The song that defines U2's sound??

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I think Streets would be deemed an excellent example of the "U2 sound". The militristic driving drums....thundering bassline, layered guitar sound and of course the big singalong chorus.
 
Magnificent is a good choice for reasons previously cited along with shades of Bono's goofy/sloppy (in some cases) penmanship that's been there all throughout. Brilliant concept, frustratingly tarnished (for me) by "after that I haven't had a clue" < my only real problem with the song.

however, I do think for the most part of the 80's/90's and some gems in the naughties, Bono was a seriously good lyricist - that's usually how I got most people to latch on to U2. Were I to pick something representative of U2, it wouldn't be Magnificent.

One problem I've got with the new album (I know this isn't the right place to express this, but I rarely post so I'm just going to put it here) is that I haven't listened to it in more than a month. That's never happened to me before with a U2 album. In the end, I believe No Line On The Horizon is a somewhat boring. For me, personally, they need some of that passion (forlorn love, political grand-standing, strong - perhaps even questionable - opinionating) - all this goodie-two shoes, "love and god will heal all" is enough for me now.

The yester-year U2 seemed to have/ask more questions, today's U2, I just cannot relate to much anymore.

But God, do I love them. They've been an anchor in my life the past 15 years. Unfortunately I've cause to lament for the last song of that I really loved was Original of the Species.


PS - I'm allowed to express criticism for my favorite band as long as they aren't guised as fact and, are my own personal opinions. I realize some folk need U2 to be so great/wonderful/larger than life, that any critique offends them. I'm not one of those types. This is but my personal opinion and YES, I've listened to every song of theirs through their entire catalogue MULTIPLE TIMES, so I cannot be convinced, reasoned, or bludgeoned into thinking otherwise.
 
phillyfan26 said:
Easy: Bad. It's no contest.
Click to expand...

:up:

I mentioned Streets and Magnificent as songs that defines U2´s sound previoulsy and I did not mention Bad because for me this song is something like...the soul of U2... I mean...is much more than just "a song that defines U2´s sound".

When U2 comes to my mind Bad is the first song that echoes back.. and it has echoed for so long....

sound & soul = maybe they have the same meaning, in this case.:cool:
 
This thread is going from u2's defining song to favorite songs. "Defining song" for u2 goes in so many different directions. I found that no matter what the era people generally know its "a u2 song" from the beginning.

My friend described U2 songs as extremely linear, not changing. For example Bad. He said its the same thing over and over again just the band playing soft to hard, Bono going from low to high. Which is funny because i kinda agree with him.
 
I'm gonna have to go with PLEASE. The angst, the political, the ecstasy, the wailing, the chiming, the military drumming, the throbbing bass, the climax.

The End.
 
What I love about U2 is that I don't think they have a defining sound. While they may focus on a particular sound on any given album or in any era, over the life of their catalogue, they pretty much run the gamut.
 
VintagePunk said:
What I love about U2 is that I don't think they have a defining sound. While they may focus on a particular sound on any given album or in any era, over the life of their catalogue, they pretty much run the gamut.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I had in mind when I started this thread. U2 has no sound. they have many. A song and sound for every mood and state of mind. :D
 
I don't know this song really defines their sound so much as it seems to be the foundation for it, but I think Scarlet is one of the clearest and unmitigated examples of U2 at their most U2-ish. Each part that would later become essential to their sound collectively as a band is distinctly heard and identified: Larry's rolling drumbeats, the depth of Adam's bass, Edge's chimes, and the longing and confidence in Bono's voice. The result overall has that bittersweetness to it, joy and sadness at the same time, that I think lays at the heart of their bigger songs, the Streets and Prides.

The lyric is obviously most commonly read as religious, but i think it's still ambiguous enough to be read with any religious stigma attached to it - somewhat, I think, like the band. They've never kept their Christianity a secret, but they don't define themselves as a Christian band, and Bono keeps his lyrics to this day, for the most part, ambiguous enough to be read equally in any manner.

Overall, it's U2 at its most simplistic, yet at its most powerful, an unlikely combination that I think really defines the band.
 
"Where The Streets Has No Name"

Why?

Have you been to a show? That is why - the reaction it still gets from crowd. Many have said, as I, that they still get chills when they hear it.

The sound of it?

The short answer? Bruce said it best at the R&R Hall of Fame induction:
"The Edge, The Edge, The Edge!"

The longer answer? Adam's throbbing bass, Larry's military drums, Bono's passionate vocal and lyric and the 3-D sonic landscape that IS "The Edge, The Edge, The Edge"!




zooropop40 said:
If you were to pick 1 song that would sum up all of U2's sound (as in all of their decades, emotions, atmosphere rolled into one), which song would you pick? If some one has never heard of U2 and wanted to understand their style, which song would you play for them to display U2's sound??

Here is my pick

Electrical Storm (This song encompasses all of their decades and styles rolled into one)

and a close second song that defines U2 for me is:

Magnificent (once again the anthem of the early 80's, the melodic sounds from the late 80's, the techno/ electronica from the 90's, and the pure rock of the 00's)

Which song defines U2 as a band for you?
Click to expand...
 
New Year's Day. Has everything that makes a U2 song. Passionate Bono vocals, Stern drumming, Awesome bass line (that pretty much just goes over and over), Edge on guitar and piano.
 
I would pick "Pride" as this contains many key elements from U2's career:

1) Edge's delay effect is in full force;

2) Bono's soaring vocals are on complete display (Edge said this was probably Bono at the top of his open throat vocal capability);

3) The lyrics are about MLK as well as martyrs in general - thus combining political and religious thoughts.

This is what makes this a classic U2 song.

"Magnificent' is a good second choice. It lacks some of the politcal aspects, but the vagueness of the lyrics is also a signature Bono move. It allows for a religious interpretation - which again is very U2 - but also for other possible meanings. The "disco" sound shows an updated style, brining in some of both the 90's and present day U2 sounds, while we still have soaring Bono vocals.

Some other great examples:

New Year's Day (greath rhythm section)
One (multiple interpretations)
Please (great example of a slower song, yet very political song)
Bullet and/or SBS (great example of a faster political song)
Vertigo (great example of modern punk sound)
I Will Follow (great example of old punk sound and the influnced of Bono's mother's passing on his music)
Beautiful Day and/or Crazy (great examples of U2's "pop" sound)
God Part II and/or Exit (great examples of some hard core rock U2)

That's enough. :yes:
 
zooropop40 said:

Magnificent (once again the anthem of the early 80's, the melodic sounds from the late 80's, the techno/ electronica from the 90's, and the pure rock of the 00's)
Click to expand...

The only thing it doesn't have, and this is quite crucial to it being an "ultimate U2 song," is a decent chorus. There's all this potential, and then we get "only love..." , which just ruins the entire song.
 
The only song I imagine I will never tire of hearing over and over again, regardless of version, live, studio cut or radio edit, is "New Year's Day".

It still sounds as fresh as Irish Spring - unfortunately, younglings around these corridors will neither understand my use of the reference nor, a feeling of that bleak political landscape that rests between two super-powers locked in bitter embrace.
 
Streets, Pride and Walk On have the sound that most people on the street most often associate with U2.

However, the 2 defining songs for their sound are New Year's Day and Magnificent, and for the reason that everyone else mentioned them.

That is of course why it is so baffling that magnificent was not a huge hit. Like NYD, everyone is sounding their absolute best, yet the stand outs are in the rhythm section. The pulsating, driving base and fast, militant drumming anchor a soaring Edge guitar and passionate Bono vocal. I really find alot of similarities between these 2 songs. With magnificent, it has a modern sound that brings in the 90s as well.
 
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