For the month of October, I’m selecting a song each day from the decade that has the most meaning to me: the 80s. It was the decade that I grew up in. The period of time where I discovered my love for music — and explored many different genres. For the next 31 days, I’ll highlight a handful of songs that I truly loved and that were representative of the decade. #31DaysOf80sSongs
From their inception through the 90s, much of U2’s catalog was dominated by Bono’s belting vocals and The Edge’s chiming timbres. For most bands, that would’ve been far more than enough. But U2 has always seemed to have to live up to impossibly higher expectations. Say what you will about them, but few bands have been as prolific as they’ve been. There have been a few misses, but the overall output is impressive. And on a couple of occasions it seemed like all four band members were firing on all cylinders. A true force to be reckoned with. It didn’t happen often, but when it did it was beautiful. Like on “Two Hearts Beat As One”.
One of the first instruments that I notice on any song is the bass. But for decades, many have said Adam Clayton was the weak link in the band. Musically, the bass often drives a song. But on many U2 tracks, he seems to take a back seat. Larry’s drums guide what he plays and The Edge’s chords tell him where to go. But on War, we saw some of his most ambitious playing, most notably on “New Year’s Day” and on “Two Hearts”, where he drives the songs with this muscular aggression and urgency. Next, factor in Larry’s relentless barrage on the snares, The Edge’s signature sixteenth-note grating and Bono being, well, Bono. And there we have one of the most powerful ensemble performances in the band’s history.
“I don't know my right from left. Or my right from wrong.”