The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency. Within four years, they signed with Island Records and released their debut album, Boy (1980). Subsequent work such as their first UK number-one album, War (1983), and the singles "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)" helped establish U2's reputation as a politically and socially conscious group. By the mid-1980s, they had become renowned globally for their live act, highlighted by their performance at Live Aid in 1985. The group's fifth album, The Joshua Tree (1987), made them international superstars and was their greatest critical and commercial success. Topping music charts around the world, it produced their only number-one singles in the US, "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".
Facing creative stagnation and a backlash following their documentary/double album, Rattle and Hum (1988), U2 reinvented themselves in the 1990s through a new musical direction and public image. Beginning with their acclaimed seventh album, Achtung Baby (1991), and the multimedia-intensive Zoo TV Tour, the band integrated influences from alternative rock, electronic dance music, and industrial music into their sound, and embraced a more ironic, flippant image. This experimentation continued through their ninth album, Pop (1997), and the PopMart Tour, which were mixed successes. U2 regained critical and commercial favour with the records All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), which established a more conventional, mainstream sound for the group. Their U2 360° Tour of 2009–2011 is the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour in history. The group's thirteenth album, Songs of Innocence (2014), was released at no cost through the iTunes Store, but received criticism for its automatic placement in users' music libraries.
U2 has released 14 studio albums and is one of the world's best-selling music artists in history, having sold more than 170 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone ranked U2 at number 22 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Throughout their career, as a band and as individuals, they have campaigned for human rights and philanthropic causes, including Amnesty International, Jubilee 2000, the ONE/DATA campaigns, Product Red, War Child, and Music Rising.
Foundation: The band originally formed in 1976 when Larry Mullen posted a bulletin in his school asking for musicians to form a rock band. The band then consisted of the four current members plus three additional guitarists, including The Edge’s brother Dick Evans (later a member of Virgin Prunes), Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin. According to legend, Bono originally auditioned as a guitarist but couldn’t play. He auditioned as lead vocals, but really couldn’t sing. He was, however, incredibly enthusiastic about the band, extremely charismatic, a great writer, and was strangely able to reach the audience when the band played, something he is known for still today. Bono will reach out into the crowd and dance or mess with someone in the crowd at every concert. He was kept as a member. The extra guitarists would soon leave the band and the group would go through the names “Feedback ” and “The Hype” before finally settling on U2.
The 70s & 80s: 1978 was a jumping point year for the band, finally finding their sound / voice. U2 won a talent contest in 1978: £500 and funds to make a record. Paul McGuinness became the band’s manager and U2 released an EP called Three and the single Another Day, the following year. U2 went on to release their first album, Boy and then more critically acclaimed albums incl.: October, War, Under A Blood Red Sky, and The Unforgettable Fire (featuring the song PlayMLK dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr). Seen by many as a political band with more charisma than others, they were called “a different kind” of band. After a short break U2 returned with The Joshua Tree & the USA music inspired Rattle And Hum (also a movie of the same name, based on the tour).
The 90s: Promising ”to dream it all up again”, they added industrial and dance styles to their music. Trying to drop a goody two shoes image, they went to Berlin (Germany), supposedly to develop new self-expressions. From there they started to make fun of themselves and had a good time of it in albums like Achtung Baby (meaning ”watch out, baby”, artwork feat. make-up artist Nassim Khalifa) & Zooropa. Bono took on many stage personae such as “The Fly”, “Mirrorball Man” and “Mr. MacPhisto” for the gigantic ZOO TV Tour. Later they continued to make fun of Pop culture and all its extremes with the album Pop and consequent PopMart tour which was announced to be launched at a Kmart store and included a giant golden arch across the stage.
The 00s: At the end of the 90’s into 00’s U2 became less image and more reality. With the death of Bono’s good friend Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of INXS, Bono wrote more songs from the heart surrounding ideas like life and death, children, hope, and the real world past all the pop culture and TV. Some say they’ve returned to a more band-centric sound with albums like All That You Can’t Leave Behind which features a song, Kite, dedicated to Bono’s father who passed away shortly after the album’s conception and 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
The 10s: U2 went on the U2 360° Tour in 2009 and 2010. This tour set records for the highest-grossing concert tour. The band worked with producer Danger Mouse for their thirteenth album Songs of Innocence, which was released on 9 September 2014 for free to all Apple iCloud users.
The Name: There are many theories as to the origin of the name U2. For example, U2 was an intelligence airplane that was in use by the United States during the Cold War. Other obvious candidates include “You too” and “You two”, etc. Nonetheless the official line on the name’s origins remains unknown. The band has been quoted as saying that they did think of the U2 spy plane, but remain hushed about other reasons… U2
1. Beatiful Day
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shoots up through the stony ground
There's no room
No space to rent in this town
You're out of luck
And the reason that you had to care
The traffic is stuck
You thought you'd found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace
It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
You're on the road
But you've got no destination
You're in the mud
In the maze of her imagination
You're lovin' this town
Even if that doesn't ring true
You've been all over
And it's been all over you
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day
Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case
See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light and
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out
It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Beautiful day
Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case
What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
It was a beautiful day
The lyrics of "Beautiful Day" by U2 talk about finding hope in life when everything seems to be going against you. The heart is a bloom that shoots up through the stony ground, showing that even in difficult situations, there can be something beautiful that can come out of it. The song is about finding a way forward and not getting bogged down by the problems that life throws your way.
Throughout the song, the lyrics speak of being stuck in traffic or the mud, longing for a way out of a difficult situation. The singer thought they had found a friend to help, but they were left alone. However, despite all this, the singer sees the world in a different way, sees the world's beauty, and hopes for a better day. The chorus is a reminder to appreciate the present, even when things are tough, and not let the good moments pass you by.
Line by Line Meaning
The heart is a bloom
Love and emotion are ever-present and will always be a part of the human experience.
Shoots up through the stony ground
Even through difficulties and hardships, love can still find a way to flourish and grow.
There's no room
In this crowded and stressful world, it can be hard to find space for the things that truly matter, such as love and connection.
No space to rent in this town
It can feel like finding meaningful relationships and connections is difficult in modern society, which can be isolating and lonely.
You're out of luck
Life is often unpredictable and can throw us curveballs, leaving us feeling like we have no control over our circumstances.
And the reason that you had to care
Despite these challenges, we still have a deep need to care and connect with others, which can be a driving force in our lives.
The traffic is stuck
Sometimes life can feel like it's at a standstill, leaving us feeling powerless to change our situation.
And you're not moving anywhere
This lack of movement and progress can be frustrating and disheartening, especially when it comes to finding meaningful connections with others.
You thought you'd found a friend
We often seek out connections with others in order to find comfort and support, but these relationships don't always live up to our expectations.
To take you out of this place
It's human nature to want to escape difficult situations, whether physical or emotional, and seek out greener pastures.
Someone you could lend a hand
In these difficult times, it's important to have people around us who we can rely on for help and support.
In return for grace
These relationships should be founded on a mutual respect and gratitude for one another, as well as an understanding that we all need help at times.
It's a beautiful day
Despite the challenges and difficulties of life, there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the world.
Sky falls, you feel like
Even when we're faced with difficult situations that seem insurmountable, there is still a sense of the miraculous and the amazing in the world around us.
Don't let it get away
It's important to hold onto these moments of beauty and wonder and not let them slip through our fingers.
You're on the road
Life is a journey, and we're all traveling down our own unique paths, even when we're not sure where we're going.
But you've got no destination
Despite this journey, we don't always know where we're headed or what our ultimate destination might be.
You're in the mud
Sometimes this journey can be difficult and messy, leaving us feeling stuck and unable to move forward.
In the maze of her imagination
Our minds are complex and intricate, often leading us down unexpected paths and creating a maze that's difficult to navigate.
You're lovin' this town
Despite the difficulties, there is still something lovable and charming about the world we live in.
Even if that doesn't ring true
However, sometimes our perceptions of the world around us might not align with reality, leading to feelings of disillusionment and confusion.
You've been all over
Life is full of experiences, both good and bad, that shape who we are and what we believe.
And it's been all over you
These experiences leave a mark on us, shaping how we see ourselves and the world around us.
Touch me
Human touch is a powerful thing, capable of conveying love, support, and comfort when words fail us.
Take me to that other place
Sometimes we need a change of scenery, whether physical or emotional, in order to find peace and clarity.
Teach me
Learning and growth are lifelong processes that we never outgrow, and we can always benefit from the wisdom and experience of others.
I know I'm not a hopeless case
Despite our flaws and imperfections, we all have the potential for growth, change, and redemption.
See the world in green and blue
The world is a vibrant and colorful place, full of beauty and wonder in even the smallest moments.
See China right in front of you
No matter where we are in the world, there is always something new to discover and explore.
See the canyons broken by cloud
Even natural wonders like canyons can be transformed and made new by the beauty of the sky and the clouds.
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
Even seemingly mundane activities like fishing have the potential for beauty and wonder, as we witness the power of nature and humanity working together.
See the Bedouin fires at night
Different cultures and ways of life all have their own unique beauty and wonder, waiting to be discovered and explored.
See the oil fields at first light
Even man-made structures like oil fields can have a certain beauty and grace in the right light and perspective.
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth
Even the smallest and most mundane moments of nature can be imbued with beauty and wonder, if we take the time to appreciate them.
After the flood all the colors came out
Even after we've experienced difficult and challenging times, there is always the potential for renewal, growth, and rebirth.
What you don't have you don't need it now
Sometimes the things we think we need in order to be happy are actually holding us back, and it can be freeing to let go of them.
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
Despite all of our knowledge and understanding, there will always be a sense of mystery and wonder in the world that we can never fully comprehend.
Don't need it now
Letting go of these unnecessary burdens can be both liberating and empowering.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul David Hewson, David Howell Evans, Adam Charles Clayton, Laurence Joseph Mullen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joneebliss
It's March 2024. It is a beautiful day!!
@lionel1963
DAMN RIGHT! HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
@juccee66
Yep yep
@JIMMYSTREET222
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@choctaw226
❤ blue sky and birds chirping, dogs barking, butterflies and dragon flies. A touch of puffy white clouds under a 🔵 BLUE SKY. 🎉
Palm tress and fire 🔥 pits. Blessed and love Jesus Christ my Savior 💕 my King 👑💖.
@cindyreid6404
Happy Easter 2024
@annaferguson93
I have 4th stage pancreatic cancer. I hope when I die my son knows it's a beautiful reunion. And a beautiful day
@dimkahon6065
I cry :(
@indriaeriz
Fighting!
@abominableyeti5639
rest well my friend