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
Cry/The Electric Co.
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't sit at the table
Until you're able to
Toy, broken toy
Shout shout
You're inside out
If you don't know Electric co.
Red, running red
Play for real
The toy could feel
A hole in your head
You go in shock
You're spoon-fed
If you don't know Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
The lyrics of U2's song "The Electric Co." are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation, but can be seen as a commentary on the dangers of blindly following authority and being spoon-fed information without questioning it. The repeated refrain of "If you don't know Electric co." could refer to a sense of ignorance or naivety that leaves the listener vulnerable to manipulation.
The opening lines of the song address "boy, stupid boy" and caution against sitting at the table until one is "able to." This could be interpreted as a warning against rushing into situations before one is prepared or fully informed. The reference to a "broken toy" and the phrase "you're inside out" could suggest a sense of confusion or disorientation. The subsequent lines about a "hole in your head" and going into shock could imply the physical or mental toll of blindly following authority.
Overall, "The Electric Co." seems to be a warning against complacency and urging the listener to think critically and question authority. It's worth noting that U2's early work often featured political and social commentary, and this song is no exception.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy, stupid boy
Addressing a foolish male individual
Don't sit at the table
Do not involve yourself in something which you are not yet up to speed
Until you're able to
Until you acquire the necessary skills
Toy, broken toy
Referring to someone who is shattered and dysfunctional
Shout shout
Scream, scream
You're inside out
Revealing your internal or emotional state
If you don't know Electric co.
If you do not know or comprehend about the Electric co.
Red, running red
The color red signifies danger or a warning
Play for real
Take things seriously and genuinely
The toy could feel
The entity referred to as the toy has the ability to experience
A hole in your head
A situation of deficiency in intelligence
You go in shock
You will experience surprise, shock, or disbelief
You're spoon-fed
Information or ideas are fed to you without you having to think for yourself
If you don't know Electric co.
If you do not know or comprehend about the Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you do not know or comprehend about the Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you do not know or comprehend about the Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you do not know or comprehend about the Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you do not know or comprehend about the Electric co.
If you don't know Electric co.
If you do not know or comprehend about the Electric co.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Green
How the hell did Bono get up there and how did he get back so quickly? Amazing. This is the version that ended up on UABRS that autumn.
apple-sauce
I know right?! 😳
Cristian Ilie
Beautiful how there were no phones so everybody was enjoying the actual concert !!!
Mitch Myers
Great concert!!! Best outdoor concert I ever attended. Can you believe U2 was the first warm up band at this concert. Billing higher was Joe Cocker, Stray Cats, Motor Head, and headliner was Steve Miller. Might have been one other but not sure. This was also the first Rock concert ever broadcast LIVE across the USSR !!!!
Lachlant1984
It goes without saying the U2 would be the main act these days, I'm actually going to see them playing at Marvel Stadium next Friday, the opening act is Noel Gallagher.
Robert Papak
Best reply without breaking shit..
Robert Papak
Electric .co.
Robert Papak
We don't break
Robert Papak
234
Cldfsn0200
Just awesome to see this in 2012... I was turned onto U2 by a dorm mate at college. SUNY New Paltz Bouton Hall in 1982. I was hooked by November and was so psyched to hear new stuff from them. This was recorded in 1983 Amazing. I spent my summer after New Paltz in Germany in 1985. So that is an interesting coincidence. Germany has an appreciation for music and they are good people. Especially the young generation. I am the same age as members of U2. My youth was with the Beatles. Adulthood U2!