oceane
Refugee
I don't want to bring up the argument of the (now closed) thread again, but reading those posts made me think about Vertigo's guitar signature and Edge's guitar playing in general, so I wanted to comment on it.
When I first heard the 'solo' in Vertigo, I first thought "Wow, this is simple, to say the least. Why didn't Edge pull out a 'real' solo in there?" But the fact is, it's now the part that I'm waiting for in the song, and it just makes me want to put my arms up and jump!
As it has been said many times already, the question has never been how 'complicated' or 'innovative' a particular sound of riff is, but how it makes the listener feel, or how well it fits with the song. This has always been Edge's force, to play a lot when a lot is needed, and sometimes to let just a note or two do all the work.
About 10 years ago I heard WOWY on the radio, and when it came to the last part when Edge comes in with those very simple chords and Larry starts again, I thought "Wow. This is IT. This is exactly what I wanted to hear there." I literally had my 'U2 Revelation' at this moment, and my entire love story with U2 can be drawn back to those three simple chords, essentially supporting the base line. I was just blown away, precisely because it was not trying to be complicated just for the sake of it.
It's like Keith Haring's work (American painter). In a way his paintings are very simple, almost childish, and he was made fun of at the beginning by some art critics because of that. But there is something in his paintings which just goes straight to the point, and that's why (among other things) he is now so famous and has touched so many people. When I look at these paintings I see all the most basic, important things in life: love, peace, friendship, joy, and that is also how Haring saw them I supposed given how he named them.
Now, I'm not comparing The Edge to Keith Haring, because as we all know, he has often relied on more than simple, straight-forward chords, and has played very complex guitar melodies too. But only when it was necessary to bring out the right emotion. Same can be said of Bono's singing and songwriting. Although he has used deep metaphores often, sometimes he will say the most simple, straight-forward thing, but he always sings it likes he wants to tell us "Listen, this is important."
I think Vertigo is the perfect example of that kind of straight-forward, not overly complicated guitar playing, and probably why we all love it so much.
(Ok, so I almost didn't post this because Edge is now on Interference and this really looks like sucking up, but I mean it... )
When I first heard the 'solo' in Vertigo, I first thought "Wow, this is simple, to say the least. Why didn't Edge pull out a 'real' solo in there?" But the fact is, it's now the part that I'm waiting for in the song, and it just makes me want to put my arms up and jump!
As it has been said many times already, the question has never been how 'complicated' or 'innovative' a particular sound of riff is, but how it makes the listener feel, or how well it fits with the song. This has always been Edge's force, to play a lot when a lot is needed, and sometimes to let just a note or two do all the work.
About 10 years ago I heard WOWY on the radio, and when it came to the last part when Edge comes in with those very simple chords and Larry starts again, I thought "Wow. This is IT. This is exactly what I wanted to hear there." I literally had my 'U2 Revelation' at this moment, and my entire love story with U2 can be drawn back to those three simple chords, essentially supporting the base line. I was just blown away, precisely because it was not trying to be complicated just for the sake of it.
It's like Keith Haring's work (American painter). In a way his paintings are very simple, almost childish, and he was made fun of at the beginning by some art critics because of that. But there is something in his paintings which just goes straight to the point, and that's why (among other things) he is now so famous and has touched so many people. When I look at these paintings I see all the most basic, important things in life: love, peace, friendship, joy, and that is also how Haring saw them I supposed given how he named them.
Now, I'm not comparing The Edge to Keith Haring, because as we all know, he has often relied on more than simple, straight-forward chords, and has played very complex guitar melodies too. But only when it was necessary to bring out the right emotion. Same can be said of Bono's singing and songwriting. Although he has used deep metaphores often, sometimes he will say the most simple, straight-forward thing, but he always sings it likes he wants to tell us "Listen, this is important."
I think Vertigo is the perfect example of that kind of straight-forward, not overly complicated guitar playing, and probably why we all love it so much.
(Ok, so I almost didn't post this because Edge is now on Interference and this really looks like sucking up, but I mean it... )
out there, if Edge ever noticed me he probably thinks I’m an ass kisser or that I just want his attention or something. 
But the thing is that it feels so good to listen to a new song from my favorite band and it helps that it kicks ass! 
Its just like most of U2's albums, something a little different, yet you know its U2.
!!"
