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Pop Rock Nation

Tag: Bono

  • The New U2 Album is “On the Horizon”

    U2. Photo by Zachary Gillman

    There was a collective sigh of disappointment among U2 fans when the Irish supergroup announced that they were not going to put out an album this year, although the reasoning behind it (“umm…we’re not ready”) was sound enough. At any rate, our patience has been rewarded, as it has recently been confirmed that the band’s upcoming album, entitled No Line on the Horizon, will be released in the U.S. on March 3rd. New Line will be the followup to 2004’s multi-Grammy winning behemoth How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. As a longtime U2 fan who is grateful that they got their mojo back after a couple of mediocre 90s albums (Zooropa and Pop), I’m certainly looking forward to this release, although this Billboard article states that one song will feature will.i.am. Groan. Also according to the article, this album will be available in five different configurations-including one that carries a $96 price tag. What? Bono, don’t you know we’re in a recession?

  • Infatueighties #67: New Year’s Day by U2

    From an instrumental standpoint, New Year’s Day is one of the best U2 singles in a career filled with great singles hell, and great abums too!). It’s insistent as all hell. Adam Clayton’s bass bears down on the track and The Edge’s piano gives the song an eerie feel. According to Wikipedia (man, this countdown would not exist if it weren’t for Wikipedia), the song was inspired by the Polish solidarity movement, although Bono initially began to write it as a love letter to his wife. Either way, it’s the centerpiece of U2’s first truly great album (War), and one of the greatest songs from the legendary band’s first decade.

    New Year’s Day has always been my personal favorite holiday, because I’m weird of the promise of a clean slate. Amid the insistence of the instrumentation and the emotion of Bono’s vocal, there’s a glimmer of hope for a better tomorrow that peeks through and makes the song extra special.

  • You Don’t Have To Call Him Sir Bono

    Irish activist Bono, who leads a little known band named U2, has been presented with an honorary knighthood for his humanitarian efforts. Bono is shown here in a US State Department photo just before he asks Secretary Rice for money, influence or both.

    Bono has traveled the globe and often speaks of reallocating wealth, as well as the responsibility of richer nations to assist poorer nations. Because he is not a citizen of a country ruled by the Queen, Bono’s knighthood is honorary, and he will not be referred to as “Sir” as Paul McCartney and Elton John are.

    The members of U2 admitted in 2006 that Bono’s constant fundraising and humanitarian efforts had sometimes placed a strain on the band and its recording and concert activities.

    Spinning In The CD Player
    The smooth sound of Luther Vandross singing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. You too, Luther. We miss you.