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Last Post 6/17/2004 9:16 AM by  eoghan
The worst U2 songs in the world. Ever.
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eoghan
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6/17/2004 9:16 AM
    I'm kicking this off as a counter-tonic to the "best U2 songs" thread. Because – let’s not forget - the lads have released some corkers over the years. Here's a few to kick it off: “The Refugee” from 1983’s War. I always completely hated this track. Sonically obnoxious. And the fact that it is the only song by U2 ever produced by Bill “Riverdance” Whelan is probably not a coincidence. “Ocean” on their debut Boy. Sits ajar on their splintering debut. Which is quite likely the reason they put it there. Murky and stickly, it’s probably resembles what a Massive Attack track sounds like as you drown in a vat of congealing manure. But, then again, back around 1980 then they used to often open their live set with this, which was bit of a clever manoeuvre: get your audience thinking at first you’re an appallingly indulgent act and then blow them away with the rest of your set list which is nothing short of blistering. “Peace on Earth” from 1997’s Pop. I am fully aware of the risk I run here of greatly offending some people considering the song’s sensitive subject (the innocent people killed in the Omagh bombing) but I thought that while this track was well-intended it just ended up sounding like drivel. Usually U2 (or Bono more to the point) are highly dependable for a bit of sophisticated reflection and perspective when it comes to lyrics on serious war / political topics (compare this to ‘Please’ from the same album which was also inspired by the situation in Norn Iron). If it had been Delores O’Riordan who had penned these lyrics I would not have been surprised. But she was nowhere near this track during its genesis. And the syrupy backing track was nothing in anyway special. As yer man Thom Yorke once said “don’t get sentimental, it always ends up drivel”. eoghan
    Binokular
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    6/17/2004 10:25 AM
    I've mentioned it before, but "The Hands That Built America" from the "Gangs of New York" soundtrack represented a new low in their career for me. The sound of a band running dangerously low on ideas. Now I hope this is just Bono and the lads letting Martin Scorsese have a song that wasn't fit to go on their forthcoming album, but it doesn't bode well. I can't think of single redeeming feature to this song. It sounds cavernous, but not in a good way. What I mean is, its sounds really big but also empty and hollow, both musically and lyrically.
    vandala
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    6/17/2004 10:56 AM
    Most of Rattle and Hum.
    Rev Jules
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    6/17/2004 12:03 PM
    Their version of 'Everlasting Love' is pretty crapola too.
    Diver
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    6/17/2004 2:03 PM
    I never liked With or Without You. I know that sounds odd, but I didn't.
    Rev Jules
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    6/17/2004 4:12 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Diver
    ...I know that sounds odd.
    Hey, here on Cluas, nothing sounds odd.
    QsySue
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    6/17/2004 4:50 PM
    Man, I always loved "The Refugee." Probably because my family sponsored a refugee family to come to America from Laos when I was 12. I love everything on WAR, though. I can't think of a song I don't like...Some of their recent hits got a bit worn out for me, they were played so much on the radio. I guess I even like their stupid songs, like "Party Girl."
    Rev Jules
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    6/17/2004 6:45 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by QsySue
    I guess I even like their stupid songs
    Ahh, c'mon now, there must be one. Oh, what about that one that Bono sang on the private plane during that RTE Doc they made about U2 in America...How does it go ? Oh, yeah, "uhhh, ahhh, she's ma, uhhh, Chili Con Carne...yaaah, uhh"
    Binokular
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    6/17/2004 9:14 PM
    The stupid U2 songs are great! How about "Elevation" from "All you can't leave behind" which contains such gems as "A mole digging in a hole /Digging up my soul" or "Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car": "A-ha, Sha-la, A-ha, Sha-la /Daddys gonna pay for your crashed car". Straight outta the Bernard Sumner school of rock lyricism or what! Appropriately enough, a beefed up version of "Elevation" was also used on the soundtrack of the wonderfully dumb but fun action movie "Tomb Raider".
    Rev Jules
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    6/17/2004 9:22 PM
    'The Playboy Mansion' stinks lyrically too. EG; "I never bought a lotto ticket", "And a Big Mac bigger than you think". Hey Bono, how much is a litre of milk nowdays hmm ?
    QsySue
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    6/18/2004 1:41 AM
    I guess I never really liked that song Edge sang. What was it? I'm not really all that familiar with anything after Achtung Baby. I only remember them doing it on the Grammy's or something like that, just him on a chair with a bunch of monitors behind him.
    Rev Jules
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    6/18/2004 7:53 AM
    "Oh, hold me nooooww, ah, hold me nooooow, As de night, it comes arooound" Is that the one ? The song is called 'Van Diemans Land'... ...No wait, I know the one you are talking about. It's called 'Numb' from the ZOOROPA album. That was a great song....Oh wait, I'm on the wrong strand ! 'Stateless' (from Million Dollar Hotel Soundtrack) is pretty minging.
    John Doe
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    6/18/2004 4:24 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Binokular
    The stupid U2 songs are great! How about "Elevation" from "All you can't leave behind" which contains such gems as "A mole digging in a hole /Digging up my soul" or "Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed car": "A-ha, Sha-la, A-ha, Sha-la /Daddys gonna pay for your crashed car". Straight outta the Bernard Sumner school of rock lyricism or what!
    Let's not forget this classic couplet from "Wake Up Dead Man", where Bono is talking to the late J.C. about his father, God ( well, you would, wouldn't you ? ): "He's in charge of heaven / he made the world in seven".
    ken
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    6/21/2004 2:25 PM
    Sorry to be a party pooper Eoghan but didn't the woeful 'Peace on Earth ' appear on 'All That You Can't Leave Behind'? Yours Analytically, ken.
    stephen
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    6/22/2004 10:46 AM
    Awful U2 songs? I think there are plenty to choose from... I agree with Eoghan with Peace on Earth. From the same album, I would enthusiastically endorse Wild Honey as the perfect example of a bad U2 song - uninspired, lyrically bland and a song that just seems to exist to support a crap chorus that Bono has come up with. I'm not a fan of New York either. Side 2 of The Unforgettable Fire always sounded wilfully obscure to me. I could never sit through it without wanting to hit the fast forward button. Biggest culprit? Elvis Presley and America.
    Binokular
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    6/22/2004 12:43 PM
    I dunno Stephen, I quite like Wild Honey even though the lyrics aren't up to much. I should point out that I also like "Elevation" and "Daddy's gonna pay for your crashed cars" despite their lyrical deficiencies. Wild Honey, unless I'm totally missing the point, just seems to be a straightforward love song, with a nice country-soul feel. I believe it was originally written for Mick Jagger to sing so that might put it perspective. Its also probably one of Bonos best vocal performaces on record, his voice seems to have matured nicely with age, perhaps lacking the earlier bombast, but with a very nice quality to it thesed days, a bit like er..honey really.
    Canice
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    6/22/2004 3:42 PM
    elvis presley and america is the best thing they ever did, side 2 of the fire is classic, the ocean is deadly, van diemens land is cool and the refugee is a hell of lot better than the dreadful two hearts or like a song or who's gonna ride your wild billys or discotheque or hallelujah here she comes or most of all that you can leave behind..no?
    eoghan
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    6/23/2004 11:14 AM
    Bejayzuz. Of course 'Peace on Earth' was from 'All that ye can't leave behind' and not from 'Pop'. Dunno what I was thinking. Cheers for pointing that out Ken. eoghan
    Brain of G
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    6/23/2004 5:32 PM
    I think all U2's music from 1990 onwards was and is pure pap with the exception of "staring at the sun" and "one". Some of their 80s stuff is good but overrated. I suppose I just have to admit I can't stand U2 and Bono with his ravings on ending world poverty, as spoken through his microphone sold by a first world company employing third-world workers and paying them third-world wages. I'm not an anti-globalist just think Bono's a bit of a hypocrit
    Rev Jules
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    6/23/2004 8:34 PM
    quote:
    Originally posted by Brain of G
    I'm not an anti-globalist just think Bono's a bit of a hypocrit
    And in dire need of a dictionary by the look of it.
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