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
All I Want Is You (Reality Bit
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you'll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night
You say you'll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbor in the tempest
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you want
Your love to work out right
To last with me through the night
You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold
All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You all I want is
You all I want is
You all I want is
You
The song "All I Want is You" by U2 is a love song exploring the depths of what one person truly desires from another. The beginning of the song talks about the materialistic expectations that someone may have in a relationship, such as diamonds and a story that remains untold. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that these things do not hold as much weight as the promises made between two people, from birth to death. The chorus repeats the simple yet powerful line "When all I want is you", emphasizing the true desire for the other person regardless of any external factors.
The second verse delves into more symbolic and emotional desires, such as a highway with no one on it and a view to treasure. The singer also longs for understanding and compassion in difficult times, represented by "eyes in a moon of blindness" and a "harbor in the tempest". The bridge connects back to the chorus, highlighting the importance of the promises kept in a relationship and how they hold more weight than anything else.
Overall, "All I Want is You" is a song about the simplicity of true love and the importance of being present for one another through all aspects of life. The power of promises made is emphasized throughout the song as the singer declares that their only desire is the other person's presence and loyalty.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You desire material wealth and luxuries in life, specifically in the form of a fancy ring with diamonds.
You say you want your story to remain untold
You wish to keep your personal life and experiences private, not publicizing them to the world.
But all the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave, when all I want is you
Despite all the superficial desires and promises we make in life, the only thing that truly matters is being with the person we love.
You say you'll give me a highway with no one on it, treasure just to look upon it, all the riches in the night
You offer a life filled with adventure, fortune, and material possessions, including luxurious treasure and wealth.
You say you'll give me eyes in a moon of blindness, a river in a time of dryness, a harbor in the tempest
You promise to be a source of guidance and support even in the darkest of times, being a beacon of hope and safety for your loved one.
You say you want your love to work out right, to last with me through the night, your love not to grow cold
You desire a long-lasting and enduring love that will withstand the test of time, not fading away or becoming distant over time.
All the promises we break, from the cradle to the grave, when all I want is you
Despite all the lofty promises we make in life, we often break them and fall short. However, the only thing that truly matters is being with the person we love.
You all I want is, you all I want is, you all I want is you
Repeatedly affirming that the only thing desired is the person they love; nothing else can compare or replace their presence in their life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-id8rh1kv5u
I ran fast to catch up
When that wasn't enough I sprinted
U said it can't be true
I meditated
Then we both got hot tempers
Denied phone calls to take some power back
Don't ask for Vulnerable
If you deny my Heart
Then I waited
Gestures
Smiles for both of us
Time is moving Us in the same direction
TGT
@kelly-in-translation
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want your story to remain untold
But all the promises we made
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you'll give me a highway with no one on it
A treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night
You say you'll give me eyes in a world of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you want your love to work out right
To last with me through the night
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold
All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You
All I want is... You
All I want is... You
All I want is... You
@ethansledzianowski8056
The 90s was MY decade! It was when I met the world 🌎 😔 I was 16 in 94 and not a care in the world! Now Iam 43 older and wiser...... life passes you by so fast.......I pray my 14 y.o. son learns this earlier than I did!.....
@annewick2558
I freaking love this movie and the soundtrack. This song really hits you in the feels
@rebeccahut3472
I can't describe with words how much i love this movie ❤
@Taki_Rad
Me too!!!!!
@user-zp3jt7nb2c
❤me too
@chrissimpson6701
I would give anything to go back right here, I was 14 years old, carefree, Grunge had entered my world forever, I never seen music the same again. You couldn't tell me a damn thing about this movie and Singles.
@ciudadanakane8743
I was 12, the same feeling.
@JayGaulard
Obviously the best scene and the best song of the movie. Loved them both. Definite classic.
@Dude-etiquette
This movie and Before Sunrise shaped my teenage years.
@methotrexatemonday
I luv Winona. Her passion and emotion with the characters she plays, is so relatable to my 90s girl heart. 💗