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
Can't Help Falling In Love
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help
Falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
If I can't help
Falling in love with you
Like a river flows
To the sea
So it goes
Somethings were meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life through
But I can't help
Falling in love with you
Oh I can't help
Falling in love with you
Falling in love
Falling in love
Like a river flows
River, river flows
Falling in love with you
But I can't help
Falling in love with you
The song "Can't Help Falling in Love" by U2 combines the timeless, romantic lyrics of Elvis Presley's classic ballad with the driving rock sound of the Irish band. The song's opening verse acknowledges the conventional wisdom that only fools rush in when it comes to love, but the singer declares that he cannot help himself from falling in love with the object of his affection. The singer then poses the question of whether it would be a sin to stay in this love, suggesting that it may be a forbidden or taboo romance.
The chorus compares how love flows like a river to the sea, emphasizing the inevitability and naturalness of falling in love with this person. The singer then offers his whole life to this person, asking them to take his hand and making it clear that he simply cannot help falling in love with them. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the idea that love is like a river that cannot be stopped or controlled.
Overall, the lyrics of "Can't Help Falling in Love" express the irresistible nature of falling in love with someone, even if it may not be practical or logical. The song is a powerful tribute to the overpowering nature of love and how it can sweep people away regardless of their intentions or reservations.
Line by Line Meaning
Falling in love
Beginning of the song about falling in love
Wise men say
There is a common proverb that advises caution in love
Only fools rush in
People who jump into love are not wise
But I can't help
Despite knowing the risks, I am unable to control my feelings
Falling in love with you
I am falling in love with you, despite the potential consequences
Shall I stay?
I am considering whether to continue pursuing this love
Would it be a sin?
I am questioning whether my feelings are morally wrong
If I can't help
I realize that I am unable to resist these feelings
Falling in love with you
I am acknowledging that I am falling in love with you
Like a river flows
Using a metaphor to describe how natural and unstoppable the feelings are
To the sea
The natural course of a river is to flow towards the sea, similar to my natural course towards love
So it goes
This is how it is meant to be, natural and inevitable
Somethings were meant to be
Some things in life are destined to happen
Take my hand
I am offering my love, commitment and support
Take my whole life too
I am willing to give you all of me, my time, my energy and my love
But I can't help
Despite everything, I cannot stop myself from falling in love with you
Falling in love with you
The main point of the song, which repeats to emphasize the feeling
Oh I can't help
An expression of frustration and helplessness towards these feelings
Falling in love with you
The repetitive chorus signifies the depth and intensity of the emotions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti, George Weiss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dancornmell8210
This man could sing the phone book and make it moving I absolutely love U2
@lillyrasic6304
fr
@jamesdavison2927
AMEN!!!!
IM A HUUUUUUGE FAN
@ljb6081
Thank god i witnessed Zoo Tv live. Incredible experience.
@uppanadam
I was there for the Adelaide one!! Wish I was there for the Sydney one though!! LOL!!
@rolandconnor575
Now that is how you end a two plus hour concert. We got married to that song in Vegas.. with Elvis of course
@diegoeme1
I miss this voice
@sheagoff6009
Elvis would be proud of this rendition.
@TheFly212
This song kinda empathizes my opinion that Bono is the best male singer of his generation. Starts at bass, moves to baritone then a soaring soprano falsetto verse. Then back to baritone. I mean... Guy has a magic voice.
@bminturn
He's been underrated as a singer for sure, but there weren't a lot of people doing it better between like 1984 - 2001.