Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
“La religión puede ser el enemigo de Dios. A menudo es lo ue pasa cuando Dios,
como !l"is, ha de#ado el edificio” Bono on Bono/ Conversations it' 2ic'3a ssa$as
(556%
Religión.
1% Con)unto
Con)unto de creencia
creenciass o dogmas
dogmas acerca
acerca de la divinidad,
divinidad, de sentimie
sentimientos
ntos de
veneración $ temor 'acia ella, de normas morales para la conducta individual $
social $ de pr*cticas rituales, principalmente la oración $ el sacri#icio para darle
culto%
% .irtud ue mueve
mueve a dar a 7ios el culto
culto debid
debido%
o%
1% Celebration,
Celebration , letra/ I believe in t'e alls o# ?eric'oHI believe t'e$;re coming
donF% ?osue :/5 Entonces el pueblo gritó, $ los sacerdotes tocaron las
bocinasK $ aconteció
aconteció ue cuando
cuando el pueblo 'ubo
'ubo o"do el sonido
sonido de la bocina,
bocina,
gritó con gran vocer"o, $ el muro se derrumbó% El pueblo subió luego a la
ciudad, cada uno derec'o 'acia adelante, $ la tomaronF%
% !econds
!econds, , letra/ +i3e a t'ie# in t'e nig'tF% 1 esalonicenses 6/ -orue
vosotros sabAis per#ectamente ue el d"a del !e>or vendr* as" como ladrón en la
noc'eF%
% +i3e !ong,
!ong , letra/ ne 'eart is 'at I need L O' @od, ma3e it bleedF%
Ezeuiel :/: Os darA corazón nuevo, $ pondrA esp"ritu nuevo dentro de
vosotrosK $ uitarA de vuestra carne el corazón de piedra, $ os darA un corazón
de carneF%
4% I Dill olloF/
olloF/ Bono 'ace re#erencia a Mut 1/1:/ Mespondió Mut/ 0o me
ruegues ue te de)e, $ me aparte de tiK porue a dondeuiera ue tN #ueres, irA
$o, $ dondeuiera ue vivieres, vivirA% u pueblo ser* mi pueblo, $ tu 7ios mi
7iosF%
6% -ride (In 'e 0ame O# +ove,+ove , letra/ One man betra$ed it' a 3issF% +ucas
/48 Entonces ?esNs le di)o/ ?udas, con un beso entregas al i)o del
ombrePF%
:% 45
45/
/ se basa en el salmo nQ 45 de la biblia%
R% !unda$ Blood$ !unda$F
!unda$ F +etra renc'es dug it'in our 'earts, nd mot'ers,
c'ildren, brot'ers, sisters torn apartF (2ateo 15/6/ -orue 'e venido para
poner en disensión
disensión al 'ombre contra
contra su padre, a la 'i)a contra su madre,
madre, $ a la
nuera contra su suegraF
8% 'e &n#orgettable ire,
ire , letra/ nd i# t'e mountains s'ould crumble or
disappear into t'e sea% !almos 4:/ -or tanto, no temeremos, aunue la tierra
sea removida, S se traspasen los montes al corazón del marF%
9% Bullet 'e Blue !3$,!3$ , letra/ ?acob restled t'e angel L nd t'e angel as
overcomeF% @enesis /6 S cuando el varón vio ue no pod"a con Al, tocó en
el sitio del enca)e de su muslo, $ se desco$untó el muslo de ?acob mientras con
Al luc'aba%F
15% I !till aven;t ound D'at I;m +oo3ing orF letra FI 'ave spo3en it' t'e
tongue o# angelsF (1 Corintios 1/1/ !i $o 'ablase lenguas 'umanas $
angAlicas, $ no tengo amor, vengo a ser como metal ue resuena, o c"mbalo ue
reti>eF
11% Dit' Or Dit'out SouFSouF +etra !ee t'e t'orn tist in $our sideF ( Corintios
1/R/ S para ue la grandeza de las revelaciones no me eGaltase
desmedidamente,
desmedidamente, me #ue dado un agui)ón en mi carne, un mensa)ero de !atan*s
ue me abo#etee, para ue no me enaltezca sobremaneraF
1% El titulo
titulo del *lbum
*lbum &e os&ua ree esta inspirado en el *rbol de ?osuA/ +os
mormones dieron su nombre vulgar a este *rbol (Succa brevi#olia a mediados
del siglo TIT% &n grupo de esta secta cristiana norteamericana se encontró por
primera vez con elel *rbol en el desierto
desierto de 2o)ave tras cruzar
cruzar el r"o Colorado% !u
!u
peculiar aspecto
aspecto les recordó a la #igura
#igura del patriarca b"blico
b"blico ?osuA pidiendo
pidiendo la
a$uda de 7ios con las manos 'acia el cielo%
;&( $o%?
. don*t "now !any people that would want the world to "now% . !ight tell you, $ut . *! not
telling them.
o16!e see$ P*"$/e '"!e5 Ho3 do (o1 -ee' #+o1% %&e se@1#' )'#(#/%"$ &e does
o$s%#e?
A*e (o1 %e,)%ed %o do #$(%&"$ '"4e %&#%? I ,e#$. %&#% 4"$d o- se@1#' &1,o* "s %&e
4"$d o- %&"$ )eo)'e 3o1'd $e!e* e@)e/% -*o, U25
=o% . always go $a#" to the i!age of fil!!a"ers% . find that !a"es things #learer% So!e
people !a"e !oies, and there is a #ertain "ind of !oie they ! a"e, $e#ause that*s the!,
whether it*s (lt!an or S#orsese or )oppola%%%% :e*e $een trying to get people to dan#e to
(po#alypse =ow%
Deah, and . thin" Prin#e would $e !ore li"e, u!!! Bus$y Ber"eleyL
O* e$ R1sse''?
Gen 'ussellE That is what . !ean% Prin#e is the Gen 'ussell of !usi#% ($solutelyE
T&e 6s e$e*#%"o$ /e'e+*#%ed +o%& se@ #$d d*1s #s '"+e*#%"$5 No3#d#(s %&e*e
&#s +ee$ # 'o% o- +#s&"$ o- +o%& #s e!"'5 o1 )*ese$% # -#"*'( /&#s%e ",#e5
:e don*t%
I$ %&e ,o!"e 3e $e!e* e!e$ see (o1 %#4e # d*"$45 ;e $e!e* see (o1 do"$ d*1s5555
The idea that we would hide the drin" fro! the #a!era is idioti# $eyond $elief% .t*s another
#li#hA that redundant !inds throw at 2% Dou present a #haste i!age% <h godE
Do (o1 '"4e +e"$ "$%o@"/#%ed?
1aises a finger2 *Tis $etter to $e drun" on the spirit howeer, a $ottle of a#" ;aniel*s is
so!eti!es handier%
. a! already on drugs% . a! the sort of person who needs to ta"e drugs to !a"e !e nor!al%
1laughs2 . hae eperi!ented% =o, . don*t thin" that it is so!ething that eery$ody has to
I do$6% ,e#$ 9&#!e %o59 B1% do (o1 &#!e # )os"%"!e #%%"%1de %o3#*ds d*1s?
.*! not going to tell you that . hae a positie attitude towards people who are hurting
the!seles% ;rug a$use is a ery negatie thing%
Do (o1 +e'"e!e %&e*e "s s1/& # %&"$ #s d*1 1se #s o))osed %o #+1se?
. don*t want to tal" a$out that% .*ll gie you ust one ea!ple of why it would $e irresponsi$le
for !e to answer your 8uestion in a #ertain way/ .*e written so !any songs using heroin as
an i!age, it !ight $e interesting for !e to tell you that, say, .*e had eperien#es with the
drug heroin% .t !ight $e interesting for !e to do it, and to own up to it%
.f it were !is#onstrued, so!e$ody who, for whateer reason, respe#ts !e, that !ight lead
the! to get into it% <G% .f . $e#a!e addi#ted to heroin, . #an afford the trappings% . #an
afford the Betty Cord #lini#% . #an afford to hae !y $lood #hanged% . #an afford the trappings
of $eing an addi#t% But there is so!e guy who lies in a ro o! in ;u$lin who can't. (nd
no$ody gies a shit a$out his addi#tionE
So it is highly irresponsi$le for ro#" *n* roll people to perpetuate the myth of drug addi#tion%
<ne of the things that . get a good feeling that 2 has done is to $rea" open the !ythology
of ro#" *n* roll% The !ythology that wearing a safety pin in your nose !eans you*re a re$el%
Shaing your head does not !ean you*re a re$el%
o16*e s#("$ %&ose %*#))"$s &#!e $o%&"$ %o do 3"%& %&e %*1e *e+e''"o1s so1' o-
*o/4 #$d *o''5555
Deah, the re$ellious soul% The !ythology of lie fast, die young perpetrated $y ri#h ro#" *n*
roll stars sickens !e% . ust want to throw up on these $astardsE That*s $e#ause in our #ity,
;u$lin )ity, .*e seen the pla#e truly raaged $y drug addi#tion% People seriously fu#"ed up,
and people inspired $y this idea of liing #lose to the edge%
2*s 143 (l$u! :ar, in#luded Sunday Bloody Sunday, a thunderous anthe! against
.reland*s se#tarian iolen#e, and =ew Dear*s ;ay, the #ele$ration of Poland*s Solidarity% .t
was 2*s first &P to go gold in the nited States% Bono and the $and intended the re#ord as a
star" de#laration for !ilitant pa#ifis!, and against nationalis!% But it so!eti!es see!ed to
eploit the ery passions it was de#rying% <n tour, Bono too" to trotting around the stage
waing a !assie white flag to a !artial $eat% <ne early 2 $ooster wrote that the great
personal fury of their first &Ps had gien way to literal $ut sin#ere sloganeering %%% hapless,
dated, agitpop% 7e wasn*t alone% Det in Bono*s eyes, the $and was ust ahead of its ti!e,
oi#ing the spirit of &ie (id $efore Bo$ +eldof had seen its gli!!er%
I$ => (o1 #$d (o1* 3"-e. A'". 3o*4ed -o* se!e$ 3ee4s "$ E%&"o)"# o$ #$
ed1/#%"o$#' *e'"e- )*o:e/%5 ;&#% )*e/")"%#%ed %&#%?
ust got #arried away with !yself, and our inole!ent with &ie (id% . thought &ie (id was
an etraordinary thingE .t see!ed we were, at one ti!e, al!ost the only oi#e tal"ing a$out
this idea/ that ro#" *n* roll #ould $e a fo r#e for so#ial #hange, in reality, as well as in #on#ept%
This was two, three years $efore &ie (id, when we were !a"ing the :ar &P, and it was
so!ething we $elieed for a while% . had #onersations with people, fro! Sting to Bo$ +eldof
to #riti#s who found it al!ost a laugha$le idea, that in the *40s people #ould still really
$eliee that%
Bo$ +eldof was into pop !usi#% That*s the great irony of &ie (id% That proed to !e that
+od has su#h a sense of hu!or, this idea of +eldof a#tually refuting his own argu!ent% 7e
really was the !an who said, Pop !usi# is pop !usi#/ $ee$opaloola% .t*s great, and let*s
ust enoy it for that% That a little round thing with a hole in it #ould sae lies !ust hae
$een an etraordinary reelation to hi!%
. truly thin" that with the :ar al$u!, . and others reali>ed that ro#" *n* roll didn*t ust h ae
to $e a parody of itself%
o1 s#"d %&e 9;#*9 #'+1, 3#s 9so,e%&"$ 3e +e'"e!ed -o* # 3&"'e59 C#$ (o1
e@)'#"$ %&#%?
pla#ard the songs a $it% . too" up that idea on the &ar &P, and . thin" it was a turning point,
not ust for 2, $ut in *40s !usi#% (nd . a! pissed off that the &P is not so re#ogni>ed%
1laughs2 +od% .s this !aniaL .t !ight $e%
Ad#, C'#(%o$ s#"d %&#% *"&% #-%e* (o1* L"!e A"d )e*-o*,#$/e. %&e +#$d 3#$%ed %o
)#/4 "% "$5 T&e( 3e*e #'' so 1)se% 3"%& %&e )e*-o*,#$/e5555
:e were ery desperate, and depressed $y it% The feeling was that . had ust shot 2 in the
head in front of a $illion iewers% 1laughs2 %%% .n retrospe#t, we feel it was alid% But at the
ti!e, we felt . had ta"en a real ris", and we didn*t "now if people would get it%
See, .*! a songwriter first, a singer se#ond, and a perfor!er third% But so!eti!es the
perfor!er is the strongest side% <nstage . often try to find a way to epress a song other
than the way . sing it% That*s pro$a$ly through haing a li!ited oi#e% =ot $eing a great
singer, or een a ery good one at ti!es, . would loo" for other ways% That*s why . used
those white flags/ this idea of a flag drained of all #olor, the idea of surrender% .f there was
any flag worth flying, that was it%
.n the #ase of &ie (id, . wanted so!e way to ! a"e the feeling that people felt there isual/
a sy!$ol% So when . saw this (fri#an girl in the audien#e, she was shouting and shouting at
!e, #alling and #alling %%% . ust i!pulsiely u!ped or fell oer into this pit% She was $eing
#rushed, and $ashed around a $it, and . ust pulled her out% By holding onto this person, .
felt li"e . was holding onto the whole audien#e% .t felt li"e holding onto eeryone% .t see!s,
in hindsight, that eeryone wat#hing it felt that% .t a#tually was that for so!e reason%
.t*s a ris"y $usiness% .*e thrown dru!s off the stage, pushed oer P( sta#"s, $urned ele#tri#
guitars% . find !yself resorting to these things% (nd . "now now that it*s pure inse#urity
a$out !y a$ility as a singer%
:ell, . always hate the !essage idea% Dou feel li"e a post!an, you "now, deliering all these
!essages%
. thin" the *40s hae $een a $light, #ulturally and so#iopoliti#ally% (nd you*re right% . thin"
2, we*re one of the $est things a$out the*40s% 1laughs2 (nd .*! personally e!$arrassed
that we*re the $and of the *40s% . t*s not su#h a great #o!pli!ent% 1laughs2 7oweer, we*ll
see what we #an do with the *0s%
:hat happened in the *90s $ut wasn*t ad!itted to, was, it $e#a!e #lear how redundant the
politi#al ideologies of $oth the &eft and the 'ight were% They no longer !ade sense% .t
$e#a!e #learN that Marist&eninis!, this ideology inented to deal with the .ndustrial
'eolution, whi#h is worlds ago, een though it had $een reinterpreted, #annot $e applied,
and #ertainly isn*t worth giing or ta"ing a life for% :o rst of all, al!ost, were the li$erals, in
the !iddle%
People are loo"ing for an epression, $e#ause eery$ody, eery person that has a fa!ily
thin"s a$out what they*re going to $ring a #hild into% -eryone wal"ing along a #oastline
wonders, will it $e here in ten yearsL People hae wor"ed for ten years in #ollege, paying
fees, and they wonder if they*ll hae a o$ in 1 0 years% The answer to that has $een to wor"
with $lin"ers on, and to $e $etter than the guy sitting net to yo u in #ollege, and if you*re
not $etter, #heatE (nd fu#"ing $lindfold your opponent%
There are people ust loo"ing around, and they "now there !ust $e a fo#us% (nd they*re
loo"ing at the ;e!o#rati# party, and they don*t see anything% They ust see white walls%
So!ething inside the! says, This doesn*t !a"e sense% They loo" to the ' ight, and the
gospel of greed, and they #an*t sto!a#h it% They !ight $e a$le to% .f they*e got a few "ids,
they !ight hae to% But generally, the ro#" *n* roll audien#e is 16, 2F, 30% They haen*t,
than" +od, !ade their !ind up% That*s why it*s su#h an e#iting ti!e/ ro#" *n* roll%
So they*re loo"ing oer here, and oer there% They ust don*t "now% They ust don*t "now%
(nd the !usi# you turn on is proof that no$ody "nows% .t*s ust a noise to drown out
unanswered 8uestions% Dou ust drown it out% The Beastie Boys* :e*e got to fight for our
right to partyE an a!using line% . appre#iate it, $ut it was not seen as ironi# as, .
presu!e, it was intended% Deah, we*e got to fight for that right, alright% That is the anthe!
of the *40sE
A*e (o1 s#("$ %&#% 3&#% /#)%1*es (o1* -#$s6 )o'"%"/#' ",#"$#%"o$s "s s)e#4"$ %o
%&ose do1+%s %&e( &#!e?
. thin" it*s at least owning up to the!% :e*re ery #lear, and it*s ery dear in our !u si# that
we don*t hae any answers% But that the 8uestions are at least worth as"ing% . Still 7aen*t
Cound :hat .*! &oo"ing Cor% 7ow !u#h !ore dear #an you !a"e itL
o1 s#"d (o1 se$se # s&"-% o- ,ood "$ %&"s /o1$%*(. %&#% -o* # -e3 ,o,e$%s U26s
s1+:e/% ,#%%e* 3#s /e$%*#' %o %&e %",es. +1% ,#( $o% +e $o35 I- U2 *e#''( "s o$ %&e
o1%s"de ##"$. does "% 1)se% (o1?
. thin" !oods ust shift, #hange, and #o!e around% <n o ne leel, . a! aghast% . was reading
an interiew with (rthur Miller, who said that after growing up in the ;epression and #o!ing
$a#" fro! :orld :ar .., haing seen those sights of ho rror and deastation, he neer
thought it would get to the point in (!eri#a where people would wal" past the "ind of
ho!elessness .*e seen in &os (ngeles% 7e #ouldn*t i!agine that in (!eri#a% (nd that is
where we are right now in (!eri#a%
That is the word . would use% (nd . thin" they need a really strong sti!ulus%%%% .t ust see!s
that a pinpri#" will no longer pier#e% They need a sho#" treat!ent%
Do (o1 see # d"--e*e$% 4"$d o- )o'"%"/s #$d /o$s/"o1s$ess e,e*"$ "$ %&e 6>s?
. thin" we*e lower to sin" $efore people will say, :e #an*t go any further% . thin" (!eri#a
is liing on $orrowed ti!e% . thin" you*e $orrowed the !oney to put off this day when
you*re going to hae to reali>e/ )orporations don*t need people to wor" for the! any!ore%
Ma#hines don*t as" for wage raises% (nd they haen*t figured out how they*re going to, on
one leel, proide #onsu!ers, and, on the other, not hae wor" for any$ody% This 8uestion
has $een put off, $ut it will hae to $e answered% There is so!ething around the #orner %%%
D"s#s%*o1s?
=o% .t #ould $e really good%%%% :e need to drea! new drea!s% (nd . thin" ro#" *n* roll is at
least a #han#e to drea! those drea!s%
C#$ %&ose d*e#,s. /#$ *e/o*ds. /#$ ,1s"/ *e#''( /&#''e$e e$%*e$/&ed )o3e*?
. don*t "now% . don*t thin" so% .t #an effe#t #hange% .t #an $e a #atalyst for #hange%
7owL
.t #an $e a oi#e of dissent% . thin" . )an*t +et =oN Satisfa#tion is a ery great politi#al
song% . really do% .t*s li"e/ :hen .*! driin* in ! y #ar O and that !an #o!es o n the radio O
and he*s tellin* !e !ore and !ore O a$out so!e useless infor!ation O supposed to fire !y
i!agination% 7oweer, a lot of !usi# is selling the sa!e thing as aderts do right now%
U2 does$6% see, %o %#/4'e %&e 4"$d o- )o'"%"/s %&#% ,"&% %*1'( %*o1+'e o* #'"e$#%e
%&e"* -#$s5 I$ %&e -"', (o1 o o$ #+o1% #)#*%&e"d #$d %&e$ #s4. 9A, I +1"$
(o1?9 :1s% #+o1% e!e*(o$e "$ %&e US "s o))osed %o #)#*%&e"d5 e% (o1 $e!e* s)e#4
o1% o$ "ss1es '"4e #+o*%"o$. Is*#e' #$d %&e P#'es%"$"#$s. %&e de#%& )e$#'%(. AIDS.
<ealt!" nations, as <ell as t!e orld BanM and t!e 7nternational @onetar" /und, to erase
t!e public debt o D2 o t!e <orldWs poorest countries, most o t!em in rica. B" <iping
Z3D0 billion rom t!eir booMs, t!ese countries <ould be ree to spend mone" on !ealt! care
and education, rat!er t!an pa" do<n t!e principal on loans loated b" corrupt and
sometimes long?gone go#ernments. 8e !a#e squee$ed t!ese countries to t!e point <!ere
t!eir !ealt! s"stems are absolutel" unable to unction,8 sa"s ;ere" =ac!s, t!e Car#ard
economist <!o negotiated a debt?relie pacMage or Boli#ia in 1H. 8Education s"stems are
broMen do<n, and t!ereWs a lot o deat! associated <it! t!e collapse o public !ealt! and t!e
lacM o access to medicine. 7 donWt t!inM an" merican <ants t!at.8
&!oug! Bono Mne< t!e basics o debt relie, !e consulted <it! =ac!s <!en !e began !is
unoicial tenure as a ;ubilee ambassador. 8Ce ga#e a call and said !eWd liMe to meet and
talM about oreign debts,8 sa"s =ac!s. 8nd !e said to bring a conser#ati#e colleague <it!
me, because !e <anted to !ear t!e ot!er side.8 rmed <it! !is quicM grad?sc!ool tutorial on
debt relie, Bono began using !is ame to lobb" politicians, e#en t!ose <!o ma" not !a#e
Mno<n e'actl" <!o !e <as. 87Wll ne#er orget one da" during m" dministration,8 sa"s
ormer 9resident Bill linton, 8[&reasur"\ =ecretar" [La<rence\ =ummers comes in to m"
oice and sa"s, W6ou Mno<, some gu" )ust came in to see me in )eans and a & s!irt, and !e
)ust !ad one name, but !e sure <as smart. %o "ou Mno< an"t!ing about !imKW8
Last "ear ;ubilee 2000 <as renamed %rop t!e %ebt, and Bono sta"ed on as t!e groupWs
most persuasi#e and !ig!?proile spoMesman. Ce ounded %&, <!ic! !e !opes to
oiciall" launc! in mid?@arc!, as a #e!icle to e'pand !is rican agenda to include s!ort?
term economic aid, lo<ered trade embargoes and mone" to ig!t aids, in return or
democrac", accountabilit" and transparenc" in go#ernments across t!at continent. 87 Mno<
!o< absurd it is to !a#e a rocM star talM about t!e orld Cealt! Argani$ation or debt re lie
or C7XI7%= in rica,8 Bono sa"s. But !e also Mno<s t!at no one else <it! !is Mind o
access to media and mone" !as taMen on t!e )ob. 7n an eort to Meep t!e discussion serious
and a#oid t!e appearance o being )ust anot!er rocMer against bad t!ings, !e rerains rom
treating rica as an emotional issue. 8e donWt argue compassion,8 !e sa"s. Cis argument
is pragmatic, not preac!". 8e put it in t!e most crass terms possibleT <e argue it as a
inancial and securit" issue or merica ... &!ere are potentiall" anot!er 10 g!anistans in
rica, and it is c!eaper b" a actor o 100 to pre#ent t!e ires rom !appening t!an to put
t!em out.8
&!e %& genda is loosel" modeled on t!e @ars!all 9lan, <!ic! pro#ided Europeans
<it! oreign assistance, debt cancellation and trade incenti#es to rebuild t!eir economies
ater orld ar 77, so t!at t!e" could act as a bul<arM against =o#iet e'pansion. !en
Bono met <it! olin 9o<ell in ;anuar" 2001, !e broug!t a git, a signed note rom >eorge
. @ars!all, anot!er militar" man turned =ecretar" o =tate. &!e rocM star turns l"rical
<!en talMing about t!e @ars!all 9lan: 86ou still ind people m" parentsW age in Europe <!o
talM about t!e @ars!all 9lan. &!at <as <!ere Europe elt t!e grace o merica, in a <a"
more t!an )ust stepping in <it! its militar" mig!t.8 Bono <ants !is #ision or rica to be as
eecti#e and as enduring or uture generations as t!e @ars!all 9lan <as or earlier ones.
8an <e do somet!ing t!at people <ill be proud o in generationsK8 !e asMs.
t 1:30 a.m., e'actl" i#e !ours ater !is bra#ura =uper Bo<l s!o<, Bono is e'ercising t!e
rocM starWs undamental rig!t to be ridiculous. t a celebrator" post?game dinner in t!e
/renc! uarter <it! !is band mates, t!e U2 management team and actress s!le" ;udd -an
old riend, !e t!ro<s bacM some red <ine, tells a e< stories about /ranM =inatra, lea#es a
rambling cell?p!one message or ;uddWs !usband gentl" inorming !im t!at !is <ie !as
been Midnapped b" a rocM band, and t!en sneaMs o to t!e bat!room or a cigarette. -Bono
t!inMs t!e rest o U2 doesnWt Mno< !e smoMesT t!e" Mno<. ter 1D minutes, guitarist t!e
Edge, <!o adopts a Mind, paternalistic role to<ard !is c!ild!ood riend and band mate,
glances to<ard t!e bat!room and sa"s ner#ousl", 8BonoWs allergic to red <ine.8 =ure
enoug!, Bono !as passed out on t!e bat!room loor. U2Ws deput" manager, =!eila oc!e, is
unconcerned and continues sipping !er drinM. 8CeWs probabl" )ust taMing a nap. CeWs an
e'cellent napper,8 s!e sa"s.
e< minutes later, Bono emerges rumpled but rene<ed. s !e e'its t!e restaurant and
maMes !is <a" t!roug! t!e mob on Bourbon =treet, !e t!ro<s !is !ands in t!e air and
screams to no one in particular, 8o, 7 <ill not do t!e snaMe dance or "ou58
Bono is in ull rocM?star mode, and !e !as good reason to sa#or t!e moment. U2 nearl"
called it quits a e< "ears ago. ter putting out 9op, t!e irst dud o t!eir 10?album career,
in 1G, t!e band membersVall in t!eir F0s, all <it! relations!ips, side interests and more
mone" t!an t!e" could e#er spendV!ad to decide <!et!er t!ere <as a compelling reason to
continue being a band. 8!" are "ou still aroundK8 asMs t!e Edge r!etoricall". 86ou Mno<,
"ou made some great records. But <!" are "ou still maMing recordsK 9art o <!at <e
decided is t!at <e !ad a sense or belie t!at <e can still maMe t!e album o t!e "ear.8
An ll &!at 6ou anWt Lea#e Be!ind, <!ic! !as recei#ed eig!t >ramm" nominations,
including one or lbum o t!e 6earVU2 dispensed <it! t!e drum loops and %;s it !ad
to"ed <it! on 9op and got bacM to t!e !ard business o <riting big, straig!tor<ard songs.
L"ricall", Bono <as struggling <it! !is at!erWs terminal illness -!is at!er Bob Ce<son died
o cancer last "ear, but speciicit" can be t!e plague o pop. =ongs liMe Ane, !ere t!e
=treets Ca#e o ame, =ta" -/ara<a", =o lose and alM An rom ll &!at 6ou anWt
Lea#e Be!ind ac!ie#e t!e impossibleVbecoming meaningul to millions o peopleV
precisel" because t!e" are beautiull" #ague. 8Bono did somet!ing recentl" t!at !e probabl"
s!ouldnWt !a#e done,8 sa"s drummer Larr" @ullen ;r. 8Ce did a booM as a a#or or a riend
o !is in 7reland t!at We'plainedW all t!e l"rics. 7 t!inM t!at <as a mistaMe because one o t!e
most #aluable t!ings about !is l"rics is t!at "ou can adapt t!em to an" particular situation.8
7t turns out t!at millions o listeners adapted ll &!at 6ou anWt Lea#e Be!ind to cope <it!
t!e trauma o =ept. 11. ter t!e lead single, Beautiul %a", <on t!ree a<ards at last "earWs
>ramm"sVprompting Bono to declare immodestl", 8[eWre\ reappl"ing or t!e )ob. !at
)obK &!e best band in t!e <orld )ob8Vt!e album slo<l" sanM on t!e Billboard &op 200
album c!art, bottoming out at 10 in ugust 2001. But in t!e mont!s ater I11, as people
looMed or comort, escape or bot!, t!e album picMed up momentum, rising as !ig! as 2D
ater t!e =uper Bo<l, in its HGt! <eeM o release. &!e album is not prescient, )ust elastic. An
alM An, t!e albumWs best tracM, Bono sings, 87 Mno< it ac!esI nd "our !eart it breaMsI
nd "ou can onl" taMe so muc!I alM on.8 nd on 9eace on Eart!, !e mourns, 8=icM o
sorro<I 7Wm sicM o t!e painI 7Wm sicM o !earing again and againI &!at t!ereWs gonna be
peace on Eart!.8
U2Ws Ele#ation tour, <!ic! pla"ed in e'cess o 100 sold?out nig!ts to more t!an 2 million
people in 2001, also tooM on a completel" dierent eel ater =ept. 11. 8&!ere <as anger,
rage, patriotism, sadness,8 sa"s @ullen ;r. 8E#er"t!ing became rig!teningl" e'treme.8 7n
recognition o t!e traged", U2 began pro)ecting t!e names o allen members o t!e e<
6orM it" police and ire departments and t!e #ictims o t!e our atal lig!ts on screens and
arena <alls <!ile t!e" pla"ed Ane. 87 !a#e to sa" 7 <asnWt sure about it at irst,8 sa"s bassist
dam la"ton. 87t seemed liMe <e <ere reall" pus!ing a button. But Bono is a prett" unique
indi#idual, and !eWs got great )udgment. CeWs able to perorm open?!eart surger" and $ap
people <it! a bit o brain surger" at t!e same time.8
U2 incorporated t!e names into t!eir !al?time set at t!e =uper Bo<l -pro)ecting t!em
during t!e songs @LS and !ere t!e =treets Ca#e o ame. 7t <as not a political
statement, )ust an emotional one. B" design, it said not!ing in particular and "et some!o<
con#e"ed somet!ing proound. 7t <as e'actl" t!e Mind o soaring, impossible moment Bono
belie#es U2 e'ists to ac!ie#e. andering around e< Arleans ater t!e game, Bono reli#ed
eac! o t!e setWs 11 minutes in somet!ing close to real time. 87 !ope it pla"ed <ell on
tele#ision, because it eltVa!5Vit elt )ust ama$ing.8
&!e bu$$ o impossible moments is <!at rocM stars li#e or, but itWs impractical or a
political ad#ocate. &<o <eeMs ater t!e =uper Bo<l perormance, Bono is in Los ngeles to
accept a Z100,000 donation rom t!e Entertainment 7ndustr" /oundation or %&. Ce
calls a meeting on t!e porc! o !is suite at t!e !ateau @armont <it! @ic!ael =tipe,
uinc" ;ones, Bobb" =!ri#er -t!e record?producing and und?raising son o =argent and
Eunice Senned" =!ri#er and ;amie %rummond, %&Ws director. 7tWs a ne<?ideas meeting,
and Bono !opes to tap some o t!e music industr"Ws s!arpest p!ilant!ropic minds to raise
public a<areness or %&Ws core issues. 8%onWt send mone". 6ou alread" !a#e,8 announces
=tipe, tr"ing out cop" or a debt?relie mass?mailing postcard. &!e room lo#es it.
!ile =tipe scribbles a<a", ;ones <onders aloud <!ic! part o t!e %& gendaV
dropping t!e debt, maMing trade rules more ad#antageous or poor countries or getting
more unding or aids drugs and !ealt! careVBono <ants t!e <orld to ocus on. 87 t!inM
"ouW#e got too man" issues. &!atWs !o< <e ble< it beore,8 sa"s ;ones, <!o raised mone" or
amine relie in 1D as part o U= or rica. 8mericans donWt Mno< about ]]]ing
9!iladelp!ia, let alone rica. &rade is some #er" sop!isticated politics. 6ou !a#e to
particulari$e t!e drama or t!em. 6ouW#e got to !a#e a melod" line.8
BonoWs not so sure.
&!e meeting breaMs up <!en Bono lea#es or a p!oto s!oot. %ri#ing across Los ngeles, !e
discusses ;onesW notion o a melod" line. 8!at <eWre all on about is: rica. =e#ent"
percent o t!e problem o C7XI7%= is in rica. eWre talMing about t!e continent bursting
into lames <!ile <e stand around <it! <atering cans. &!atWs our one idea. But t!e closer
"ou get to t!e polic"maMers, "ou need speciicit", and "ou need to Mno< <!at "ouWre talMing
about. 7Wd go in and talM about debt relie, debt relie, debt relie, and people <ould sa", WBut
t!atWs onl" part o t!e picture !ere.W8
t F1, Bono sa"s, !e !as gi#en up on music as a political orce. Ce belie#es ! is <orM
negotiating in political bacM rooms is more #ital and eecti#e t!an singing in sold?out
stadiums. 89oetr" maMes not!ing !appen,8 t!e poet .C. uden once <rote, and Bono
<istull" agrees. 87Wm tired o dreaming. 7Wm into doing at t!e moment. 7tWs, liMe, letWs onl"
!a#e goals t!at <e can go ater. U2 is about t!e impossible. 9olitics is t!e art o t!e possible.
&!e"Wre #er" dierent, and 7Wm resigned to t!at no<. @usicWs t!e t!ing t!at stopped me rom
alling asleep in t!e comort o m" reedom. 7 learned about =out! merica rom listening
to t!e las!. 7 learned about =ituationism rom t!e =e' 9istols. But t!atWs a long <a" rom
budget caps and dealing <it! a ongress t!at is suspicious o aid because it !as been so
misused.8
@usic does maMe a dierence in one <a"T it s<a"s people emotionall". But or Bono t!at is
no longer enoug!: 8!en "ou sing, "ou maMe people #ulnerable to c!ange in t!eir li#es.
6ou maMe "oursel #ulnerable to c!ange in "our lie. But in t!e end, "ouW#e got to become
t!e c!ange "ou <ant to see in t!e <orld. 7Wm actuall" not a #er" good e'ample o t!atV7Wm
too selis!, and t!e rig!t to be ridiculous is somet!ing 7 !old too dearVbut still, 7 Mno< itWs
true.8
I)ith reporting b( Ben4amin Nugent>Ne5 +ork
U2!HE58 9#:UE 1#;E/!5E/ <= 8<C.
B( 0a vi d 'l ot <
-pdated Friday, Ja. 25, 2002, at //2/ #M E
Cor the past two years, 2 has $een enoying a !ira#ulous run% (fter its disastrous *0s
flirtation with irony, the .rish 8uartet returned to the swaddling #o!fort of earnestness at
ust the right !o!ent% 2*s 2000 al$u! !ll %hat /ou 6an't eave BehindQa throw$a#" to the
sweeping righteous loe of %he #oshua %ree and %he 7nforgettable ireQwas raed $y #riti#s,
hit =o% 1 in !ore than 30 #ountries, and #ontinues to throw off huge singles% Sin#e Sept% 11,
their supersin#erity has $een in parti#ularly high de!and% Bono or#hestrated the allstar
re!a"e of Marin +aye*s :hat*s +oing <n, pro#eeds going for Sept% 11 th relief% (nd $oth
:al" <n, off !ll %hat /ou 6an't eave Behind, and the old hit <ne hae $e#o!e Sept% 11 th
anthe!s%
.n ;e#e!$er, 2 finished one of the !ost profita$le #on#ert tours in ro#" history, was
na!ed +pin*s Band of the Dear and olling +tone readers* (rtist of the Dear% =et !onth
pro!ises !ore glory% The $and is no!inated for eight +ra!!ysQ!ore than any artistQand
will al!ost #ertainly win a handful at the Ce$% 29 #ere!ony% (nd net wee"end, 2 headlines
the Super Bowl halfti!e show, a gig for 400 !illion iewers%
2 has now $een good longer than any other i!portant $and in history% The 'olling Stones
hae $een around foreer, $ut their #reatie period lasted only 1F years% The Beatles
i!ploded after a de#ade% 2Qthe sa!e lineup of Bono, the -dge, (da! )layton, and &arry
MullenQhas $een !a"ing a##lai!ed al$u!s sin#e 140*s Boy%
The $and*s a#hiee!ents depend on two neat tri#"s% Cirst, BonoQthe pu$li# fa#e of 2Qhas
a genius for #ognitie dissonan#e% 7e is the upstairs, downstairs "ing of ro#"/ 7e
si!ultaneously inflates hi!self into the !ost grandiose, arrogant, selfrighteous ro#" star
and deflates hi!self with self!o#"ery and ! odesty% 7e des#ri$es 2 as reapplying for the
position of $est $and in the world #alls the $and !agi# and etraordinary announ#es
on attle 9 :um that (ll . hae is a red guitar, three #hords, and the truth and insists that
:e*e always $een a$out !ore than !usi#% :e*re a$out spirituality% :e*re a$out the world
we lie in%
But Bono #ounters eery #lai! of godliness $y throwing a pie in his own fa#e% (s"ed $y an
interiewer if he is a pioneer, he de#lares that he is one of the inentors of the !ullet% The
$and !o#"ed the!seles on %he +impsons% Bono #heerfully disses his own politi#al a#tiis!/
The only thing worse than a ro#" star is a ro#" star with a #ons#ien#e%
Both stan#es are sin#ere, and it is a ery winning #o!$ination% The worshipful fans adore the
earnest grandiosity and sing along as Bono #lai!s trans#enden#e% ( 2 #on#ert is one of the
few pla#es on the planet where intelligent people wae #igarette lighters without irony% .n
those !o!ents when you want to $eliee that ro#" !usi# is so!ething $igger than
entertain!entQand who doesn*t haen*t su#h !o!entsLQ2 offers ealted nourish!ent%
%hey're about more than music, man. %hey're about spirituality. %hey are the unforgettable
fire3
But 2*s self#ons#iousness ino#ulates the! against #riti#s, who #an find no point of atta#"%
.f you ridi#ule Bono for his po!posity, he will not only laugh at the o"e, $ut will twist the
"nife deeper in his own #hest% They are grand spe#ta#le, $ut with a win" for those who are
loo"ing for one% The #o!$ination of selfi!portant grandeur and selfdepre#ating hu!or is
e#eptionally rare, espe#ially a!ong #ele$rities% Many popular !usi#ians hae one or the
other ?al!ost always the selfi!portant grandeur@% The few that hae $othQthe 'olling
Stones, the Beatles, and -lton ohn are at the top of the short listQ#an surie greatness
and don*t get destroyed $y their pretensions ?as did hu!orless sorts su#h as the ;oors,
+uns =* 'oses, &ed Jeppelin R@%
2*s other tri#" is to pretend that it is a politi#al ro#" $and% .t*s true that 2 is politi#ally
pro!is#uous% The liner notes for !ll %hat /ou 6an eave Behind, for ea!ple, endorse
(!nesty .nternational, +reenpea#e, the #harity :ar )hild, the u$ilee 2000 de$trelief
#a!paign, freedo! for Bur!a, and usti#e in Sierra &eone% (nd that*s ust one al$u!% 2*s
roster of #ause songs in#ludes/ Sunday Bloody Sunday ?one of !any a$out .reland*s
trou$les@ Se#onds ?nu#lear war@ The nforgetta$le Cire ?also nu#lear war@ Pride ?.n
the =a!e of &oe@ ?Martin &uther Ging r%@ M&G ?also Martin &uther Ging r%@ Bullet the
Blue S"y ?%S% )entral (!eri#a poli#y@ and so on%
.t*s also true that Bono is e#eptionally politi#al off stage% But 2 has duped their fans into
$elieing their !usi# is politi#al% Bono de#lares that his songs are a$out this or that #ause,
$ut no fan #ould eer "now that f ro! listening% )onsider this typi#al passage fro! :al"
<n, supposedly a$out Bur!ese de!o#ra#y a#tiist (ung San Suu Gyi% :hat has it to do w ith
Bur!aL . adore Pride ?.n the =a!e of &oe@ as !u#h as anyone, $ut . defy anyo ne to
eplain what it tea#hes a$out Martin &uther Ging r%
2 is perhaps the world*s aguest $and% .f a 2 song isn*t written in the first person, it is
penned to an unna!ed, indistin#t you% .nstead of stories or wordplay, they rely solely on
fu>>y i!agery% . opened the liner notes to !ll %hat /ou ... and wrote down the first three
lines . read/ See the #anyons $ro"en $y #louds . and . in the s"y ( !an ta"es a ro#"et
ship into the s"ies% )lassi# 2 ha>eQs"ies, ro#"ets, #louds, #anyons% ;oesn*t anyone hae a
na!eL There are neer any a#tual people in 2 songs, neer any #hara#ters% ?)o!pare 2
to the narratie spe#ifi#ity of Bo$ ;ylan or Bru#e Springsteen%@ This agueness drains 2*s
lyri#s of any #ontent/ .t is i!possi$le to think a$out a 2 song% <ne in#ludes depressing
lines li"e :e hurt ea#h otherO Then we do it again and Dou say loe is a te!ple% R Dou as"
!e to enterO But then you !a"e !e #rawlQyet this hasn*t stopped fans fro! turning it into
a Sept% 11 anthe!% .f it is politi#al !usi#, it is for the Bo$ Gerreys o f the world, for fol"s who
see! full of great, $ut totally in#hoate, ideas%
2*s !usi#Qespe#ially the -dge*s soaring guitarsQsupports this lyri#al agueness% Their
songs are gorgeous and !aesti#, $ut they produ#e only a single ?though wonderful@
e!otion/ a "ind of loely swelling of the soul% ?Cor a sa!ple of this in its purest for!, listen
to this snat#h of . Still 7aen*t Cound :hat .*! &oo"ing Cor%@
This is the 2 parado% Bono and )o% are #onstantly dedi#ating songs to spe#ifi# #auses,
ehorting their fans to thin" and a#t in the world% Det their !usi# does ea#tly the opposite
of what it intends% Politi#s is the pro#ess of #hanneling the heart into thought and a#tion%
2*s !usi# de#lares that the heart is all that !atters%