COBL = Reference to London?

[ADecentMelody]

Listening to the Jo Whiley show, Bono says it's snapshot of them first coming to London when they were 17/18 trying to showcase their demos around. Also, the neon hearts line refers to a Boomtown Rats song of the same title.

There goes the NYC theories, at least from this interview.

 

[ZeroDude]

Well he's hardly on about Belfast

 

[UnforgettableLemon]

I think Bono probably drew from multiple experiences.

 

[ADecentMelody]

I think Bono probably drew from multiple experiences.

As usual, huh?

 

[MaxFisher]

Surely the song is about my beautiful hometown, Minneapolis.

 

[macphister]

Minneapolis has electricity?

 

[geeman]

according to Bono in Q magazine he states " It's a New York song. about going there for the first time, We were the first band to play Madison Square Gardens after 9/11 and during Where the streets have no name the house lights came up and there were 20,000 people in tears , It was beautiful "

 

[Rastat]

So... it's a song about any big city with blinding lights.

 

[bonojr62]

I'm gonna say its about NYC

 

[tarquinsuperb]

God forbid the song might actually be about somewhere in Europe.

 

[theedge111]

Minneapolis has electricity?

 

[UnforgettableLemon]

God forbid the song might actually be about somewhere in Europe.

I don't think this thread was started in the spirit of "Americans claiming the song for ourselves." U2 have written far too many American songs, it's true. This is more just addressing inconsistencies objectively, at least on my part.

 

[tarquinsuperb]

I don't think this thread was started in the spirit of "Americans claiming the song for ourselves."

Sorry I was only messing about.
To be fair I was at the Top Of The Pops performance when the song was premiered and Bono introduced it by saying it was about being young in big cities like London and New York.
I don't think it's about every city just those that are a bit special like London or New York.

 

[UnforgettableLemon]

 

[Dalton]

I still think he wrote it while watching the third Matrix.


Keanu is a revelation.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Sorry I was only messing about.
To be fair I was at the Top Of The Pops performance when the song was premiered and Bono introduced it by saying it was about being young in big cities like London and New York.
I don't think it's about every city just those that are a bit special like London or New York.

what he/she said