It was the birth of music videos, the decade of the eighties, that allowed me greater insight into one of the best rock bands in history. It was 1987, the release of The Joshua Tree that catapulted them to superstardom. Not sure which video came first, "Streets With No Name" or "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For," but these drew a captivating audience. In "With or Without You", I heard the deep vocals, rhythmic drum beat, bass guitar and the shrill of a whistle. I saw the black and white darkened mysterious image of Bono. This song was as close to a memorable tune, "Bad" from The Unforgettable Fire.
The video, a departure from the colorful costumes, danceable 80's videos. "With or Without You" gave us a somber look and a saddened emotion, unlike the other two videos, "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Was it The Edge strumming in the background or Bono, with that striking deep voice enhanced by gripping lyrics .... on a bed of nails she makes me wait and I wait without you, ...with or without you…. Those words evoke such passionate yearning. And what about the rest of the lyrics .....and you give yourself away. Exactly how do we interpret that? Hear that ever present distinct trademark guitar U2. The band stands comparable to the Stones and to many who may object, even better. This CD quickly became a commercial success, radio still overplays it, and these songs rightfully adorn their place in the world of music videos.
Recollections of Bono take me to late 1984, a charity benefit (Live-Aid) collaboration produced titled "Do They Know it’s Christmas" He was young and it was that voice, that penetrating deep voice that was also high! The production was filmed in London utilizing other pop names at the time. Since then, U2 is there for the causes.
An honor for the decade of the 80’s
A 1989 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, named The Joshua Tree the number three LP of the 80's. It was co-produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno.Lanois successfully produced the beautiful soundtrack of Slingblade, and the mix is by Steve Liliwhite, who has worked with Dave Matthews Band. It is a mixture of a spiritual overtone, creative yearning, and political messages with the strongest, "Bullet the Blue Sky" written after Bono felt the horrible outrage of Central America. Musically, a few songs don’t come off as great as the “hits”, but they may well be others’ favorites including "In God’s Country," "Red Hill Mining Town." What’s with the song "Exit"? It is so weak vocally and instrumentally. There is an indication of suicide with lyrics ……He put his hands in the pocket his finger on the steel …The pistol weighed heavy.
"Mothers of the Disappeared" - Eerie.. Indescribable
It is soothing, mournful, ethereal, haunting. Equal if not better to "With Or Without You" is "Mothers of the Disappeared". Hear Bono’s voice as he mournfully wails; it is dark and brooding. Background music is so prominent. But that voice again and the instruments are incredible.....we hear their heartbeat…we hear their heartbeat. The somber mood doesn't let us forget the disappeared, leaving an indelible emotion of pain and suffering. Political it may be, but it is beyond words to describe its beauty, the saddened lyrics with passionate vocals and that indescribable music.
Anymore what CD isn’t complete without the “drug” song..."Running to Stand Still"....she will suffer the needle chill...she is running to stand still. It is melodious but yet with that wailing Bono does so chillingly. Of similar likeness is "Trip Through Your Wires". A tribute song to a fellow member of the crew was killed in 1986 is "One Tree Hill". The painful sound in Bono’s voice at the end of this song is emotionally sad. The music stops for a few seconds and Bono comes in again for the encore.
"I Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For" is most notable as a song of yearning.....only to be with you!The Edge has been quoted that "Where the Streets Have No Name." was the most difficult to record and the track was almost erased by Brian Eno's disillusionment. Like "With Or Without You" they were overplayed, but don’t let that spoil these songs.
It is said that The Joshua Tree was the result of Bono wanting to explore rock and roll’s American roots, and the Edge wanted to continue the expressionistic experimentalism of The Unforgettable Fire. This was the result of the creative tension. ..…..MzRizz
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