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
Intro Where The Streets Have No Name
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
Where the streets have no name, ha, ha, ha
I wanna feel sunlight on my face
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I wanna take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust
I'll show you a place
High on the desert plain, yeah
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
Our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, and I see love
See our love turn to rust
Oh, we're beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, when I go there
I go there with you
It's all I can do
U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name” is a song about the hunger for freedom - freedom from the constraints of societal structures, the sanctity of one’s own mind, and the unquenchable desire for love. The song begins with the singer yearning for a simple existence, where he can express himself freely without fear or restraint. The walls that surround him represent those barriers that prevent him from living a meaningful existence. He wants to reach out and “touch the flame” - an allusion to taking risks that can either be exhilarating or catastrophic. The line “Where the streets have no name” represents the idea of an egalitarian society - a place where one’s social status doesn’t dictate the opportunities they have. The line “We’re still building, then burning down love” implies the continuous cycle of building and breaking down connections. The final line of the chorus announces that the singer is not alone - he is going on this journey of self-discovery with someone he loves dearly.
The second verse further exemplifies the freedom that the singer desires. He wants to bask in the warm sunlight freely without fear of being judged by societal norms. He wants to take shelter from the “poison rain” - the negativity that engulfs him in his daily life. The lines “our love turns to rust,” “we’re beaten and blown by the wind” symbolizes the struggle to fight for love when the world is against it. The final verse speaks of a place of refuge - “high on the desert plain” - which represents a place of reinvention and self-discovery. The singer still holds on to the hope that he can claw his way out of the desolation that surrounds him with someone he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to run, I want to hide
I want to escape from my current situation and find a place to feel safe.
I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside
I wish to break free from the constraints and barriers imposed on me by society and explore the unknown.
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
I am willing to take risks and experience uncharted territory, even if it may be dangerous.
Where the streets have no name, ha, ha, ha
A sense of liberation can be found in places where societal labels and restrictions do not exist.
I wanna feel sunlight on my face
I yearn for a life filled with positivity and hope, symbolized by the warmth of the sun.
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I am hopeful that any negativity or obstacles I face will be temporary and soon vanish.
I wanna take shelter from the poison rain
I want to escape from the harmful influences of society and find a place of safety and purity.
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
The anonymity of a place where there are no restrictions is what beckons and excites me.
We're still building then burning down love
Love is complicated and often ends in heartbreak, but we continue to pursue it despite the risks.
Burning down love
The intensity of love can either kindle a bright fire or quickly destroy it.
And when I go there, I go there with you
I am willing to take on risks and challenges as long as I have someone to share the experience with.
It's all I can do
Exploring new territory and experiencing the unknown is all that matters to me.
The city's a flood
The city is overwhelming and unpredictable, much like a flood.
And our love turns to rust
Love can become feeble and deteriorate over time, just like rust.
We're beaten and blown by the wind
We are vulnerable to the unexpected and uncontrolled forces of the world.
Trampled in dust
We can easily be forgotten and left in despair in the midst of chaos.
I'll show you a place
I want to share with you an escape from the complications and troubles of life.
High on the desert plain, yeah
A secluded and vast location away from society brings a sense of freedom and purity.
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
I am drawn to places with no societal restrictions or labels, where I am free to be myself.
And I see love
Despite the risks and challenges of love, it is still a beacon of hope and positivity in life.
See our love turn to rust
Even though our love may be deteriorating, it is still a valuable experience and journey.
Oh, we're beaten and blown by the wind
We may face hardships and challenges, but we persevere and continue on our journey.
Blown by the wind
We are affected by the external forces around us, both positive and negative.
Oh, when I go there
When exploring new territory and facing new challenges...
I go there with you
...I want to share the experience with you, because we are stronger together.
It's all I can do
Exploring new territory and experiencing the unknown with you is all that matters to me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HongKeun Kim
Great interpretation and excellent job!! One of the greatest composition which I have gone through so far. Perfect AMBIENT intro!!!
Skynest101
This brings tears to my eyes. 😭 Makes me realise how lucky we are to be alive right now. Don’t waste it. 😌
Virginie Dallongeville
L’intro de ce classique est absolument incroyable et énorme ! Je me demande comment le groupe a procédé pour créer ce chef d’œuvre ?
Lee Smith
This is what you call music. 🙌
Park James Shaw
Afuckinmen lee
Call me legend Aw'ight
When they opened their shows with this song I got chills every time.
Park James Shaw
As u should! Well said
Andre Fabiano Leite da Silva
Versão maravilhosa
Greg Wilkinson
A song that sounds great being played real loud!
PoisonDWARFnz
I agree, another best played LOUD is Pearl Jam.