Zooropa...

[Foxxern]

I always thought one of the themes of Numb was the constant messaging given to us by the media.

"Don't think/Don't worry/Everything's just fine" is one of the main thoughts the media wants to give us. The entire drone, monotonous singing of the Edge conveys this idea. There's nothing to worry about, just be happy with yourself and keep watching TV. With the additional advent of technology, it just gives people more of a reason not to leave the house (hell, look at me sitting at this computer for hours a day). I think this song encompasses the theme of Zooropa more then just about any other song on the album.

As for the high-voiced Bono, I think it's the response of the consumer to the media. Lines like "Too much is not enough" and "Gimme some more" show the frustration of us all. The new technology that was supposed to make our lives so much better seems to leave us empty and unfulfilled.

It is a great album, and Numb is perhaps one of the most misunderstood songs in U2's catalogue.

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Change is the only constant

 

[skyanin]

and not only empty and unfullfilled, but making consumerism like an addiction. We have access to so much that there is no more effect, and the result is a society full of "junkies"

 

[TheWanderer]

Good posts! Zooropa has always been my favorite album. Few fans appreciate it's messages and sheer musical brilliance. Zooropa is up there with Where Steets... and Ultraviolet as far as awesome intros go. Stay is a gem. Numb rocks. Babyface is depressing and catchy. Lemon is AWESOME. The First Time and The Wanderer are also depressing. Dirty Day kicks so much ass. I think few people realize it's theme that we are all products of a media controlled overload. Zooropa is their freshest album along with Boy.
jgd

 

[foray]

the whole theme reminds one of Radiohead's OK Computer

 

[Gareth]

So MrBTH never came back.......

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Is it getting better? Or do you feel the same?

www.highbury.moonfruit.com

 

[MrBTH]

Hi folks...!
Sorry to have started something and failed to finish it... Unfortunately I have been quite ill for most of this year as a result of having meningitis last spring... it's only now that I'm feeling fully recovered but I have also been trying (and failing, I must admit) to get through the final year of my architecture course, which is why I havent been arund so much since october...
But someday I will post the rest of my thoughts... I already have a draft of Numb - Stay done, which I'll work up in time (which is not something I have right now!!)...

Anyway... apologies again and I will return!

BRIAN

 

[justZOOme]

MrBTH has some really good things to say and i appreciate somebody that has not just passed by the Zooropa album. Way to go explore!!!

I do have a few things to add though.
First, the album capured successfully the idea of "sensory overload". Bono is quoted saying "We were opening this kinda Bladerunner-type world. It starts with this neon winking and blinking and these two characters come out of it. There's this image of the 'overground'. It was a time when everyone was all indie and grey and dull, 'the underground' (not a subway) .
The overground was like coming out into the bright light of the modern city. Its an amazing place to be, walking around these cities and embracing it, going after it."

Zooropa is the desert to Achtung Baby just pushed a little deeper. Its very much about the wonder and freedoms and restrictions of film, and perceiving things through our TVs. ANd how we are at the mercy of the media and how it desensitizes us to our real feelings. I remember reading about Bono saying how we used to be so amazed at the realities of the Gulf War but then got bored with it when there wasn't any action. Tis true indeed. That's why going to the moon isn't that big of deal anymore, at least to the media. But what is a big deal is when the rocket blows up and NASA is seen as a big loser.

About where Bono sings " and I've got no religion.." he is quoted saying " I think religion is the enemy of God". Think and ponder that statement! I know my mom would have taken all my U2 away if she heard that!

I love this album because it really focused the ZooTV tour energy into deeper intrapersonal discoveries, and how each person arrives at his own perceptions.

Dream out loud!
Get your head out of the mud baby, overground!

[This message has been edited by justZOOme (edited 04-21-2001).]

 

[Alisaura]

MrBTH!! Welcome back! *big hugs* Erk, I'm sorry to hear you were so sick, meningitis is a bastard. I'm glad you're recovering/ed!
Wow, it must have taken some digging to enearth this post again... I'll be sure to pop by from time to time again now!

Alison

 

[MrBTH]

Hi everyone... Just dipping my toes back into this interference thing and managed to dig this out from a long long time ago! Its a piece I did on the subject of the first two tracks on Zooropa, with my intention being to analyse the whole record in the same way... Never did happen! Hope to get back on track soon though and continue in the same vein... Its a very rich source and it's an album thats inspired me in many ways - still probably my favourite U2 album ever! Wonder if any of the old gang are still around?? I used to spend so much time on here then as time went on, sh*t happened and I just drifted away! Hope I get the time to become more involved again cos this has got to be the most interesting bunch of people on the internet! Anyway... Numb and Lemon in the next couple of weeks... I promise!!

 

[Lewis12]

I found this old thread. The writing here was great, so I though I would reinvigorate the topic again.

Everyone here had great insights into the song and got Bono’s message of Zooropa. Let me add some “physical” perception to the song though. I was briefly living in Europe when the song/album was released in 1993. It seemed the song was about modern Europe, the E.U., it’s lifestyle. My suspicions were confirmed by interview with the Edge a few years later: he referred to the song as being about Europe. You really have to start with Zoo Station though.

There is a little misguided information out there that I have come across in some books about U2. Starting with the “Zoo” thing. Zoo Station is an actual train station in Berlin, most know that, it’s also the central hub for trains and subways. The atmosphere is very zoo like in that is pandemonium at rush hours, and when buying a ticket to anywhere it’s like you have your face pushed up against the glass windows of the ticket booths (at least in the early 90’s, it’s most likely automated tickets now). The Berlin Zoo is also at this location, hence the name. I recall being at Zoo Station in 1989 at about midnight with punkers, business people, children; you name it catching trains and subways. In the song Zoo Station you can hear Bono saying, “just two stops down”, which is common lingo for subway riders to locate themselves by number of stops.

Zooropa seems to be an extrapolation on the Berlin zoo theme to all of Europe being like the Zoo Station. You can easily dissect the song and it becomes a painting of the new Europe: “we’ve got that ring of confidence”. Yeah Europe is very much confident. The EU is now the worlds largest GNP.

I recall skipping the subway too and going overground more than once to see the sights of where ever I was. The florescent lights at night, definitely a bluer kind of white too. This is really a travelogue of thoughts and impressions through Europa, or I mean Zooropa. Europe as a living breathing entity has no need for a compass or map: “Don't worry baby, it's gonna be alright. Uncertainty can be a guiding light.”

And I have no religion
And I don't know what's what
And I don't know the limit
The limit of what we've got

Can we assume that’s Bono speaking of himself? Not likely, it seems to be about the place, not the man, and U2 in that place, and as part of that place. I feel the whole Zoo era was U2’s discovery of the modern European emergence, along with its American commercialisms as mentioned succinctly in the other posts.

That era was U2 returning to Europe, and leaving its American child to fend for itself for a while. Ireland is also part of the E.U., and when the members of U2 were growing up Ireland was poor and listless. Now it has a standard of living that’s rivals or surpasses the U.S. and immigration refers to people going there, not leaving. It has that sound, that ring of confidence too.

Hey, I really enjoyed reading all the thoughts posted here! What a great discussion, I sometimes get tired of those five word posts and inside bad jokes. Good job all!

 

[justwater]

I enjoyed reading this thread too!! Lewis12,Thanks for bringing this up again .

 

[MrBTH]

Well, it's been a long, long time coming but I'm about ready to get back to my pet subject, the sheer brilliance of Zooropa as a cohesive and important work of art.
It really was the soundtrack to my life back in 2000, I woke up to it on my alarm clock every single morning - obsession is probably not too strong a word! I have to say, I think it will be hard to follow my writing about Zooropa and Babyface - I don't know how I could have been so eloquent back then! But I'm willing to take up the challenge... Numb / Lemon / Stay is one hell of an exciting first task to tackle!
So, here goes... I should have it together by the middle of the week all being well!

 

[gobshite]

MRBTH
That really was such evocative and vivid reading with the way you started your post and all the feedback. I loved the way you described it coming in from to the ether right into someones head, that's painting bright, wonderful and frightening scenes.
It's interesting because despite all the garish nightmare of so much of the song i see certain verses as having a real streak of excitement and soulful possibility about them.
I have suffered badly from bi polar disorder in the past and perhaps that affected the way it could both chill my bones and give me hope all at the same time.
The lines "and i have no compass, and i have no map
and i have no reasons, no reason to get back" I read that as mine or others faith in spirituality as opposed to the sometimes hard fundamentalist fear that all kinds of religions can produce ina ll their followers when the heart of their real message is love and strength.
The following lines "and i have no religion and i don't know what's what"
"AND i don't know the limit, the limit of what we've got" I see this could possibly be an early echo of the science and in medicine i was a stranger, you took me in" possibilities cited in Miracle Drug."
I love the different ways people read these songs with such a common bond of warmth and respect shared within these posts. It's a privilege to be here - take care - Jules

 

[Alisaura]

MrBTH!! I hope you're still around.

I remember this thread, and very fondly. Hope no one minds if I bump it again... I feel I was a lot more eloquent 6 years ago too! Kinda depressing...

Zooropa is still vying for my favourite album... and I know Pop a lot better too. I'm still interested in hearing your take on the other Zooropa tracks.

I also remember now why I spent more time in this forum, back then, than in EYKIW... Good times!

 

[verte76]

Wow. I always did think Zooropa was an underrated album.

 

[jacobus]

ZOOROPA is still in my top 5...i liketd it from the very first moment.
actually i rate it at no. 4