Five Favourite Tunes - Day 3 No matter where I am and what is happening in my life this band and this song will always be nestled somewhere in the top 3 of my all time favourite tunes and as with Springsteen yesterday it is as much about what the song has come to represent for me as it is about the music. The band - U2, The song - Where the Streets Have No Name My love affair began in the very early days of U2 when they came over from Ireland and surfed the New Wave but it was clear from the outset that this band was different. There was always a purpose to the lyrics, a melody to the tune and textures and tones not really synonymous with the genre. It was The War album that really marked them out as something special and brought them to a wider audience and that was followed up by the incredible The Unforgettable Fire where the band really threw down the gauntlet to the established titans of rock and started to vie for the status as the greatest rock n roll band in the world. However, I dont think anyone was quite expecting the global impact that the release of The Joshua Tree would have, it sent U2 stratospheric and it was an amazing experience to get caught up in that vibe. This particular song is the lead off track from the album and has there ever been a better track 1, side 1? Edges subtle sweeps on the keys chiming in before he switches to guitar and pulses out that refrained riff for fully 90 seconds, building it layer by layer and ushering in Bons immediately urgent vocal. It is utterly glorious and even now after all these years it still sends a shiver down my spine. U2s music has always touched my soul and been my companion, when I am happy it takes me higher, when I am sad it reaches down to me and comforts me and none more so than this special song. Where the Streets Have No Name became an anthem for me and Sharon many years ago and on every occasion we have seen them live when the opening bars chime out in to the night we just know and come together to celebrate the joys of U2. It always makes me cry. The version I have chosen is live and taken from the bands historic return to their spiritual home Slane Castle. Oh how I would have loved to have been there! Here it is for you, track 3 of my 5. https://youtube/watch?v=uDkBzkA9L4s
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:34:51 +0000