She's gonna make you cry, she's gonna make you whisper and moan.

[trinityofone]

So I was innocently scrolling through my friends list when my eyes slid past this post on u2 about U2 shows in Phoenix and Atlanta. Only--and I'm sure you can all see what's coming--I kinda misread the second part. "Wow!" I thought, "U2 is doing a show in Atlantis!"

Then I thought: "Now there's a crossover I secretly kind of want to really must never write."

And then I thought: "Actually, this may have already occurred because...


...John and Rodney have clearly snagged souvenir Bono glasses." (Cap by sdraevn.)

I amuse and frighten myself.

Speaking of U2 and me being frightening, yesterday wychwood asked for my Top Five U2 Songs as part of the Top Five Meme (for the record: "Lemon," "Out of Control," "One," "Until the End of the World," and "If You Wear That Velvet Dress" or "Drowning Man," depending on my mood), then reciprocated with her own. I immediately turned into a freak of nature: "But those are so conventional!" (Like "One" isn't?) "You need to hear more exotic U2, STAT!" When I resumed semi-normal breathing patterns, I offered to send her some stuff. Unfortunately, most of my U2 .mp3s are protected (yes, I know you can get around that, but it is a pain in the ass and I am lazy) so what follows is mostly whatever fell into the center of a Venn Diagram crossing "Stuff that wychwood doesn't already have" and "Stuff of trinityofone's that's unlocked." Of course, it also falls into a third category: "Stuff that is really, really awesome."

Race Against Time
A tense, moody instrumental piece from the "Where the Streets Have No Name" single. I used this in my SGA S1 Mix as the track for '38 Minutes.'

Outtake 2: Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Come
Another instrumental, this one from the "Unforgettable Fire" single. I have unholy love for the title, and the song is pretty damn cool, too.

Trash, Trampoline, and the Party Girl (Studio Version)
This song is probably best known for being performed live, but I really like the studio version. Also, I have been writing an SGA story titled after this baby for months *whimpers in the direction of monanotlisa*, so y'all should listen to it and send me good-progress vibes.

If You Wear That Velvet Dress (Live from Mexico City)
I always thought that the album version of this song (it's from the IMO underappreciated Pop) was pretty much the sexiest thing I had ever heard; then I listened to this. I'll wear that velvet dress for you, Bono! All you had to do was ask!

Out of Control
I love U2's later stuff, but there's something wonderful and innocent and perfect about the songs off their first album, 1980's Boy. Bono wrote the words to this song when he was 18. One day I'll die/The choice will not be mine/Will it be too late?/You can't fight fate. Best played REALLY LOUD.

Deep in the Heart
Bits of this rival "If You Wear That Velvet Dress" for sexiness. From the "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" single, its one drawback is that the lyrics are annoyingly heterosexual. Makes it difficult to use as the inspiration for McKay/Sheppard fic, darn it.

Until the End of the World (Live from Slane Castle)
To counter that, a really great live version of the best song ever about a gay Jesus. *eg*

Rejoice
Um, and to counter that, a song from October, the only U2 album that I find annoyingly preachy. Yet this song still has one of my favorite lyrics: I can't change the world/But I can change the world in me.

Night and Day (Steel Strings Remix)
...And then gay sex trumped religion once more with this cover of the classic Cole Porter song, one of the lustiest, lustful things I have ever heard. The longing in every word, every note...and of course the repression... *dies*

Stay (Faraway, So Close!) [Underdog Mix]
A funky/cool remix of one of my favorite songs. And another one that's all about yearning. Am I sensing a theme?

Drowning Man
Yup. I'll cross the sky for your love, Bono sings in this one and...oh, the hurt, it hurts so good.

Seconds
This, like "Drowning Man," is off the album War. Unlike "Drowning Man," Bono isn't singing: this is one of the three songs in which The Edge has lead vocals. (Quick! Name the other two! Win a cookie!) This is a great song for Sheppard, even without the little chirruping voices in the background singing, "I wanna be an Air Force Ranger! I wanna live a life of danger!"

Bad/Norwegian Wood (Live)
"Bad" has never been one of my favorite U2 songs, and the fact that stupid people *coughJJAbramscough* are always using it in romantic moments on their stupid shows *coughAliascough* even though it's about DRUGS, PEOPLE, DRUGS...well, in spite of all that, this version rocks, mostly because the little snippet of "Norwegian Wood" is just. too. cool.

So Cruel (Live Acoustic)
I've posted this before: a really eerie version of "So Cruel" that I think must come from a sound check or something--notice that they start over at the beginning. Ah, the weird stuff I used to pick up on Limewire before Trinity's stupid network cut me off from peer-to-peer sharing, *sob sob*

One (Live with Craig Armstrong)
Okay, "One" kills me because it is pretty much THE SONG of any ship I have ever shipped, including my own poor doomed OCs in The Novel. This version? Well, it kills me even more, because it is all the angst and pain of Achtung Baby-"One"--plus strings! *wibble*

Running to Stand Still (Live)
Another song that is about DRUGS, PEOPLE, DRUGS. But that is very pretty, nonetheless.

In God's Country (Live from Chicago)
Heh, I once quoted this song in a paper I wrote about Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf. See, 'cause he was arguing that the Irish were like Grendel lurking outside the warmth of England's Herot, and Grendel's supposed to be a descendent of Cain, and Bono sings I stand with the sons of Cain, and U2 is an Irish band and...okay, I can see why I only got a B on that one.

Spanish Eyes (Live)
Bono has this weird obsession with the concept of "Spanish Eyes"--it pops up in a number of songs, and I really have no idea what it means. But if it keeps him growling the likes of, And I need your love/More than you need me...well, then I am totally okay with that.

Mysterious Ways (Live from Paris)
I like this version of "Mysterious Ways" a lot, although I think it sacrifices some of the strength of The Edge's opening riff in favor of serpentine rhythm. The Achtung Baby original is better.

The Fly (Live from Paris)
From the same concert as the above, this is possibly the best live version of ANYTHING I have ever heard. EVER. The introduction: And love...shines like a burning star, falling from the sky tonight...well, it gives me chills. And hey, "The Fly" is a kick-ass song all on its own. If you download just one thing here, download this.

Staring at the Sun (Live)
I'm not sure where this version of this song is from, but I like how raw it is.

Elevation (Live from New York)
"Elevation" is far from my favorite song on All That You Can't Leave Behind, but it's FANTASTIC live, and this proves it.

Kite (Live from Slane Castle)
"Kite" is my favorite song on ATYCLB, and it's just as heart-wrenching in this format. Perhaps more so: Bono's story at the beginning about his dad and Edge's dad hanging out in New York? Aww. And also, *sniff*

Peace On Earth/Walk On (WTC Tribute)
I actually like the little bit of "Peace On Earth" at the beginning of this better than the rest, but I know wychwood really loves "Walk On," so...

The Wanderer (Walk the Line)
From the recent Johnny Cash tribute. This is a song that U2 wrote for Cash, and that he sang at the end of their album Zooropa. The Cash version is better (and it is THE song for The Dark Tower's Roland, or so I still insist...), but this is a fitting tribute.

Lemon (Live from Sydney)
Everything, all things, come back to "Lemon." A man dreams of leaving but he always stays behind...

ETA: And a .zip file of all of them, if you are so inclined.
ETA2: Fresh .zip file, 'cause the other one all ran out and stuff.

Enjoy! Please tell me if the links run out, and if you want to share your random thoughts about any of these songs or about U2 or music in general, I would looooooove that. Oh, and nenar and caseymae: I know I still owe you mixes. I am working on them. Hopefully some of this can help tide you over...

Comments

[birdsflying]

I don't suppose you could do a zip of those files? YSI always dies on me when I try and grab more than one file.

I love Kite. I have a live version from the Elevation tour dvd and it's always a song that makes me think of a dear friend that passed away. But, in a sort of happy way, you know?

Also, uh, would you know if U2 ever covered Radiohead's Creep? I have a file that claims to be them but uh, I am not sure 'cause I've also seen it cited as Tears for Fears, so.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I'll try to put together a .zip for you, but it may take a while because YSI always crashes my computer when I try to upload anything big. Bit of a Catch-22 we've got going here, eh?

"Kite," yeah. Such a bittersweet song--hope out of infinite sadness. I love it.

If that version of "Creep" is the one I've heard, the one that is ALWAYS circulating the internet, I can tell you for a fact that it is not U2. Or at least, it's not Bono singing, because whoever that guy is, he sounds nothing like him. Among other things, he speaks at the end and, um, is not Irish.

They do do a bar from it in the version of "Elevation" that I posted, however. *is tease* *goes to work on .zip*

[birdsflying]

Ahaha - the internet, she mocks us! :crosses fingers:

Yeah - I've been sitting here relistenng to it but, man - I suck at iding artists half the time and my copy has this weird sort of feedback riff at the end that kind of overrides the talking. :pokes the internet till they id the damn thing for me:

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

The .zip is up! And hopefully, it'll work.

If you want to send me your copy of "Creep," I can give you my "expert opinion." ;-)

[birdsflying]

Merci! I'm downloading now and here's the track I have. :g:

(argh. amazing how being on lj is not writing my law essay. argh. At least I have plenty of u2 to keep me going. :g:)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the one I've heard before, and yeah, in my expert opinion (writer not a licensed expert, some restrictions apply) that's definitely not them. It just sounds wrong. The guitar's too flat, the voice doesn't sound like Bono even when Bono is trying not to sound like Bono (have you ever heard "Dancin' Shoes"? Whoa), and the speaky bit at the end is definitely not Bono. The accent sounds...okay, I fail at being Henry Higgins, but still: NOT U2.

Er, not that I'd bet my life on it or anything. But I would bet, say, 100 bucks--and I am very poor.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of you when I saw those!

It's like that part of the episode was written for me! By my obsessions combined...!

And speaking of bands, where's that Atlantis band AU, huh?

I got intimidated when someone else wrote a boyband AU, and when I couldn't develop the slightest semblance of a plot. I will keep trying, though; and hey--if I can't fit leather pants!John into the band AU, I can totally slip it into "Evil and Gay," because...well, BtVS S2 springs to mind. *giggle*

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

Favorite All-Time U2 Song: Bad and off the Wide Awake In America EP, Bad-Live..I've had the pleasure of seeing this performed numerous times as well.

Love Love Running to Stand Still: Best Line

You've gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice.

And because I own pretty much everything they have ever done, I have a live version of them singing, "Maggie's Farm" as well.

To really list my all my favorites would take all day, between heartbreaking harmonica solos to those twangs of Edge's guitars, to the added lines of Bono when he sings With or Without You Live, I just really can't choose, but I can say that Bad is definitely my all time favorite and I do hold the fact that I've seen them so many times play these songs live as a major major gift.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I've only seen them live twice, and both times, it was transformative: the closest thing I've ever had to a religious experience.

"Running to Stand Still" is brilliant, and yeah, that line especially is incredible. Since I'm here in Dublin, I keep wanting to ask someone where the "seven towers" he talks about are, but I'm too embarrassed. ;-)

I hope you grabbed the version of "Bad" with the "Norwegian Wood" sample, because it's fantastic. I love how fluid they are when they perform live--the little extras and grace notes and lyric changes they slip in there. It's captivating.

I have a live version of them singing, "Maggie's Farm" as well.

!!! I have a LOT of stuff, but I don't have THAT. *hint, hint* *pleading, hopeful eyes*

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but that version is on vinyl, sorry, it's a great album too, tons of other artists on it as well, I believe it was a benefit concert.

Plus, I have the soundtrack that The Edge did for a movie as well.

I have pretty much everything they've ever done..other than the things that I've had signed by them, one of my most prized possessions is the 12' single of Where The Street Have No Name that has the original on only version that I really like-of The Sweetest Thing.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Darn! Well, it's still good to know it's out there--something to search for.

And yeah, Captive--that's great! So's the original "Sweetest Thing"--definitely more raw than the later version. But ooh, signed stuff... *is jealous* Did you actually meet any of them? I think...well, excuse my sounding like a 13-year-old girl, but I think I'd die. *g*

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

I found that completely by accident years ago..and yes, The Captive.

Yep, I have met them, had them sign a few things like covers of their albums and one of my ticket stubs. I have to tell you this, they are so SO nice, you have no idea. And kind of on the small side as well. *smile*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Hee, yes, I have heard that they are uniformly tiny. The curse of the Irish and all that. ;-)

Have you read U2 at the End of the World by Bill Flanagan (which, thanks to recent fannishness, now looks like it's spelled totally wrong)? It's my favorite book about them, and it makes me totally believe any and all reports about how nice they are. =)

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

I've read pretty much everything I could get my hands on about them. You should see some of my old Rolling Stone magazines that I have.

And believe me, they are that nice, Bono really takes the time and talks to you, but I can't single him out, they all are nice (sorry about having to use that word again, but it really does fit!*smile*)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I still think that if I met any of them--even just one at a time!--they'd have to deal with the tricky situation of me fainting--I mean, passing out. ;-) Though I survived my encounter with Joss Whedon, so maybe I'm doing better in my brushes with God-like figures. *g*

[inthekeyofd.livejournal.com]

You would think, but really, I'm sure you'd be fine, remember they are regular people with extrodinary jobs..that's it.

Plus, believe me, how can I put this, they are easy going and would put you totally at ease.

[slodwick.livejournal.com]

I thought you should know: every time I see that mood theme icon, I think Rodney has a cigarette in his hand, and my knees go a little wobbly.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh my God, that would be SO HOT. Too bad that Rodney would be, like, the last person on Earth to smoke--"Yeah, why don't I just staple the cancer directly to my lungs?" ...Maybe in his wild youth?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Heh. I hope so, though mostly it's just really random, 'cause like I said: too lazy to convert all the files. So this may just be "John Sheppard eating a powerbar" level of dorky-cool. ;-) But I'll try to put together a REAL bestbestbest-of sometime soon, and in the mean time, I hope you enjoy it.

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

Ahahahaha I'm so glad it wasn't just me who went "BONO GLASSES!" at that. :D And thankyou so much for the music - shiny live stuff that I don't have! Squee!

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Shiny live stuff is the BEST! Sigh, I miss Limewire and my weekly hunts...

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I should totally make you a Volume Two sometime soon. *adds to list*

[caseymae.livejournal.com]

Yay! I've been meaning to get to know U2, and now I have no excuse not to. :D

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

You're right, no one has an excuse not to know U2! (Erm, except maybe deafness.) Although I'm sad to admit that this will provide a very haphazard introduction. I'll try to do you one better soon, or maybe you could borrow the starter CD I made for tzeentch...

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

*mmms* U2! I love U2. I think my favorite would have to be City of Blinding Lights though, and if you do not have that, you must TELL ME so that I can upload. *g*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have everything. *is modest* Seriously, though: in Los Angeles, I have hard copies of all their albums (except for War...my copy ran away at some point) and a lot of random singles and stuff besides; here, I have .mp3s of everything, I'm just limited by the fact that a lot of them are from the iTunes Store, and thus locked, and thus difficult to share. But I do have and LOVE "City of Blinding Lights"--have you seen it live? The soaring guitar and confetti raining down and lights, yes, blinding, beautiful lights...I finally got what all those scary religious people must be on about. It was like touching God.

See? I am a frightening, frightening person.

However, I am a frightening person with a LOT of .mp3s, so if there's anything you'd particularly like, it wouldn't be that difficult for me to make it available to you. Share the JesusBonoLove, and all that. ;-)

[wychwood]

Oh, how cool! *downloads whole zip file* I will listen to these properly later on.

I have a post part-finished about U2 and religion in their songs - Until the End of the World is definitely in there *g*.

And thank you for the thoughts. I shall definitely bear them in mind while I listen. (As penance, I spent all day listening to The Unforgettable Fire, and while I still haven't really picked out any specific songs, I love the sound of the whole album.)

(oh, minor note: The Wanderer? I first listened to Zooropa on the day you linked to those uploaded Johnny Cash tracks, and was actually downloading them when The Wanderer started playing. I was so confused! But, but, the Johnny Cash is here, and that's supposed to be U2 there, but... It was nearly as bad as the time I put my Coldplay album on while I was in the lab, and "Clocks" turned out to sound, um, astonishingly like Aerosmith singing "Dude Looks Like A Lady".)

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I have a post part-finished about U2 and religion in their songs - Until the End of the World is definitely in there *g*.

I can't wait to read this. I mean, I'm in an interesting position--an atheist who ADORES a band that, while not a Religious Band, is still a religious band. Mostly I think I end up just Not Getting It--I thought, and still pretty much think, that "All Because of You" is about a woman, until a magazine reviewer told me otherwise. But then there are the really intriguing things like the constant references to kneeling (especially on HTDAAB--listen for them!), making a great deal of their work feel like an odd mixture of religious devotion and oral sex. And then there's Zooropa's "And I have no religion," and of course, "Until the End of the World"... Anyway, I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

I have moods that are definitely Unforgettable Fire moods. As for individual songs, I think the title track and "Promenade" are my favorites.

And ha, music is on a mission to drive you insane! But isn't "The Wanderer" fantastic? *chills* *major chills* *every time*

[violin-road.livejournal.com]

... Okay so unrelatedly, I don't know if you've seen this (if you made a big post, uh, I'm a moron?), but I ran across a What is your daemon? (http://quizilla.com/users/wolfcaroling/quizzes/What%20Is%20Your%20Daemon%3F/) quiz today. Which, I'm sure there are several of these floating around, but the insights into, er, certain characters we're fond of, made me giggle.



Your daemon may be a mouse. You keep your self hidden away, not because you are ashamed of it, but because you are afraid the world may not understand it, and may hurt it. Isn't it strange how people can be so cruel to such a small and helpless creature? You want to keep that very inner part of your psyche private and close to you, perhaps in your shirt pocket, next to your heart.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I have seen that, but I got a dog and was like, "Um. No." and also, "lame." But you got a mouse! A little Tyk-mouse! OMG, that is so so perfect! *is kind of jealous of you*

[violin-road.livejournal.com]

Oh, hee, no. The mouse description just made me giggle! I actually got a cat, which was unsurprising, as, well. I tend to ;)

[barely-bean.livejournal.com]

oh my gosh, I heart you. Also, now I'm totally picturing the Edge on Atlantis, hanging out with John and Rodney. U2 was my big look forward to it all year event last year, cause I finally got to see them in concert and it was like the best thing ever. I was with one of my best friends, and I remember at the end of it turning to her and going, "you know I get it now. I get why people would quit their jobs and just follow a band around." ♥

[barely-bean.livejournal.com]

also the link went dead. *sniffs*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Grr, it took me like THREE TRIES, but I think the new .zip I have up should be working now. Enjoy! And I totally know what you mean: I would quit my job in a second if it could mean trailing all around the world after U2. Y'know, if I had one. ;-)

[corinna-5.livejournal.com]

If I can name one other Edge-lead-vocal song (Van Diemen's Land) but not the second, do I win half a prize?

Thanks for this - I'm not as big a fan of later U2 as I am of their early stuff, so it's nice to have someone else point me to the best stuff. *g*

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Hey, you're the only person who answered at all, so as far as I'm concerned: full non-existent prize for you! (And the other one's "Numb," BTW. *shows off*)

I hope you enjoyed the tracks. They're far from a guide to the best stuff, however--much more a haphazard assortment. Still: fun, I hope! And maybe soon I should put together a real best-of guide...

[(Anonymous)]

Just wanted to say thanks. I hadn't listened to U2 in awhile and I forgot how great they are.

Syb