After 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' it seemed U2 was again, the number one band in the world. No other band was coming close to selling out arenas and stadiums across the world, and U2's music was making a strong comeback after the band's disappointing Popmart tour in America, globally it was a success.
So U2 embarked on a tour that was "stripped down to the basics" featuring dramatic lighting, and a color wall behind them. It seemed the boys had let success get to their heads, and full of big ideas with Zoo TV and Popmart. Elevation was one where they realized that playing old tunes, and new tunes that resembled new life, hope and optimism as well as passion captiviated audiences.
After the success of the Elevation tour, U2 went into a break for nearly 4 years. During this time, A Best of compliation was released, featuring two new songs, The Hands That Built America and Electrical Storm. That lead us to believe U2 was heading in a direction of ambient rock, one that was much softer.
U2 announced a new album in the works, which Bono said "This is the album we've been waiting to make for years." Which is described also as Edge reinventing himself and being a maniac on this record, U2 wrote 11 new songs. Still my doubts were that U2 wasn't going to make it as big as they used to be, I always had some optimism that they would be big, but not huge.
Like the Elevation tour, it had small clubs played, U2 did private radio shows, Top of Pops, Saturday Night Live. Audiences connected with Vertigo, and the classic I Will Follow. Had U2 finally done it? Did they achieve success again? The answer is yes.
In early 2004, U2 hit the streets of New York, traveling on a flat bed, headed towards the Brooklyn Bridge, to play a concert. Like the video shot in Los Angeles, Where The Streets Have No Name, this video captured people going nuts over U2. The show at the Brooklyn Bridge had nearly 6,000 people attending as it was the top story of many news programs.
With all this anticipation, the tour dates were announced, and immediately following, days and a week later it seemed, all the legs were completely sold out. Yes, U2 had done it, they had sold out three legs of their new tour, which included many stadiums in Europe as well. As if that was not enough, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb debuted on the Billboard Top 200 at No. 1, selling over 890,000 copies and remained there for 3 weeks. The total to date records sold in America is nearly 4 million.
So what was it about U2 in 2004/2005 that made them such a success? If not, U2 is stronger than they were in 1992, the demand for U2 has not been this big, tickets are sold immediately, and people are trying to get their hands on them. People are saying the songs and vocals from the band are absolutely perfect this tour, and U2 plays with more confidence and pride, promoting their messages, as well as dipping back into their catalouge.
Many bands that try to come back for a revival don't see the big light, bands like the Rolling Stones say they go away, and come back, and play stadiums, but when was the last time the Rolling Stones had a No. 1 album? What about Duran Duran, who played MSG for the first time in a while, not since the 80s did they achieve that success. Many 80s bands, who are one hit wonders, only wrote their music for the mainstream audience, with the mind of making millions, not playing to millions. U2 still has a passion for music, and writes and performs quality music, because they have respect for themselves, the world and the fans. Such a rarity, they aren't ashamed to play older songs, because they were written with a thought provoking, insight idea.
If U2 is this huge now, there's no telling how much bigger than can get by next year. Rumors are saying they'll play American stadiums, as well as heading to Japan and South America, as well as Europe again. Will we see new and hear material? Possibly, after all -- it has been done sucessfully before, Zooropa. U2 will be the band from the 80s, the 90s and the 00s, that will continue to dominate. The Beatles called it quits after 9 years, Pink Floyd called it quits, Sting and the Police are no more, Paul McCartney is still a popular act, while he continues to play older Beatles hits. U2 seems to be the only band who can play both old and new material, and still captivate audiences worldwide, and that is why U2 is the best band in the world.
So U2 embarked on a tour that was "stripped down to the basics" featuring dramatic lighting, and a color wall behind them. It seemed the boys had let success get to their heads, and full of big ideas with Zoo TV and Popmart. Elevation was one where they realized that playing old tunes, and new tunes that resembled new life, hope and optimism as well as passion captiviated audiences.
After the success of the Elevation tour, U2 went into a break for nearly 4 years. During this time, A Best of compliation was released, featuring two new songs, The Hands That Built America and Electrical Storm. That lead us to believe U2 was heading in a direction of ambient rock, one that was much softer.
U2 announced a new album in the works, which Bono said "This is the album we've been waiting to make for years." Which is described also as Edge reinventing himself and being a maniac on this record, U2 wrote 11 new songs. Still my doubts were that U2 wasn't going to make it as big as they used to be, I always had some optimism that they would be big, but not huge.
Like the Elevation tour, it had small clubs played, U2 did private radio shows, Top of Pops, Saturday Night Live. Audiences connected with Vertigo, and the classic I Will Follow. Had U2 finally done it? Did they achieve success again? The answer is yes.
In early 2004, U2 hit the streets of New York, traveling on a flat bed, headed towards the Brooklyn Bridge, to play a concert. Like the video shot in Los Angeles, Where The Streets Have No Name, this video captured people going nuts over U2. The show at the Brooklyn Bridge had nearly 6,000 people attending as it was the top story of many news programs.
With all this anticipation, the tour dates were announced, and immediately following, days and a week later it seemed, all the legs were completely sold out. Yes, U2 had done it, they had sold out three legs of their new tour, which included many stadiums in Europe as well. As if that was not enough, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb debuted on the Billboard Top 200 at No. 1, selling over 890,000 copies and remained there for 3 weeks. The total to date records sold in America is nearly 4 million.
So what was it about U2 in 2004/2005 that made them such a success? If not, U2 is stronger than they were in 1992, the demand for U2 has not been this big, tickets are sold immediately, and people are trying to get their hands on them. People are saying the songs and vocals from the band are absolutely perfect this tour, and U2 plays with more confidence and pride, promoting their messages, as well as dipping back into their catalouge.
Many bands that try to come back for a revival don't see the big light, bands like the Rolling Stones say they go away, and come back, and play stadiums, but when was the last time the Rolling Stones had a No. 1 album? What about Duran Duran, who played MSG for the first time in a while, not since the 80s did they achieve that success. Many 80s bands, who are one hit wonders, only wrote their music for the mainstream audience, with the mind of making millions, not playing to millions. U2 still has a passion for music, and writes and performs quality music, because they have respect for themselves, the world and the fans. Such a rarity, they aren't ashamed to play older songs, because they were written with a thought provoking, insight idea.
If U2 is this huge now, there's no telling how much bigger than can get by next year. Rumors are saying they'll play American stadiums, as well as heading to Japan and South America, as well as Europe again. Will we see new and hear material? Possibly, after all -- it has been done sucessfully before, Zooropa. U2 will be the band from the 80s, the 90s and the 00s, that will continue to dominate. The Beatles called it quits after 9 years, Pink Floyd called it quits, Sting and the Police are no more, Paul McCartney is still a popular act, while he continues to play older Beatles hits. U2 seems to be the only band who can play both old and new material, and still captivate audiences worldwide, and that is why U2 is the best band in the world.
