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
New Years Day
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All is quiet on New Year's Day
A world in white gets underway
I want to be with you
Be with you night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's Day
On New Year's Day
I will be with you again
I will be with you again
Under a blood red sky
A crowd has gathered in black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspapers says, says
Say it's true, it's true
And we can break through
Though torn in two
We can be one
I, I will begin again
I, I will begin again
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
I will be with you again
I will be with you again
I will be with you again
I will be with you again
I will be with you again
The lyrics of U2's New Year's Day are deceptively simple, yet poetically insightful. The song begins with the calm and quiet of New Year's Day, signifying new beginnings and a fresh start, but the idea of anything truly changing or improving is juxtaposed against the stark reality that "nothing changes on New Year's Day." It's a sobering reminder that while we may make resolutions, we often fall back into old patterns and nothing truly changes. The singer desires to be with someone, potentially a romantic partner, night and day, indicating a strong desire for companionship and connection.
As the song progresses, it introduces the powerful motif of "blood red sky" and "a crowd...gathered in black and white." These lines serve to create a scene of conflict, possibly referring to war or political strife, and the concept of unity in the face of division is introduced with "arms entwined, the chosen few." The lyrics suggest that despite being "torn in two," those involved can still "break through" and be "one." This sentiment is echoed later in the song when the singer proclaims "I will begin again" and declares a desire to be with someone "night and day" despite the ongoing conflicts in the world. The song ultimately ends on the same note it began, with the sentiment that despite everything, "nothing changes on New Year's Day."
Line by Line Meaning
All is quiet on New Year's Day
At the start of a new year, everything seems calm and peaceful.
A world in white gets underway
The new year begins with winter and snow covering the world.
I want to be with you
The singer desires to be close to the person they love.
Be with you, night and day
The desire to be with the person they love never fades, even when the day turns to night.
Nothing changes on New Year's Day
Despite the start of a new year, everything remains the same.
On New Year's Day
The day that marks the start of a new year.
I will be with you again
The singer promises to be reunited with the person they love.
Under a blood red sky
The sky is red, perhaps signifying the bloodshed in the world.
A crowd has gathered in black and white
People are coming together in unity, despite their differences in race or color.
Arms entwined, the chosen few
Those who choose to unite are holding onto each other.
The newspapers says, says
The news being reported claims that something is true.
Say it's true, it's true
The news being reported is proclaimed as truth.
And we can break through
Despite the conflicts in the world, there is hope for a resolution.
Though torn in two
The world is divided and broken.
We can be one
Despite the division, there is hope for unity.
I, I will begin again
The singer promises to start anew, perhaps with a renewed sense of hope or love.
Oh, oh
An expression of emotion, perhaps signaling hope or excitement.
Ah, maybe the time is right
Perhaps now is the ideal time for change or progress.
Oh, maybe tonight
The hope for progress may start tonight.
And so we're told this is the golden age
Society is often presented with an idealized image of prosperity, but this is not always the reality.
And gold is the reason for the wars we wage
Wars and battles are often fought for the sake of wealth or material possessions.
On New Year's Day
The day that marks the start of a new year.
On New Year's Day
The day that marks the start of a new year.
Oh, oh
An expression of emotion, perhaps signaling hope or excitement.
Oh, oh
An expression of emotion, perhaps signaling hope or excitement.
Oh, oh
An expression of emotion, perhaps signaling hope or excitement.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton, Paul Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chahrazadz6926
One of my favourite U2 song - Happy New Year 2021 !
Yeah
All is quiet on New Year's Day
A world in white gets underway
I want to be with you
Be with you, night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's Day
On New Year's Day
I will be with you again
I will be with you again
Under a blood red sky
A crowd has gathered in black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspapers says, says
Say it's true, it's true
And we can break through
Though torn in two
We can be one
I, I will begin again
I, I will begin again
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Ah, maybe the time is right
Oh, maybe tonight
I will be with…
@futureandevolution8315
41 years and this song is still a banger on New Year's Day
@shawnieBaby
Yep. I have to hear it every year! 🎆🥂
@giovannimagliocco2535
I agree with you ❤
@jamiebilich7406
They need to play this song after the ball drops at midnight! I've always listened to this song every new year!
@rebecca8525
Happy New Year!
@S.l.o.p.
Happy 2024!
@richardharmon647
My favorite song of all time. A complete masterpiece! Sounds as fresh in 2023 as it did 40 years ago.
@maggienbob1304
❤ my favourite song also. I love it today as much as I did when it was released.
@handyhank1967
Best U2 song.. Happy New Years all......
@IMGWindham
Tyvm I can c we both have excellent taste in music have a blessed 2024