War - U2 > Reviews > Some red light for New Year's Eve !

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Experimental album, lyrics, 3 classic - tracks, 2 hits, the booklet is much better .
Disadvantages:	The presentation of "40", sound, the booklet is still not good enough yet, lyrics with mistakes .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

And once again a U2-album is the stuff I'll write on, this time it's the album "War" which was released on 28th of February 1983. However, again some lines on the band and the warning, this report will be very long, important places are the preconsideration (3)., the songs (4). and the result in this review.

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Facts on band U2:
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Founded in summer 1976 as a school-band named "Feedback", within months renamed from "The Hype" to "U2", the 5 persons very soon became winner on a talent award. The name of the guys: Paul Hewson, he named himself to Bono Vox, the brothers Dave & Dick Evans (Dave himself named "The Edge"), Adam Clayton and founder of the band Larry Mullen (jr.), Dick Evans changed to the "Virgin Prunes" after some days and the other 4 startet to get one of the worlds most legendary bands.

Bono Vox: Vocals, (Guitar)
The Edge: Guitar, (Piano, Keyboards, Vocals)
Adam Clayton: Bass
Larry Mullen Jr.: Drums

These 4, still exist with this line-up until now, were formed by manager Paul McGuinness, to be what they are today, millionaires and superstars. Bono is very active to help the Third World with their problems in Africa, Asia or Latin and South America. He twice was nominated for the Nobelprice, but never got it. Live U2 are like good sex, they are great showmen and a great live-band, what we hopefully can see once again very soon while waiting with desire to find an new album and a tour between 2004 and 2005.

The detailed list of their work:

Boy
October
War
Under A Blood Red Sky [Live-Album]
The Unforgettable Fire
Wide Awake In America
The Joshua Tree
Rattle & Hum
Achtung Baby
Zooropa
Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1 [project with Brian Eno, Howie B. & Luciano Pavarotti]
Pop
The Best Of 1980-1990
The Million Dollar Hotel [OST, soundtrack e.g. with Daniel Lanois & Milla Jovovitch]
All That You Can't Leave Behind
The Best Of 1990-2000

Everybody who wants to know more about U2, I'll invite You to German U2-site www.u2news.de and in our fan-place there.

Some more details You'll find in the web, on these German-sites www.u2news.de and www.u2tour.de and on the great site www.u2tours.com with a list of all shows and many more. Don't forget official-site www.u2.com ...

However, back to 1983, U2 have with "Boy" and "October" already two notable albums on the market, they are climbing up in America and a confidential tip in playing live-concerts. Meanwhile after December 1982 also in February 1983 live on tour, are many songs of the album already integrated into the live set and the single "New Year's Day" on the best way in the UK-charts. "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "New Year's Day" and "Surrender"were already integrated into the live set and "Like A Song", "Two Hearts Beat As One", "Seconds" and "40" already are a part of the live-shows. "Like A Song" was deleted very soon again from the set, but 7 songs already had been played live before the release of the album (© zoobremia 2004).

What is to report about the album ? It's a lot ! You will attain knowledge as follows ...

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1. A short overview:
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The titles:
01. Sunday Bloody Sunday
02. Seconds
03. New Year's Day
04. Like A Song
05. Drowning Man
06. The Refugee
07. Two Hearts Beat As One
08. Red Light
09. Surrender
10. "40"

Producer: Steve Lillywhite, except "The Refugee" by Bill Whelan, mixed by Steve Lillywhite

Total time: about 42 minutes

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2. The cover:
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This shows a black-and-white picture of Peter Rowan, the younger brother of Guggi, the singer of the "Virgin Prunes" and one of the best personal friends of Bono. Now he's a little older and more known than at times of "Boy". The face should indicate "fear", in addition the bandname U2 and the title War is to be seen suitably in red and exclusively capital letters. If anybody might know more about Peter Rowan, who adorns a numerous of covers on U2-records, I recommend him a visit of the following web page.

http://www.angelfire.com/80s/u2war/

This album suffers from the fight on emotional, physical, political and mental levels. I must tell You, I like this cover very much, it is suitable to the music, to the title of the album anyhow and probably also one of the best covers U2-records ever had and will have in the future.

The booklet is actually none, because, nevertheless, 3 sides are very poor, particularly as again a complete side is adorned by a volume photo in black-and-white. The picture itself is to be seen in the following U2-history again, because it's the cover of the single / maxi CD "Pride (In The Name Of Love)". The second side of the booklet contains some song titles, exactly 6 songs were held on here with its lyrics. At first the lyrics of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" are to read, below are: "Seconds", "New Year's Day", "Drowning Man" and "Surrender", ending with the printed lyrics on "Like A Song". There aren't published all lyrics, why only the involved ones will know, unfortunately it's like that and a small part for some bad words, but in fact of the record itself I'll keep them unwritten ...

The last side of the booklet shows the songs without playing-times, besides, the band members and all other musicians performing, whom I will mention in each case with the suitable songs where these helped. Besides, information is still mentioned to producer and other helping personal, which is e.g. manager Paul McGuinness and the recording-studio in Dublin (Windmill Lane Studios).

The back of the cover shows the titles under a logo of the former record company of Chris Blackwell, the logo of iceland-records is a palm tree. On my edition on CD it is embarassing that the song "Drowning Man" is written "Drowing Man". This mistake, of course we aren't perfect at all, this is human, shows a strange picture on the record-company, but the mistake was not repaired yet.

I wish that the earlier booklets will increase in a remastered-series, the sound will be compensated and such mistakes are ironed out soon ... A small suggestion, from numerous additional songs which have come into being within the scope of the admissions sessions to this album can be still suspended to this one as a bonus song and given this as a special incentive for fans.

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3. Preconsideration:
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U2 are Irishmen, this is absolutely known to every reader that there's a splitted Ireland, just the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, of course ... Everybody has probably already heard of the problems especially in Northern Ireland between catholic and protestant and the waves of terrorism linked to the IRA. U2 have covered position to this in here and were encouraged by the majority of the Irishmen and also mostly with concerts in Belfast / Northern Ireland in their opinion.

When Bono first introduced the song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" on 20.12.1982 in the Maysfield Leisure Centre in Belfast, there were absolutely positive reactions. Bono said that this song was written especially for Belfast and Northern Ireland, it's no rebel song, it is not a pro IRA one and if the audience does not like the song, he promises to play this never again in Belfast. Some people booed and left the hall, the rest enjoyed this enthusiastic and optimistic song with the floating rhythm.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday", translated to German it means "blutiger Sonntag", appeals to two events which the bloodstained history of Ireland adorns. Actually, You can't hide Yourself to make clear these brutal events to understand this song. Sorry for falling into politics, but for understanding this stuff, some backgrounds are needed.

After long and suppression durable for centuries by the British crown and the Protestants, an independence attempt began in January, 1919 in Dublin. A government under deValera was the result, however, in the absence of acknowledgment by Great Britain it came to riots in completely Ireland. The radically nationalistic forces formed the IRA, a fight troop which reached as an Irish Republikanische army to dubious fame. Thereupon the British government divided Ireland in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, two independently of each other to used governments were put under British supremacy. British underground agents were used by the riots linked with it. In November, 1920 the IRA took revenge for 14 these agents as a repayment of the homicide of sense to fine followers (independence). Who might know more in about it should have a look into the film "Michael Collins".

These bombings and posters of the IRA provided a counterreaction on British side in which should approach the infamous Irish police, the first "Bloody Sunday" was there. In the Dublin Croke park the Irish police shot down randomized into the visitors of a soccer game, 12 people dead and 60 injured persons are the official result. The trampled down and fleeing injured persons were never grasped.

After a time relaxing afterwards civil right movements were founded, an organization carried out a New Year march of Berry to Belfast in January, 1969. These demonstrators were such ill-treated by the police that itself the IRA armed. Then in 1972 it came to the renewed escalation when British paratroopers opened fire on a lot of demonstrators in Derry, often known as Londonderry. 14 people were shot in their back on running away. The second "Bloody Sunday" was there.

These incidents which could also not pass the growing up Bono simply encouraged Bono to write the song "Sunday Bloody Sunday". Bono himself experienced the splitting of the church every single day, because the son of a potestant mother and a catholic father who already never understood as a child, why his friends went to different churches and had to go on different schools, he became daily thrown back and forwards between the religions.

Now enough of the prefaces, now I start with the songs, to all English and Irish readers, sorry, but in fact of originally written this one in German and for a German site and for giving enough feedback to my German readers in here, this feedback is important, hope this one's not too political for You. Please tell me, if You fell personally included in this, so I'll change my review a little or I'll cut some of this.

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4. The songs itselves:
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1. Sunday Bloody Sunday

Hard-beatet drums, in addition an electric violin, played by Steve Wickham, opens this song which the majority of the readers, will know at least in the live version. This title was also published as a single. I will supply the lyrics of this song, because of the in another way excessive length later as a P.S. to this review, if anyone is interested in.

Textual it is, however, coarsely about the facts that Bono "cannot believe the news, he does not know, how long he should still sing this song, because he can close his eyes not before the terror, pointlessly, how has on bloody Sunday when the battle began many losses, however, who has won ? Wipe the tears away, because today we are (common in one)."

I don't think there's anything to be added to that, except that there are various very emotional live versions. Including them in here will make an own review / opinion. Therefore, I might limit myself to the versions from the film "Rattle & Hum" (McNichols Arena, Denver, CO, 08.11.1987) and the version of the "Save The Yuppie" - open air concert on 11.11.1987 on the Justin Herman Plaza, playing in a truck in the midst of office buildings of San Francisco, CA.

Both versions are very advisable and explain very well the whole problems. In the version from Denver Bono describes his soul position, which by one on 07.11.1987 did not commit poster on a parade / commemorative celebration of war veterans in Enniskillen / Northern Ireland wasn't particularly fine. 11 people fell victim to the IRA-poster, thus another "Bloody Sunday" for U2. Bono attacks fthe IRA in public and thereupon becomes also a nominee traded on high for the death list on which principally high-ranking British politicians and members of the royal family are still standing.

Bono says in "Rattle & Hum"-film-version:"Well, here we are, the Irish in America.
The Irish have been coming to america for years. Going back to the great famine, when the Irish were on the run from starvation and the British government that couldn't care less. Right up to today you know, there are more Irish immigrants here in America today than ever. Some illegal, some legal. A lot of them are just running from, high unemployment, some run from the troubles in Northern Ireland, from the hatreed of the h-blocks, and torture, others from wild acts of terrorism, like we had today in a town called Enniskillen, where 11 people lie dead many more injured on a Sunday Bloody Sunday ..."

In the middle of the song he interrups and once more to inform the audience, "And let me tell you something ! I've had enough of Irish Americans, who haven't been back to their country in 20 or 30 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 ! Fuck 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 children ? Where's the glory in that ? Where's the glory in bombing a rememberence 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 ..."

Very violent words to which I only can agree with.

In San Francisco he gets angry because of an Irish-"SF" flag and reprimands the person: "Is SF a girl's name or stands it for Sinn-Fein, the political arm of the Irish-Republican-Army ? I don't know how You can stand or stomach to wave that sign this week !" Then he tells what had happened in Enniskillen 4 days ago. I haven't heard Bono rarely so furiously and out of contenance than in here.

Far digressed, but I think this are still very necessary extracts, this song can receive only one note and it reflects live simply more emotions than in this studio version. Of course this one is my first recommendation for listening to.

~10/10~

2. Seconds:

Drums with a lot of percussion, in addition to it a constant military rhythm. In the center section the song is interrupted for a speech of a newscaster, in this background a song is to be heard, which I know from the 80's from an anti-war film and this shall be "I Wanna Be Your Drill-Instructor" or anything like that. Conspicuously in this song I still find something like delayed background vocals from The Edge and the very cynical lyrics. The song is about the danger of a nuclear war, "It Takes A Second To Say Goodbye". He is directed to the USSR of that time, the GDR, to London, New York and Peking, which is also mentioned in the lyrics. Live Bono often announced this one as "a message to the President, a message to Ronald Reagan !" and was played between 1982 and 1985 during U2-shows.

~8/10~

3. New Year's Day:

The song was written as a love song to Bono's wife Ali and as a background to suppression, inspires by Lech Walesa and the Polish trade union of Solidarnosc. The song itself opens with a piano sound, this time played by The Edge. In addition he still plays a brilliant guitar, between a solo, a swilling down sound style and full power. However, now my problems will start, because I don't like this song, simply completely to much listened to this one and concerts without this one will be essentially rather than with the song.

Objectively looked the song is not bad, it's also published as a single, it is also one of the most known pieces from the former times before the big breakthrough in 1987. Indeed, I had had to hear this song in nearly every concert with a short breathing space in 1992. Then, besides, sometime an antipathy steps by the days.

However, how can I value this piece ? It is of course a song which mentions absolutely as a start of playing recommendation and would have to receive full ~10/10 ~. I would grant personally any more 2 points to this piece, in the meantime, not even, therefore, I leave it to every reader myself whether he uses this as a recommendation, or, however, will not be able to listen to this once again.

~without evaluation~

4. Like A Song:

It starts with wild drumming, cocals and a guitar are joining. Bono increases up to complete exhaustion in his singing, shouting, crying, begging. You can hear a fine drumming and fine backing-vocals of Cheryl Poirier, Adriana Kaegi and Taryn Hagey. In the final part the song falls silent, time for a brilliant solo of Larry Mullen Jr on the drums, in addition The Edge puts smartly, but discreetly, guitar salvos into this. A very emotional song which is unfortunately faded out with the drumming, unlucky, because I can listen to this still some minutes. For this I will take some points away, but it's still my personal highly recommended song.

A song which argues with a lot of different things there in its lyrics, on the one hand, the disorientation of the youth, rebellious growing up and also the quarrel together, however, Bono has only "To Sing A Song, A Song Which He Sings Only For You, Like The Words Which He Has To Deliver He Brings Them To You". Farther it goes: "Angry of Word Won't Stop The Fight, Two Wrongs Won't Make It Right ...", You have to listen to ! For owners of the gold CD of "War" there are still some more seconds to hear.

~9,5/10~

5. Drowning Man:

The song begins quietly like an usual song, merely the electric violin of Steve Wickham is rather unusual for U2. In addition Bono's aggressiveness increases in the song steadily, until he shouts: "Hold On, Hold On Tightly ...", The Edge replies "Take My Hand".Simply first-class, highest points and this is my dearest song of the album. Finally You can hear the violin from Steve Wickham again.

The song was leaned textual to a citation on the holy-bible from the book Isaja. In 40:31 is to read: "... but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." In the lyrics it became to "... Like Eagles You'll Run, You'll Run / You'll Run And Not Grow Weary ...", but this will not remain the last relation to the Bible on this CD.

~12/10~

6. The Refugee:

The beginning sounds like the playing on saucepans and spoons, in addition some drums, U2 have rediscovered the punk, Bono sings, The Edge answers, some more guitars and very dominant drums are involved in some parts. However, anyhow it is too melodicly for punk-music, however, this is typical for U2, also blues sounds played by U2 not really like blues and if U2 play the Beatles, it sounds after all, but not like the Beatles. A very strange piece whose textual messages remains furthermore close to me. Nice piece, but it can't tear me in two.

~5,5/10~

7. Two Hearts Beat As One:

Guitars and a very dominant bass start this one, live the song became always an entertaining piece into whose course mostly a snippet of "Let's twist Again" is integrated, which the audience might sing together with Bono. Nice piece, but not even more in the studio version. With increasing play duration more guitars are to be heard in this piece, than in every other song of the album up to now.

~6/10~

8. Red Light:

The song which splits the U2 community more, than nearly every other song did before and will do later. A very strange one and at some places totally atypical for U2. In the beginning the singing of Jessica Felton is to hear, in addition Larry on the drums, after about 20 seconds running The Edge starts playing the guitar and Bono sings a kind of falsett and aggressiv vocals.

In the middle there's a duet between Bono and Jessica Felton and a background choir from the remaining background singers. A pinch of swing is added by a trumpet-solo and afterwards a no stopping and silent trumpet of Kenny Fradley, a strange, but on no account bad song. I like it, although it is together with "Hawkmoon 269" the title in which a word is repeated most often, exactly 32 times the word "Love" is to be heard.

~9/10~

9. Surrender:

Even if this is some part of "capitulation", U2 are worlds away from it musically. Very much guitars in this one, a brilliant Bono, the first-voice in the background is Jessica Felton and the second-voice are the other backing-singers. In the final refrain it goes "Papa Sing My Sing My Sing My Song", sung by Jessica Felton and the remaining three singers. Bono and The Edge sing "Ohohohohoo". After just 24 seconds a strange tone is to be heard which does not belong to the song, is to be led back rather on an engineering mistake with the admission or restlessness in the recording studio. Very unprofessional, but the sounds much better in times of "Boy".

~7/10~

10. 40:

The classical theme of every U2-live concert from 1982 to 1990 and afterwards again in the set in 1997/98 and 2001. Here in a very short and awful version, faded in at the beginning, at the end simply loveless faded out. It is a pity that this title has found the way on this album and first-class B-pages like "Endless Deep" not.

The song has come into being according to Bono's information at 40 minutes, 10 minutes to the writing, 10 minutes for taking up, 10 minutes for mixing and 10 minutes for playing. However, the title is based not, therefore, 40, but on the psalm 40 ("Thanks and Request") of the Bible. The lyrics tell, like millions of fans just sang live: "How Long Must We Sing This Song". Unfortunately they haven't recorded this title anywhere live and put this in here, because for this studio version I only have just a smile and because of the fading-in, fading-out shit a few points.

~4/10~

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Final result:
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It isn't difficult to write a result, because U2 are more varied and more variable, besides, have become more ripe. Near numerous highlights of lyrical and musical kind, this album delivered two hits and even three real classics, because "40" it is indisputable live. They tried some experimens like in songs like "Seconds", "The Refugee", but above all "Red Light" taken up which are not liked absolutely to everybody, but aren't so bad they often were made.

"Red Light" is the only song which ostensibly only and likes exclusively 2-3 fans of a big U2 forum, Bono is very enthusiastic and brilliant singing in it. There, however, at least 6-8 first-class pieces rest for the common fan or also for new newcomers, I do not come around to recommend this album. In comparison to "October", which I like more, 4 stars are okay and increasing more to 5 than to 3.

The non-reading ones only klicking, will receive a bible into their hands, so they can't use the mouse so fast, many thanks reading, rating and all comments, many regards, Sven (Zoobremia)

P.S.: Lots of excuses for being sometimes very political, and here are the whole lyrics of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" for all interested readers:

"(Yeah) I Can't Believe The News Today,
(Oh) I Can't Close My Eyes And Make It Go Away.
How Long, How Long Must We Sing This Song ?
How Long ? How Long ? Tonight We Can Be As One, Tonight.
Broken Bottles Under Children's Feet,
Bodies Strewn Across A Dead End Street,
But I Won't Heed The Battle Call,
It Puts My Back Up, Puts My Back Up Against The Wall.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday.

And The Battle's Just Begun,
There's Many Lost, But Tell Me Who Has Won ?
The Trenches Dug Within Our Hearts,
And Mother's Children, Brothers, Sisters Torn Apart.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday.

How Long, How Long Must We Sing This Song ?
How Long ? How Long ? Tonight We Can Be As One, Tonight.
Tonight, Tonight.
Tonight, Tonight.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday.

Wipe The Tears From Your Eyes,
Wipe Your Tears Away, Wipe Your Tears Away, Wipe Your Tears Away,
(Sunday, Bloody Sunday.)
(Sunday, Bloody Sunday.)
Wipe Your Bloodshot Eyes.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Sunday, Bloody Sunday.

And It's True We Are Immune,
When Fact Is Fiction And T.V. Reality,
And Today The Millions Cry,
We Eat And Drink While Tomorrow They Die.
The Real Battle Just Begun.
To Claim The Victory Jesus Won,
On A Sunday, Bloody Sunday,
Sunday, Bloody Sunday."

Remark: This are the really chanted lyrics, not the printed ones listed in the booklet.