A to Z 2017: U2

So U2 is one of those ultra mega bands that are so well known and successful that most everyone knows who they are, even today's generation. They have over ten albums, changed and experimented with their music over their career, and are still active and popular today after decades.

I'm no where near a U2 super freak, like some. I know many a lady (and gentleman) who are completely awestruck by lead vocalist Bono. And while I contemplated highlighting Unwritten Law (a vastly different band), I know that during my childhood I was exposed to a lot of U2 and R.E.M..

For that reason, I will be focusing mostly on four songs from their earlier era of music, some of which — to this day — I didn't know the actual name of the song, though knowing said song. Like their very first hit single from their debut studio album, Boy, "I Will Follow":

Okay, great catchy song, sure, but that video... that background, which I assume is the album cover, is kind of creepy to me. I understand the albums theme was essentially the transition from childhood to adulthood, but still. Also, I didn't realize they started out so young. They look like babies!

Let's skip ahead to War, U2's third full-length release, and the album featuring one of my all-time favorite songs the band ever produced, "Sunday Bloody Sunday":

I know, I know... a live performance, but I believe that is the official video. I'm pretty sure I could listen to that song at any given time. It's unfortunate how relevant it feels regarding today's state of affairs. "New Year's Day", another politically charged song,  is also great!

Then there was U2's The Joshua Tree. The album that I literally thought was their first album for the longest time, and where all their top singles originated from. The ones included above, "Pride (In the Name of /Love", "Bad", you name it. Any older hit songs came from this album in my mind. Obviously they had way more releases than I was aware of for the longest time.

The Joshua Tree had it's fair share of great singles and I think it was maybe the most popular of their albums (at the time) in the US, solidifying their international stardom. "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" were (are?) huge! And I do like them, but I really like "Where the Streets Have No Name":

Yeah, despite the whole "live" factor, that is an awesome video!

So, maybe I fibbed, because I do recall one of their newer singles (if 17 years old is "newer") off of All That You Can't Leave Behind, their tenth album. I believe this song, "Beautiful Day" was the first I had heard from U2 in years. In fact, I thought this was a lot more recent, by at least a decade, soooooo I'm just going to stop talking about timelines now. Here's the music video:

They still sound great there. Maybe a little more mainstream, including the video, but that's fairly normal. And I think that was the latest song I've heard from U2. They have 3 more albums, the latest, Songs of Innocence, being released in 2014.

Bono and the band have done a lot of activism/charity work throughout their career, been nominated and won multiple awards (and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005), and I don't believe they are done making music. In fact, I think it was on the news that they had delayed their latest album, because of the recent election. While I think that may be a bit extreme, perhaps they would now rather amp up another political movement through their music? Time will tell.

Have you heard of U2? If not, have you been living under a rock for the past three or four decades? If you have, do you like their music?  Do you prefer their older, newer, or all (or none) of the work? Do you have a favorite song/album?  Have you ever seen them live? If so, how was the performance? Are you excited at the prospect of a new album soon?