The song that Bono calls the highlight of every U2 show
(Source: Far Out / Spotify)
Most U2 concerts feel more like a religious experience than a proper rock’n’roll show. Even if you don’t like their music, there’s something about Bono’s stage presence that makes him seem more like a missionary of rock music than someone who wants to get the crowd dancing for a while. This runs the risk of being a bit too serious, but as far as their stage presence goes, Bono thought it couldn’t get any better than “Where the Streets Have No Name.”
But no one gets to that position without doing their dues, and U2 was no different. Although they can fill many stadiums today, their first performances saw them arrive shortly after the arrival of punk rock, creating songs that laid the foundation for what they would later do, such as “I Will Follow.”
Despite this solid starting point, it was initially almost impossible to get arrested. PR managers advise artists to stay away from religion and politics. One album about God and another about the problems in their home country would surely go down well with groups who just wanted to hear rock music.
And against all expectations, the risk paid off. In the tradition of artists who don’t look like idiots on a podium, Bono actually managed to reach people every time he addressed injustice or at least made a catchy melody out of it, as in “Pride” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”
Although the group was in danger of becoming a parody of a serious rock band, The Joshua Tree became a turning point for the group. No longer did they have to settle for being just the answer to what the punks wanted. Now it was about being themselves and connecting with a higher power, and Bono knew that “Where the Streets Have No Name” was exactly what they needed for the live stage.
Although the final product was thought to be just a coincidence that the group had worked out in the studio, The frontman considered the song the highlight of every show and said Rolling Stone, “It contains a powerful idea. ‘In the desert we meet God. Do you want to go to that place… where the streets have no names, where you see God?’ That’s what it means at every U2 show. No matter how crappy a U2 show is, we can be sure that if we play this song, the gig will work.”
On the other hand, “Where The Streets Have No Name” is a pretty tricky piece to get right every time. Since the intro is in 6/4, everyone has to be in just the right place to get it rolling, which ultimately led to Brian Eno almost deleting the sketch for the idea in protest when they couldn’t get it right in the studio.
Even if you only have the recording, there’s a certain magic that was captured when the group came together for that chorus. There may be a spiritual force at play, but once The Edge comes in with those cascading guitar parts, it feels like stepping into the future.
Related topics
The Phillies are the favorites to win the Diamondbacks series at -180
Chris Hemsworth shows off his impressive biceps after hitting the gym with wife Elsa Pataky in Madrid
Six years of community empowerment and education – Caribbean Life
About The Author
