Avg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 4662
Length: 5:29
Plays (last 30 days): 1
All is quiet on New Year's day
A world in white gets underway
I want to be with you, be with you, night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's day
On New Year's day
I will be with you again
I will be with you again
Under a blood red sky
A crowd has gathered, black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspapers says, says
Say it's true, it's true
And we can break through
Though torn in two
We can be one
I, I will begin again
I, I will begin again
Yeah, ohhh
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah, maybe the time is right
Oh, maybe tonight
I will be with you again
I will be with you again
And so we're told this is the golden age
And gold is the reason for the wars we wage
Though I want to be with you
Be with you night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's day
On New Year's day
On New Year's day
This was ubiquitous back when, and I've heard it too many times, and I had a hard time liking it back in the 80s because it was just so drama-filled. Enough bombast already. But...that piano, that guitar, the steady rhythm, the plaintive vocals. When you hear it years later you realize that it's just excellent, and it makes sense these guys took the road less traveled to become the paradigmatic rock band for so many years. Maybe even still.
And to be fair to Bono et al., Ireland itself was pretty drama-filled in the 80s.
It's the same child on the covers of "Boy" and "War". His name is Peter Rowen and he became a professional photographer in Ireland. But all is not serene because, when U2 supported liberalizing Ireland's abortion laws, Rowen - a Christian - posted: “Horrified to see U2 using their voice to promote something that’s so obviously wrong! ....."
Good for Pete Rowen! I felt the same when they supported the cruelest crime.
Save both lives!!!
such an over played, arrogant rich bunch of pop stars. not what I come to RP for. just my opinion.
So, RP shouldn't play Beatles, Stones, Floyd... I thought RP played good music, just for the sake of the music. But I may be wrong, sorry.
wgsu_1978 wrote:
If only they could have stayed this way ...
Imagine 37 years of the same kind of stuff over and over again.
They'd be like Pink Floyd.
.
One of the hottest girls in high school asked me to go to see U2 in Toronto around this time cause "she had an extra" ticket. I declined...what the hell was I thinking? Stupid me....and all these years later, I still haven't figured out women...or U2.....
Woof! WTH indeed! :D
Not so sure. Those of us who followed closely saw U2 back then as derivative and pretentious AF. Over the years they matured into a great ROCK BAND.
Not so sure. Those of us who followed closely saw U2 back then as derivative and pretentious AF. Over the years they didn't change at all. FIFY.
This is why U2 became huge, a series of groundbreaking records that changed rock music in the 80's
Not so sure. Those of us who followed closely saw U2 back then as derivative and pretentious AF. Over the years they matured into a great ROCK BAND.
Yes, it is... hope you are having a marvelous evening right this minute...
everybody in my church loves this song...
Hope you are still around. Always loved your song comments.
Imagine 37 years of the same kind of stuff over and over again. They'd be like the Rolling Stones.
The Rolling Stones are hardly 37 years of the same kind of stuff! The meat of their career is a continual reinvention.
It may not seem that way now--that continual reinvention has been replayed incessantly on commercial radio for the last 20 of those 37 years--but you can't possibly believe that Their Satanic Majesties Request bears anything but the most superficial resemblance to Emotional Rescue.
Joe Biden would sniff this LP cover
Interesting, bringing politics to this site.
Steve Lillywhite deserves some credit for the energy coming through in this track.
Yes, Lillywhite's a great producer with a very impressive list of works and artists.
Joe Biden would sniff this LP cover
That's where your mind goes? Creeeepy.
It's the same child on the covers of "Boy" and "War". His name is Peter Rowen and he became a professional photographer in Ireland. But all is not serene because, when U2 supported liberalizing Ireland's abortion laws, Rowen - a Christian - posted: “Horrified to see U2 using their voice to promote something that’s so obviously wrong! ....."
great freeway song.
If you could, yes you would, but what really is that you want?
This is still their anthemic stage rather than sublime. For me, U2 got sublime starting with Joshua Tree. This is a straight out, Cold-War, hit-you-over-the-head anti-war song.
I can't stand this pathetic singing.
Therefore only a 4 instead of an 8 without a bono. My opinion.
Imagine 37 years of the same kind of stuff over and over again. They'd be like the Rolling Stones.
Agreed. I've not heard anything from U2 as compelling as War. When it came out, I was listening to a college station in another town. Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. WOW. That was powerful. Innit interesting how many debut albums end up being the best from a band. In my case, I think that applies to U2.
This was U2's third album after Boy and October; all three produced by Steve Lillywhite who worked with so many alternative bands in the late 70s and 80s. U2 evolved, much as music evolved. These first albums were very raw which is why they have such emotion. War is an amazing piece of work and arguably their best, at least in my opinion, and which holds up well even 35 years later.
Then we never would have seen/heard the amazing albums The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby!
His annoying politics aside (like Sting), they're still pretty fine acts.
Wow 37 years ago i was hearing that and still love it today
my Rating 8
Agreed. I've not heard anything from U2 as compelling as War. When it came out, I was listening to a college station in another town. Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. WOW. That was powerful. Innit interesting how many debut albums end up being the best from a band. In my case, I think that applies to U2.
Might've been their first number one album, but I know that they released at least two albums before "War". The first was "Boy" in 1980 and then I believe "October" followed in 1981. I had them both and loved those records but "War" really was on another level but it wasn't their debut album.
Agreed. I've not heard anything from U2 as compelling as War. When it came out, I was listening to a college station in another town. Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. WOW. That was powerful. Innit interesting how many debut albums end up being the best from a band. In my case, I think that applies to U2.
I believe the small crowd of fans waiting in rain and cold who were personally served hot tea by Bono prior to the Under a Blood Red Sky show in 1983 will claim otherwise.
I'll go along with that. This song in particular represents some of their best work.
Paradigmatic. Excellent choice of term.
Agreed. I've not heard anything from U2 as compelling as War. When it came out, I was listening to a college station in another town. Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. WOW. That was powerful. Innit interesting how many debut albums end up being the best from a band. In my case, I think that applies to U2.
Since then, that is all I can see when listening to U2.
(apologies to anyone hight challenged)
I'll bump my rating on this track from 6 → 7 simply for the great lyric:
"And so we're told this is the golden age
And gold is the reason for the wars we wage."
Bono speaking truth there!! Hell.... 7 → 8 and LONG LIVE RP!!
Indeed.
Are you more of a Vegemite enthusiast?
Only saw them once—2/21/82 @ First Ave. in Mpls. for $4
It was 35 years ago, but seems like it was in another lifetime.
Setlist—-
Gloria
Another Time, Another Place
I Threw a Brick Through a Window
A Day Without Me
An Cat Dubh
Into the Heart
Rejoice
The Cry
The Electric Co.
I Fall Down
October
I Will Follow
Twilight
Out of Control
Fire
11 O'Clock Tick Tock
The Ocean
Encore:
Southern Man
(Neil Young cover)
I Will Follow
nutrod42 wrote:
Well, it did rain...
Well, it did rain...
New year's Day was my introduction to this band.
I had just done 4 years in the United States Coast Guard when 'WAR' was released in early 1983
and It felt great, like stuff can at 22.
But still, the same guy had such an ego to call himself a "good voice" straight in 1980. I should have known.
yup....
...and here come the U2 haters!
How predictable.
Have you tried Marmite?
...and here come the U2 haters!
How predictable.
Nah, I just hate incompetent cyclists.
...and here come the U2 haters!
How predictable.
There's a reason for that.
...and here come the U2 haters!
How predictable.
< Sorry ... Lost your post, but it carried the theme that this song was stronger than anything on Billboard's '83 list.>
Compare this to Flashdance and the rest of the Billboard drek, and yeah, it's not so awful.
But there were a lot of other releases to enjoy that year, such as Subterranean Jungle and Baby Snakes and Legendary Hearts and Local Hero, so that you could safely cross the River of '83 without ever wetting your feet with this anthem.
It certainly was very overplayed in its day on FM radio. Today the site shows 3 plays in 30 days, which is heavy rotation for RP, but not every-hour saturation.
To me, this song still sounds fresh and survived overplaying. Still has energy and urgency. I can understand why some find it over-the-top, but it stood out compared to the hits of 1983, and still holds up today.
Too soon. I need another five-ten years before I can enjoy again.
PSD me.
It certainly was very overplayed in its day on FM radio. Today the site shows 3 plays in 30 days, which is heavy rotation for RP, but not every-hour saturation.
To me, this song still sounds fresh and survived overplaying. Still has energy and urgency. I can understand why some find it over-the-top, but it stood out compared to the hits of 1983, and still holds up today.
different stokes and folks Fab. lol worry about something else, Bono will survive without your adulation! lol
full of emotion and content
Send me your CD when you make it.....I would like to hear your talents Will.
I'm not a very good guitar player but I do know one when I hear it....and yes, The Edge is VERY good.
Bono's voice is fantastic and full of Irish emotion. I am a very good singer....Bono is a GREAT singer IMO!
They got too much airplay
Wish he'd shut up
Average rating 8....
I think the vocal minority should accept greatness with grace.
Really effective guitar playing here. First U2 song I ever heard.
Still hits me hard.
Same here.
Too soon. I need another five-ten years before I can enjoy again.
PSD me.
Yes, I agree. FM annihilated the listenability of this otherwise good track for quite a while. Still, here on R.P., where any song is no longer encumbered by the dead weight 10 ton anchor of commercials and moronic robot "on air talent" the song frees itself and becomes what it was meant to be: a solid, thoughtful rocker.
Too soon. I need another five-ten years before I can enjoy again.
PSD me.
Really effective guitar playing here. First U2 song I ever heard.
Still hits me hard.
I saw them too in 1983! What a fantastic experience with 10 row seats in a 4000 people auditorium.
Amen.
For the U2/Bono bashers: The point has been made often enough. PSD is there for you, so stfu.
I still don't understand one thing today: why is England allowed to have a colony while the whole western world agrees that you can't occupy another country and hold it prisoner? Just England and Israel seem to be allowed to do that nowadays. Very strange...
I believe the small crowd of fans waiting in rain and cold who were personally served hot tea by Bono prior to the Under a Blood Red Sky show in 1983 will claim otherwise.
An (Irish) ex-colleague of mine said he was with Bono at his (i.e. Bono's) home in Dublin. I have no reason to doubt my colleague but I also can't verify his claim. Just imagine though! How would you feel to be invited inside the home of your favourite famous artist? 😊