5 December 1993 Wim Wenders must really be a great director if he can make me believe a U2 song is dreamy and lovely. Back in my mid-teens, when I was impressionable in many things but not impressionable enough to buy a U2 album, I consumed 'Stay (Faraway, So Close!)' through its Wenders-directed video, and … Continue reading U2 – ‘Stay (Faraway, So Close!)’ →

5 March 1992 The further along we go from 'The Fly', the more New U2 reverts to Old U2. 'One' could definitely have fitted onto The Joshua Tree or The Unforgettable Fire. No funk basslines or dance beats, no alter-egos or natty shades: it's U2 back to their earnest, serious selves. Whatever way you slice … Continue reading U2 – ‘One’ →

12 December 1991 I remember Hot Press in the early '90s carrying angry letters from die-hard U2 fans, mostly in North America, on how Achtung Baby and Zooropa were a travesty of U2 by U2. On 'Mysterious Ways', for instance, those strobe-lit dance beats and synth washes combine with Adam's mildly funky bassline to sound … Continue reading U2 – ‘Mysterious Ways’ →

24 October 1991 Deep down, did U2 really change all that much on Achtung Baby? Where they had gone west for The Joshua Tree and Rattle And Hum to chase their idea of US blues and gospel, now they went east to chase the spirit of Bowie's Berlin albums. On 'The Fly', our entrée to … Continue reading U2 – ‘The Fly’ →

22 June 1989 You're so materialistic, what with your wanting "diamonds on a ring of gold" and your promising me "treasure just to look upon it". You're also a bit odd and ranty, with all your pseudo-Biblical bluster of "eyes in a moon of blindness / a river in a time of dryness / a … Continue reading U2 – ‘All I Want Is You’ →

13 April 1989 We've already seen how U2 followed the lead of George Michael's 1987 one-word abstract-noun Bo-Diddley-beat rock 'n' roll throwback 'Faith' with 'Desire'. Now we have this other Rattle And Hum single which, like George's duet with Aretha Franklin on 'I Knew You Were Waiting For Me' a year or so earlier, sees … Continue reading U2 ft B.B. King – ‘When Love Comes To Town’ →

24 September 1988 Dunk a-dunk a-dunk, a-dunk-dunk! That's the Bo Diddley beat, a staple of rock music since the man himself popularised it in the '50s, and a proven crowd-pleaser. For example, in 1987 it was used by George Michael on his worldwide massive retro rock 'n' roll hit with a one-word abstract-noun title, 'Faith'. … Continue reading U2 – ‘Desire’ →

5 September 1987 A bicycle needs two pedals, but The Edge only needs one. His intro to 'Where The Streets Have No Name' may sound like some complex muso yoke at first, but it's just six notes played over and over; listen for yourself and you can pick them out. That shimmering effect is thanks … Continue reading U2 – ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’ →

13 June 1987 Zap through all your TV channels and you'll invariably come across the religious stations. Many are pretty orthodox: a priest, nun, pastor, rabbi or imam leading a service or preaching the party line. But you'll probably also see a live music event where an earnest-looking rock band is churning out sub-emo guitar … Continue reading U2 – ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ →

4 April 1987 'With Or Without You', the lead single for the new U2 album The Joshua Tree, was number one in Ireland for two weeks, just like 'The Unforgettable Fire', before being knocked off the top spot by another Irish record. It only got to number four in the UK charts, on a par … Continue reading U2 – ‘With Or Without You’ →