Nicholas J.FonsecaSalt Lake Community

CollegeMusic 1010 Introduction

to MusicFall 2011

“One’s View of the Band U2”

4 Piece Ensemble:

Biography Originated in Dublin Ireland

Late September of 1976 Larry Mullen Jr. post a notice on the bulletin board of Mount Temple Comprehensive School searching for musicians for band.

Paul Hewson (Bono), David (Edge) Evens, Dick Evens, Adam Clayton, Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin all responded

The first rehearsal was held at Larry’s house in a small kitchen

Dick Evens, Ivan McCormick, and Peter martin would soon phase themselves away from the band for various reasons

Bands original name was “Feedback”

They would play simple pop cover songs

Biography (cont.) At of the end of the semester the band would perform in school talent show to

a positive ovation.

After being swept by the influence of early European punk music the band changed the name to “The Hype”

The final name of “U2” was given by a family elder who thought of the name moments before purchasing posters flyers, and promotion items

The pivotal performance at a St. Patrick's Day of 1978 lead the band to signing a record deal with CBS Ireland

The band would soar the the charts in Ireland

1980 Signed a international distribution deal with Island records

Exceptional tours, stage presence, and imagery

Larry Mullen Jr.• Drummer and Originator of the

band

• Non athletic and not a scholar

• Found passion in the arts and music

• Mother was an exceptional piano player but music was not a staple of his home

• Started playing drums at age nine

• Personal financed his first percussion lessons

Paul “ Bono” Hewson• Lead Vocalist

• Spent early years without a mother passing in his early adolescence

• Mother was a Protestant Father was Catholic

• Was also a talented and popular guitarist

• Drew his singing style from gospel, soul, and blues music Genres.

David “Edge” Evens• Lead Electric Guitarist

• Welsh in ethnicity

• Father was an electrical engineer

• Enjoyed classical welsh traditions including dinging, rugby, and attending church

• Frugal Family not fashionably dressed

• His Parents lived in the same home for forty years

• Received his first guitar at seven years old

• Was inspired musically by his parents record collection

Adam Clayton• Bass Guitarist

• First child with three sisters

• Father was a commercial airline pilot

• Surrounded by music instruments, music, radios, and reel to reels

• Middle class family

• Lived in Kenya and Ireland

Discography: “Boy” (1980),”October” (1981)

“War” (1983)

“The Unforgettable Fire” (1984)

“The Joshua Tree” (1987)

“Rattle and Hum” (1988)

Discography ( Cont.) Achtung Baby” (1991)

Zooropa” (1993)

” Pop” (1997)

“All That You Can't Leave Behind” (2000)

“How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” (2004)

“No Line on the Horizon” (2009)

Hit Singles:• "With or Without You"• "I still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"• "Desire"• "Angel of Harlem"• "When Love Comes to Town"• "The Fly"• "Mysterious Ways"• "One"• "Even Better Than the Real Thing"• "Who’s Going to Ride Your Wild Horses"• "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"• “Discotheque"• "Staring at the Sun"• "Vertigo"

Tours:• 1979-1980 U2-3Tour• 1980 11 O’clock Tour

• 1980-1980 Boy Tour• 1981-1982 October Tour• 1982-1983 War Tour• 1984-1985 The

Unforgettable Tour

• 1986 A Conspiracy of Hope

Tour• 1987 The Joshua Tree

Tour• 1989-1990 Lovetown Tour• 1992-1993 Zoo TV Tour• 1997-1998 PopMart Tour• 2001 Elevation Tour• 2005-2006 Vertigo Tour• 2009-2011 U2 360 Tour

Influences:• The Who• The Clash• Ramones• The Beatles• Elvis Presley• Johnny Cash • Green Day, Bruce Springsteen • B.B. King• Bob Dylan

Awards Won: 8 BRIT Awards

6 M.T.V. Video Music Awards

10 Q Awards

12 Pollstar Awards

3 Juno Awards

1 Billboard Award

Awards Won: (Cont.) 1 American Music Award

15 Meteor Ireland Music Awards

3 N.M.E Awards

1 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award

1 Golden Globe Award

2 World Music Awards and 1 People's Choice Award

Legacy:• Over 150 Million records sold

• 12 Studio Albums

• 8 Live Albums

• 56 singles

• 8 extended plays

Listening Guide Song 1:

“I Still haven't Found What I am Looking For”Album: “The Joshua Tree”

The album consisted of a heavy hitting sound and precise song structures. The album would win a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with the hit record . The song was inspired by the bands fascination with American life style and culture. In May of 1987, it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts .

The record’s theme was a variation of vocal registers and range. The main guitar melody utilized arpeggio and the rhythm was defined by a unique drum pattern, which seems to carry the rest of the instruments in the song. The songs classical soul melody and melodic guitar overdubs allowed for the lead vocalist to sing in high octaves and implement heavy background vocals.

Listening Guide (cont.):

00:00 Intro: The song starts off with an electric guitar playing arpeggio lightly as a tom-tom and a tambourine play softy on every count in rear. A unique drum pattern in repeated throughout the song.

00:17: Snare drum is added w a kick bass drum to mimic the percussion. They slowly blend in melodically with the lead guitar. Vintage Guitar sound.

00:26: Lead vocals come in with a powerful and soulful falsetto as the rhythm continues to repeat in rear

00:38: As vocals state, “only to be with you” the guitar fallows the main melody

00:59: As vocals state, “only to be with you” the guitar fallows the main melody

01:12 Chorus 1: Synthesizer plays electronic melody in rear

Listening Guide (cont.) :01:24: Verse 2: Beat repeats as crispy vocals harmonize. Lead guitar plays

arpeggio as the music ascends in pitch .01:43: Synthesizer playing the strings section with an electronic effect . A

classical slide guitar gives the song a country folk sound.02:03: Chorus 2: Synthesizer plays electronic melody lightly in rear.02:21 Bridge: No Vocals. A jam session with the electric and slide guitar.

Pitch variation.02:44 Verse3: Percussion increases in strength as background vocals

increase in volume and thickness.

Listening Guide (cont.) :03:23 Chorus 3 : Synthesizer plays electronic melody lightly in rear..03:41 Repeat of Chorus with full background ensemble with choir04:03 Outro: Lead guitar and symbols are added to give it a clap like

anthem in texture. Simple bass line brings familiarity expressed in pop song structure. Simple bass line and kick drum

04:20 Music starts to ascend and fade out or away.04:28 Sound comes to a sudden and abrupt end.

Listening Guide Song 2:

“It’s a Beautiful Day”Album: “All That you Can’t Leave Behind”

Released as the album's lead single the song helped launch the album to multi-platinum status. In 2001, the song won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Listening Guide (cont.):

00:00 Intro: A reverberating electric piano playing over a string synthesizer sound. Vintage electric guitar tone.

00:13: Verse 1: Vocals are in the front in face, crisp and dry production and mix. Lead guitar electric guitar with simple percussion. Simple meter.

00:29: A guitar arpeggio pattern first appears with an echoing reverb affect.

00:57: Chorus 1: Vocals are sung in a raspy and restrained texture with an added echo affect mimicking the guitar. Vocals are sustained at the singing of the word “Day”

01:10 Verse 2: Vocals are in front , crisp and clear. Repeat of music from verse 1 resonating with the listener.

01:38: Chorus 2: Vocals are smoothly delivered with emotion and soul.

Listening Guide (cont.):

01:53: Bridge 1: Heightening the track's emotion with a unique guitar arpeggio. Ascending in tone and building up.

02:07: Bridge continued: Vocals Silence. A guitar solo as drums move up in front with pitch change. Synthesizer is added playing an ambient melody proving more build up.

02:15: Verse 3: Guitar and percussion come to silence as a synthesizers playing ambient wood wind sound.

02:28: Percussion slowly ascends in the rear gradually increase in pitch. Thick texture.

02:43: Breakdown. A complete silence of all musical instruments as vocalist holds vocal notes with an echo affect over lapping main vocals.

02:50: Chorus 3: Vocals are smoothly delivers with emotion repeat of chorus 1 for listener familiarity.

03:06 Bridge 2: Heightening the tracks emotion with unique guitar arpeggio.

Listening Guide (cont.):

03:30: Electric guitar plays definitive melody loud in front with percussion in rear.

03:32 Repeat of the phrase” It’s a beautiful day” electric guitar with vintage sound play loudly with a catchy easy to swallow melody and chord. Creating an inspiration anthem like theme and texture. Played in major.

03:46: An abrupt stop of all instruments except for a Spanish guitar solo playing a melodic chord and riff until ending with an abnormal sound effect and guitar peddle distortion resembling electronic interference.

Listening Guide Song 3:

“Sometimes you Cant make it on your Own”Album: “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb ”

As the third track from their 2004 album, the song would go onto to winning Grammy Awards for "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" and "Song of the Year

Listening Guide (cont.):00:00 Intro: A vague low pitched tapping sound, a drum stick in the side of

the rime of a snare drum steady on simple duple meter. Percussion brushes play against snare head and symbol. An electric guitar plays a simple and catchy riff, chord, and melody. Heavy bass guitar line.

0:23 Verse 1: A capella vocals. Powerful but settle.00:36 Background vocals come in lightly and overlap and blend to build

harmony00:42 Light settle intro of acoustic guitar ascends lightly in rear.01:03: Chorus 1: High in vocal range mainly in soprano octave with layers

of background vocals on same pitch. Electric guitar riffs and settle simple duple meter percussion rhythm with kick and snare drum.

Listening Guide (cont.) :01:43 Verse 2: a guitar plays a simple chord and on two counts per bar.

Repetition and pitch variations are implemented emulating a mimicking affect. Vocals match the tone and theme of the first verse.

02:20 Chorus 2: High in range of vocals mainly is soprano octave with layers backup vocals on same pitch. Electric guitar riff and settle percussion with kick and snare drums.

03:00 Bridge: An entirely new version of a guitar solo louder in pitch and heavier in volume. Bass guitar and drums all ascend making for a climactic texture. Vocals are high in pitch, powerful, and soulful.

03:18 Verse 3: High pitch singing with power and soul. Tenor with Raspy texture 03:55 Chorus 3: High in range of vocals mainly is soprano octave with layers

backup vocals on same pitch. Electric guitar riff and settle percussion with kick and snare drums.

04:14 Repeat chorus as lead guitar repeats riff, percussion repeats rhythm, and bass guitar repeats riff.

BibliographyEntertainment, Live Nation, Timeline:U2 2011. 1 October 2011http://www.u2.com/timeline.-.U2.com.2011 1 October 2011 http://www.u2.com/discography.McCormick, Neil. U2 by U2. Hammersmith, London: HarperCollinsPublishers,2006.