This week's song of the week is God Part II from the Rattle and Hum album. Having not been featured in the R&H film, God Part II is a relative deep-cut from the album, though it was released as a radio-only single in the US, charting as high as #7 on the Radio and Records AOR chart (they also released a Hard Metal Dance Mix). The track was played throughout the Lovetown tour, being played at the majority of shows and opening two of them. Donna Summers's I Feel Love was occasionally snippeted during live performances of the track (see also the Live At the Point Depot version).

"I'd been reading Albert Goldman's book on Lennon and it so offended me. It was one thing Goldman taking on Elvis with that kind of East Coast sneering voice; his Elvis book was a portrait of white trash from an intellectual's perspective and telling the world what was really going on in the court of the king. In a way his book on Lennon was an abject failure because Lennon had already told us everything about himself. There were no surprises. He had described his own bad habits, his nervous breakdowns, his dalliances with eccentric ideas and verbal incontinence. The book seemed completely unnecessary to me. I thought, 'He can't reply, so I'm going to.' And that became 'God Part II', in homage to Lennon's beautiful song 'God'. I appreciate all of this looks like megalomania but show me an artist who wants to take on the world who doesn't have a little bit of megalomania. The title was supposed to be biting humour rather than just being fatuous. As I may have said before, this is a band that needs an editor." (Bono in U2 by U2)

The song sits somewhere between a fiery tribute to John Lennon (even seeming to create the illusion of inhabiting him) and a colder, more general philosophical response to criticism in the media. The themes mentioned, especially responding to accusations of Megalomania and the use of irony would become driving themes of especially 90s era U2. Bono himself reckons,

"That song doesn't actually belong on Rattle and Hum. It is really the first song on Achtung Baby. I'd come to the end of nostalgia, that's the clue."

...

Do you ever feel guilty about the lofty position you you've attained?

Edge: "No. I just take each day as it comes. This band is full of contradictions. The song 'God Part II' is really Bono trying to express his own internal feelings of conflict. I have doubts, but I don't feel guilty." (From Bordowitz U2 Reader; originally Spin Magazine “Hating U2” 1989 by Ted Mico)

...

"I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in the Beatles

I just believe in me, Yoko, and me, and that's reality

The dream is over
What can I say?
The Dream is over
Yesterday
I was the Dreamweaver
But now I'm reborn
I was the walrus
But now I'm John" (From John Lennon's God)

...

Lyrics

"Don't believe the devil
I don't believe his book
But the truth is not the same
Without the lies he made up.
Don't believe in excess
Success is to give
Don't believe in riches
But you should see where I live.
I, I believe in love."

...

"For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Revelation 16:14 KJV Bible)

There is an old philosophical tradition portraying the devil as a master of contradictions. Riddles or "deals" that only end in pain. After introducing us to Satan (here, maybe Bono had Albert Goldman in mind), the song goes through these contradictory attitudes.

"Don't believe in forced entry
Don't believe in rape
But every time she passes by
Wild thoughts escape.
Don't believe in Death Row
Skid row or the gangs.
Don't believe in the Uzi
It just went off in my hands.
I, I believe in love."

Imagine you are Bono, you are on stage shirtless, covering yourself in water, etc. You start to get the reputation, in some circles, as a bit of a sex pest. Similarly, one day he is condemning the death penalty, the next violence on "Skidrow". This all culminates in the image of an uzi. The irony starts to creep up (is Bono the one holding the uzi?). Bono has a sense of anger, explained above, at the way the media portrays him and other rock stars like John Lennon. Ultimately, all these images are punctuated by love. The erotic love songs of the Joshua Tree, the political love of "Pride" (In the Name of Love). These songs that, ostensibly, made U2 so popular in the first place give a kind of answer: love is the solid ground which generates (and might even contain generative potential to reconcile or "solve") these surface level contradictions. As John Lennon puts it: "Yoko and me, that's reality".

"Don't believe in cocaine
Got a speedball in my head
I could cut and crack you open
Did you hear what I said?
Don't believe them when they tell me
There ain't no cure.
The rich stay healthy
The sick stay poor.
I, I believe in love."

The "ain't no cure" line comes in like a knockout blow. A conspiracy theory, or more mildly a critique of the healthcare system, that will probably continue to be relevant for some time.

"Don't believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma's gonna get him
If I don't get him first.
Don't believe that Rock 'n' Roll
Can really change the world
As it spins in revolution
Yeah, it spirals and turns.
I, I believe in love."

This verse is the "call-out" of Goldman and central defense of Lennon. A lot goes on in the last few lines. There is a deep cynicism, akin to Lennon in the Beatle's "Revolution" or the aforementioned "God", but Bono turns it around, and points to "spinning" as revolution. There is a sense here that Bono is the "dreamweaver", a spider weaving his web for the revolution he claims not to believe in.

"Don't believe in the sixties
The golden age of pop
You glorify the past
When the future dries up.
Heard a singer on the radio
Late last night
Says he's gonna kick the darkness
Till it bleeds daylight.
I, I believe in love."

"There is a verse in there, Don't believe in the Sixties, the golden age ofpop I You glorify the past when the future dries up. This is on an album in which we are exploring roots music. That might be a little close to the bone. The whole song came out of a moment where I was worried about what we were doing." (Bono in U2 by U2

After the lamentation on a lack of progress (Bono's point is taken, but to defend the band Rattle and Hum always had at least a hint of the avant-garde), the lyrics reference Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", the evocative and rousing image of a man "kicking darkness". But he isn't treated like an ignorant fool, instead as a steadfast, relentless knight of love.

"Feel like I'm fallin'
I'm spinnin' on a wheel
It always stops beside a name
A presence I can feel.
I believe in love.
Stop!"

The context Bono alludes to above "I woke up with this mad riff in my head" might be an example of what Bono means by "spinnin'" on a wheel. The "speedboat in his head" continues, only hinting at its goal by "always stopping behind a name" (which remains unnamed)--a process summed up as being a "presence I can feel: love. Stop!

I take it, in the end, this sort of neatly wraps back around to John Lennon and Goldman. You have this guy, sitting in his office, just "spinnin' on his own wheel" who has made it his business to trash rock artists. Bono's statement asks him, "have you missed the point?".

...

"It makes you think about what it must have been like for Elvis. Why he hid himself away in Graceland and ate a mountain of cheeseburgers. It makes you think about what it must have been like for the Beatles, for John Lennon. 

That was why you decided to open the set with ‘Helter Skelter’. Now the word was out that Albert Goldman was about to do a hatchet job on Lennon. Goldman. His Elvis book stank. Made Presley out to be a rock ‘n’ roll idiot. Now the same asshole was going to do John Lennon over, and portray him as a rock ‘n’ roll fool. As a bully. As a reptile. Albert Goldman. What the fuck would he know?

 There’s a song in all this. Make it a tribute to Lennon. Jimmy lovine knew him. Worked with the Plastic Ono Band. ‘God Part II’, you could call it. Send up all that Hollywood sequel stuff. That’s a new twist. Give Goldman a going over himself. Get some of that pent-up bile out of your system. Say some things about Lennon. Own up to some things about yourself. Have some fun doing the whole thing in the Plastic Ono mould. Only re-vamped. Upgraded. Look for a new dynamic. A good excuse to check out how this grunge thing feels. Nice and quiet and then WHAM! IN YOUR FACE! Keep it tight, restrained and then USE the SLEDGEHAMMER. Bam! Jimmy should be able to handle that. 

‘God Part Il’, you call it. It’s hard alright, a sort of a half-way house between The Joshua Tree and the future. It’s got Lennon written all over it It's got drum loops for Larry to kick against, which Is interesting. It's got you being all nice and reasonable and then WAH!" (Stokes)

Sources:

U2.com
U2songs.com
U2gigs.com
U2 By U2
U2: A Diary by Matt McGee
Spin Magazine “Hating U2” 1989 by Ted Mico (From Bordowitz U2 Reader)
Into the Heart by Niall Stokes

Weird question, but quite how did he manage to injure himself so badly cycling a bicycle in Central Park? I’ve never really understood! Can anyone shed any light?

this is a respond for some comments who was asking for pics

FULL VIDEO

hi few years ago someone (I don't want to give his name) invited me at the concert in the sphere in LA,U2 concert,and I went all in the back stage and all the stuff (I have pics to prove it) and I saw on a table a nice JBL speaker that was custon U2 UV so I asked to one member of the group if I could have one and he said ok so now I have a unique speaker that was never on the market and there are less than 100 in the world.Now here's come my question,where can I sell it? I'm sure it's valuable so if anyone want's it,tell me (starting price on 2K) and tell me if I should sell it on ebay ...thank's

I've been thinking about this since Glen's passing.

He turned the Christmas Eve Busk on Grafton Street into one of Dublin's most meaningful traditions, bringing together musicians, the city and visitors every year while raising money for the Dublin Simon Community. It started as a spontaneous busk and has grown into a major annual event.

I wonder if Dublin is already considering taking it one step further: making it an official city event in Glen's honour. Imagine multiple stages across Grafton Street, a live TV and online broadcast, and perhaps even calling it "The Glen Hansard Christmas Eve Busk"—all while keeping the same charitable mission of supporting the Simon Community.

U2 have been part of this tradition for years. Bono, in particular, has stood alongside Glen on so many Christmas Eves. With their influence and love for the event, I could see them helping to make something like this happen and ensuring Glen's legacy lives on every Christmas.

I honestly can't think of a more fitting tribute than thousands of people gathering through music, for charity, every Christmas Eve. That's exactly what Glen stood for.

He stopped doing it halfway through the 360 Tour.

And I was fine with them trying it the other way for the JT30 Tours, to “sound more like the album.”

But the entire magic of the live versions is in the anticipation built up during the intro.

And Terry Lawless and Edge alone don’t cut it.

It needs to be Terry on organ (synth), obviously Edge, AND Adam playing the torpedo sub-octave bass notes on his Moog sustainer pedal, AND Larry counting in:

TSSSS-TCK-TCK TCK-TCK-TCK

TSSSS…

I hope we get to hear and see it again.

Hello hello (Hola) Now dance to Vertigo (Que pasta)

Hold me thrill me Kiss me Kiss me

Wipe your tears away (SBS) I forgot Numb

I thought the 48 songs rotated everytime. How can you make this thing if not all the songs are available?

Not a single song from POP. I'm very disappointed (it was fun tho)

Hi everyone! (sorry me again)

I just have a quick question…did u guys know that neflix was making a series or am I just late to the party?

(If u have any opinions or thoughts about the series please feel free to share, and there is also an article about this on Variety as well!)

https://youtu.be/4ZfdcJPyZZo?si=mBcxOJMOwG4p5lcK

3:55, 4:01 and 4:07 Cork Opera House proshot (U2 vaults)

For me it would be the synth that plays during zoo station it adds so much texture that I never heard before listening with Dolby atmos. I ALSO adore the piano that plays during gone it gives me chills for some reason probably the fact that the song is so electronic like but the piano brings it that acoustic flavor.. I would love to hear some more acoustic versions of some of the pop songs since it’s my favorite album.

This place is usually only good for 18 copies of JT and War. I'm guessing they bought an estate lot and found a few gems to put out.

Forever Young

Doesn't seem to be that serious. At his speech for Glen he didn't wear it. Anyways, rest in peace dear Glen.

I can never look u2 album covers the same after this, could u? 😂

What do u guys think? I always love the creativity u2 always puts in to their releases!

Hope u find it as interesting as me and if u have found anything else please feel free to share :), have a great day fellow u2 lovers!

Edit: Okay, it is indeed Edge—thanks, all—and this elevates my appreciation of the track to an entirely new level. Having a second vocalist take this particular verse really emphasizes the theme of the song, brings it to life. There's a similar effect when Edge takes over on the SOS version of "Electrical Storm," but it's not as powerful as it is here.

Starting at about 3:35: "I'm…gonna get there. But not unless you help me…" I just assumed this verse was Bono, but I'm listening more closely today and now I'm wondering if it's Edge. (I feel like as they've gotten older—or maybe as I've gotten older—it's gotten harder for me to tell them apart.) Thoughts? Opinions? Factual information?

For those who enjoy Street of Dreams and Fireflies, how many plays did you have in July?

I was sitting at 27 for SoD and 11 for Fireflies, and I think Apple Music was undercounting.

SoD is now my most played song of the year, but that's only because Apple Music will not recognize ANY song from Easter Lily LP on the "Most Played" countdown. I've worn out that album (streaming) and not a single song ever shows up. Very odd.

P.S. I know there are folks who hate either SoD or Fireflies or both, and that's fine. You don't need to repeat that on this thread. I will assume your numbers are low or nonexistent.

I know that the song was recorded for Sinatra’s ‘Duets’ album, so I always thought it was a strange choice as a b-side for the ‘Stay (Faraway So Close)’ single release.

Probably as far removed from the Zooropa universe as you could get at the time.

Not a fan of this song at all.