Even then, at the first video (dress up), there's variety of interpretations.
At the beginning and the end, there's a shot of the band playing in the studio. I know that performance videos are nothing unusual, but considering "One" is said to be the song that helped the band out of the crisis, it may have a deeper meaning - whatever goes on in the band, there's always the 4 of them to "carry each other".
During the video, we see the band members dressed up as women. Combined with the paintings on the cars (man and woman, travelling around the town, and in the end coming together), this may offer the theory that the song is about romantic relationships and quest for love.
The video is shot in Berlin, and this may suggest the song deals with the divided Germany coming together after the fall of the Berlin wall.
We see several shots of Bono's father, so this may suggest the song is about the most important relationship in a person's life (just as important as romantic ones) - relationship with parents. (or in this case, Bono and his father) Also, Bono is seen alone at the "did i dissapoint you" part of the song, whereas throughout the song, others are sitting or standing next to him in the room. Coincidence?
Also, the appearance of Bono's father may be a symbol of the dilema: on one hand, Bono is the rock star (shots with the band), on the other, he's also a son (shots of the father).
Can he be both of those things? Which is more important-the bond with the music or the bond with the family?
Then there's the "buffallo" version which may suggest the song is about AIDS (because of the HIV positive photographer who made the shots of the buffallos in the video, and because some thought the song was a dialogue between a father and HIV positive son), and the "bar" version.
The "bar" version IMO suggest that each person has its own way of going through life, especially the darker times (hence Bono is alone in a bar), yet all individuals make a whole of humankind ("we're one"). We can connect through emotions, compassion, friendship... (carry each other) This interpretation applied during Zoo TV, when the band dedicated "One" to the people of Sarajevo.
So-i think the beauty about "One" is that there may not be a definite interpretation. Anyone can see whatever they want in it.
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"We feel like this is unfinished business - there's things for us left to do and that's why we still do it." - Larry
"For us, each night on stage has to be like the last night on earth. That's the way our band operates-we can't play the songs unless we're fully into them." - Bono
"The music itself will tell you where to go." - Edge (about recording)
"It's an elevation thing." - Adam (when asked why there's pictures from airport on ATYCLB cover)
[This message has been edited by U2girl (edited 12-21-2001).]
At the beginning and the end, there's a shot of the band playing in the studio. I know that performance videos are nothing unusual, but considering "One" is said to be the song that helped the band out of the crisis, it may have a deeper meaning - whatever goes on in the band, there's always the 4 of them to "carry each other".
During the video, we see the band members dressed up as women. Combined with the paintings on the cars (man and woman, travelling around the town, and in the end coming together), this may offer the theory that the song is about romantic relationships and quest for love.
The video is shot in Berlin, and this may suggest the song deals with the divided Germany coming together after the fall of the Berlin wall.
We see several shots of Bono's father, so this may suggest the song is about the most important relationship in a person's life (just as important as romantic ones) - relationship with parents. (or in this case, Bono and his father) Also, Bono is seen alone at the "did i dissapoint you" part of the song, whereas throughout the song, others are sitting or standing next to him in the room. Coincidence?
Also, the appearance of Bono's father may be a symbol of the dilema: on one hand, Bono is the rock star (shots with the band), on the other, he's also a son (shots of the father).
Can he be both of those things? Which is more important-the bond with the music or the bond with the family?
Then there's the "buffallo" version which may suggest the song is about AIDS (because of the HIV positive photographer who made the shots of the buffallos in the video, and because some thought the song was a dialogue between a father and HIV positive son), and the "bar" version.
The "bar" version IMO suggest that each person has its own way of going through life, especially the darker times (hence Bono is alone in a bar), yet all individuals make a whole of humankind ("we're one"). We can connect through emotions, compassion, friendship... (carry each other) This interpretation applied during Zoo TV, when the band dedicated "One" to the people of Sarajevo.
So-i think the beauty about "One" is that there may not be a definite interpretation. Anyone can see whatever they want in it.
------------------
"We feel like this is unfinished business - there's things for us left to do and that's why we still do it." - Larry
"For us, each night on stage has to be like the last night on earth. That's the way our band operates-we can't play the songs unless we're fully into them." - Bono
"The music itself will tell you where to go." - Edge (about recording)
"It's an elevation thing." - Adam (when asked why there's pictures from airport on ATYCLB cover)
[This message has been edited by U2girl (edited 12-21-2001).]
