Monday, August 31, 2009

Twilight Saga in 9 days

I decided to read (well listen because of I have the whole saga on audiobook) the entire Twilight Saga. I thought that the second time through it wouldn't grab me by the shoulders and demand to be read. Well, I was very wrong. I cannot believe how quickly I made it through the whole series again!

It's amazing how many things I didn't pick up on the first time through and how many things I forgot that happened or how they happened. Part of me felt like I was reading it for the first time.

I am so glad I bought the series because I am very tempted to start listening again! Yes, I know I have a problem lol

U2 does David Letterman's Top 10 List

When I was looking for a video of Breathe performed on David Letterman, I stumbled across this video and thought it was hilarious!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Kristin Stewart - Your Hair Dear Girl!

Eclipse is finally filming. All of us have been wondering how to they would make K-Stew's hair go from this mullet (bleck!):



To this:



The end result....


Um, not diggin the wig so much. I think that she should have kept her "Bella" hair and worn a wig to be Joan Jett...I hope it looks better on film.

Breathe



I remember hearing this song for the first time on the David Letterman show. U2 performed during the entire week that No Line on the Horizon was released. The first time I heard it I didn't really like it - it's very different from anything else that U2 has ever done. But the song grew on me and it's one of my favorites from NLOTH.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Grammys



U2 has more Grammys than any other band - period. The total to date is 22 and of course growing. Pretty impressive for a 33 year old band made up with a bunch of boys from Dublin ;)

Friday, August 28, 2009

Beautiful Day


This is one of my most favorite songs! It was the song that played at my wedding reception when my hubby and I were introduced. It's a song that can get me in a good mood no matter what has happened.

Bono said that he wrote the song thinking of a man who lost everything and still somehow finds something to be happy about. Maybe that's why it always seems to cheer my up :)

Wanna her the song? Click here for the video.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Next Stop Chicago!!!

U2 gave their last concert in Europe on the 22nd. Next stop is Chicago! The very concert that I will be at :) WOOT!

If you wanna see a video clip from the show click here. (I didn't watch it though;)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Kite - Letting Go

Today was my son's second day of kindergarten. It has been very strange to not have my little sidekick with me all day long.

Bono wrote the song Kite about his kids and letting them go - them not needing him.

Here are the words to the song:

Something is about to give
I can feel it coming
I think I know what it is
I'm not afraid to die
I'm not afraid to live
And when I'm flat on my back
I hope to feel like I did

Cause hardness, it sets in
You need some protection
The thinner the skin

I want you to know
That you don't need me anymore
I want you to know
You don't need anyone, anything at all

Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to know what it is will break you
I don't know which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't wanna see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye

In summer I can taste the salt in the sea
There's a kite blowing out of control on a breeze
I wonder what's gonna happen to you
You wonder what has happened to me

I'm a man, I'm not a child
A man who sees
The shadow behind your eyes

Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to know what it is will break you
I don't know where the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
I don't wanna see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye

Did I waste it?
Not so much I couldn't taste it
Life should be fragrant
Roof top to the basement
The last of the rock stars
When hip hop drove the big cars
In the time when new media
Was the big idea
That was the big idea

Monday, August 24, 2009

I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight

If you have seen U2 in Blackberry commercials then you have already heard part of this song.

One of the videos for this song is animated and tells a story throughout the whole video. It's interesting and different. If you wanna take a look click here. You will see a screen shot from the video I am talking about ;)

Sunday, August 23, 2009

I Will Follow

This song is probably U2's first hit. It was released on the Boy album in 1980 and ever since then it has become a well loved song by all U2 fans. In fact, it's my hubby's favorite.

Check out U2 performing the song. Taken from Live at Red Rocks:

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Passengers (aka U2 and Brian Eno)



In 1995 The Passengers released an album. The band was made up of all four members of U2 and Brian Eno (who often produces with the band). The album was filled with experimental songs, which is why the band released it under a different name.

The album says it's a soundtrack, but it's really not. The "movies" the songs are made up from are fictitious and names used relating to those films are actually plays on different band members names.

One song that might be reconized that was on this album was Miss Sarajevo. Luciano Pavarotti sang part of the song in Italian. It was released on the Best of 1990-2000.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Disappearing Act

Information on a new song revealed in an interview and noted on U2.com:

"And Edge explained that Disappearing Act was originally called White City and was started with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois during the session for The Unforgettable Fire in 1983. 'We discovered it six months ago, did some work on it in France and it's now finished.'

Expect it as part of the bonus material for the remastered edition of 1984's The Unforgettable Fire, later this year."

Looks like I will have to buy the remastered version of The Unforgettable Fire. Good album btw! I haven't listened to it in a while and think I just might turn it on as soon as I wrap up this post. The Unforgettable Fire brought hits like "Pride (In the Name of Love)" and "Bad."

OOOOOOooooooOOOOOO 5 Twilight Films?!?!

Read this.... I would LOVE to hear more about Edward, Bella and of course Renesmee and Jacob ;)

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Temptation....


I checked my email today and received this message from U2.com. As a subscriber, we get special perks.... This is one I am trying hard to resist so I can have a fresh view and listen to the concert without knowing too much.... ugh!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Boy

U2's debut album, Boy, had two covers. The one below is what is actually on the CD that I own.



The image of this boy (who is actually the brother of one of Bono's close friends) was on the cover originally. It was thought that people would think that U2 were pedophiles so the alternate cover was used. This is the cover that U2 uses for the album on their website.
U2 released their third album, War, with an image of the same boy. From what I have heard (but cannot confirm with anything said from the band) the boy was in a fight at school around the day of the photo shoot.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

U2 by Numbers

33

years ago, U2 formed as a band. The exact date:
September 25th, 1976 - exactly one month before I was born!

13

albums (studio recorded, not including the two "Best of" albums or U218)

240
songs written by U2

4

original members: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.

1
concert performed without all 4 members. Adam Clayton could not perform
due to his alcoholism (he swore off alcohol from that night forward).
His guitar tech played in his place.

1,000,000 +
lives touched through charities supported by U2

Monday, August 17, 2009

Until the End of the World

Song wrote about Judas and Jesus and Judas' betrayal. This song has been performed at every concert I have attended. It's an awesome theatrical scene.

This video is from U2's performance at Slaine Castle in Ireland.


New Moon - Meet Jacob Black Trailer

WARNING!!!!
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ NEW MOON AND
DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY SPOILERS
THEN DON'T WATCH THE VIDEO :)


O.....M......G...... This trailer is amazing! There are more new images from the movie and the first sighting of the Volturi! This is going to be so freaking amazing...I can't wait!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

My Life According to U2

I saw this on Facebook and thought I would give it a shot ;)

Using only song names from ONE artist, cleverly answer these questions. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)."

1. Are you a male or female? “Party Girl”
2. Describe yourself: “Even Better Than the Real Thing”
3. How do you feel: “Magnificent”
4. Your family: “Sweetest Thing”
5. If you could go anywhere, where would you go: “City of Blinding Lights”
6. Your favorite form of transportation: “Kite”
7. Your best friend: “Yahweh”
8. Your favorite color is: “Lemon”
9. What's the weather like: “Beautiful Day”
10. Favorite day: “Somedays are Better Than Others”
11. If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: “Walk On”
12. What is life to you? “No Line On The Horizon”
13. Your current relationship: “All I Want is You”
14. Looking for: “Where the Streets Have No Name”
15. Your fear: “Lady with the Spinning Head” (it’s a b-side and a good one I might add!)
16. What is the best advice you have to give: “Love and Peace or Else”
17. If you could change your name, you would change it to: “Grace”
18. Thought for the day: “Breathe”
19. How I would like to: “Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World”
20. Your pet: “One”
21. My motto: “Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own”


Lemon

Bono wrote this song after viewing film of his mother in a yellow dress.

Bono's mother died at her own father's funeral of an aneurysm. Bono was only 14.

Lemon was released on the Zooropa album, that was recorded part way through the Zoo TV tour. Zoo TV not only featured The Fly persona but also MacPhisto. MacPhisto performed the song on stage as well as in the video.



"We came up with a sort of old English Devil, a pop star long
past his prime returning regularly from sessions on The Strip
in Vegas and regaling anyone who would listen to him at
cocktail hour with stories from the good old, bad old days."
~ Bono's description of MacPhisto


Lemon is not only a song that U2 sings, but they featured it in their Popmart tour. The lemon was mirrored and during the second part of the concert the band came out of the lemon. It was quite a sight to see, with lights reflecting off of the mirrors. lol




Friday, August 14, 2009

October

FACT: Bono lost (or someone stole) the lyrics he was writing for this album while U2 was touring the U.S. for their first album, Boy. The album was pretty much thrown together.

One of my favorite songs from the album is October, very different from any other U2 song you will hear.

Dear Editor, We Don't Care...


Today I opened up my People magazine and paged through it while I had a few minutes. I turn to the "Mailbag" section (letters to the editor) and see a photo of one of the latest covers featuring Rob Pattinson. The headline read, "Twilight's Robert Pattinson: His Messy Love Life."

Here is the letter that got my attention:

"Robert Pattinson should have a messy love life; that's what being his age is all about..... So go ahead, Robert, play the field!" Lydia Louli - Ottawa, Canada

**APPLAUSE**

That is EXACTLY what I said to my hubby after reading the article myself. Rob is young, good looking and I am sure has his pick of women to say the least. Let him be.

BTW, thanks People for actually posting those letters.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Stay (Faraway, So Close)

Recently I was thinking about this video. My favorite part is when the band starts to step in...wonder what I mean? Just watch...

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Walk On

This song always pops into my head when I'm down or battling against something difficult. Take action and move through it...Walk On.

And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring...
And love is not the easy thing....
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on...
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can't sell it, can't buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Home, hard to know what it is if you've never had one
Home, I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the hurt is

I know it aches
How your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress up
All that you scheme.

(Click the title of this post to view the video)

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

CoeXisT

This is a video from the the Vertigo Tour. To me this moment spoke volumes to our world needing peace because we all come from the same place...


New Moon Trailer - 14 Seconds...





And here is one with extra bits from MTV's Movie Blog (pretty funny I might add ;):

Monday, August 10, 2009

Electrical Storm

Not a very well known song, but for those of you with the Best of U2 1990-2000 may have heard it. Enjoy the video. It's very different than anything U2 has ever done.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Sunday Bloody Sunday


This song is one of U2's most recognized songs; it's actually one of my favorites but not for reasons that people might think.

The song brings to life the mindless killing that has gone on and still happens in Ireland today. This song in particular is about civil rights activists being gunned down by British troops in Northern Ireland.

Bono made this statement in the middle of performing Sunday Blood Sunday. It was captured on film on Rattle and Hum:

"And let me tell you somethin'. I've had enough of Irish Americans who haven't been back to their country in twenty or thirty years come up to me and talk about the resistance, the revolution back home…and the glory of the revolution…and the glory of dying for the revolution. F*ck the revolution! They don't talk about the glory of killing for the revolution. What's the glory in taking a man from his bed and gunning him down in front of his wife and his children? Where's the glory in that? Where's the glory in bombing a Remembrance Day parade of old age pensioners, their medals taken out and polished up for the day. Where's the glory in that? To leave them dying or crippled for life or dead under the rubble of the revolution, that the majority of the people in my country don't want. No more!"

That was "no more" of the song being sung at a concert for over 10 years.

The first U2 concerts I was able to attend were the Popmart tour. I saw them before they went to Europe and afterwords. I remember being at the concert with one of my very good U2 freak friends and hearing the guitar riff from Sunday Bloody Sunday start....I gasped and turned to him! He told me that they had started performing at their concert in Sarjevo (a war torn city). That was the first time I cried at a concert... I knew I was experiencing something that was moving on so many levels...

The Edge did a solo performance during the last leg of the Popmart tour, which definately made the song more somber (as it probably should be). But the last two tours (Elevation and Vertigo) Bono headed the band in performing the song.

If you click the title of this post, it should take you to a video of the best performance of all time by of Sunday Bloody Sunday. U2, Live at Red Rocks.

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Red Hill Mining Town

Song from the Joshua Tree album. I believe the general public probably will not recognize, although, it was slotted to be the second single released from the album. Might be why they made a video.

The beginning shows footage of old coal miners, but after the footage you are in for a treat... The first time I saw this video I don't think my eyes moved from the TV... Bono minus sunglasses and singing directly to the camera... nuff said....

Friday, August 07, 2009

Where the Stars Go Blue

Lately I have had one of The Corrs (another one of my favorite Irish bands) songs running through my head.

Bono teamed up with them and performed the song Where the Stars Go Blue.

Enjoy!





Thursday, August 06, 2009

Pride and City

Pride (In the Name of Love)

A song that is near the top of my list of favorite U2 songs (don't ask for the list or you will get WAY too many! HA!) This song is clearly about Martin Luther King (and possibly Jesus).

"Early morning, April four
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky.
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride."

When I thin of this song I think of President Obama's inauguration concert. U2 performed this song on the very spot that MLK gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. I cannot imagine how the band felt playing on that very spot and watching MLK's Dream come true with our new president.

In light of President Obama's recent birthday (on the 4th), I found a video of this performance.



City of Blinding Lights

And since I missed posting yesterday, this video is a two in one. U2 also performed the song "City of Blinding Lights" as it was a song that Obama used during his campaign.

Let me tell ya, if you see them live in concert this song tops the charts on the frakking amazing list! I won't go into detail here in case you want to experience it live yourself (if you were lucky enough to get tickets!). But if you are curious as to what I am talking about you can click here and it will redirect you to a video... Of course, it doesn't even compare to what it's like seeing it live.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

What can I give back to God, for the blessing he poured out of me?


"Where the Streets Have No Name"


This is one song that I greatly anticipate seeing live. Ever hear someone say that being at a U2 concert is a religious experience? Well, this video gives a taste of why. The video does little justice to feeling the electricity that fills the stadium.


Monday, August 03, 2009

If you want to kiss the sky, better learn how to kneel



First song I heard when I got in the car this morning. First song my son ever knew the words to at age 2 1/2. So it's today's insight.

Meaning? Here is it straight from the horse's mouth:

"I've always believed that the spirit is a feminine thing," (Bono) says. "Mysterious Ways" is not about a particular woman. It is about women in general, and the way they entrance, and often dominate men. Says Bono, "At times I do tend to idealize women. It's easy to fall into the trap of separating them into angels and devils for the sake of the drama. But there's no way that there's ever anything anti-women involved. Our songs are not politically correct. They are written from a man's point of view. He's wrestling with different things, there's a flash of anger and hurt here and there. But I don't think women come out badly." ~ Into The Heart by Niall Stokes

Interesting, eh?

Sunday, August 02, 2009

The Fly



The Fly. Bono portrays an arrogant rock star (ironic eh? although I do not believe he's arrogant personally). This persona takes the celebrity ego to the edge of reality.

Ever wonder where Bono's sunglasses came from? The Fly. Before this, Bono may have worn sunglasses here or there, but never as a permanent accessory.

During the Zoo TV tour, where The Fly emerged, Bono would walk out in public in his Fly attire - leather with the glasses.

Zoo TV was after the Rattle and Hum tour for the Joshua Tree album. JT rocketed U2 to emmense fame with songs like "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "Where the Streets Have No Name," and "With or Without You."

Bono has said before that he wears his sunglasses for a few reasons. One because his eyes are sensative to light and two to keep some privacy. I remember reading in a book that he felt uncomfortable with perfect strangers looking straight into his eyes. Being that he leads a very public life, both on and off stage with his activism, I can imagine that he would want to keep something to himself.

Watching The Fly perform you can see this character come to life. I posted a video below of Bono taking on this persona.... enjoy

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Bono's Ego

I found this article today and found it rather amusing. So today, instead of a song you get an article of Bono being truthful. The Fly, MacPhisto, whoever he was during Pop.... I believe those stage personas were extensions of himself taken to the nth degree.

Bono admits he is 'annoying'
01/08/2009 - 08:39:09

U2 singer Bono - a keen political activist and charity campaigner - knows he makes it easy for people to dislike him but insists having an "ego" is an essential part of being a successful musician.

He said: "I can be annoying. I have a kind of annoying gene.

"As Delmore Schwartz said, 'Ego is always at the wheel.' It's just with rock stars, it's more obvious. The need to be loved and admired doesn't come from a particularly pretty place.

"But people tend to do a lot of great things with it. Ego, yes, but the ego is in everything human beings are capable of. Without ego, things would be so dull."

Bono - who is joined in U2 by guitarist The Edge bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen, Jr - explained to The Guardian newspaper: "The villain is usually me. The hypocrisy of the human heart is the number one target. Rarely do we point the finger at anyone other than ourselves.

"U2 choose more interesting targets than other bands. Your own hypocrisies, your addictions we never pick the obvious. I think we make our enemies very interesting."