Hey NamkcuR, I truly like this idea! A creative project and an attempt to shed some light on two U2 albums not highly recognized or greatly appreciated.
I agree with Phanan “HMTMKMKM …. I know it has its origins from that time frame, but I don't know, I think it sounds better with Pop myself.” Also, I don’t mind track lists that are longer than a typical album’s length but there is a challenge in attempting to create a new album’s worth of songs.
If Zooropa was “out there” and Passengers was even farther “out there” then I’d be inclined to focus on a new composition that was centered as much as possible in this unique direction, atmosphere, and type of sound. Let’s float out there in the ether.
If with Zooropa U2 was completing the deconstruction of “the 80’s U2”
and many were kind of unsure if it was even U2 album, then why not stress this “shock” and the experimentation even more so? Create a collection where U2 is barely recognizable at all – and if anything not until the very end?! The song Zooropa – I think that was that Bono? Lemon – who is this Macphisto? The Wanderer – what the heck is Johnny Cash doing here? Numb – is that Edge singing? A few instrumentals on U2 album! And each of them taking us a “weird” trip somewhere.
United Colours – the song Zooropa but without words. Lemon Perfecto – a driving and bright neon rhythm and a billboard beat. Always, Forever, Now – the metropolis amphetamine rush continues. These gigantic cities are like another planet! A skyscraper song that asks you – is this heaven or hell. The first 4 songs = the arrival and the drive from the airport and through the downtown. Sensory overload and disorientation. Starts off with a couple days of sightseeing. The vehicular traffic, the human traffic, the hurry and the hustle, the auditory noise, the visual noise, the rapid speed of the daily life, the zooming pace of the night life, the psychological pollution of advertising, the spiritual pollution of the all encompassing media. The next several songs = a barbiturate-like breakdown, descent, depression, and despair. A Xanax-like trance. The Wanderer – what an excellent “travel” song and great thematic summary and bookend to the song Zooropa. Why not bring it into the center of the album. What a voice! An ancient, deep voice. A prophet’s voice? A cowboy voice drifting through a modern day New York or London or L.A. or Tokyo. A serious and dangerous voice who could just as well as shoot you as lay his hands on ya. One Minute Warning - an ideal song for imaging a ride on an elevated commuter train or an underground train through a gargantuan metropolitan. The train’s motion and the body’s movement. (Which just brought my attention to Bottoms [Miss Sarajevo b-side] There ya go – I’d consider putting that in there and maybe before The Wanderer. Also, a fun reference / connection to Zoo Station. AB a raucous prowl vs. a Zooropa a bleary-eyed zombie) Numb and Slug – Bono performing his own version of Numb. An industrial Numb followed by an ethereal Numb. Blue Room and Velvet Dress – it appears to be that they are an absolute perfect match together (even though Velvet Dress is off Pop its title appears on the Zooropa album cover. Already written and recording the Zooropa sessions?) Stay - I’m attracted to an open ended final track. Will he come back? Does he wind up “staying”? Has he had enough of trying to convince her? Is his own “home responsibilities” the overriding factor in his decision? Does she leave her abusive, dead end relationship and then ask her lover to “stay”?
