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
You’re The Best Thing About Me
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you look so good and baby, you don't even know
When the world is ours but the world is not your kind of thing
Full of shooting stars, brighter as they're vanishing
Oh you've seen enough to know it's children who teach
You're still free enough to wake up on a bed or a beach
You're the best thing about me
You're the best thing about me
I'm the kind of trouble that you enjoy
You're the best thing about me
The best things are easy to destroy
You're the best thing about me
The best thing about me
I been crying out, "How bad can a good time be?"
Shooting off my mouth, that's another great thing about me
I have everything but I feel like nothing at all
There's no risky thing for a man who's determined to fall
You're the best thing about me
The best thing that ever happened a boy
You're the best thing about me
I'm the kind of trouble that you enjoy
You're the best thing about me
The best things are easy to destroy
You're the best thing about me
Why am I
Why am I walking away?
Walking away
Why am I walking away?
I can see it all so clearly
I can see what you can't see
I can see you love her loudly
When she needs you quietly
You're the best thing about me
The best things are easy to destroy
You're the best thing about me
Why am I
Why am I walking away?
Walking away
Why am I walking away?
The lyrics of U2's "You're The Best Thing About Me" speak to the complexities and contradictions of love and relationships. The song opens with the notion that even when someone looks good on the outside, they may still be in pain on the inside. It's as though the singer is trying to reassure their partner that they are beautiful even when they don't feel like it. The world may be full of wonders, but it's not always easy to see them from their vantage point. However, the singer acknowledges that their partner has already seen enough to know something about life and love that they themselves may not. This idea is reinforced when the lyrics state "it's children who teach" - a nod to the purity and straightforwardness of youth that can sometimes elude adults.
The chorus repeats the phrase "You're the best thing about me" as a way of affirming the value of the relationship. But even in this moment of praise, there is a hint of darkness as the lyrics also state that "the best things are easy to destroy." Relationships are fragile, and the simplest misstep can lead to their unraveling. The singer acknowledges that they may not always be an easy partner and that they can be troublesome at times, but their partner still enjoys the challenge. The final verse of the song sees the singer questioning why they are walking away from the relationship when they can clearly see the love that their partner has for them, even when it's not always overtly expressed.
Line by Line Meaning
When you look so good, the pain in your face doesn't show
You have a beautiful appearance but the pain you feel inside doesn't reflect on your face.
When you look so good and baby, you don't even know
You have a stunning look but remain unaware of it.
When the world is ours but the world is not your kind of thing
Even though we have the world, it's not compatible with your interests.
Full of shooting stars, brighter as they're vanishing
The world is full of moments of fleeting beauty.
Oh you've seen enough to know it's children who teach
You have experienced enough to realize that children can teach us valuable lessons.
You're still free enough to wake up on a bed or a beach
You have the freedom to wake up wherever you want, whether it's in a bed or on a beach.
You're the best thing about me
You are the most precious and valuable thing in my life.
The best thing that ever happened a boy
You're the best thing that has ever happened to me as a man.
I'm the kind of trouble that you enjoy
I am a person that you find interesting and enjoy being around, even if I bring trouble.
The best things are easy to destroy
Things that are valuable to us can be easily destroyed or ruined.
I been crying out, 'How bad can a good time be?'
I have been questioning how a good thing can turn out to be so bad.
Shooting off my mouth, that's another great thing about me
Speaking without thinking properly is one of the many interesting qualities I possess.
I have everything but I feel like nothing at all
Despite having it all, I feel empty and worthless.
There's no risky thing for a man who's determined to fall
A man who is determined to fall is not afraid of taking risks or facing the consequences of his actions.
Why am I walking away?
I am questioning why I am walking away from a situation or person.
I can see it all so clearly
I have a clear understanding of what's happening in a certain situation.
I can see what you can't see
I have a perspective that is different from yours.
I can see you love her loudly
I can see that you love her passionately and vocally.
When she needs you quietly
But sometimes she wants you to be there for her without making a sound or a fuss.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janastloukalova3053
Both the song and the video resonate so much positive energy I can't help but smile and sing along. U2 still knows how to do great music. The Songs of Experience album is pure masterpiece.
@matthewclay6535
I'm 54 years old... and have been loving this band since 1981...!!!!!!!!! "They're the best thing about me!!"
@JR-zv6qm
@Matthew Clay 59 years old been loving this great band since '81as well. Seen them 43 times since. My 1st show was in Limelight in NYC in '81. And yes, musically they are 1 of the best things about me!!!
@matthewclay6535
@@JR-zv6qm You've seen them in concert 43 times? That's AWESOME!! I've only seen them 20 times (so far). First time was The Unforgettable Fire Tour on April 18, 1985 at the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, MA. Boy, how time flies!
@fabiosantos3672
me too ! i'm 44 years old
@krzysztofsmentek6516
I am waiting for the concerts the U2😊
@EpicLib
Ha ha, I'm 44 now and have been fan of U2 for 20yrs now, welcome to the club!
@MrDennysblack
Essa musica da uma vibe tão boa,dá vontade de entrar no carro e sair dirigindo pela cidade curtindo esse som ambiente..dá uma sensação tanto de passado como de presente...Isso é inexplicável isso é U2 <3
@ceolnaghra
I;ve been a fan since i was 20 and I'm now 63 and they still rock!
@michaelmcguinness4440
Fair play man,i got the bug when i was 15 now 51 and still rocking to u2,they say you cant beat perfection. Keep rocking mate