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
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
U2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes, I'm still running
You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame, of my shame
You know I believe it
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
The lyrics of U2's song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" speak of the journey of a seeker, who has been on a quest for a long time, climbing the highest mountains, running through the fields, scaling the city walls, talking to angels and holding the hand of a devil, all in search of something that he still hasn't found. The seeker has encountered moments of happiness and felt the burning desire, but he still hasn't found the ultimate fulfillment. The Kingdom Come is mentioned, and with it comes the hope that all the colors will bleed into one, but still, the seeker continues his journey running, searching, and seeking.
The lyrics of this song are very significant, especially for a generation that is trying to make sense of the world and trying to find their place in it. It is a song of hope, of a journey, of perseverance, of faith, and of searching for something that is bigger than oneself. It speaks about the human condition of never being satisfied, even when we think we have found what we are looking for.
The song has a universal appeal, and many people can relate to its lyrics. It is not only a search for material things, but also a search for love, meaning, and purpose. The lyrics of the song end on a note of hope, with the mention of breaking bonds, loosing chains, and the carrying of the cross, hinting at the possibility that the seeker may eventually find what he is looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
I have climbed the highest mountains
I have faced and overcome my greatest challenges
I have run through the fields
I have enjoyed the simple pleasures of life
Only to be with you
All my efforts and experiences are meaningless without you
I have run, I have crawled
I have done whatever it takes to reach my goals
I have scaled these city walls
I have faced obstacles in my urban environment
These city walls
The barriers of society that hold me back
But I still haven't found
Despite my efforts and experiences
What I'm looking for
My ultimate purpose or meaning in life
I have kissed honey lips
I have experienced physical pleasure and intimacy
Felt the healing in her fingertips
Her touch made me feel complete and healed my emotional wounds
It burned like fire
The passion and desire were intense
This burning desire
My intense longing and craving for something more
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have communicated in a divine, spiritual way
I have held the hand of a devil
I have been in contact with evil or darkness
It was warm in the night
The experience felt comforting and familiar
I was cold as a stone
But my heart remained empty and unfulfilled
I believe in the Kingdom Come
I have faith in a better future or afterlife
Then all the colors will bleed into one
All differences and divisions will disappear
But yes, I'm still running
But I am still searching and striving for something more
You broke the bonds
You freed me from my burdens and constraints
And you loosed the chains
You released me from my past and limitations
Carried the cross of my shame, of my shame
You took on my guilt and regret
You know I believe it
I have faith in your salvation and redemption
But I still haven't found
But my ultimate purpose or meaning is still elusive
What I'm looking for
And I will continue searching for it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlosmeikel2043
I just lost my son a few weeks ago... he was 19. He came to us from a troubled background, we did our best, and then some, to help him forget those times and find happiness, and for a while... he did. But, he always had these personal demons he was fighting and unfortunately... they won in the end. This song always reminded me of him and his search for happiness. He knew the world was his... he had so much talent in everything he did, but there was always some longing in him... something always gnawing at the back of his mind that wouldn't let him be satisfied. He never found what he was looking for in this life... I pray he finds it in the next. Daddio loves and misses you mi hito.
@TheJuarezG
God bless you my friend
@TheMomdad64
That breaks my heart ❤️. God bless you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
@koswifty
I'm so sorry for your loss. This is heartbreaking x
@simoneb4352
All my concern for such a loss my friend!!!
@hadassaisabel1463
Im so sorry for your lost 😞 I wish you the biggest strength in the world ❤️
@Adamdow95
The song is a clear message: Sometimes we're not supposed to find what we're looking for, what we're looking for finds us.
@UnknownUnknown-hs4tl
Damn thats hard
@Adamdow95
@@UnknownUnknown-hs4tl I'm studying to be a studio photographer. I NEVER thought of that as a career path, I didn't choose go after it at first, it found me. Sometimes we don't what we're looking for until it's standing infront of us.
@carlastead3086
Could be not good.