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
Storys For Boys
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I am far away
There's a TV show
And I can grow
Sometimes the hero takes me
Sometimes I don't let go
Hello hello
There's a picture book
With colored photographs
There's a comic strip
That makes me laugh
Sometimes the lady takes me
Sometimes I don't let go
Hello hello
(Stories for boys, stories for boys)
(Stories for boys, stories for boys)
(Stories for boys)
There's a place I go
And it's a part of me
There's a radio
And I will crawl
Sometimes the hero takes me
Sometimes I can't let go
Hello hello
(Stories for boys, stories for boys)
(Stories for boys, stories for boys)
(Stories for boys)
(Stories for boys, stories for boys)
(Stories for boys, stories for boys)
The lyrics of U2’s song “Stories for Boys” is a reflection on the power of storytelling and the impact it can have on a person's life. The singer describes how books, TV shows, and radio programs transport him to different places and give him a sense of escape. He mentions that he sometimes becomes so absorbed in these stories that he can't let go, highlighting how significant these stories can be to our lives. This theme of the power of storytelling is reinforced by the repetition of 'stories for boys' in the chorus.
Furthermore, the song also talks about the idea of nostalgia and the way we remember our childhood experiences. The singer describes the various mediums in which he consumed stories such as comic books and picture books, illustrating the innocence and simplicity of childhood. The line ‘Sometimes the hero takes me’ highlights the idea of looking up to role models and creating ideals that we aspire to, often from the stories we consume.
Overall, “Stories for Boys” encapsulates the influence of storytelling on our lives and how it shapes our worldview, aspirations, and memories.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place I go
The singer has a mental escape that they retreat to.
And I am far away
The escape is far from their reality.
There's a TV show
They escape into watching TV.
And I can grow
Watching TV allows the artist to learn and develop.
Sometimes the hero takes me
The artist of the TV show leads their escape.
Sometimes I don't let go
The singer has trouble resurfacing from their escape due to its comfort.
There's a picture book
Another form of escape is through books.
With colored photographs
The books contain visual stimulation.
There's a comic strip
Comics are another source of escape.
That makes me laugh
The humor found in the comics is a form of enjoyment for the artist.
Sometimes the lady takes me
The female character in the story leads their escape.
Sometimes I don't let go
Again, it's hard for the artist to leave their ideal escape.
There's a place I go
Repetitive affirmation of their mental escape.
And it's a part of me
The escape is ingrained within the singer's being.
There's a radio
Another form of entertainment that provides a means to escape.
And I will crawl
The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to access their safe haven.
Sometimes the hero takes me
The artist of the radio show becomes their leader in the escape.
Sometimes I can't let go
The singer struggles to leave the escape provided by the radio show.
Stories for boys
The various forms of media mentioned provide an escape for the singer from the real, masculine world.
Stories for boys
Confirmation that the aforementioned media is designed to entertain young males.
Stories for boys
Repetitive emphasis on the theme of escapism from the masculine world.
Stories for boys
Continued emphasis on the idea of media's role in helping men mentally escape.
Stories for boys
Final repetition of the desire for escape from male-dominated reality.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL ; HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dajzilla
Isnt that a TRIP?! 30 years later and they are STILL together and are relevant. UnREAL! I've been a huge U2 fan since "Boy". Amazing band and extremely unique. All the same members, no drug addict or alcoholics, no fighting or drama. Just the greatest music ever. We're lucky to have lived through the U2 experience.
@gamingwithjaymoore9930
40 years later now :)
@u2lover_
Its simply incredible that the guy who introduced U2, literally told what U2 would be in the future, he saw the future :0
@dancrowley5128
His name is John mc kenna .he is a foodie journalist. If you Google him.
@u2lover_
Dan Crowley okay :3
@m.forrestal5893
I saw U2 in concert for the first time in February 1980, and it was clear to me that they were going to be BIG! Their energy was incredible. Btw., the ticket only cost a quid, and I got to meet all of them and get their autographs after the concert! 😍
@disgracelandpod
Amazing dtuff
@ChloeSchrader
I love hearing how Bono's voice has changed over the years. He sounded amazing and still does.
@disgracelandpod
Like a fine Irish wine ;)
@circle1c
Wow. I googled this song and came up with this video. Amazing look back at the band's history. Look at Adam! The guy that introduced them -- you have to wonder where he is now. People laughed at his introduction. They're not laughing now. Biggest band of the last three decades.