Clawgrabber
War Child
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 CON: not likely, as the practice of releasing a single by itself with no album to anchor it is an outdated practice that hasn't occurred for decades (barring a few specific examples, like Pearl Jam and a few Techno artists).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.
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.