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
I've Got You Under My Skin
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got you deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart
You're nearly a part of me
I've got you under my skin
I have tried so not to give in
Never gonna go somewhere
But why should I try to resist
When baby I know so well
That I've got you under my skin
I would sacrifice anything
Come what might
For the sake of holding you near
In spite of a warning voice
That comes in the night
It repeats and it shouts in my ear
Don't you know blue-eyes
You never can win
Use your mentality
Wake up to reality
But each time I do
Just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin
I'd sacrifice anything
Come what might
For the sake of having you near
In spite of a warning voice
That comes in the night
It repeats and it shouts in my ear
Don't you know you old fool
You never can win
Use your mentality
Wake up to reality
But each time that I do
Just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin
And I love you (when you're) under my skin
The song “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by U2 is a classic love song with lyrics that are both romantic and obsessive. The song tells the story of a person who is deeply in love and can’t shake their feelings for someone, despite warning voices in their head telling them to be cautious. The opening lines of the song declare, “I have got you under my skin/I’ve got you deep in the heart of me/So deep in my heart/You’re nearly a part of me”.
Throughout the song, Bono’s lyrics express that, even though he knows he is risking heartbreak, he is willing to go through the pain to hold onto the person he loves. He sings, “I have tried so not to give in/I have said to myself this affair/Never gonna go somewhere/But why should I try to resist/When baby I know so well/That I’ve got you under my skin”. By using the phrase “I’ve got you under my skin”, Bono implies that his love for this person is so deeply ingrained in him, that it’s like a part of their physical being.
The warning voice in the song that repeats and shouts in his ear represents his internal conflicts about the relationship. In this conflict, the lyrics show the dramatic inner turmoil of wanting but also fearing this love. In the end, despite the warning voice, the singer cannot deny his feelings for his love interest. The song is an excellent example of the passion, risks, contradictions, and obsessive nature of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I have got you under my skin
You occupy such a significant part of me that it feels like you are embedded deep within me.
I've got you deep in the heart of me
You are so deeply entrenched in my heart and mind that it is impossible to get rid of you.
So deep in my heart
Your presence is intrinsically entwined with my heart and soul.
You're nearly a part of me
You are so close to me that it feels like you are just one part of my being.
I have tried so not to give in
I've attempted to resist my feelings and impulses towards you.
I have said to myself this affair
I've told myself that this relationship is meaningless and will lead to nothing.
Never gonna go somewhere
I am convinced that our relationship is just a passing phase that will lead nowhere.
But why should I try to resist
Despite my attempts to resist you, I realize it's pointless to try and suppress my true emotions.
When baby I know so well
Because I am well aware that my feelings for you run deep and true.
That I've got you under my skin
I have accepted that you have become an essential and integral part of me.
I would sacrifice anything
I am willing to make any sacrifice, no matter how great it is, to be close to you.
Come what might
I am ready to face any kind of obstacle or challenge that may come our way.
For the sake of holding you near
I am willing to go to any extent just to be near you and feel your presence.
In spite of a warning voice
Despite the inner voice which warns me against the potential dangers or consequences of my actions.
That comes in the night
The voice that haunts me during the night.
It repeats and it shouts in my ear
The voice echoes repeatedly in my head, becoming louder with every passing day.
Don't you know blue-eyes
The voice warns that I am being foolish and blind.
You never can win
The voice implies that our relationship is doomed to fail.
Use your mentality
The voice urges me to think rationally and use my logical mind.
Wake up to reality
The voice tells me to be aware of the harsh reality and not lose myself in a dreamlike fantasy.
But each time I do
While I try to follow the voice and be practical, it's not easy.
Just the thought of you
The mere thought of you is enough to overwhelm me.
Makes me stop before I begin
I get cold feet and hesitate to act on my impulses.
Cause I've got you under my skin
The reason I'm unable to control my impulses is that you are imprinted so deeply within me.
And I love you (when you're) under my skin
Even though I know it may not be practical or sensible, I can't help but love you for who you are and how you make me feel.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ninka1992
I love Bono's voice. Omg!
@josedon381
Tom Jones
@pratikbak
2 legends. Happy 60, Bono!
@otisroseboro5613
😊😊😊😊
@lucasphillips2177
Happy Birthday to one of the greatest singers, songwriters, and frontmen ever.
@nuriamartinromero
Great duet. Different voices but Beautiful together.
@stellacarrier8341
This music version of I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra & Bono is musically thrilling, the music collaboration blending the imaginative music energy of both musicians is surreal.
@stefannilsson6843
My idol and my father’s idol singing together, it couldn’t be better. Happy birthday Bono!
@Will21st
Stefan Nilsson the chairmen of the board!
@carlosrivas7628
Me too. My father past away in 2009. Alaways imagine me and my dad singing together this song...