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
Daydream Believer
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The six o'clock alarm would never ring
But it rings and I rise, wipe the sleep out of my eyes
My shavin' razor's cold and it stings
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
You once thought of me as a white knight on a steed
Now you know how happy I can be
Oh, and our good times start and end without dollar one to spend
But how much, baby, do we really need?
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen
The lyrics of U2's "Daydream Believer" depict a sense of escapism and longing for a simpler, carefree life. The opening lines, "Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings of the bluebird as she sings / The six o'clock alarm would never ring," convey a desire to retreat from the pressures and responsibilities of everyday life. The singer yearns to disconnect from the world and find solace in daydreams.
The mention of the alarm ringing and the singer having to wake up, wipe the sleep out of their eyes, and face reality signifies the end of these daydreams. It suggests that despite their longing for a different reality, they still have to confront their daily routines and obligations.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Cheer up, Sleepy Jean" as a way to encourage the singer to find joy and happiness in their dreams. It suggests that the singer may be feeling down or disheartened and needs a reminder to hold onto their daydreams and find solace in them.
The lyrics also mention a previous perception of the singer as a "white knight on a steed," implying that they were once seen as a savior or hero figure by someone, specifically a "homecoming queen." However, it is suggested that the singer's true happiness lies in their daydreams, as the line "Now you know how happy I can be" implies that their fantasy world brings them more joy than material or financial success.
Overall, "Daydream Believer" reflects the human desire for escapism and the yearning for a simpler, more fulfilling existence. It encourages listeners to find solace in their imagination and daydreams, even in the face of life's challenges and responsibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings of the bluebird as she sings
I have the ability to find comfort and escape from reality by immersing myself in pleasant distractions.
The six o'clock alarm would never ring
I wish to avoid the responsibilities and routine of daily life.
But it rings and I rise, wipe the sleep out of my eyes
Despite my desire to continue dreaming, I am forced to wake up and face the day.
My shavin' razor's cold and it stings
The reality of my daily grooming routine is a harsh reminder of the discomforts of real life.
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean
I encourage you, Sleepy Jean, to find happiness and optimism in spite of the challenges we face.
Oh, what can it mean
What significance or impact does this hold?
To a daydream believer
For someone who believes in the power and importance of daydreaming
And a homecoming queen
As well as a woman who was once celebrated as the epitome of success and happiness.
You once thought of me as a white knight on a steed
You used to see me as a heroic figure who would always come to your rescue.
Now you know how happy I can be
Now you understand the extent of my capacity for joy and contentment.
Oh, and our good times start and end without dollar one to spend
Our moments of happiness and fulfillment are not dependent on material wealth.
But how much, baby, do we really need?
However, how much do we truly require in order to be content and satisfied?
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean
I urge you, Sleepy Jean, to find joy and hope amidst the challenges of life.
Oh, what can it mean
What implications or significance does it hold?
To a daydream believer
For someone who strongly believes in the power and value of daydreaming.
And a homecoming queen
As well as a woman who was once revered as a symbol of success and happiness.
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean
I implore you, Sleepy Jean, to find solace and optimism despite the challenges we face.
Oh, what can it mean
What significance or impact does this hold?
To a daydream believer
For someone who believes strongly in the power and importance of daydreaming.
And a homecoming queen
As well as a woman who was once celebrated as the epitome of success and happiness.
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean
I encourage you, Sleepy Jean, to find happiness and optimism despite the challenges we face.
Oh, what can it mean
What significance or impact does this hold?
To a daydream believer
For someone who strongly believes in the power and value of daydreaming.
And a homecoming queen
As well as a woman who was once revered as a symbol of success and happiness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karimoon5323
BELT IT DAVEY!!
HIS FAVORITE ACTIVITYS...
🎤PERFORMING🎶 AND TRAINING/ RIDING.
HORSES🐴
LEAST FAVORITE THINGS
----------------------------
>HIS BROKEN 6:00 ⏰ THAT NEVER RANG
💈THAT SHAVIN RAZOR THAT WAS COLD..BECAUSE APPARENTLY HE NEVER FIGURED OUT THE HOT WATER
❤RIP❤
@AlwaysGladYouCame
Eight years ago this past week, this video from my channel was featured in a Rolling Stone article! Here’s the link: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-davy-jones-sings-daydream-believer-at-a-u2-concert-89758/
@danielraymond5934
The first 25 seconds of the video, lemon/Clayton’s side, before it switches to the pro-shot footage is mine… I filmed the show.
The audio is from my video until the 53-second mark.
@lisadc4681
Omg, this made me bawl like a baby!! The Monkees were huge part of my childhood growing up in the 1960s with their tv show and albums!! (Not to mention all the other great music, too) Awesome that U2 had him on their tour!! Love this, thanks for making me burst into tears, so sad he died so young..RIP Davy.
@DaryMatera
Neil Diamond, Carol King, Boyce and Heart, and many other future superstars wrote the songs for the Monkees. Their albums are classics.
@crazysingingchick
This was cute as heck. 2 of my favorite bands collaborating. It doesn’t get much better than that for me. RIP Davy, and nice singing, The Edge!!
@lionheartroar3104
Bravo that U2 made time for Davy Jones...he was such a joy
@cynthiamurray9194
I was there for that concert... LOVE U2, but it was not there best tour....the crowd was a bit languid when Edge started singing “Daydream...” UNTIL the awesome Davy Jones came on stage and started singing... the crowd went NUTS!! Everyone singing and hitting beach balls around. So special. RIP Davy. You are so missed. 😔💕
@apece70
Awesome. Davy's voice is simply fantastic. Thanks.
@acmacane8277
Awesome! Gives me goosebumps every time.
@garotadagavea
Look at that: he was 2/3 of the height of the other guy and his talent and personality just FILLED the whole arena. Remarkable talent.