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
The Dream is Over
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met a man in gray
Yesterday
Told a story, oh
Can't bring them though
He was so
The dream is over
The dream is over
The dream is over
(wake up)
Tomorrow, I will sit down fine
I'm gonna pay good mind
He left behind
Saw...he knows I know
Hovering I'll go
He was so
The dream is over
The dream is over
The dream is over
(wake up)
The dream is over
The dream is over
The dream is over
The dream is over
The dream is over
The dream is over...
The lyrics to U2's song "The Dream is Over" are open to interpretation, but it seems to be a reflection on the fleeting nature of dreams and the danger of being caught up in them without facing reality. The first verse suggests a conversation with a mysterious "man in gray" who told a story of some kind but is unable to be brought along on the journey. This could possibly represent the idea of losing touch with reality and becoming too consumed by one's dreams or aspirations.
The chorus, "the dream is over, wake up," is a clear warning that the singer needs to recognize that their dream may not be sustainable and they should come back to reality before it's too late. The second verse continues this theme, with the suggestion that the singer will "sit down fine" and pay close attention to what was left behind (possibly referring to the reality they have been avoiding).
The repetition of the chorus at the end emphasizes the urgency of this message, as if the singer is trying to jolt themselves awake from their dreamstate. Overall, "The Dream is Over" seems to be a poignant reminder to stay grounded in reality and not become too consumed by our aspirations, before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Today...find my way
I am lost and searching for direction in my life.
I met a man in gray
I encountered a mysterious figure who may hold some answers.
Yesterday
The past has already occurred and cannot be changed.
Told a story, oh
The man in gray shared a tale with me.
Can't bring them though
The man's story may not provide a solution to my problems.
He was so
The man in gray had a powerful presence and influence on me.
The dream is over (wake up)
My aspirations and hopes have been shattered and it's time to face reality.
Tomorrow, I will sit down fine
I plan on reflecting and taking action to improve my situation.
I'm gonna pay good mind
I will focus and give careful consideration to my decisions.
He left behind
The man in gray is no longer present and I am left to figure things out on my own.
Saw...he knows I know
I feel that the man in gray might have had a deeper understanding of my struggles.
Hovering I'll go
I am uncertain of my next steps or where to turn for guidance.
The dream is over (wake up)
My illusions have been shattered and it's up to me to face reality.
The dream is over
I am forced to abandon my idealistic visions and confront harsh truths.
The dream is over
My hopes for a better future have been destroyed and I must face the present.
The dream is over
I am left with disappointment and disillusionment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dj
This song is beautiful
Sam Bluth
Fascinating - such early U2
dj
Ikr
egdeth
SuuTV desde Tenerife escuchando esto borracho, muchas gracias!!
w w w . e q u i p . o r g
chorus inspired by the beatles saying they were stopping recording as a band s the dream is over;bono wrote to john Lenning requesting he produce U2s first record.