Song: "One Tree Hill"
Artist: U2
Album: "The Joshua Tree"
Year: 1987
Place Of Origin: Dublin, Ireland
Years Active: 1976 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
I can't say it any better what this song is about than a direct quote from the "One Tree Hill" Wikipedia page so here it is: "The track was written in memory of Greg Carroll, a Māori man the band first met in Auckland during the Unforgettable Fire Tour in 1984. He became very close friends with lead singer Bono and later served as a roadie for the group. Carroll was killed in July 1986 in a motorcycle accident in Dublin. Following the tangi funeral in New Zealand, Bono wrote the lyrics to "One Tree Hill" in Carroll's memory. The lyrics reflect Bono's thoughts at the tangi and during his first night in New Zealand when Carroll took him up Auckland's One Tree Hill."
U2 DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1980 - Boy (Island Records)
1981 - October (Island Records)
1983 - War (Island Records)
1983 - Under A Blood Red Sky (Island Records)
1984 - The Unforgettable Fire (Island Records)
1987 - The Joshua Tree (Island Records)
1988 - Rattle And Hum (Island Records)
1991 - Achtung Baby (Island Records)
1993 - Zooropa (Island Records)
1997 - Pop (Island Records)
2000 - All That You Can't Leave Behind (Island/Interscope Records)
2004 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Island/Interscope Records)
2009 - No Line On The Horizon (Island/Interscope Records)
2014 - Songs Of Innocence (Island Records)
2017 - Songs Of Experience (Island Records)
CURRENT STATUS OF U2:
U2 formed as a band back in 1976. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Bono (vocals), The Edge (guitars), Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums) could barely play their instruments but an inherent chemistry and a hard work ethic would eventually propel them to become one of the biggest musical artists of all time. The band quickly inked a record deal with Island Records, a partnership that exists to the current day. They released their debut album in 1980, entitled "Boy", but it was their third release, 1983's "War" that started to garner the band some international success. Thanks to the hit single "New Year's Day", "War" would reach #12 on the Billboard 200 charts in the U.S. The single "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" from the band's 1984 album, "The Unforgettable Fire" would be the band's first song to chart in the top 40 in the States. Then 1987 happened! "The Joshua Tree" would be the zenith for U2, selling over 25 million units worldwide and being certified diamond! With singles like "With Or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Where The Streets Have No Names", "The Joshua Tree" spent a whopping nine weeks in the #1 slot on the Billboard 200 charts! A definite defining moment in U2's musical career. When the follow up to "The Joshua Tree", "Rattle And Hum", failed to live up to the expectations of the band, they dropped another bombshell of an album in 1991, "Achtung Baby". This album would go on to be certified 8X platinum and featured the singles "Mysterious Ways" and possibly the band's biggest song ever, "One". This album also won the band a Grammy Award. The band's next two albums, 1993's "Zooropa" and 1997's "Pop" saw the band experiment with different sounds and influences but it almost felt like the band lost it's way a little bit. Then comes the third hammer to drop for U2, 2000's "All That You Can't Leave Behind". This marked a return to a sound more rooted in rock and roll and had the feel of a band getting back to basics. This album would be certified 4X platinum and contained mega worldwide hit singles like "Beautiful Day", "Walk On" and "Elevation". 2004's "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" continued with the success of their previous release and had a heavier feel to it. Thanks to hit singles such as "Vertigo", "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" and "City Of Blinding Lights", this album would go on to win 5 Grammy Awards! U2 would go on to release three more full length albums, the most recent being 2017's "Songs Of Experience". 2009's "No Line On The Horizon" would be their last album to be certified platinum in the U.S. however. Though their last two albums were not as commercially successful as previous efforts, U2 still sells out massive worldwide tours. Whenver they embark on tours you can guarantee that theirs will be one of the highest grossing tours for that particular year. The band also is one of the most charitable and philanthropic bands out there, putting their name behind several causes all over the world. They are huge backers of human rights and they try to use their influence to shine a light on injustices that occur around the world. The band has sold over 170 millions worldwide, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and to this day, are one of the biggest acts in all of music, any genre. They were influenced by bands like Television, Joy Division, The Clash, The Who, Ramones, The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Patti Smith and they, in turn, have influenced thousands of bands that followed them. They are a band that is not afraid to experiment with different sounds from new wave, to roots rock, to electronic, to pop, to mainstream rock and they blend it all into a unique sound that is all their own. One of the greatest rock bands of all time, U2!
TEN U2 SONGS THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Where The Streets Have No Name
2. One
3. Beautiful Day
4. Elevation
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday
6. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
7. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
8. City Of Blinding Lights
9. Vertigo
10. Stuck In A Moment That You Can't Get Out Of
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