head extremely fast to find that Bono was walking over to me and looking down on the security pit trying to read the rest of my sign. He finished reading it and hovered directly above me on the stage. He said something like, "I want you to say something in Spanish for me." He then paused to think about what he wanted me to say and said something. He said it and then shoved the microphone, which I of course did not fully understand. I must have given him the "me no speaky English" face again so he repeated it. "There can be more than one first time." I translated it, not perfectly since it didn't compute that he meant the song "The First Time," so there was a better translation I could have done, but it was definitely better than the first time he asked me to speak. This just proves just how generous Bono is. He knew from speaking with me for a minute that I was horrified at myself and he managed to find two different ways to make me forget about it.<br />
<br />
At the next night?s show, as the first chords of the song starting, I turned to Kimla and said, "This is 'Fast Cars'" and started to do some sort of flamenco clapping for no good reason. Like all the other people on the front row, I started to sing along and thoroughly enjoy the song. After the first verse as Bono is swaying to the music, he looks at me and in one split second he made a move toward me and said "Come on." Then the autopilot kicked in. I immediately turned my back toward the barrier and jumped on to it. As we danced, I seemingly super-glued my forehead to his temple during a good portion of the song, he asked me to speak Spanish to him to which I again gave him the "Say what?" look, we danced some more, he asked for my name twice, though I did not hear him so what did I do? I kissed him on the cheek and ran for the hills. By then I think I was afraid of security coming to tackle me off the stage. <br />
<br />
<img src="http://forum.interference.com/gallery/data//585/11265BonoMiroslava20050921.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<i>(Image courtesy of Miroslava)</i><br />
<br />
K: For me, my Jamaica T-shirt got his attention. He saw it in Chicago. I was in the front row of the ellipse for both Chicago shows. I got scanned into the ellipse, again, at MSG. Bono came over to me about three times during the show. The first time he came over during either "Elevation" or "Vertigo" and he was trying to speak to me with a Jamaican accent. It sounded so wrong that I ended up laughing the whole time and never really heard exactly what he said. The second time he came over during "Beautiful Day" and shook my hand. I thought, "I could die happy now knowing that I had two Bono <br />
moments." The third time, during a verse of "Fast Cars," he came over and patted his butt while singing, "Picture in your pocket ..." The last time, there was a break in the song and he was scanning the front row and his eyes stopped on me. He pointed to me and, as they say, the rest is history.<br />
<br />
<b>Did he say anything to either of you while you were together?</b><br />
<br />
M: At first, he said, "Speak Spanish to me baby," so I did, and then he said, "Keep talking, I think I like it." After I said more, he added, "Do it again," then I did a little scream but, of course, I did not understand what he was saying. After the dance, he said, "Muchas gracias" and then, "What's your name?" But he didn't understand it, of course.<br />
<br />
K: He didn't have a conversation with me like he did with Miroslava, however <br />
when I was leaving the stage he said, "The girl from Jah-may-cah!"<br />
<br />
<b>Both of you seemed very comfortable dancing with Bono up there. What is it about Bono that makes you feel that way?</b><br />
<br />
M: It is hard to describe, but pretty much everyone that has had the chance to meet him, even for a few seconds, comes away feeling the same way. He has a way to make you feel like you have his undivided attention.<br />
<br />
K: I don't want anyone to mistake this, dancing on stage with the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee is the most totally intimidating and nerve-wracking thing [I?ve] ever done. However, from the first time I heard "Fast Cars," the song made me want to dance. I would dance along with that song on my U2 iPod at home. Therefore, when Bono decided he wanted someone on stage, dancing felt natural. Now, when Bono pulled me close for a slow dance that was a different story. Bono has amazing charisma. He has a knack of staring intently on you and making you feel like you are the only person in an arena filled with people.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://forum.interference.com/gallery/data//585/11265Pic-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<i>(Image courtesy of Kimla)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Further, both of you seemed so natural up there dancing in front of tens of thousands of fellow U2 fans. How did you feel? What was going through your mind?</b><br />
<br />
M: What tens of thousands of fellow fans? I think I developed tunnel vision the second I hit that stage. I remember finally seeing some faces at the end of the dance, but prior to that I was not conscious of the crowd. I mean, I was not even conscious of the rest of the band. At some point Edge caught my eye over Bono's shoulder and we exchanged smiles, but other than that there was no other interaction. As far as what was going through my mind, well, it was a combination of things, which mostly involved a combination of the following: "Please do not fall down," "Oh Lord," "He's right there. Why are you trying to go over there?" "What do I do next?" "Did he say he wants me to speak Spanish? Do I know how to do that?" and "Oh my God." None of those in any particular order.<br />
<br />
K: When Bono made eye contact with me and pointed to me, all the blood drained from my body. None of my limbs were cooperating because I couldn't pull myself over the rail. Once I got on stage, I remember nothing of what happened next. I do remember becoming really calm and I started dancing, or at least trying to dance. People paid money to see a rock and roll show so I wanted to put on a show. So many thoughts ran through my head: My cell phone was ringing so my pocket was vibrating; Bono was controlling the movements to a restricted space on stage; I know how to belly dance but not how to flamenco dance; don't have a meltdown on stage.<br />
<br />
At one point he leaned in and gave me one of the softest, sweetest hugs. That almost did me in. I saw a little video clip where I did a curtsy at the end of my performance. I couldn?t believe I had the presence of mind to do that. I seriously don't even remember doing it. Once I was back over the rail, I was shaking all over and everyone was trying to talk to me at once. I had fun. As long as Bono had fun too then my mission was complete.<br />
<br />
<b>What would either of you like to say to Bono and U2 after you've now had these amazing experiences?</b><br />
<br />
M: I had one major goal at the start of the tour. And that was to meet Bono so I could shake his hand, thank him for everything he does on and off the stage, and if fortune smiled upon me, maybe get a hug while doing so. That opportunity was afforded to me pretty early on the tour. However, nothing has really changed since then. I still would just like to say an all-encompassing "thank you" for being just the way he is. And, well, maybe I would tell him my name.<br />
<br />
K: I would love to ask Bono just one question: Did you have as much fun as I did?
<b>By Carrie Alison, Chief Editor<br />
2005.10</b><br />
<br />
<br />
U2?s first hip-shaking dance song in possibly 10 years is probably something you haven?t heard yet if you don?t dig through its extensive unreleased track archives, surf message boards or own the limited edition of ?How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.?<br />
<br /><!--more-->
It's called "Fast Cars" and is receiving the kind of mass dance party reaction usually reserved for U2's other obvious dance songs?"Discotheque" and "Mysterious Ways," neither of which have had regular rotation on Vertigo Tour set lists to varying fan reaction. <br />
<br />
Though it doesn't have the "boom cha" the girls love or the Village People-esque video treatment?in fact it doesn't have a video at all, yet (director Lian Lunson was spotted filming a performance of the song in Toronto)?"Fast Cars" is becoming the sort of word-of-mouth phenomenon U2 hasn't seen at concerts in ages.<br />
<br />
What's the big deal?<br />
<br />
Let's start with Edge's deliciously sexy Spanish-tinged guitar work, Bono's rapid-fire verse talking about pictures in pockets, cell phones ringing and someone in the desert ?to dismantle an atomic bomb.? He claims, ?I know these fast cars will do me no good.? You get a vision from the undeniable guitar rhythm of the members of U2 in a sexy car or limo on a Friday night zooming around Miami or Manhattan going from one hot party to the next. It?s all high speed and rollicking good times. Interested yet?<br />
<br />
Well, you should be because chances are you might just hear the song during the encore portion of any given Vertigo show given the audience reception to the song. Clearly U2 enjoy playing it; Bono even brings the ladies up on stage to dance with him. If the song gains any more traction with fans, we might just see a full-blown tango break out on stage come December. But by then it?ll be too late as the tour ends in Portland on the 19th.<br />
<br />
Miroslava, 28, from Michigan by way of Mexico and Spain, and Kimla, 29, from New York and Chicago by way of Jamaica, have been lucky enough to get their groove on beside Bono during "Fast Cars" at shows in Chicago and New York, respectively. They are also good friends who first met in May outside the loading docks of Madison Square Garden and, in testament to the unique bonds forged by U2 fans, have been close ever since?even traveling to Dublin this summer for U2's three-show run at Croke Park.<br />
<br />
Miroslava and Kimla spoke with Interference.com about the song's burgeoning popularity, why it makes your hips move and what it?s like to dance with the world's biggest rock star.<br />
<br />
<b>Just what is it about "Fast Cars" that makes you want to dance?</b><br />
<br />
Miroslava: Well, prior to this, I don't think I ever thought, "Ooh 'Fast Cars.' Let's dance!" Obviously, I liked the rhythm of it and was very much aware of the Spanish/Moorish undertones but it?s not like I had ever danced to it around the house. I guess that having seen enough U2 shows and having witnessed "Fast Cars" in Toronto I knew that if Bono was pulling a girl up there during this song, it was to dance. <br />
<br />
Kimla: It's Larry's syncopated drumbeat with Edge's Flamenco-styled guitar sounds. It just makes me want to move the same way "Mysterious Ways" made me want to dance. I fell in love with "Fast Cars" the first time I heard it.<br />
<br />
<b>Do you feel U2 should release it as a single?</b><br />
<br />
M: I think it would definitely get people's attention. I think it would have a bit of a surprise aspect similar to what "Vertigo" had. It seems as if the more "traditional" U2 songs that have been released as singles from this record have not gotten the attention that "Vertigo" did. I would be very surprised if it was picked as a single though.<br />
<br />
K: If U2 decides to release it that would be great. If they don't, it's just as great.<br />
<br />
<b>Should U2 play "Fast Cars" at every Vertigo show?</b><br />
<br />
M: I don?t think they should play it at every single show, certainly not in cities where they are playing multiple dates. However, I do think that it should remain on set list rotation along with other songs such as "Discotheque."<br />
<br />
K: No. "Fast Cars" is a welcomed surprise to hardcore U2 fans. However, having <br />
it played at every show would make people get tired of it very soon.<br />
<br />
<b>How did you get Bono's attention initially, to then get pulled up on stage?</b><br />
<br />
M: I have this dorky sign that I have carried with me to five shows, counting both of the Chicago shows in September. Though the sign offers "Free Spanish Lessons & Mysterious Dances" I never thought I would ever be asked to actually give either of those. And out of those two, I certainly did not expect the dancing. I am 5'10" and, well, there have not been that many girls of that height ever asked to dance as far as I know. On a best-case scenario I was just looking to make them smile and maybe get Bono to sing a line or two to me. A terribly fangirl thing to do, I know.<br />
<br />
At the September 20th show, just as "All Because of You" had ended, I hear Bono say "Free Spanish lessons ?" At that particular instance, I was looking in Adam's direction. I whipped my head extremely fast to find that Bono was walking over to me and looking down on the security pit trying to read the rest of my sign. He finished reading it and hovered directly above me on the stage. He said something like, "I want you to say something in Spanish for me." He then paused to think about what he wanted me to say and said something. He said it and then shoved the microphone, which I of course did not fully understand. I must have given him the "me no speaky English" face again so he repeated it. "There can be more than one first time." I translated it, not perfectly since it didn't compute that he meant the song "The First Time," so there was a better translation I could have done, but it was definitely better than the first time he asked me to speak. This just proves just how generous Bono is. He knew from speaking with me for a minute that I was horrified at myself and he managed to find two different ways to make me forget about it.<br />
<br />
At the next night?s show, as the first chords of the song starting, I turned to Kimla and said, "This is 'Fast Cars'" and started to do some sort of flamenco clapping for no good reason. Like all the other people on the front row, I started to sing along and thoroughly enjoy the song. After the first verse as Bono is swaying to the music, he looks at me and in one split second he made a move toward me and said "Come on." Then the autopilot kicked in. I immediately turned my back toward the barrier and jumped on to it. As we danced, I seemingly super-glued my forehead to his temple during a good portion of the song, he asked me to speak Spanish to him to which I again gave him the "Say what?" look, we danced some more, he asked for my name twice, though I did not hear him so what did I do? I kissed him on the cheek and ran for the hills. By then I think I was afraid of security coming to tackle me off the stage. <br />
<br />
<img src="http://forum.interference.com/gallery/data//585/11265BonoMiroslava20050921.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<i>(Image courtesy of Miroslava)</i><br />
<br />
K: For me, my Jamaica T-shirt got his attention. He saw it in Chicago. I was in the front row of the ellipse for both Chicago shows. I got scanned into the ellipse, again, at MSG. Bono came over to me about three times during the show. The first time he came over during either "Elevation" or "Vertigo" and he was trying to speak to me with a Jamaican accent. It sounded so wrong that I ended up laughing the whole time and never really heard exactly what he said. The second time he came over during "Beautiful Day" and shook my hand. I thought, "I could die happy now knowing that I had two Bono <br />
moments." The third time, during a verse of "Fast Cars," he came over and patted his butt while singing, "Picture in your pocket ..." The last time, there was a break in the song and he was scanning the front row and his eyes stopped on me. He pointed to me and, as they say, the rest is history.<br />
<br />
<b>Did he say anything to either of you while you were together?</b><br />
<br />
M: At first, he said, "Speak Spanish to me baby," so I did, and then he said, "Keep talking, I think I like it." After I said more, he added, "Do it again," then I did a little scream but, of course, I did not understand what he was saying. After the dance, he said, "Muchas gracias" and then, "What's your name?" But he didn't understand it, of course.<br />
<br />
K: He didn't have a conversation with me like he did with Miroslava, however <br />
when I was leaving the stage he said, "The girl from Jah-may-cah!"<br />
<br />
<b>Both of you seemed very comfortable dancing with Bono up there. What is it about Bono that makes you feel that way?</b><br />
<br />
M: It is hard to describe, but pretty much everyone that has had the chance to meet him, even for a few seconds, comes away feeling the same way. He has a way to make you feel like you have his undivided attention.<br />
<br />
K: I don't want anyone to mistake this, dancing on stage with the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee is the most totally intimidating and nerve-wracking thing [I?ve] ever done. However, from the first time I heard "Fast Cars," the song made me want to dance. I would dance along with that song on my U2 iPod at home. Therefore, when Bono decided he wanted someone on stage, dancing felt natural. Now, when Bono pulled me close for a slow dance that was a different story. Bono has amazing charisma. He has a knack of staring intently on you and making you feel like you are the only person in an arena filled with people.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://forum.interference.com/gallery/data//585/11265Pic-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<i>(Image courtesy of Kimla)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Further, both of you seemed so natural up there dancing in front of tens of thousands of fellow U2 fans. How did you feel? What was going through your mind?</b><br />
<br />
M: What tens of thousands of fellow fans? I think I developed tunnel vision the second I hit that stage. I remember finally seeing some faces at the end of the dance, but prior to that I was not conscious of the crowd. I mean, I was not even conscious of the rest of the band. At some point Edge caught my eye over Bono's shoulder and we exchanged smiles, but other than that there was no other interaction. As far as what was going through my mind, well, it was a combination of things, which mostly involved a combination of the following: "Please do not fall down," "Oh Lord," "He's right there. Why are you trying to go over there?" "What do I do next?" "Did he say he wants me to speak Spanish? Do I know how to do that?" and "Oh my God." None of those in any particular order.<br />
<br />
K: When Bono made eye contact with me and pointed to me, all the blood drained from my body. None of my limbs were cooperating because I couldn't pull myself over the rail. Once I got on stage, I remember nothing of what happened next. I do remember becoming really calm and I started dancing, or at least trying to dance. People paid money to see a rock and roll show so I wanted to put on a show. So many thoughts ran through my head: My cell phone was ringing so my pocket was vibrating; Bono was controlling the movements to a restricted space on stage; I know how to belly dance but not how to flamenco dance; don't have a meltdown on stage.<br />
<br />
At one point he leaned in and gave me one of the softest, sweetest hugs. That almost did me in. I saw a little video clip where I did a curtsy at the end of my performance. I couldn?t believe I had the presence of mind to do that. I seriously don't even remember doing it. Once I was back over the rail, I was shaking all over and everyone was trying to talk to me at once. I had fun. As long as Bono had fun too then my mission was complete.<br />
<br />
<b>What would either of you like to say to Bono and U2 after you've now had these amazing experiences?</b><br />
<br />
M: I had one major goal at the start of the tour. And that was to meet Bono so I could shake his hand, thank him for everything he does on and off the stage, and if fortune smiled upon me, maybe get a hug while doing so. That opportunity was afforded to me pretty early on the tour. However, nothing has really changed since then. I still would just like to say an all-encompassing "thank you" for being just the way he is. And, well, maybe I would tell him my name.<br />
<br />
K: I would love to ask Bono just one question: Did you have as much fun as I did?
Last edited:
Congrats ladies!
Good story
(Oh, and ya know, I wanted to get people talking about Fast Cars!)
