Hewson
Blue Crack Supplier
I'm with Laz on that one.
Shuttlecock XVIII - SAVE US, REFU-JESUS
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I'm with Laz on that one.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
I'm also with Laz there. It's one of my favorite songs on the album and definitely top 10 post Pop for me.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Also, I know that most here are familiar with the subject matter and lyrics, but I'm going to restate them for those who brushed the song off without delving deeper. Much like The Miracle is about Joey Ramone's influence on Bono's singing, Reach Around is about how The Clash awoke a sense of purpose (political and otherwise) in the band, and it also comes full circle with the subject matter of Invisible as it references Bob Hewson's skepticism about his son trying to pursue a music career. It was mentioned way back when in Dirty Day, where Bono quoted Bob dismissing the future of the band with "It won't last kissin' time". 20 years later we get hear must have been more withering remarks from father to son:
Old man knows that I never listen
So how could I have something to say
Old man knows how to cheat ambition
You don’t lose if you don’t play
Most of the SOI tracks are very personal, but I think this one is one of Bono's least-forced of the era, and it's an appropriately bitter flipside to the respects he was paying to Bob on SYCMIOYO.
It should also be noted that for a long song title, this is one that actually looks good on paper, and as I said it really should have been the album opener as it comes off like a mission statement.
Anyway, the whole thing:
Soldier soldier
We signed our lives away
Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world would never be the same
Soldier this is where you can reach me now
We come from an ancient place
Beyond what we can see
We’ve come to colonise your night
And steal your poetry
Old man knows that I never listen
So how could I have something to say
Old man knows how to cheat ambition
You don’t lose if you don’t play
1, 2, 3, 4, was enough
Soldier soldier
We signed our lives away
Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world would never be the same
Soldier this is where you can reach me now
On a double decker bus
Into College Square
If you won’t let us in your world
Your world just isn’t there
Old man says that we never listen
We shout about what we don’t know
We’re taking the path of most resistance
The only way for us to go,
hup, 2, 3, 4, was enough
Soldier soldier
We signed our lives away
Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world will never be the same
Soldier this is where you can reach me now
This is the site
This is the season
This is where you can reach me now
This is the time
This is the number
This is where you can reach me now
Old man knows that I never listen
So how could I have something to say
Old man knows how to cheat ambition
You don’t lose if you don’t play
Most of the SOI tracks are very personal, but I think this one is one of Bono's least-forced of the era, and it's an appropriately bitter flipside to the respects he was paying to Bob on SYCMIOYO.
It should also be noted that for a long song title, this is one that actually looks good on paper, and as I said it really should have been the album opener as it comes off like a mission statement.
Anyway, the whole thing:
Soldier soldier
We signed our lives away
Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world would never be the same
Soldier this is where you can reach me now
We come from an ancient place
Beyond what we can see
We’ve come to colonise your night
And steal your poetry
Old man knows that I never listen
So how could I have something to say
Old man knows how to cheat ambition
You don’t lose if you don’t play
1, 2, 3, 4, was enough
Soldier soldier
We signed our lives away
Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world would never be the same
Soldier this is where you can reach me now
On a double decker bus
Into College Square
If you won’t let us in your world
Your world just isn’t there
Old man says that we never listen
We shout about what we don’t know
We’re taking the path of most resistance
The only way for us to go,
hup, 2, 3, 4, was enough
Soldier soldier
We signed our lives away
Complete surrender
The only weapon we know
Soldier soldier
We knew the world will never be the same
Soldier this is where you can reach me now
This is the site
This is the season
This is where you can reach me now
This is the time
This is the number
This is where you can reach me now
Kieran McConville
ONE love, blood, life
I'd definitely concede that I've come around on that one, and more and more think it might have been a very different album if they'd just stuck with one friggin producer (Danger Mouse) and avoided the Apple fist-bump bullshit.
Bono's lyrics are overall probably pretty disciplined on most of SOI. My own gripe, had it been a less compromised first half (and it's a horribly compromised first half) was probably of the 'this is what you settle on to write about, thirty-five years in?' variety. If the alternative is The View From Davos, then ok, maybe it was a good or at least defensible direction artistically. For one album.
Bono's lyrics are overall probably pretty disciplined on most of SOI. My own gripe, had it been a less compromised first half (and it's a horribly compromised first half) was probably of the 'this is what you settle on to write about, thirty-five years in?' variety. If the alternative is The View From Davos, then ok, maybe it was a good or at least defensible direction artistically. For one album.
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martha
Blue Crack Supplier
This was harder than I thought it would be;
No Line on the Horizon
Levitate
Mercy (original version)
Walk On
Fast Cars
(in order)
No Line on the Horizon
Levitate
Mercy (original version)
Walk On
Fast Cars
(in order)
iron yuppie
ONE love, blood, life
A lot of love for Walk On in here. IMO that one is so syrupy it could cause flippin diabetes.
intedomine
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
This was not easy.
Moment of Surrender (this is U2 ELITE for me - certain top ten)
Beautiful Day
Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
Mercy (studio)
Magnificent
Moment of Surrender (this is U2 ELITE for me - certain top ten)
Beautiful Day
Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
Mercy (studio)
Magnificent
intedomine
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
I can't see any of SOI appearing on the next tour, despite SOI/SOE being thematically linked.
Maybe Song for Someone or Troubles may sneak into acoustic sets on occasions. California may continue to be snippeted.
I'd be happy to see Miracle relinquished forever.
Maybe Song for Someone or Troubles may sneak into acoustic sets on occasions. California may continue to be snippeted.
I'd be happy to see Miracle relinquished forever.
phanan
Blue Crack Addict
LemonMelon
More 5G Than Man
I finally got called out for being the filthy U2 hater I am over in The Other Place.
Axver, Cobbler and I need to start a club.
Axver, Cobbler and I need to start a club.
david
ONE love, blood, life
I stand with Laz.
Never forget all the lyricists you like suck, too.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
You don't think EBW is coming back? They're clearly very proud of that one, despite not opting to play it as it appears on the album. They probably think they were robbed of a Grammy nomination for it, too.
I just listened to SOI for the first time since since May 2015.
I feel like the second half isn't as great as many on this forum say, but conversely that the first half isn't as bad. It's a relatively consistent album, which in many respects puts it ahead of the other U2 albums of the past two decades (Pop is a far better album but so very patchy).
I still think California is one of the worst U2 songs ever and I can't wait for the day Bono stops snippeting it in Streets. And Song for Someone is probably the blandest U2 song ever. Reach Around is better on paper than in reality. I like the ambition of SLABT far more than the end result. And I really resent how bad the lyrics in Volcano are, because Adam's on fire and he deserved better than this. I will never not hear the chorus as "something in your mouth to blow".
Cedarwood Road and The Troubles are absolute keepers, and Iris doesn't deserve the shit it sometimes gets. Laz is probably right that the alternate EBW is better, but the studio version is still 2010s pop U2 done well; the only bad version of the song is the boring stripped-back IE Tour version. I was surprised to find myself kind of enjoying The Miracle. The intro's awful and the lyrics so cumbersome, but by the end my foot was almost tapping along anyway.
But what I most got out of listening to this is how it makes The Best Thing look even more offensively bad. That song is unforgivable. If it were on SOI it would stick out as unbearably dumb.
I feel like the second half isn't as great as many on this forum say, but conversely that the first half isn't as bad. It's a relatively consistent album, which in many respects puts it ahead of the other U2 albums of the past two decades (Pop is a far better album but so very patchy).
I still think California is one of the worst U2 songs ever and I can't wait for the day Bono stops snippeting it in Streets. And Song for Someone is probably the blandest U2 song ever. Reach Around is better on paper than in reality. I like the ambition of SLABT far more than the end result. And I really resent how bad the lyrics in Volcano are, because Adam's on fire and he deserved better than this. I will never not hear the chorus as "something in your mouth to blow".
Cedarwood Road and The Troubles are absolute keepers, and Iris doesn't deserve the shit it sometimes gets. Laz is probably right that the alternate EBW is better, but the studio version is still 2010s pop U2 done well; the only bad version of the song is the boring stripped-back IE Tour version. I was surprised to find myself kind of enjoying The Miracle. The intro's awful and the lyrics so cumbersome, but by the end my foot was almost tapping along anyway.
But what I most got out of listening to this is how it makes The Best Thing look even more offensively bad. That song is unforgivable. If it were on SOI it would stick out as unbearably dumb.
HeartlandGirl
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
the tourist
Blue Crack Addict
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Over time Reach Me Now has grown on me perhaps more than any of the other songs on Songs Of Innocence. Easily in the upper half (it was lower half for a long time). I did not know until just now that it was originally intended to be the first song on that album.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
You want to know why it was changed to The Miracle? When the band decided to do the free album giveaway, Bono worried that the musical intro was too long and that people wouldn't realize it was U2 quickly enough.
God damn him.
God damn him.
the tourist
Blue Crack Addict
- Joined
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Aside from the name and the wordy chorus, The Miracle isn't so bad. If he had cut the syllables on the chorus and named the song something like Stolen Voices, I think it would have been much more better received.
But yeah. Reach Me Now makes a lot more realistic sense as the opener.
intedomine
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
Yes, I forgot about that one. Maybe along with the other two songs I mentioned, rotated into an acoustic set maybe, but I can't see them occupying an entire regular spot on the set list with EBW.
I am a bit concerned that the recent JT tour, with the thunderous stretch from SBS through to WOWY (and to a lesser extent, the rousing first encore of 00 hits), may tempt the band into being more willing to appease the casual fan than they already are. This may make it even more difficult for songs from NLOTH and SOI to find a place in subsequent tours.
I hope I'm wrong though.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Good to know I'm not crazy. I bought two tickets for one show of the 5-night stand in LA, and one ticket for the next night. I wonder if it had something to do with added shows? Like somehow the limit was reset/not restricted for those dates?
HeartlandGirl
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
Yeah, I don't remember the details, but I had no problem getting tickets. I had four for Phx 1, and then I bought myself a solo ticket for Phx 2.
namkcuR
ONE love, blood, life
I appreciate this fair and balanced take from someone who doesn't love the album.
Especially that you didn't totally hate The Miracle
I disagree with you quite strongly about California though. Was just listening to it today, and it's an irresistibly warm, catchy, effortless pop song. Just makes me feel good. Good vocal performance from Bono too.
Also, no mention of RBW? That's one of the best things on there imo.
I appreciate this fair and balanced take from someone who doesn't love the album.
Especially that you didn't totally hate The Miracle
I disagree with you quite strongly about California though. Was just listening to it today, and it's an irresistibly warm, catchy, effortless pop song. Just makes me feel good. Good vocal performance from Bono too.
Also, no mention of RBW? That's one of the best things on there imo.
Thanks man. I'd forgotten how much I don't like California. Obviously there's that intro, but I had it in my head that I didn't mind the rest so much. But ugh, no, I find it drivel on a similar plane to Song for Someone.
Forgot to mention RBW, but should've. That song would be great if it weren't for the awful fucking breathing. Cannot stand that, and the worst part is that they used it live too so you can't even enjoy a live version without it like I remember expecting before the IE Tour began.
I'm tempted to listen through some of the other recent albums. At the moment I'd suggest SOI might be the best of the last four albums, but perhaps a relisten to HTDAAB or whatever might cause me to revise that view too. I haven't listened to any of them in full for the last couple of years either.
namkcuR
ONE love, blood, life
That's absurd. Good thing he wasn't thinking like that when they were making JT or Streets may have been relegated to being a deep cut and maybe they never would've played it live. We've come a long way from 'we don't need the pop kids'.
They really must be the most insecure band of their stature and degree of success...maybe ever. This is the band that made War and UF and JT and AB and Zooropa. That's put on a whole handful of the most successful tours in history. They don't need to prove anything anymore. They don't need to worry about this stuff. And if he does worry, doesn't he realize that when people listen to something on an iPhone, the artist is labeled RIGHT THERE on the screen?
Anyway, I'm at least glad to hear that the band initially wanted to use it for an opener, because it's what I often use for an opener in my custom playlists. Ironically, in large part because of that extended instrumental opening.
namkcuR
ONE love, blood, life
I recently listened the others too. I was surprised in that HTDAAB went up in my estimation while NLOTH went down.
NLOTH is just the must frustrating album they've ever put out. A schizophrenic frankenstein's monster. I was so high on it when it came out, because it is on the verge of greatness, but just misses it and ends up much further away than it should've been. NLOTH,MOS,Fez-BB,WAS,Cedars are great songs. Magnificent is ok too. But UC and Breathe could've been much better. The solo at the end of UC is legitimately great but wasted. And it's all been said already about the middle 3.
HTDAAB, on the other hand, at least knows what it wants to be. It's safe and unadventurous, and the production is brutally blunt and compressed and loud at parts, and it's a collection of songs, etc etc, but a lot of those are pretty enjoyable even though none of them are spectacular, even though none of them live up to NLOTH's high points.
So it's possible HTDAAB overtook NLOTH for me. SOI and ATYCLB are above both though.
LemonMelon
More 5G Than Man
Say what you will about California being totally lame (it certainly is), but "I’ve seen for myself that there is no end to grief/That’s how I know, and why I need to know, that there is no end to love" is top tier gooey, heart-on-sleeve Bono sloganeering. Some of the best of its kind since ATYCLB, which was pretty much 100% that. God help us if they make an entire album like California, but it's a solid pop song.
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Or imagine Zooropa opening with any other song... or if they had that attitude in 1990 they would never have made Achtung at all.
Yeah, this is why NLOTH keeps going down in my estimation too. It's a great concept that they butchered, and butchered it terribly. I recall quite enjoying my custom HTDAAB, which I thought flowed much better than the original, but I need to listen to the album as it was released. Perhaps tomorrow.
I just gave Zooropa a spin for the first time in full for about four years - I've played select tracks more often but not the whole thing. Well, my iPod doesn't have Babyface, but I played the rest. What an exciting and bold album. Daddy's Gonna Pay really has not endured for me at all, but I've probably been too hard on The First Time in the past. Zooropa, Lemon, Stay, what incredible songs. And if we want to talk great Bono lyrics, The Wanderer is top tier.
Unknown Caller is the single most frustrating song on U2's history. Beautiful music, the verse is even pretty good, but the chorus is the most ridiculous bullshit I've ever heard.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
Funny you say that. I've gone the same way. Bomb has gone up for me while No Line has gone down. I can still listen to Bomb without skipping any tracks. The only way I can listen to No Line is by listening to a custom playlist I made.
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