Sunday, March 4, 2012

Song Of The Week: 3/4/12






Song: "Even Better Than The Real Thing"

Artist: U2

Album: "Achtung Baby"

Year: 1991



"Even Better Than The Real Thing" is a song by megagroup U2 that appears to be their most sexually driven work. The lyrics definitely conjure up what seems to be a steamy relationship between the vocalist and a woman. It may also be about all the excesses that were afforded to the band over the years. Their fame allowed them the opportunity to live the "rock star" life if they so chose. This song is almost like them giving in to it and accepting it. Bono himself said of the song, "It was reflective of the times the band were living in, when people were no longer looking for the truth, they were all about instant gratification." For just over thirty-five years, Dublin, Ireland's U2 have composed some of the biggest hits in music that has allowed the band to be held in the same conversation as fellow Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers such as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Bruce Springsteen. "Achtung Baby" was probably the most pivotal point in the band's history however. This album was ironic in that it almost broke the band up. There was a definite shift in the band at the time of making this album. The Edge and Bono were working more closely with each other leaving Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. kind of looking in from the outside. They were not happy with the musical experimentation that Bono and The Edge were working on. It was at a breaking point when the band decided to work on the song "One". That song, possibly the band's finest song in their arsenal, saved U2 and even made the band a stronger unit. Hence the irony of "Achtung Baby". The one album that nearly destroyed the band, actually allowed them to grow tighter and continue on. And continue on they did, releasing more successful albums through the 90's and 2000's and performing on some of the most successful tours in the history of rock and roll. Currently, in fact the band has just wrapped up their 360 Degrees Tour which basically started in 2009 and ended in 2011. The tour grossed $736,137,344 and had a total attendance of 7,268,430 people. Both of these number are record setters for one single concert tour. As for new material? I'm sure the band is taking a little break after embarking on such a massive tour but I wouldn't be surprised to hear about the band working on new material in the near future.

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