U2

U2 is one of my favorite bands. I listen to them almost every day. They are from Dublin, Ireland and made their debut in the early '80s. Lead singer is Bono who writes all the songs, accompanied by band members Adam Clayton, the Edge, and Larry Mullin. I love U2's music for its spiritual power and complex meaning. Their songs possess a liberal and liberated mindset in questioning the state of the world and the human condition. Bono recognizes the level of spirituality that underlies them. Some of their songs are about finding religion, appreciating spirituality but questioning religion, missing a lover, finding love, acknowledging a hero or heroine, fighting addiction, seeing beauty and aiming for world peace. Though their music is 25-30 years old, they can still perform them with great raw passion and energy, outselling most artists, and filling packed arenas throughout the world. They have released new singles but I have to admit nothing compares to the music they've produced in the '80s.

In 2009, I came close to attending a U2 concert but had to forgo it because of grad school deadlines. Their live performances are known to be stellar, powerful and spiritual. I hope to make it to one in my lifetime.

'Bad' is a song they performed at the Live Aid Concert in 1985. This song is about addiction. Bono wrote it in honor of a friend in Dublin at a young age, who died of a heroin overdose. In my own life, I've witnessed two close individuals who suffered from addiction, one of alcohol and another of gambling. When I listen to this song I think about them and in turn all those in our world who suffers from addiction of any kind - food, sex, drugs, gambling, work, etc... It's sad and a waste to see good people with great potential succumb to the disease of addiction. This song drives home the heart of the matter - the effects of addiction and the way addiction can talk to a human being. That's how deep is U2's music.




If you twist and turn away
If you tear yourself in two again
If I could, yes I would
If I could, I would
Let it go
Surrender
Dislocate

If I could throw this
Lifeless lifeline to the wind
Leave this heart of clay
See you walk, walk away
Into the night
And through the rain
Into the half-light
And through the flame

If I could through myself
Set your spirit free
I'd lead your heart away
See you break, break away
Into the light
And to the day

To let it go
And so to fade away
To let it go
And so fade away

I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping
Oh, no, no, no

If you should ask then maybe they'd
Tell you what I would say
True colors fly in blue and black
Bruised silken sky and burning flag
Colors crash, collide in blood shot eyes

If I could, you know I would
If I could, I would
Let it go...

This desperation
Dislocation
Separation
Condemnation
Revelation
In temptation
Isolation
Desolation
Let it go

And so fade away
To let it go
And so fade away
To let it go
And so to fade away

I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping
Oh, no, no, no

THE END