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
9-Mysterious Ways
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your sister the moon
Let her pale light in
To fill up your room
You've been living underground
Eating from a can
You've been running away
From what you don't understand
She's slippy
You're sliding down
She'll be there
When you hit the ground
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
Johnny take a dive
With your sister in the rain
Let her talk about the things
You can't explain
To touch is to heal
To hurt is to steal
If you want to kiss the sky
Better learn how to kneel (on your knees boy!)
She's the wave
She turns the tide
She sees the man inside the child, yeah
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Lift my days, light up my nights
One day you'll look back
And when you see
Where you were held
How by this love
While you could stand there
You could move on this moment
Follow this feeling
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
Ah oh oh ah huh
Move, move, move, move
She moves with it
She moves me like
Lift my days and light up my nights
Love
The song is about a man named Johnny who has been living in seclusion and avoiding the uncertainties of life. The lyrics are urging Johnny to come out of his shell and experience the mysterious ways of love. The moon in the first verse represents a guiding force, and the rain in the second verse represents a metaphorical cleansing. The song advises Johnny that to touch is to heal while to hurt is to steal. If he wants to succeed and reach new heights, Johnny must kneel before the woman who moves in mysterious ways. The lyrics assert that she is capable of turning the tide and seeing the man inside the child. If Johnny follows this intuition, he will one day look back upon a life that was lived with abundant love and light.
The song is deliberately cryptic, with sparse and suggestive lyrics that encourage the audience to interpret the song's meaning in their way. However, there are several references to Christianity, such as "kneel" and "to touch is to heal," which could suggest that the song is about the Christian concept of salvation. Alternatively, it could refer to the abstract and enigmatic nature of love, which defies explanation and comprehension. The song has a clear refrain that emphasizes the mysteriousness of the woman who the man is pursuing. The song was a significant hit in the early 1990s and has become a staple of U2's live performances.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny take a walk
Go for a walk, Johnny
With your sister the moon
Let the moon provide light
Let her pale light in
Allow the moon's light
To fill up your room
Brightness will fill your world
You've been living underground
You've been hiding from the world
Eating from a can
Eating canned food, cheaply made food
You've been running away
You've been evading maturity
From what you don't understand
From things you can't comprehend
Love
Love, the answer to inexplicable problems
She's slippy
She's elusive
You're sliding down
You're out of control
She'll be there
She will help you
When you hit the ground
When brings failure
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Everything will be okay
She moves in mysterious ways
She is full of surprises
Johnny take a dive
Jump into a serious engagement
With your sister in the rain
With 'sister' being the moon in the rain
Let her talk about the things
Let the moon reveal the secrets of life
You can't explain
Insights you can't convey
To touch is to heal
To contact someone can mend their wounds
To hurt is to steal
Causing pain is theft of their calm
If you want to kiss the sky
Trying to experience heaven
Better learn how to kneel (on your knees boy!)
Learn to be humble to reach the goal
She's the wave
She is powerful
She turns the tide
She controls things
She sees the man inside the child, yeah
She sees the real person behind the innocence
Lift my days, light up my nights
Bring brightness into every moment
One day you'll look back
Take a glance at your past
And when you see
When finally realize
Where you were held
Where you were stuck for so long
How by this love
How love got you free
While you could stand there
You could've escaped sooner
You could move on this moment
You can take action now
Follow this feeling
Follow your dreams
Ah oh oh ah huh
An excited exclamation
Move, move, move, move
Go for it
She moves with it
She goes along with life
She moves me like
She influences my life
Lift my days and light up my nights
Improve each day and night
Love
The power of love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, PAUL DAVID HEWSON, ANGELIQUE KIDJO, LARRY MULLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kaah6162
""Johnny take a dive
With your sister in the rain
Let her talk about the things
You can't explain
To touch is to Heal
To hurt is to Steal
If you want kiss the sky
Better learn how to kneel ( On your knees boy!) ""
This is pure poetry.
@patrickstocks3986
Johnny take a walk
With your sister the moon
Let her pale light in
To fill up your room
You've been living underground
Eating from a can
You've been running away
From what you don't understand
Love
She's slippy
You're sliding down
She'll be there
When you hit the ground
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Johnny take a dive
With your sister in the rain
Let her talk about the things
You can't explain
To touch is to heal
To hurt is to steal
If you want to kiss the sky
Better learn how to kneel (on your knees boy!)
She's the wave
She turns the tide
She sees the man inside the child, yeah
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Lift my days, light up my nights
1 day you'll look back
And when you see
Where you were held
How by this love
While you could stand there
You could move on this moment
Follow this feeling
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
Ah oh oh ah huh
Move, move, move, move
She moves with it
She moves me like
Lift my days and light up my nights
Love
@turc1656
That bass line is the stuff dreams are made of. Groovy as hell and wildly addictive.
@reneechristopher2121
I agree with you 💯%.
@chuckphelps6187
Even Bono has said that the band was built around Adam Clayton's bass line. An underrated musician.
@viciazzo
underrated... indeed!
@claudiapost-schultzke7216
True
@troyh7079
That was the 90s man... bass bass and more bass.
@jimmymurray6116
U2 was the most versatile bands in HISTORY: Rock, Pop, Rhythm, Indie. They could do it all with the same line up. Perfection!
@Angela-qr8wl
Same Line Up Yea!!!!
@skw0816
This song NEVER EVER gets old! Bono still has his moves too
@Macca-rb5ok
The 1990s belonged to U2 - this album and the subsequent tour took music into a new post-80s era. It's hard to describe how fresh and new this "sound" was at the time.