Why is U2 one of the best band ever ?

 

Hi, this is Camille and today I've decided to write about one of my favorite band ever : U2. 

 

 

First let's do a little presentation of who are U2

U2 are an Irish rock band, the lead singer is Bono, the guitarist is Adam Clayton, the drummer's name is Larry Mullen Jr and David Howell Evans (known as The Edge) does keyboards and guitars. Together they decide to form a band in 1976. In 1980 they release their first album, Boy and then War in 1983. Quickly it becomes number one album in the UK. U2 released 15 studio albums and sold around 150-170 million records worldwide. Rolling Stone ranked them at number 22 on the "100 Greatest Artist of all time" list.

 The "Sunday Bloody Sunday" story

They're mostly known for their single "Sundy Bloody Sunday". It tells about the troubles in Northern Ireland, focusing on the "bloody sunday" of 1972, where british troops shot and killed 14 unarmed civil protesters. 

The clip of this song is really realistic and well directed, I recommend you to go see it. Be aware it's violent, when I was young, my cousin and I got traumatised by it. But don't worry I think you're old enough to watch it now.

 

watch the clip here !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U2 used in show ("With Or Without You")

I also really love U2 because it appears on my favrite show (whitch I also recommend you to check) Friends. The song used is "With Or Without You" for an iconic scene between Rachel and Ross. Indeed Ross and Rachel just had a fight and he tried to get her back with this song, It didn't really work but it was well tried. I guess Ross is one of my favorite character for his musical taste.

Watch Ross using U2 to get her back after what he did !

 

 

"One"

But my favorite song of all, is (obviously by U2) "One". I found it so beautiful and moving. The lyrics are powerful and mind changing. I can't count all the time I spent overthinking with this song. It was written in 1991, after the divorce between The Edge and his wife, the song was written really quickly and in 1 hour the song was already ready to be heard.

The single was sold about 20 millions copies. It became one of the emblamatic symbol of the band.

The lyrics were really appreciated but the most famous line is "We're one but we're not the same". It makes us think on how love should be spread and receive. Indeed we're one but we are different and we should celebrate and enjoy our diversity no matter what. It is hard to learn how to deal with our distinctions but "One" shows us it's possible in a beautiful way.

 

One

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same ?
Will it make it easier on you
Now you got someone to blame ?

You say
One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
one love
We get to share it
It leaves you baby
If you don't care for it

Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in you mouth ?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without

Well it's too late
Tonight
To drag the past out
Into the light
We're one
But we're not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other
One

Have you come here for forgiveness ?
Have you come to raise the dead ?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head ?
Did I ask too much ?
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well, we hurt each other
Then we do it again

You say
Love is a temple
Love is a higher law
Love is a temple
Love is a higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should

One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers

One life
But we're not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other

One
One

Ooh-ooh-ooh
Oh-ooh
Baby, baby, baby
Higher
Oh, higher (Baby, yeah, yeah)
Higher
Higher

 

What is the U2 legacy ?  

 

First of all they revolutionned Rock music, with The Edge delay-heavy guitar riffs, Bono's passionate vocals and the band's dynamic style. They used their music and influence to talk about social and political causes. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Pride" whitch is a tribute to Martin Luher King are good examples of their way to use music, to make people think. They inspired artists across all genres such as : The killers, Muse and Coldplay...

 Concert they did in Paris 2018

Conclusion

But most of all if U2 is one of my favorite (and best) band ever it's because it reminds me of my childhood when my parents used to listen to their song, especially in the car. I also love the fact that now i can enjoy the lyrics since I finally understand them. I hope that one day I'll be able to see them on a live concert (Mom/Dad if you're reading this they're doing a concert in Avignon in march 2026...)

Anyway hope you enjoyed my article and I hope you are currently listening to one of their song while reading this ! Bye bye