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
Vertigo -
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn it up loud, captain
Lights go down, it's dark
The jungle is your head, can't rule your heart
A feeling's so much stronger than a thought
Your eyes are wide and though your soul, it can't be bought
Your mind can wander
Hello, hello (hola!)
I'm at a place called Vertigo (dónde está!)
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something
I can feel, feel!
The night is full of holes
'Cause bullets rip the sky of ink with gold
They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll
They know that they can't dance, at least they know
I can't stand the beat, I'm asking for the check
Girl with crimson nails has Jesus around her neck
Swinging to the music, swinging to the music (whoa, whoa)
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Hello, hello (hola!)
I'm at a place called Vertigo (dónde está!)
It's everything I wish I didn't know
But you give me something
I can feel, feel!
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
Just give me what I want and no one gets hurt
Hello, hello (hola!)
We're at a place called Vertigo (dónde está!)
Lights go down, and all I know
Is that you give me something
I can feel your love teaching me how
Your love is teaching me how
How to kneel
Kneel!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of U2's song Vertigo are quite cryptic, leaving a lot of room for interpretation. The song starts with the count of "Uno, dos, tres, catorce," which translates from Spanish to "One, two, three, fourteen." This is an odd count, and it is unclear why the band chose to include it. One interpretation is that it represents the "grabbing of attention," as if the band is saying "one, two, three... hey you, pay attention!"
The rest of the song seems to be about the feeling of being in love or infatuated with someone, despite the chaos of the world around you. The "jungle is your head" line refers to the overwhelming thoughts and emotions inside one's mind, while the "bullets rip the sky of ink with gold" line could be a metaphor for the chaos of the world outside. The chorus repeats the phrase "hello, hello, I'm at a place called Vertigo," which could be interpreted as being so in love that it feels like standing at the edge of a cliff or on a precipice, teetering on the edge of something dangerous and unknown.
The rest of the song is a mix of intense emotions and sensory overload, with references to rock and roll, crimson nails, and a girl with Jesus around her neck. In the end, the song seems to come back to the idea of love teaching one how to "kneel," perhaps suggesting that love can bring a new perspective and humility to one's life. However, the lyrics are left open for a variety of interpretations, and each listener may take away something different from the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Uno, dos, tres, catorce
The song starts with a countdown in Spanish, which is not entirely accurate, but it's a nod to the band's roots in Ireland and their interest in Latin America.
Turn it up loud, captain
The song picks up with this command to crank up the volume, which is indicative of the high-energy rock and roll to follow.
Lights go down, it's dark
The beginning of the first verse sets the scene as the lights go down in a concert hall or nightclub, creating an immersive atmosphere.
The jungle is your head, can't rule your heart
Bono uses a metaphor to describe the conflicting emotions that battle inside someone's head, how desires and logic can be at odds with one another.
A feeling's so much stronger than a thought
The idea of acting on impulse or intuition is explored in this line, indicating that sometimes we can't always think things through before we take action.
Your eyes are wide and though your soul, it can't be bought
The sense of being alive and fully present in the moment is conveyed in this lyric, emphasizing that some experiences cannot be bought or sold.
Your mind can wander
The first verse ends with another nod to the idea of letting go and losing oneself to the music, allowing the mind to wander and be free.
Hello, hello (hola!)
The chorus kicks off with a friendly greeting in multiple languages, emphasizing the universal appeal of music and its ability to bring people together.
I'm at a place called Vertigo (dónde está!)
The titular term 'vertigo' serves as another metaphor for the intense rush of emotions and sensations that can come from being fully immersed in a moment.
It's everything I wish I didn't know
The contradictions of life and the knowledge that comes with it can be overwhelming, as Bono notes in this line.
Except you give me something I can feel, feel!
Despite the darkness and confusion, music provides an escape and a way for people to connect and share emotions with one another.
The night is full of holes
The second verse opens with a more ominous line, possibly alluding to the idea that some things can't be fully explained or understood.
'Cause bullets rip the sky of ink with gold
This image of bullets against the blue sky creates an intense visual of destruction and violence, counterbalanced by the beauty of a golden sunset.
They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll
The boys playing rock and roll are almost insignificant in the grand scheme of things, following the theme of chaos in the world around them.
They know that they can't dance, at least they know
Even those who might not be skilled dancers can still feel the beat and connect to the music, and that's enough.
I can't stand the beat, I'm asking for the check / Girl with crimson nails has Jesus around her neck / Swinging to the music, swinging to the music (whoa, whoa) / (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
These lines are somewhat disparate in nature, but they contribute to the overall mood and chaos of the song, emphasizing that music can take people to unexpected places and evoke strong emotions.
All of this, all of this can be yours / Just give me what I want and no one gets hurt
This line takes on a more aggressive tone, revealing the darker side of desire and ambition, hinting at the danger of wanting things too badly.
We're at a place called Vertigo (dónde está!) / Lights go down, and all I know / Is that you give me something I can feel your love teaching me how / Your love is teaching me how / How to kneel / Kneel!
The final chorus of the song wraps up the themes of the verses, once again returning to the idea of music as a powerful and transformative force in people's lives, potentially even a form of spirituality or religious experience.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAY EVANS, JAY LIVINGSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@felixthelmocevallosmorales7218
Unos, dos, tres, catorce
Turn it up loud, captain
Lights go down, it's dark
The jungle is your head, can't rule your heart
A feeling's so much stronger than a thought
Your eyes are wide and though your soul, it can't be bought
Your mind can wander
Hello, hello (hola)
I'm at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something
I can feel, feel
The night is full of holes
'Cause bullets rip the sky of ink with gold
They twinkle as the boys play rock and roll
They know that they can't dance, at least they know
I can't stand the beat, I'm asking for the check
Girl with crimson nails has Jesus around her neck
Swinging to the music, swinging to the music (whoa, whoa)
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Hello, hello (hola)
I'm at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
It's everything I wish I didn't know
But you give me something
I can feel, feel
Checkmated
Just fun
She made it in, yeah
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
Just give me what I want and no one gets hurt
Hello, hello (hola)
We're at a place called Vertigo (¿dónde está?)
Lights go down, and all I know
Is that you give me something
I can feel your love teaching me how
Your love is teaching me how
How to kneel
Kneel
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Traducir al español
Fuente: LyricFind
Compositores: Adam Clayton / David Evans / Laurence Mullen / Paul Hewson
Letra de Vertigo © Universal Music Publishing Group
@ThePolerbearproducts
Bono singing “Feeeeeelll” has been with me since childhood.
@OctoberWarBoy4600
Ikr, it's one of my first memories of a song on the radio
@crosscourttennis1796
I wasn't old enough to experience the song but it still was an iconic song from my childhood as I listened to all my parent's cds growing up. Glad I grew up with this and not anything else!
@briarjensen2123
Same
@AlexLnLoL
saaaame, and the "hooooooooooooooooow"
@storm_gamer2570
Bro i was 6 years old when i start to love u2
@13912543X
I can’t believe this song is 18 years already, wow! Where has time gone?
@croissantlover1
soon 20.
@YungMisfit20
Time moved on to much better music. This song is trash
@igodreamer7096
"Flying", they said. Time is always flying and never waits, for basically anyone. lol