Theory - ALL MY LIFE = THE DEPARTED

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Clawgrabber

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So, let's think in real terms here for a second.
1. there is no U2 album coming out in 2006. If there was, there would be MAD buzz all over the place, just like the other times they have released albums. We would already know the single art, the tracklist, etc...

so, assuming, for the good of the argument that there is indeed a ONE OFF single coming next month (not likely, but perhaps it hits radio in LATE september and is released later on to the masses.. this makes it a bit more believable).

So, let's think: what would the single be for? And we can rule out a new song tie in for a DVD release of a concert that was recorded 13 years ago. We all know that is a ridiculous concept at best.

So where is the song going to come from? It leaves only three possibilities.

a. a single. just a plain old single with no album tie in. PRO: U2 is embracing the concept of iTunes even further by simply releasing a single to release a single, and to promote the new technology. CON: not likely, as the practice of releasing a single by itself with no album to anchor it is an outdated practice that hasn't occurred for decades (barring a few specific examples, like Pearl Jam and a few Techno artists). Today the only time a band really does this is to promote a greatest hits package.

b. a compilation. think "red hot and blue" (Night And Day). PRO: none worth mentioning. this idea is far fetched. Unless there is a charity album coming out, but charity albums are notoriously unsuccessful, and U2 has never released a SINGLE from one. CON: just about everything. Night And Day wasn't technically a single. Releasing a single from a compilation almost guarantees that it is unsuccessful.

c. a soundtrack. think "Million Dollar Hotel" "Gangs Of New York" "Batman Forever" (and a lot more if you just count Bono's solo stuff). That would mean picking a film that they would have some sort of attachment to. Namely one directed by someone they have worked with before, Anton Corbijn, Phil Joanau, Martin Scorsese, Joel Schumacher, Wim Wenders, Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan.

So what films are coming out around that time period. Checking the complete release schedule for the fall, there are only two that come up as possibilities:

1. Gridiron Gang. WHY?: directed by Phil Joanau. Director of several U2 videos, Rattle and hum, his other films have U2 in the film's music track (even if they arent on the soundtrack) and they were actually IN entropy. WHY NOT? The movie is about a gang of inmates who join a football team. Not exactly U2's forte of film. Then again, the same could be said about Batman. But a film like this, in terms of business, will most likely attempt to market its soundtrack with hip hop fans a la 8 Mile.

2. The Departed. WHY? directed by Martin Scorsese. Longtime friend of U2, and collaborator on Gangs Of New York. Last time they wrote a song for him they were nominated for A Golden Globe (which they won) and an Oscar (which they didn't win. and from interviews, Bono and Edge have both said that, yes, they really did want to win an Oscar. So maybe this will be attempt #2). Also, the film's subject is this:

"Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Boston State Police department and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities."

so this one seems the most likely of all possiblities.


What does that mean...

In most realistic terms, IF U2 is IN FACT releasing a ONE OFF SINGLE in SEPTEMBER, it will be:
a. LATE SEPTEMBER - Radio only
that is the only real possibility. Perhaps retail later. Itunes only?
b. FROM A SOUNDTRACK - We would have heard about an album by now, and we would know the tracklist
c. FROM THE DEPARTED - having scoured the entire fall release schedule, it is the only realistic possibility for a U2 song anchored soundtrack. Scorsese is notorious for his music selection, and they already have an existing working relationship.

That, and and ALL MY LIFE definitely sounds (in my opinion) like a CLOSING CREDIT song. One of bittersweet finality. While some might say that may seem a bit emotional for a movie about undercover cops, I would bring to the table that all of Scorsese's films have that undercurrent of emotion, even the ones that are mostly about violence. (just think how strange it sounded when we found out U2 would be writing a new song for a violent film about gang wars in the 19th century)

Well, that is my two cents. I just wanted to bing my thoughts out. It seems to me that while the specific movie may not be exactly correct, the rest of this argument is really the only viable option given the extreme lack of prerelease hype we have heard thus far.
 
I agree with almost everything you said. Your analysis of the Septemeber single is a very good theory. However, I don't think All My Life is the song. I don't think it fits the film's theme at all, and I bet it will just end up on the next album if it doesn't disappear altogether.
 
I can see what you mean thematically...

mostly, it is the edge's strangely straightforward rock guitar solo that reminded me of GIMME SHELTER by the stones, a song that scorsese regularly uses (casino, the most recent Departed preview)...

sonically, it sounds the most like a scorsese tune of all the songs on the beach clips. i'm sticking with my theory.
 
My theory is U2 will come out with an I-tunes only release. Support the new technology and you don't need the extra promotion work like a usual "album single", not even a video.
 
I think some PR buzz will be needed for the new book - look at how they promoted HTDAAB when it came out. A single/soundtrack would be a good vehicle for this, among other methods of generating publicity.
 
Clawgrabber, I think you are 66.7% correct. It probably will be a soundtrack and likely for The Departed. However, I think the song that will go on the movie is Mercy. It makes perfect sense. Watch the trailer without sound and listen to Mercy over the trailer. After that you might see what I'm talking about. :wink:
 
Hey, now there is an idea.

That would be amazing.
Mercy would be awesome as a one off single. That would mean we'd finally get to hear it in its finished form.

but still, something tells me they will save that song as the lynchpin for the next album. it just seems like too big a hand to just lay out on the table for a movie soundtrack.
 
I would puke if i hear mercy on a soundtrack. ALways said it in the past and always will say it I HATE mercy with a passion and don't see what the big hype about this song is all about. Now if they put "I believe" now THATS a great song! Mercy should be thrown in the garbage. Forget about Mercy I don't think it will ever make the light of day. Why would it?? U2 already knows it was leaked a long time ago. It just wouldn't make any sense!
 
dabiggestu2fan said:
Forget about Mercy I don't think it will ever make the light of day. Why would it?? U2 already knows it was leaked a long time ago. It just wouldn't make any sense!

Coldplay's Talk was also already known to fans long before X&Y came out. The band changed some things about it, put it on the album and eventually it became a huge hit. Does that make sense? :eyebrow:
 
dabiggestu2fan said:
I would puke if i hear mercy on a soundtrack. ALways said it in the past and always will say it I HATE mercy with a passion and don't see what the big hype about this song is all about. Now if they put "I believe" now THATS a great song! Mercy should be thrown in the garbage. Forget about Mercy I don't think it will ever make the light of day. Why would it?? U2 already knows it was leaked a long time ago. It just wouldn't make any sense!

So you've heard the finished version already, eh? You know, the one that people were actually meant to hear instead of a sketchbook with lyrics that were used in other U2 songs ("sugar and weedkiller", I'm looking at you...)
:wink: :lmao:

Seriously, I'd rather have it on an album, since it probably wouldn't get much concert time if it was just a soundtrack song, but I wouldn't mind hearing it play during a movie's credits.
 
LemonMelon said:

Seriously, I'd rather have it on an album, since it probably wouldn't get much concert time if it was just a soundtrack song, but I wouldn't mind hearing it play during a movie's credits.

Stay, Until The End Of The World and HMTMKMKM were all songs written for or at least put on a soundtrack and were played live. So maybe it would get a spot in the setlist and probably on the next album, too. Anything would be better than having it relegated to b-side status.
 
Stay and Until The End of the World were also both highlights on the albums their tours promoted after release.
 
Lancemc said:
Stay and Until The End of the World were also both highlights on the albums their tours promoted after release.

Stay at least was put on the album after it was written for a soundtrack. It only made it because they happened to be making an album at the time. If HMTMKMKM had been written around the time of POP it probably would have been on the album. So your point is kind of mute because they just as easily could have been created nowhere near when they were making an album and still have been played live.
Actually, I believe every song the band made for a soundtrack has been played or used as a snippet.
 
Screwtape2 said:

Actually, I believe every song the band made for a soundtrack has been played or used as a snippet.

Unfortunately, this isn't entirely true, and it doubly sucks because one of the 5 U2 songs I'd like to hear live but have never been played is Stateless...:drool:
 
Interesting theory, but there will be no music from u2 in the scorcese's movie. The Departed is now in post-production and will be released in oct in usa and nov in europe.

At IMDB.com are all details from the movie but not that a u2 song will be the soundtrack. Even on the message board is no talk about u2. It's: Comfortably numb by Van Morrison.

So I think u2 will release a single in september/october but just a single and nothing more, just like electrical storm in 2002.
 
I hope they don't waste All My Life as a soundtrack song. It definitely could do well either on an album or as a one-off single.

IMO, Thank You should be the one that could be wasted on a soundtrack. Definitely the least inspiring/interesting song of the 4(5), and also could work well as a credits-closer.
 
Lancemc said:
Stay and Until The End of the World were also both highlights on the albums their tours promoted after release.

they used different mixes of both songs on the soundtracks as well.
 
Clawgrabber said:
So, let's think in real terms here for a second.
1. there is no U2 album coming out in 2006. If there was, there would be MAD buzz all over the place, just like the other times they have released albums. We would already know the single art, the tracklist, etc...

so, assuming, for the good of the argument that there is indeed a ONE OFF single coming next month (not likely, but perhaps it hits radio in LATE september and is released later on to the masses.. this makes it a bit more believable).

So, let's think: what would the single be for? And we can rule out a new song tie in for a DVD release of a concert that was recorded 13 years ago. We all know that is a ridiculous concept at best.

So where is the song going to come from? It leaves only three possibilities.

a. a single. just a plain old single with no album tie in. PRO: U2 is embracing the concept of iTunes even further by simply releasing a single to release a single, and to promote the new technology. CON: not likely, as the practice of releasing a single by itself with no album to anchor it is an outdated practice that hasn't occurred for decades (barring a few specific examples, like Pearl Jam and a few Techno artists). Today the only time a band really does this is to promote a greatest hits package.

b. a compilation. think "red hot and blue" (Night And Day). PRO: none worth mentioning. this idea is far fetched. Unless there is a charity album coming out, but charity albums are notoriously unsuccessful, and U2 has never released a SINGLE from one. CON: just about everything. Night And Day wasn't technically a single. Releasing a single from a compilation almost guarantees that it is unsuccessful.

c. a soundtrack. think "Million Dollar Hotel" "Gangs Of New York" "Batman Forever" (and a lot more if you just count Bono's solo stuff). That would mean picking a film that they would have some sort of attachment to. Namely one directed by someone they have worked with before, Anton Corbijn, Phil Joanau, Martin Scorsese, Joel Schumacher, Wim Wenders, Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan.

So what films are coming out around that time period. Checking the complete release schedule for the fall, there are only two that come up as possibilities:

1. Gridiron Gang. WHY?: directed by Phil Joanau. Director of several U2 videos, Rattle and hum, his other films have U2 in the film's music track (even if they arent on the soundtrack) and they were actually IN entropy. WHY NOT? The movie is about a gang of inmates who join a football team. Not exactly U2's forte of film. Then again, the same could be said about Batman. But a film like this, in terms of business, will most likely attempt to market its soundtrack with hip hop fans a la 8 Mile.

2. The Departed. WHY? directed by Martin Scorsese. Longtime friend of U2, and collaborator on Gangs Of New York. Last time they wrote a song for him they were nominated for A Golden Globe (which they won) and an Oscar (which they didn't win. and from interviews, Bono and Edge have both said that, yes, they really did want to win an Oscar. So maybe this will be attempt #2). Also, the film's subject is this:

"Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Boston State Police department and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities."

so this one seems the most likely of all possiblities.


What does that mean...

In most realistic terms, IF U2 is IN FACT releasing a ONE OFF SINGLE in SEPTEMBER, it will be:
a. LATE SEPTEMBER - Radio only
that is the only real possibility. Perhaps retail later. Itunes only?
b. FROM A SOUNDTRACK - We would have heard about an album by now, and we would know the tracklist
c. FROM THE DEPARTED - having scoured the entire fall release schedule, it is the only realistic possibility for a U2 song anchored soundtrack. Scorsese is notorious for his music selection, and they already have an existing working relationship.

That, and and ALL MY LIFE definitely sounds (in my opinion) like a CLOSING CREDIT song. One of bittersweet finality. While some might say that may seem a bit emotional for a movie about undercover cops, I would bring to the table that all of Scorsese's films have that undercurrent of emotion, even the ones that are mostly about violence. (just think how strange it sounded when we found out U2 would be writing a new song for a violent film about gang wars in the 19th century)

Well, that is my two cents. I just wanted to bing my thoughts out. It seems to me that while the specific movie may not be exactly correct, the rest of this argument is really the only viable option given the extreme lack of prerelease hype we have heard thus far.

You forgot "Across the universe" (november 2006), if Bono has a small role in it and if U2 record in Abbey Road, it would make sense to write a song or to cover a Beatles song for this movie.
 
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