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U2: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song
Esteemed music and current affairs journalist Niall Stokes has drawn together original and revealing interviews both with band members and the key people closest to them to examine U2's thirty-year history. The book explores the background behind every song written by U2, and includes a full analysis of the band's long-awaited 2009 album, 'No Line on the Horizon'. U2 remains in every sense a world class rock 'n' roll band, and this book takes you into the heart of the group, revealing the inspirations behind the music that has brought them such enduring popularity.
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 20, 2015
U2 is my favourite band and I was looking for a deeper meaning of their songs, but this book does not do justice to that. It does not provide the meaning and story of each song, although it does provide a little understanding for some of them. The book gives some information on what the band was doing at that time each song was being written and recorded and what kind of a phase the band was going through while producing the albums.
It does not provide much insight into Bono's mind. The author does gives a kind of an outline as to how each album was born and why the music of U2 changes so much from one album to another.
I think the great U2 book that describes the band and its music still needs to be written.
It does not provide much insight into Bono's mind. The author does gives a kind of an outline as to how each album was born and why the music of U2 changes so much from one album to another.
I think the great U2 book that describes the band and its music still needs to be written.
July 6, 2023
This book uses a lot of words to say very little.
August 17, 2023
This book is like reading a Tiger Beat about my favorite band, complete with fun photos, silly captions, and interesting anecdotes about each song and album. This will be a great reference to revisit throughout the years about U2's albums up to Zooropa.
July 22, 2019
Para todo fan de U2, este es vuestro libro.
For every U2 fan out there, this is your book.
For every U2 fan out there, this is your book.
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May 24, 2011Read it again whilst listening to U2's entire canon for another paper...a useful resource from a close and long-time associate of the band.
April 19, 2024
Интересная и познавательная книга
December 21, 2022
I was reading this book in edition published in 2001 or 2005. Although it was just parts I found in Internet. This book - the latest edition which already included No Line On The Horizon. Most of songs meanings I know from U2 by U2, but it's very interesting to read about each song anyway. Because usually it's hard to understand the meaning of songs lyrics if Bono didn't tell himself what they were about. For example a line from "City Of The Blinding Lights": "Oh you look so beautiful tonight / In the city of blinding lights" is about public who come to concerts and how look in the searchlights. Also the books is good, because it has thematic photos to almost all songs.
May 24, 2018
Fun read. Each story, song brings to life something different. Especially addressed the writing process, editing, and how songs are born.
March 14, 2020
A história por trás de todas as músicas do U2. De fãs pra fãs!
May 7, 2022
Too long. Really heavy book. Mostly Bono and Ali songs…
July 12, 2025
Loved getting the backstory to the songs, I've since bought a smaller updated version of this book.
September 15, 2014
I would give this 2.5 stars if they had that rating.
As a long-time U2 fan I'd always wanted to read this book and was lucky enough to receive it as a
Christmas gift. But once I started it I couldn't keep reading it. It took a concerted effort 8 months after starting it just to finish it.
The mostly one page 'stories' of each song are not that most of the time. They are more of an essay about the song rather than what is about and includes lots of personal comments from the author about his feelings about it. I would have preferred a much more factual account of each of them rather than this. I still love U2 and there is the occasional interesting story but this was not worth the time it took to slog thru it.
As a long-time U2 fan I'd always wanted to read this book and was lucky enough to receive it as a
Christmas gift. But once I started it I couldn't keep reading it. It took a concerted effort 8 months after starting it just to finish it.
The mostly one page 'stories' of each song are not that most of the time. They are more of an essay about the song rather than what is about and includes lots of personal comments from the author about his feelings about it. I would have preferred a much more factual account of each of them rather than this. I still love U2 and there is the occasional interesting story but this was not worth the time it took to slog thru it.
August 17, 2015
A Brief Anecdotal History of How U2 Wrote Their Catalog of Songs
While this certainly isn't an exhaustive insight into U2's writing process; it is still an interesting peek behind the curtain. Some songs get a lengthier treatment than others; and at times the author is more dedicated to serving his own political views than the songs he is writing about. As a document, this book stands as more of a series of captions in the U2 family photo album; as there is nary a criticism leveled at the latter career missteps of the 'Pop' album and the weaker points of the 'No Line' album. At any rate, true U2 fans will be appreciative of Stokes' overall efforts.
While this certainly isn't an exhaustive insight into U2's writing process; it is still an interesting peek behind the curtain. Some songs get a lengthier treatment than others; and at times the author is more dedicated to serving his own political views than the songs he is writing about. As a document, this book stands as more of a series of captions in the U2 family photo album; as there is nary a criticism leveled at the latter career missteps of the 'Pop' album and the weaker points of the 'No Line' album. At any rate, true U2 fans will be appreciative of Stokes' overall efforts.
October 3, 2015
love these kinds of books. What inspires a writer? What is that song really about?
This book answers a lot of that. I don't know every U2 song so here so there were parts I just skipped. I did look up some songs because the story sounded interesting. When it came to songs I knew, the story was thorough and told me what I wanted. There is little from the actual band in the book. The meanings come from associates but I don't have a reason to doubt them.
If you saw my twitter page this week, it's all U2 songs. I enjoyed the book so much that it made me look up the band again.
This book answers a lot of that. I don't know every U2 song so here so there were parts I just skipped. I did look up some songs because the story sounded interesting. When it came to songs I knew, the story was thorough and told me what I wanted. There is little from the actual band in the book. The meanings come from associates but I don't have a reason to doubt them.
If you saw my twitter page this week, it's all U2 songs. I enjoyed the book so much that it made me look up the band again.
July 13, 2011
This was a pretty fast read for me, read primarily on the way to see my 8th U2 concert. As I read it quite quickly, many of the stories associated with each song blur together for me.
This book does not highlight the meaning of each song, although it does give insight into some of them. Rather, it pieces together information about what the band was doing and dealing with at the time of the writing or performing of each song.
Interesting, if you a serious U2 fan.
This book does not highlight the meaning of each song, although it does give insight into some of them. Rather, it pieces together information about what the band was doing and dealing with at the time of the writing or performing of each song.
Interesting, if you a serious U2 fan.
February 14, 2014
A nice overview of U2's discography, from Boy to No Line on the Horizon, with a page or two about the inspiration and meaning of each song, what was going on with the band at the time, etc. There are a few references to events and people that will be lost of the casual fan, but that's a minor quibble. It was even interesting to learn more about the few songs/albums I don't like. Recommended for fervent fans of the band.
March 4, 2009
This book provided some good insight into each song by U2 (up until ATYCLB), but mixed with some random meandering prose from the author. Where he offers historical insight, it's great. Where he goes off on some tangent or his feelings on the song, I tended to lose interest. I hope they issue an expanded version next year with both albums that are coming out this year.
August 17, 2017
Tällaiset yhtyeen kaikkien laulujen taustat läpikäyvät kirjat ovat yleensä hieman puuduttavia. Eikä tämä U2:n tuotannon ruotiminen ole poikkeus. Tämä on sentään kohtuullisen miellyttäväksi taitettu, suht ok kuvitettu ja aivan täydellinen eli kattaa sinkkujen b-puolet ym harvinaisuudet. Mutta ei tuo mitään uutta hienoa sisältöä sinällään.
July 20, 2007
Best book to get insight into Bonos head, and the genius that is his songwriting. Listen to Joshua Tree while reading this book. (chills) On Joshua Tree you will uncover some of the most amazing poetic lyric of our time.
August 24, 2008
A retread of what many other authors more accurately and intelligently reported years ago. This book is full of more of the author's speculation and "interpretation" than actual fact. It's almost embarrassing. There is very little real story here, despite the book's title.
November 3, 2011
I still love and devour everything written about U2, but this was not the best one. I don't need to be told what the songs are about. I know what the lyrics mean to me, and that's really what's important.
January 14, 2012
This was an enjoyable book, which I would recommend to any U2 fan. It's always fun to read about how each album came about and how and why the music changes from album to album. You get a little bit of information on nearly every song, just as the title promises. :)
February 28, 2016
Super knjiga, seveda, ker je povezana z U2ji. IN z besedili, kar je sploh 1e bolje! Sem pa mogoDe priDakovala Disto miDkeno veD vpogleda v besedila. In pa ... kako je avtor lahko pozabil na 3 pesmi; Electrical storm, Hands that built America in Window in the skys??? Precej neodpustljivo ...
January 24, 2010
Interesting, though you probably need to be a die hard fan to truly appreciate it.
June 3, 2011
A must have for any diehard U2 fan. Stories behind each song, the inspirations, stories, and other details of interest behind the history of some of the best music ever made.
August 3, 2011
great if you want to know anything abouy any song
September 4, 2011
This is a good book if you are a fan and want to know the stories behind their songs!
January 10, 2013
Fun light reading. U2's lyrics rarely reveal everything the song is about, so another perspective is interesting.
March 26, 2013
Enjoyable read for U2 fans! Im glad it wasnt a song by song meaning kind of thing; a song means to me what it does for a very specific reason and I dont want anything messing with it!
October 14, 2014
If you love U2, you will enjoy this book. Great photography. Thoroughly presented album by album and song by song.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews