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 Threw A Brick Through A...
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was talking to myself
Somebody else
Talk, talk, talking
I couldn't hear a word
A word you said
He was my brother
Way out of here
Be my brother
Gotta get out
Gotta get out
I was walking
I was walking into walls
I'm back again
I just keep walking
I walk into a window
To see myself
And my reflection
When I thought about it
My direction
Going nowhere
Going nowhere
No one, no one is blinder
Than he who will not see
No one, no one is blinder
Than me
I was talking
I was talking in my sleep
I can't stop talk, talk, talking
I'm talking to you
It's up to you
Be my brother
There is another way out of here
Be my brother
Gotta get out
Gotta get out
Gotta get out of here
"I Threw A Brick Through A Window" is an emotional song performed by the Irish rock band, U2. The song was released in 1980 and it appeared on their second album, "Boy". The song starts with the lyricist talking to himself, unable to hear anything anyone else is saying. The song progresses to discuss his struggles with direction and purpose, leading him to say, "I walk into a window, to see myself and my reflection, when I thought about it, my direction, going nowhere, going nowhere."
The chorus of the song is deeply emotional, filled with longing and desperation: "Gotta get out, gotta get out of here. No one, no one is blinder than he who will not see. No one, no one is blinder than me. I was talking to myself, someone else, talk, talk, talking."
The lyricist talks about finding a way out of his current place, of needing someone to be supportive and to help guide him in the right direction. "Be my brother, there is another way out of here, be my brother, gotta get out, gotta get out."
"I Threw A Brick Through A Window" is a song that reflects feelings of loneliness, despair, and a desperate need for connection and support. It is a reminder that even when we feel like we're talking to ourselves, there is always someone out there who can hear us and help us find a way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I was talking
I was expressing my thoughts
I was talking to myself
I was reflecting on my own thoughts
Somebody else
I felt disconnected from others
Talk, talk, talking
I was constantly speaking my mind and unable to listen
I couldn't hear a word
I was not open to other perspectives
A word you said
I ignored what you were trying to tell me
He was my brother
I had a close relationship with someone
I said there was no other
I believed there was only one option
Way out of here
A solution to a problem
Be my brother
I sought support from someone
Gotta get out
I needed to escape a situation
I was walking
I was moving forward
I was walking into walls
I felt stuck and unable to progress
I'm back again
I return to the same problems
I just keep walking
I continue trying to move forward
I walk into a window
I confront my own reflection
To see myself
To reflect on my own actions and thoughts
When I thought about it
When I considered my situation
My direction
My path in life
Going nowhere
I felt stuck and without progress
No one, no one is blinder
No one is more ignorant
Than he who will not see
Than someone who refuses to acknowledge the truth
No one, no one is blinder
No one is more ignorant
Than me
Than myself, acknowledging my own ignorance
I was talking in my sleep
I was unable to escape my own thoughts
I can't stop talk, talk, talking
My thoughts constantly occupy my mind
I'm talking to you
I am trying to communicate
It's up to you
The responsibility lies on you to take action
There is another way out of here
There is an alternative solution to a problem
Gotta get out
I need to escape the situation
Gotta get out
I need to escape the situation
Gotta get out of here
I need to leave this place or situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jose Maria Marin
U2 burnin' the house!! This live version of "A Day Without Me" drives me nuts! Just unforgettable.
2CHRAPKO
Definitely 😁
U2 fans, Trieste, Italy
October the best album
Milton Dooby
The 3:41-3:55 segue, with the double-snare it, is freaking BRILLIANT!....Such a sense of joy.
miltonboy73
U2 at Red Rocks what a great show it was...Amazing!!!! I never saw guys give more energy than them. And the crowd, the place, the wheather, the atmosphere WOW!!!! Just really fantastic!!!!
John Pressentin
Oh how I wish they would bring this rocker back into the set list!
Mac Ranch
Thank you Thank you Thank you. Had this concert on vhs, but lost it in the shuffle. U2 is my most fav band in the 🌎 I say!! They found me at a dark time in life and just 12 years old. These first 2 albums released so much of my angst and I have been fortunate to see them a few times but it wasn't enough. #u2fan4life. Blessings!!
Louis
Diddo!!!!!!!
Roberto Castro
Deveriam voltar a compor músicas nessa pegada!!!!!!
556NATORANGER
I have this on vinyl...old school and awesome!