Songs of Surrender - Discussion, reviews, impressions

The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
DaveC said:
they're dumb.
Click to expand...

I'm sure MOS was one of the 10 that they tried and failed at... I'm sure they got caught up trying to fix this lyric.

... at the ATM machine... I know M stands for machine, but that's how you say it... Say it don't spray it... Also I'm so rich, I don't even need money anymore, I just ask for things and they hand them to me... I'm my own ATM...

In This Moment of Surrender...
 
DeVaul said:
No, but they were changed. Significantly. My issue *isn’t* the nod to Ukraine, it’s just the overall inferior lyrics. IMO, “stand up for freedom” (woof) and the clunky lines about the dancer are no match for a glass heart cracking or a singing bird in an open cage.

The original absolutely soars on Edge’s electric guitar riff as Larry keeps the whole thing moving. SOS take is just, y’know, fine.
Click to expand...

i haven't compared them, but Walk On I loved since I first heard it -- like many U2 songs... and it sounds like they added some lyrics from Stand Up Comedy to the beginning of this new one...

Bono has some amazing lyrics, but some of these changes are what we writers called "too on the nose."

You don't tell people you love them back, you say "I know" like Harrison Ford did in Empire Strikes Back.

So some new lyrics are a bit cringy overall, yet some of them I'm enjoying.

The Miracle I love that song and remake I laughed when I first heard the changes - but now I'm sort of digging it.

In general I think this album is great, but 4-5 weird moves that proves they are humans and not perfect, so I guess that works as it took the same moves to make the greatness...
 
clerks said:
I'm sure MOS was one of the 10 that they tried and failed at... I'm sure they got caught up trying to fix this lyric.



... at the ATM machine... I know M stands for machine, but that's how you say it... Say it don't spray it... Also I'm so rich, I don't even need money anymore, I just ask for things and they hand them to me... I'm my own ATM...



In This Moment of Surrender...
Click to expand...
Found scrawled on a cocktail napkin in Malibu:

ATM machine
Automatic like the money I make
The Taxman takes and takes
Merchandise on U2.com is great
God is an ATM machine for the ones who kneel
Luckily
 
“I was punching in the numbers
At the self checkout machine…”

It stops there because old people can’t figure that shit out
 
I stand by that the new Walk On lyrics are not on the nose and not cringy :shrug:

In a similar vein to songs you wish got an update, which ones here are you surprised are included? I feel like Electrical Storm is probably the biggest head scratcher. Not on a studio album, not particularly loved by fans, and played a grand total of 3 times live.
 
Last edited:
DeVaul said:
No, but they were changed. Significantly. My issue *isn’t* the nod to Ukraine, it’s just the overall inferior lyrics. IMO, “stand up for freedom” (woof) and the clunky lines about the dancer are no match for a glass heart cracking or a singing bird in an open cage.

The original absolutely soars on Edge’s electric guitar riff as Larry keeps the whole thing moving. SOS take is just, y’know, fine.
Click to expand...

As someone who was surprised at how much I like the new Walk On, I have to say while the new lyrics do flow just fine, I'm sorely missing things like "You're packing a suitcase for a place no one else has been. A place that has to be believed to be seen." which for me is one of U2's finest written lyrics of the "U2 saves the world with our songs" era (basically the past 23 years)
 
womanfish said:
Here is a bizarre and unhinged review like none I've ever seen before. It doesn't mention the music. And it is presented by the high brow artsdesk.com which of course is included on AOTY percentage.

https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-u2-songs-surrender#comment-149782
U2 are better than their many critics make out. Their Stakhanovite work ethic in creating huge sonics, not-a-bolt-out-of-place songwriting and stagecraft that could reach every corner of the biggest venues long before the days of giant LED screens made them the biggest band in the world with good reason. Bono Vox’s “Marmite personality” was also a big part of that: it pretty much requires a messiah complex to work that hard to reach that many people.

U2 are also worse than many of their defenders will admit. As Bono’s Great Statesman act became his defining facet, it sucked attention away from his skills as a rock star and caused vast harm out in the real world. Elisabeth Pisani’s The Wisdom Of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels And The Business Of AIDS has the horrifying chapter and verse on how his cult-leader religiosity funnelled billions of well-meaning donors’ money into all the wrong places. And he set the template for the neoliberal saviour-complex politician or billionaire as rockstar, as adopted most disastrously by Tony Blair for his more… counterproductive global misadventures, and more recently by Elon Musk.

All that in turn revealed the smoke and mirrors involved in U2. Rock songs about general yearnings for spirituality and togetherness are fine, great even – but when the driving force behind them is revealed to be a grubby little man who’s half Russell Brand and half Henry Kissinger, they can ring a bit hollow. There’s also the fact that Bono is, objectively, a rubbish singer. The sine qua non of boomers’ and Gen X’s tendency to give a free pass to white men who theatrically and unnecessarily strain and grunt as signifiers for “really meaning it, man”. It’s singing as pro wrestling.

That was OK in those stadia, and on those Eighties records where the rest of the band’s contributions are perfectly built to highlight his strengths and allow for his weaknesses. But do we need “intimate” re-recordings (sorry, “reimaginings”) of forty songs from their back catalogue in a Brian Eno ambient style where the instrumentation is stripped away to almost nothing Bono’s voice is close miced and it feels like he’s cod-emoting about five millimeters away from your ear? No we do not. This is horrible. Go away, Bono.


@joemuggs
Click to expand...

I actually tweeted this guy for his stupid "go away Bono" line. By all means, criticise the music if you don't like it. But that last line was unnecessary.
 
LemonMelon said:
Some songs that would have been a more natural fit for this collection but U2 overlooked

If You Wear That Velvet Dress
Click to expand...

An inspired pick, and this song, to me, is a perfect example of a song that was never fully realised on the recorded version on Pop. The whole thing sounds dreary to me with absolutely no energy, but at the same time, man I can tell the song is there. I'd love to hear a different version of this song. SOS was made for songs like this IMO.
 
LemonMelon said:
Some songs that would have been a more natural fit for this collection but U2 overlooked because they insisted on turning half of it into U218 Acoustic:
Click to expand...

Yeah, this whole thing has made me wanna hear other songs in this style. But there do exist stripped down versions of some of these, as I'm sure you're aware; but if others aren't, I thought I'd compile a list:

The previously mentioned A Sort Of Homecoming arrangement from JT30
https://www.youtube.com/watch/Po64SV4IKJM

For Running To Stand Still, there's Edge's solo performance on Feedback Kitchen from 2015 , and also Bono's The Busk performance from Christmas Eve 2021...I prefer Edge's version but YMMV

https://www.youtube.com/watch/W-RsogWt6wg
https://www.youtube.com/watch/8EAuep7vUdQ

For Love Is Blindness, there's Edge's solo performance from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/12d-5Azr6PI

The Bono/Jools Holland version of Velvet Dress isn't exactly a fully stripped-down version, but it kind of is, and it's a great rendition

https://www.youtube.com/watch/J-jrKth3jp8

Acoustic B&E Please from Elevation Tour - Providence is my favorite but it's not on YT, so here's Miami:

https://www.youtube.com/watch/3INwn7zp7nQ

For North And South Of The River, there's its lone live (pro-shot) performance from the Omagh tribute, which is way more stripped down than the studio take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/EQYkdjOzFN8

For The Ground Beneath Her Feet, they've only ever played it acoustically, but there's one take I'm particularly fond of from the TV show TFI Friday in Dublin from March 2000 when the song was brand new

https://www.youtube.com/watch/cGOi-WwdjNw

There was the acoustic AMAAW from the ABOY single. And obviously there are several officially released live acoustic SATSs(Mexico City and U2 Go Home are tops for me). Meanwhile, stuff like First Time, Summer Of Love, Fast Cars, Drowning Man, etc are practically unplugged to begin with.

And some others not on that list:

Bono's solo (and abbreviated) So Cruel from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/MBq3CgBWlx8

'Baby' Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch/7QeIvWSyTEk

The famous unplugged Acrobat rehearsal from 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch/xPSbe3-230A

Bono and Edge doing Van Diemen's Land acoustically in 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch/vsD95EE69Rk

Acoustic Original Of The Species from "compilation CD 'Every Mother Counts 2012'*produced exclusively to*Starbucks Coffee Shop" - it's basically the early Vertigo tour arrangement with some strings overdubbed. I only just realized this exists, but happy for it because I always loved that Vertigo Chicago version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/dsTM97cpedI

Acoustic B&E In God's Country from Elevation Tour, specifically the same Miami show as Please above is a good one

https://www.youtube.com/watch/mYI2SHsE-K0

A semi-acoustic NLOTH from 360
https://www.youtube.com/watch/0LLKgExR5vo

Not really unplugged at all and probably doesn't belong, but that stripped down full-band Crumbs From Your Table that was included on the DVD w/HTDAAB deluxe version

https://www.youtube.com/watch/HH2j4cIKUhY

'Baby' One, which I prefer to the SOS version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch/qeCBPipTVF4

And from official releases...Yahweh from Vertigo Chicago and Wake Up Dead Man from Elevation Boston/U2 Go Home.
 
namkcuR said:
Yeah, this whole thing has made me wanna hear other songs in this style. But there do exist stripped down versions of some of these, as I'm sure you're aware; but if others aren't, I thought I'd compile a list:

The previously mentioned A Sort Of Homecoming arrangement from JT30
https://www.youtube.com/watch/Po64SV4IKJM

For Running To Stand Still, there's Edge's solo performance on Feedback Kitchen from 2015 , and also Bono's The Busk performance from Christmas Eve 2021...I prefer Edge's version but YMMV

https://www.youtube.com/watch/W-RsogWt6wg
https://www.youtube.com/watch/8EAuep7vUdQ

For Love Is Blindness, there's Edge's solo performance from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/12d-5Azr6PI

The Bono/Jools Holland version of Velvet Dress isn't exactly a fully stripped-down version, but it kind of is, and it's a great rendition

https://www.youtube.com/watch/J-jrKth3jp8

Acoustic B&E Please from Elevation Tour - Providence is my favorite but it's not on YT, so here's Miami:

https://www.youtube.com/watch/3INwn7zp7nQ

For North And South Of The River, there's its lone live (pro-shot) performance from the Omagh tribute, which is way more stripped down than the studio take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/EQYkdjOzFN8

For The Ground Beneath Her Feet, they've only ever played it acoustically, but there's one take I'm particularly fond of from the TV show TFI Friday in Dublin from March 2000 when the song was brand new

https://www.youtube.com/watch/cGOi-WwdjNw

There was the acoustic AMAAW from the ABOY single. And obviously there are several officially released live acoustic SATSs(Mexico City and U2 Go Home are tops for me). Meanwhile, stuff like First Time, Summer Of Love, Fast Cars, Drowning Man, etc are practically unplugged to begin with.

And some others not on that list:

Bono's solo (and abbreviated) So Cruel from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/MBq3CgBWlx8

'Baby' Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch/7QeIvWSyTEk

The famous unplugged Acrobat rehearsal from 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch/xPSbe3-230A

Bono and Edge doing Van Diemen's Land acoustically in 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch/vsD95EE69Rk

Acoustic Original Of The Species from "compilation CD 'Every Mother Counts 2012'*produced exclusively to*Starbucks Coffee Shop" - it's basically the early Vertigo tour arrangement with some strings overdubbed. I only just realized this exists, but happy for it because I always loved that Vertigo Chicago version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/dsTM97cpedI

Acoustic B&E In God's Country from Elevation Tour, specifically the same Miami show as Please above is a good one

https://www.youtube.com/watch/mYI2SHsE-K0

A semi-acoustic NLOTH from 360
https://www.youtube.com/watch/0LLKgExR5vo

Not really unplugged at all and probably doesn't belong, but that stripped down full-band Crumbs From Your Table that was included on the DVD w/HTDAAB deluxe version

https://www.youtube.com/watch/HH2j4cIKUhY

'Baby' One, which I prefer to the SOS version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch/qeCBPipTVF4

And from official releases...Yahweh from Vertigo Chicago and Wake Up Dead Man from Elevation Boston/U2 Go Home.
Click to expand...

Holy crap. Nicely done!
 
What is going on with STAY is Bono singing with Edge or singing with himself? I'm hearing double. I realize I haven't heard this song in full until right now. I guess all my skipping around I haven't given this track my full attention.
 
clerks said:
What is going on with STAY is Bono singing with Edge or singing with himself? I'm hearing double. I realize I haven't heard this song in full until right now. I guess all my skipping around I haven't given this track my full attention.
Click to expand...

Edge is singing an octave up in background. Desire could have used Bono singing an octave below behind Edge I think.

Stay is a brilliant one IMO. To me the POP version of Stay (and Dirty Day) loving both of them.
 
Hi, I don't post very often - I've been playing it for a week in Spotify- in fact I like some of the versions, I like THE FLY and WGRYWH very much. There are Many I don't feel.
Tomorrow I am getting the 4 disc set.
 
namkcuR said:
Yeah, this whole thing has made me wanna hear other songs in this style. But there do exist stripped down versions of some of these, as I'm sure you're aware; but if others aren't, I thought I'd compile a list:

The previously mentioned A Sort Of Homecoming arrangement from JT30
https://www.youtube.com/watch/Po64SV4IKJM

For Running To Stand Still, there's Edge's solo performance on Feedback Kitchen from 2015 , and also Bono's The Busk performance from Christmas Eve 2021...I prefer Edge's version but YMMV

https://www.youtube.com/watch/W-RsogWt6wg
https://www.youtube.com/watch/8EAuep7vUdQ

For Love Is Blindness, there's Edge's solo performance from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/12d-5Azr6PI

The Bono/Jools Holland version of Velvet Dress isn't exactly a fully stripped-down version, but it kind of is, and it's a great rendition

https://www.youtube.com/watch/J-jrKth3jp8

Acoustic B&E Please from Elevation Tour - Providence is my favorite but it's not on YT, so here's Miami:

https://www.youtube.com/watch/3INwn7zp7nQ

For North And South Of The River, there's its lone live (pro-shot) performance from the Omagh tribute, which is way more stripped down than the studio take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/EQYkdjOzFN8

For The Ground Beneath Her Feet, they've only ever played it acoustically, but there's one take I'm particularly fond of from the TV show TFI Friday in Dublin from March 2000 when the song was brand new

https://www.youtube.com/watch/cGOi-WwdjNw

There was the acoustic AMAAW from the ABOY single. And obviously there are several officially released live acoustic SATSs(Mexico City and U2 Go Home are tops for me). Meanwhile, stuff like First Time, Summer Of Love, Fast Cars, Drowning Man, etc are practically unplugged to begin with.

And some others not on that list:

Bono's solo (and abbreviated) So Cruel from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/MBq3CgBWlx8

'Baby' Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch/7QeIvWSyTEk

The famous unplugged Acrobat rehearsal from 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch/xPSbe3-230A

Bono and Edge doing Van Diemen's Land acoustically in 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch/vsD95EE69Rk

Acoustic Original Of The Species from "compilation CD 'Every Mother Counts 2012'*produced exclusively to*Starbucks Coffee Shop" - it's basically the early Vertigo tour arrangement with some strings overdubbed. I only just realized this exists, but happy for it because I always loved that Vertigo Chicago version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/dsTM97cpedI

Acoustic B&E In God's Country from Elevation Tour, specifically the same Miami show as Please above is a good one

https://www.youtube.com/watch/mYI2SHsE-K0

A semi-acoustic NLOTH from 360
https://www.youtube.com/watch/0LLKgExR5vo

Not really unplugged at all and probably doesn't belong, but that stripped down full-band Crumbs From Your Table that was included on the DVD w/HTDAAB deluxe version

https://www.youtube.com/watch/HH2j4cIKUhY

'Baby' One, which I prefer to the SOS version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch/qeCBPipTVF4

And from official releases...Yahweh from Vertigo Chicago and Wake Up Dead Man from Elevation Boston/U2 Go Home.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this! I knew about most of these, but I either have never heard or forgot about acoustic AMAAW. I miss Adam's underrated bass part but it's a lovely version.
 
namkcuR said:
Yeah, this whole thing has made me wanna hear other songs in this style. But there do exist stripped down versions of some of these, as I'm sure you're aware; but if others aren't, I thought I'd compile a list:

The previously mentioned A Sort Of Homecoming arrangement from JT30
https://www.youtube.com/watch/Po64SV4IKJM

For Running To Stand Still, there's Edge's solo performance on Feedback Kitchen from 2015 , and also Bono's The Busk performance from Christmas Eve 2021...I prefer Edge's version but YMMV

https://www.youtube.com/watch/W-RsogWt6wg
https://www.youtube.com/watch/8EAuep7vUdQ

For Love Is Blindness, there's Edge's solo performance from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/12d-5Azr6PI

The Bono/Jools Holland version of Velvet Dress isn't exactly a fully stripped-down version, but it kind of is, and it's a great rendition

https://www.youtube.com/watch/J-jrKth3jp8

Acoustic B&E Please from Elevation Tour - Providence is my favorite but it's not on YT, so here's Miami:

https://www.youtube.com/watch/3INwn7zp7nQ

For North And South Of The River, there's its lone live (pro-shot) performance from the Omagh tribute, which is way more stripped down than the studio take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/EQYkdjOzFN8

For The Ground Beneath Her Feet, they've only ever played it acoustically, but there's one take I'm particularly fond of from the TV show TFI Friday in Dublin from March 2000 when the song was brand new

https://www.youtube.com/watch/cGOi-WwdjNw

There was the acoustic AMAAW from the ABOY single. And obviously there are several officially released live acoustic SATSs(Mexico City and U2 Go Home are tops for me). Meanwhile, stuff like First Time, Summer Of Love, Fast Cars, Drowning Man, etc are practically unplugged to begin with.

And some others not on that list:

Bono's solo (and abbreviated) So Cruel from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/MBq3CgBWlx8

'Baby' Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch/7QeIvWSyTEk

The famous unplugged Acrobat rehearsal from 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch/xPSbe3-230A

Bono and Edge doing Van Diemen's Land acoustically in 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch/vsD95EE69Rk

Acoustic Original Of The Species from "compilation CD 'Every Mother Counts 2012'*produced exclusively to*Starbucks Coffee Shop" - it's basically the early Vertigo tour arrangement with some strings overdubbed. I only just realized this exists, but happy for it because I always loved that Vertigo Chicago version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/dsTM97cpedI

Acoustic B&E In God's Country from Elevation Tour, specifically the same Miami show as Please above is a good one

https://www.youtube.com/watch/mYI2SHsE-K0

A semi-acoustic NLOTH from 360
https://www.youtube.com/watch/0LLKgExR5vo

Not really unplugged at all and probably doesn't belong, but that stripped down full-band Crumbs From Your Table that was included on the DVD w/HTDAAB deluxe version

https://www.youtube.com/watch/HH2j4cIKUhY

'Baby' One, which I prefer to the SOS version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch/qeCBPipTVF4

And from official releases...Yahweh from Vertigo Chicago and Wake Up Dead Man from Elevation Boston/U2 Go Home.
Click to expand...


Epic curation, thx!!
 
david said:
Bono uses his Leonard Cohen register on Stay.
Click to expand...

It doesn't work for me. I love Bono using his lower register, but this goes below the range his voice sounds good low to me. It just sounds like he wants to emulate Cohen, but doesn't have the delivery for it to work like that. I think it'd also work better if he didn't take it back up in the subsequent verses. I want to say "pick one style and go with it".

Someone mentioned it before, too, that the "chopped" chorus the first time around is unsatisfying.

There are just too many stark leaps without transitions to get there. Another song where the original is already perfectly intimate for me (or even the Armstrong version, really).
 
namkcuR said:
Yeah, this whole thing has made me wanna hear other songs in this style. But there do exist stripped down versions of some of these, as I'm sure you're aware; but if others aren't, I thought I'd compile a list:

The previously mentioned A Sort Of Homecoming arrangement from JT30
https://www.youtube.com/watch/Po64SV4IKJM

For Running To Stand Still, there's Edge's solo performance on Feedback Kitchen from 2015 , and also Bono's The Busk performance from Christmas Eve 2021...I prefer Edge's version but YMMV

https://www.youtube.com/watch/W-RsogWt6wg
https://www.youtube.com/watch/8EAuep7vUdQ

For Love Is Blindness, there's Edge's solo performance from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/12d-5Azr6PI

The Bono/Jools Holland version of Velvet Dress isn't exactly a fully stripped-down version, but it kind of is, and it's a great rendition

https://www.youtube.com/watch/J-jrKth3jp8

Acoustic B&E Please from Elevation Tour - Providence is my favorite but it's not on YT, so here's Miami:

https://www.youtube.com/watch/3INwn7zp7nQ

For North And South Of The River, there's its lone live (pro-shot) performance from the Omagh tribute, which is way more stripped down than the studio take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/EQYkdjOzFN8

For The Ground Beneath Her Feet, they've only ever played it acoustically, but there's one take I'm particularly fond of from the TV show TFI Friday in Dublin from March 2000 when the song was brand new

https://www.youtube.com/watch/cGOi-WwdjNw

There was the acoustic AMAAW from the ABOY single. And obviously there are several officially released live acoustic SATSs(Mexico City and U2 Go Home are tops for me). Meanwhile, stuff like First Time, Summer Of Love, Fast Cars, Drowning Man, etc are practically unplugged to begin with.

And some others not on that list:

Bono's solo (and abbreviated) So Cruel from From The Sky Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch/MBq3CgBWlx8

'Baby' Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch/7QeIvWSyTEk

The famous unplugged Acrobat rehearsal from 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch/xPSbe3-230A

Bono and Edge doing Van Diemen's Land acoustically in 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch/vsD95EE69Rk

Acoustic Original Of The Species from "compilation CD 'Every Mother Counts 2012'*produced exclusively to*Starbucks Coffee Shop" - it's basically the early Vertigo tour arrangement with some strings overdubbed. I only just realized this exists, but happy for it because I always loved that Vertigo Chicago version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/dsTM97cpedI

Acoustic B&E In God's Country from Elevation Tour, specifically the same Miami show as Please above is a good one

https://www.youtube.com/watch/mYI2SHsE-K0

A semi-acoustic NLOTH from 360
https://www.youtube.com/watch/0LLKgExR5vo

Not really unplugged at all and probably doesn't belong, but that stripped down full-band Crumbs From Your Table that was included on the DVD w/HTDAAB deluxe version

https://www.youtube.com/watch/HH2j4cIKUhY

'Baby' One, which I prefer to the SOS version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch/qeCBPipTVF4

And from official releases...Yahweh from Vertigo Chicago and Wake Up Dead Man from Elevation Boston/U2 Go Home.
Click to expand...

Great list.

Here's another - The First Time acoustic, live in Buenos Aires in 2006:
 
I'm really liking "Lights Of Home" more and more and it might actually might be my favorite version of the song. Might be the only song that I can claim as my favorite version of the song out of this album.

The original version always had an issue with pace, imo.
 
mikal said:
I'm really liking "Lights Of Home" more and more and it might actually might be my favorite version of the song. Might be the only song that I can claim as my favorite version of the song out of this album.

The original version always had an issue with pace, imo.
Click to expand...

I agree, I think this version beats the original for me, but not the St Peters version.
The arrangement and instrumentation really works here. Bono's vocals are great.

My only problem with both the original and this one is the ending "free yourself to be yourself" chant. Never liked it. Felt tacked on and honestly, what is the need for this upbeat platitude nailed at the end of a song about narrowly escaping death? I will say the SOS version transitions into better, and is less jarring the SOI version.

Listen to the SOS version again and stop it at 3:17. To me it then becomes one of the top 15 songs of this album.
 
Last edited:
womanfish said:
My only problem with both the original and this one is the ending "free yourself to be yourself" chant. Never liked it. Felt tacked on and honestly, what is the need for this upbeat platitude nailed at the end of a song about narrowly escaping death? .
Click to expand...

It's far from my favorite passage of music from them, but I take that line to be Bono's near-death-inspired words of wisdom.. presumably speaking to his children, or to humanity as a whole.. a sort of "fuck the artifice/judgment/fear, and live as your whole self"

earlier he says "In your eyes alone I see the lights of home" before ending with "If only you could see yourself, If only you could see" which seems to lend itself to my half-baked interpretation
 
Registered Dude said:
It's far from my favorite passage of music from them, but I take that line to be Bono's near-death-inspired words of wisdom.. presumably speaking to his children, or to humanity as a whole.. a sort of "fuck the artifice/judgment/fear, and live as your whole self"

earlier he says "In your eyes alone I see the lights of home" before ending with "If only you could see yourself, If only you could see" which seems to lend itself to my half-baked interpretation
Click to expand...

Yeah, i think you spot on. I just feel like it's out of place. Sometimes just let a song about almost dying breath on its own. I understand why its included, but both musically and tonally it seems awkward and unnecessary to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

dan_smee
New Album Discussion 1 - Songs of..... - Unreasonable guitar album
60 61 62
Replies
2K
Views
102K
MattD
M
Headache in a Suitcase
3 Irishmen and a Dutchman Walk Into A Sphere - General Discussion Thread Part III
52 53 54
Replies
2K
Views
65K
Hewson
Hewson
Registered Dude
  • Locked
Songs of _________________; New album discussion #7
32 33 34
Replies
1K
Views
53K
U2387
U2387
Registered Dude
Songs of Surrender - New album discussion - 6
36 37 38
Replies
1K
Views
71K
MrsSpringsteen
MrsSpringsteen
Headache in a Suitcase
New Album Discussion 9 - Larry needs new arms, ba rum pa pum pum
33 34 35
Replies
1K
Views
56K
clerks
clerks

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom