Elvis Presley and America

LuckyNumber7 · 03-18-2011, 06:08 AM

What the devil is this song about?

I'm assuming it's got something to do with Elvis Presley, as TUF seems to have that recurring theme of U2's idols (MLK being Bono's, Elvis being Larry's).

Furthermore, is it true that Eno reversed the tracks or something to that extent from A Sort of Homecoming in the mixing for this song? The drums are the same exact thing.

I've never really looked into anything too far from TUF until now.

cobl04 · 03-18-2011, 06:11 AM

It's stream-of-consciousness nonsense, if you ask me.

coolian2 · 03-18-2011, 06:12 AM

it's stream of consciousness brilliance, tbh.

bono_212 · 03-18-2011, 06:49 AM

Not even kidding, that is like my third or fourth favorite U2 song...and the other three are from tuf as well.

cobl04 · 03-18-2011, 07:41 AM

To clarify I was talking about the lyrics, which are Bonoglese. The song's good, the last 30 seconds amazing.

LuckyNumber7 · 03-18-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bono_212

Not even kidding, that is like my third or fourth favorite U2 song...and the other three are from tuf as well.

It's quickly rising for me, and easily strengthening TUF as my favorite album.

LuckyNumber7 · 03-18-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobl04

To clarify I was talking about the lyrics, which are Bonoglese. The song's good, the last 30 seconds amazing.

Exactly! The last two or three lines are just like... wow. Stunning.

BVS · 03-18-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolian2

it's stream of consciousness brilliance, tbh.

Absolutely

bono_212 · 03-18-2011, 10:18 AM

The last "verse" is possibly my favorite thing U2/Bono has ever done.

Swan269 · 03-21-2011, 10:25 AM

you are right...the drums are from a sort of homecoming slowed down. the rough sketch is really cool...glad the band listened to eno when he said..."this is done". wish they were a little more like that today

LuckyNumber7 · 03-22-2011, 12:48 AM

I feel like I almost want to write lyrics to this song. It sounds so awesome.

bono_212 · 03-22-2011, 12:52 AM

You know
And though no one told you sky
And you feel
Like you pretend you can
You say go, you live
Go live outside of me
Don't you leave
Don't leave out part of me
Then I can feel
Like I feel before
Like it hurt now
And I see the floor
If you pick me up
Bits and pieces on this floor

ElectricalStorm · 03-22-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bono_212

You know
And though no one told you sky
And you feel
Like you pretend you can
You say go, you live
Go live outside of me
Don't you leave
Don't leave out part of me
Then I can feel
Like I feel before
Like it hurt now
And I see the floor
If you pick me up
Bits and pieces on this floor

I love that part... Especially the "Then I can feel like I feel before,..."

LuckyNumber7 · 03-22-2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectricalStorm

I love that part... Especially the "Then I can feel like I feel before,..."

That part and the 'bits and pieces' as well.

But when I say I want to write lyrics for it... I literally mean write my own words to the song. I'm no singer, and I don't mean to discredit or put this song down in any way, but I think I'd like to give it some meaning for me because it's so awesome.

cobl04 · 03-22-2011, 11:09 PM

lemel recorded a nine-minute version and it sounded pretty good... anyone have the link?

bono_212 · 03-23-2011, 12:02 AM

I was actually going to mention that but didn't want to seem like I was pushing my husband's cause

. Glad you did it for me.

But yes:

YouTube - U2 - Elvis Presley And America cover

I love this cover.

bono_212 · 03-23-2011, 12:05 AM

Oh man, I would never want to be famous and ever get on the internet. Just reading some of those comments...glad Travis has a sense of humor

LuckyNumber7 · 03-23-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bono_212

I was actually going to mention that but didn't want to seem like I was pushing my husband's cause

. Glad you did it for me.

But yes:

YouTube - U2 - Elvis Presley And America cover

I love this cover.

It's nice and a really job well done.

I'm no musician, but what exactly is it that they used with Bono's voice? It's some form of synthesizer or something, and sounds probably like it's double-layered vocals?

Yeah, I would never have the balls to record my own voice singing and posting it on YouTube.

theedgeu2 · 03-23-2011, 03:06 PM

Singing just takes time, patience, and some work effort. In no time most people can learn to sing properly, if they practice.

I started vocal lessons in October and I've gotten better by miles in just about six months. So all I'm saying is if you can train yourself correctly you CAN learn to sing.

Anyway about the subject of discussion, I really love EPAA. It's grown on me for sure. At first when I got the album and heard it I wasn't so sure I liked it. I knew it had some potential but it has those parts of mumbling, which at first I didn't like/understand. Now that I've listened several times I've started to like the song more and more. The atmospheric feel and the part the guitar plays that starts at the 2:45 mark, gah I love that part! It lasts for about 4-5 seconds but it's magical. I think the thing with the vocals is there's a "big" sounding reverb on Bono's vocals. Also there seems to also have an echo on there too. I don't know for sure but about the double vocal thing it could be the echo. This is an ambient album so I wouldn't be surprised to see delay and reverb on vocals. It's also possible they double layered vocals. It's been widely popular for artists to do that and make their voice sound bigger/more rounded.

LuckyNumber7 · 03-23-2011, 05:04 PM

Yeah I was gonna say, I believe most artists use layered vocals. I just think there's an offset on the layering to create that echoing effect, although once again I'm not a musical person at all. Just what it sounds like.

03-18-2011, 06:08 AM	#1
LuckyNumber7 Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 19,668 Local Time: 07:26 PM	Elvis Presley and America What the devil is this song about? I'm assuming it's got something to do with Elvis Presley, as TUF seems to have that recurring theme of U2's idols (MLK being Bono's, Elvis being Larry's). Furthermore, is it true that Eno reversed the tracks or something to that extent from A Sort of Homecoming in the mixing for this song? The drums are the same exact thing. I've never really looked into anything too far from TUF until now. __________________

03-18-2011, 06:11 AM	#2
cobl04 45:33 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Point to Shaolin Posts: 59,143 Local Time: 09:26 AM	It's stream-of-consciousness nonsense, if you ask me. __________________

03-18-2011, 06:49 AM	#4
bono_212 Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 83,919 Local Time: 04:26 PM	Not even kidding, that is like my third or fourth favorite U2 song...and the other three are from tuf as well. __________________

03-18-2011, 10:18 AM	#9
bono_212 Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 83,919 Local Time: 04:26 PM	The last "verse" is possibly my favorite thing U2/Bono has ever done. __________________

03-22-2011, 12:52 AM	#12
bono_212 Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 83,919 Local Time: 04:26 PM	You know And though no one told you sky And you feel Like you pretend you can You say go, you live Go live outside of me Don't you leave Don't leave out part of me Then I can feel Like I feel before Like it hurt now And I see the floor If you pick me up Bits and pieces on this floor __________________

03-18-2011, 06:12 AM	#3
coolian2 Blue Crack Supplier Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hamilton (No longer STD capital of NZ) Posts: 42,934 Local Time: 12:26 PM	it's stream of consciousness brilliance, tbh.

03-18-2011, 07:41 AM	#5
cobl04 45:33 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Point to Shaolin Posts: 59,143 Local Time: 09:26 AM	To clarify I was talking about the lyrics, which are Bonoglese. The song's good, the last 30 seconds amazing.

03-21-2011, 10:25 AM	#10
Swan269 Rock n' Roll Doggie Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: HawkMoon Posts: 3,695 Local Time: 07:26 PM	you are right...the drums are from a sort of homecoming slowed down. the rough sketch is really cool...glad the band listened to eno when he said..."this is done". wish they were a little more like that today

03-22-2011, 12:48 AM	#11
LuckyNumber7 Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 19,668 Local Time: 07:26 PM	I feel like I almost want to write lyrics to this song. It sounds so awesome.

03-22-2011, 11:09 PM	#15
cobl04 45:33 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Point to Shaolin Posts: 59,143 Local Time: 09:26 AM	lemel recorded a nine-minute version and it sounded pretty good... anyone have the link?

03-23-2011, 12:05 AM	#17
bono_212 Blue Crack Distributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 83,919 Local Time: 04:26 PM	Oh man, I would never want to be famous and ever get on the internet. Just reading some of those comments...glad Travis has a sense of humor __________________

03-23-2011, 03:06 PM	#19
theedgeu2 Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Secretly listening to a U2 record that's beyond the greatness of Achtung Baby and Joshua Tree while eating brownies. In The Hive™. Posts: 4,848 Local Time: 07:26 PM	Singing just takes time, patience, and some work effort. In no time most people can learn to sing properly, if they practice. I started vocal lessons in October and I've gotten better by miles in just about six months. So all I'm saying is if you can train yourself correctly you CAN learn to sing. Anyway about the subject of discussion, I really love EPAA. It's grown on me for sure. At first when I got the album and heard it I wasn't so sure I liked it. I knew it had some potential but it has those parts of mumbling, which at first I didn't like/understand. Now that I've listened several times I've started to like the song more and more. The atmospheric feel and the part the guitar plays that starts at the 2:45 mark, gah I love that part! It lasts for about 4-5 seconds but it's magical. I think the thing with the vocals is there's a "big" sounding reverb on Bono's vocals. Also there seems to also have an echo on there too. I don't know for sure but about the double vocal thing it could be the echo. This is an ambient album so I wouldn't be surprised to see delay and reverb on vocals. It's also possible they double layered vocals. It's been widely popular for artists to do that and make their voice sound bigger/more rounded.

03-23-2011, 05:04 PM	#20
LuckyNumber7 Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 19,668 Local Time: 07:26 PM	Yeah I was gonna say, I believe most artists use layered vocals. I just think there's an offset on the layering to create that echoing effect, although once again I'm not a musical person at all. Just what it sounds like. __________________

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