U2 Blasted ! Summer 2015 !

Now that we have had a few days to dig into the album and take a listen it seems that some fans have found their way to the the top of the food chain to blast the boys on a free album release on Apple. Calling them "Sell outs" Rich old dudes" and "Lame"  Change is not always good for everyone. Some view change as a departure from what is safe and secure throwing anger towards it makes them feel better. We guess. 

Fan pages have been popping up all over the place offering suggestions of when the next tour might happen.  Its really comes down to availability of locations around the word and routing the band in the right direction to make the most money possible on the road. This will take time.  We heard that we should not expect anything sooner than 2015 and it will run always out into 2016.

We u2 fans really did not know how close to over this really was. Yes over, finished, done and final. Not talking about the music; talking about the band. Sources ( hate when we say this, however we have been asked to not say who) close to the band say that this has been a challenging time for them. This album has had a lot of start and stops and a lot of redirection, to the point that it pulled the boys apart for a bit. Now truth be told that any labor of love will cause some drama and the suggestion that the boys may end this ride seem as possible as humm what ?  Marriages are challenging and the boys have been marriages along time; let them have their private fights and lets just enjoy the music. 

We at U2TOURFANS have a lot in store for you. We are going to gear up a massive U2 touring team that will provide the best coverage of the band, videos, and concert news possible. Watch for over the next few weeks our brand new community center.

Cheers

U2 Songs of Innocence and Experience

U2 released their 13th studio album yesterday (gosh we had hoped for the title Lucky 13) “Songs of Innocence” considered a surprise release and a super surprise “free” download. 

The marketing machines have really gone back and pulled out some old tricks for this one. However, that is not of interest to most U2 fans.

What really matters is the music! Yea I could use the terms “gestation” “delay” “lack of focus” however who really gives a crap about that when the music has arrived to us via iTunes just waiting for us to download.

Gene Simmons said Rock is dead, well U2 most not have gotten the funeral notice; this album is brilliant, fluid, bold and most of all fresh with tip of the hat to the past. Lets call this a reconnection to their past and to future audiences.

Bono and Edge created visions of a punk rock era and provided some balance for those that have yet to embrace the concept of punk rock.

Keeping it simple as to grab the attention of the youth today and U2’s attempt to remain relevant may cause some U2; fans to think that void commercialism and stay true to their roots. 

U2 is not a band that stands on past performances and while no tour dates announced surely we will see the boys across the world in 2015. 

Time will tell if Bono has met his goal to stay relevant and if fans embrace “Songs of Innocence”. I at first glance believe that we got our chance to see lighting in a bottle again. I am sure to have more to say about this over the next few weeks.  Bono did drop us a note updating on the next album to be released called " Songs of Experience"

We’re collaborating with Apple on some cool stuff over the next couple of years, innovations that will transform the way music is listened to and viewed. We’ll keep you posted. If you like Songs of Innocence,  stay with us for Songs of Experience. It should be ready soon enough… although I know I’ve said that before…

Letter from Bono

A letter from Bono, on the arrival 'of our new baby' - Songs of Innocence.

'Hello, bonjour, ciao, hola, hallo, zdravo, dobar dan, Dia duit, hæ, hej,hei, cześć, olá, ćao, namaste, sawatdee, jambo, pozdravi, Γεια σου, привіт, שלום, مرحبا, こんにちは, , سلام, 你好, Привет….

Remember us? Pleased to announce myself, Edge, Adam and Larry have finally given birth to our new baby… Songs of Innocence. It’s been a while. We wanted to get it right for you/us. We just finished it last week and thanks to Apple and iTunes it’s with you today. That’s already amazing to me as it normally takes a few months to turn this stuff around.

Part of the DNA of this band has always been the desire to get our music to as many people as possible. In the next 24 hours, over a half a billion people are going to have Songs of Innocence… should they choose to check it out. That is so exciting. People who haven’t heard our music, or weren’t remotely interested, might play us for the first time because we’re in their library. Country fans, hip hop afficionados from east LA, electro poppers from Seoul, Bhangra fans from New Delhi, Highlifers in Accra… might JUST be tempted to check us out, even for a moment.

What a mind blowing, head scratching, 21st century situation. Over 500 million people… that’s a billion ears. And for the people out there who have no interest in checking us out, look at it this way… the blood, sweat and tears of some Irish guys are in your junk mail.

You’ll have noticed the album is free to U2.com’ers from the band. It’s also free to everyone on iTunes thanks to Apple. To celebrate the ten year anniversary of our iPod commercial, they bought it as a gift to give to all their music customers.

Free, but paid for. Because if no-one's paying anything for it, we’re not sure “free” music is really that free. It usually comes at a cost to the art form and the artist… which has big implications, not for us in U2, but for future musicians and their music... all the songs that have yet to be written by the talents of the future… who need to make a living to write them.

We’re collaborating with Apple on some cool stuff over the next couple of years, innovations that will transform the way music is listened to and viewed. We’ll keep you posted. If you like Songs of Innocence,  stay with us for Songs of Experience. It should be ready soon enough… although I know I’ve said that before…

I hope after listening to our new long player a few times, you’ll understand why it took so long. We really went there… it’s a very, very personal album. Apologies if that gets excruciating… actually, I take that back. No apologies if it gets excruciating. What’s the point in being in U2 if you can’t go there?
There is no end to LOVE.'
BONO

No Billboard or No Grammy nod for U2

The world was surprised today by the release of U2’s  “Songs of Innocence” as a free download on for iTunes account holders and streamed on Beats Music you will not see the album make the Billboard top 200. 

Yup since the album really does not go on sale until October 14th pretty much knocks it out of Billboard and also knocked them out of Grammy consideration.  Rules for Grammy consideration are very clear.

 "The album must be commercially available in order for it to be eligible, and the official release date determines its eligibility in a particular awards year," a Grammys rep told Billboard. "In this case, the album is commercially available on Oct. 14, 2014, so it will be eligible for consideration for the 58th Grammy Awards."

Apple has a spend of in excess of $100 Million on an ad campaign supporting the release of the new devices which includes the single "The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone."  No word on how much Apple paid U2 for the single or the early release of the album however you can be sure that Bono and the boys did not let it go out the door cheap.

Now U2 and management will have a chance to talk to the Academy to get some understanding on the rules however for now is a celebration for U2 fans and for the band to finally release some new music.

U2 Tracks "Songs of Innocence"

U2 released their first new album in five years today “Songs of Innocence” Apple and U2 worked to bring the album to the world for free immediately to any one with an ITunes account. U2 can befit with over a half a billion users and the opportunity to share their music with the world. Bono said in his only exclusive interview with Rolling Stone's Gus Wenner the day before the press conference in an exclusive interview.

"Let's try to figure out why we wanted to be in a band, the relationships around the band, our friendships, our lovers, our family.

The whole album is first journeys — first journeys geographically, spiritually, sexually. In addition, that is hard. But we went there."  We will be reviewing the album and will share our thoughts shortly.

1.    The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
2.    Every Breaking Wave
3.    California (There is no End of Love)
4.    Iris (Hold Me Close)
5.    Volcano
6.     Raised By Wolves
7.    Cedarwood Road
8.    Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
9.    This is Where You Can Reach Me Now
10.    The Troubles

U2 Releases "Songs of Innocence"

The await is finally over. U2 used the Apple event today to release to the world. "Songs of Innocence" for free on the Apple Itunes and Beats platform. We will update once we have had a chance to review the album. Mean time you can download the whole album here http://smarturl.it/newu2album

U2 Expected at Apple Launch

Tweets about "#u2iPhone "

The boys from Dublin are in Cupertino, California and set to be a part of Apple’s new iPhone 6 launch later today. The band will be appearing for the launch of the new phone, with the their new album being made available for streaming exclusively on the iPhone. Rumors have been circulating about U2, the Apple relationship, and the possible collaboration even to the point that a U2 spokeswoman said: “They are not releasing their album on the iPhone and they are not performing at the iPhone launch.” This turns out to be a half-truth statement and pretty much in line with a we would have expected from the marketing machine. 

The New York Times, The Irish Times all have reported over night that U2 will appear during the release of the new IPhone 6.  Sources suggest that the band will appear at the launch of the iPhone 6: “In addition to performing, the band will reveal an integration with Apple’s products that is connected to its next album.”

While representatives for the band would not comment, the new album format may similar to the app release by other artists of the years.

Follow the updates today #U2iPhone

Will U2 Music Arrive on Tuesday ?

U2 has been working on “Lucky 13” since 2011 and the all the hype of last week U2 fans are not so ready to put the band in a category of yesterday and move them into irrelevant.

Bono is not so ready to go off into that good night with just being the greatest band of all time.

U2 is more than you know! As you listen to the singles released, you get a sense that the band has been working on a new anthem that will drive a new generation of U2 fans into the future. 

The new project is loaded with new selection of producers. Such as Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley and Broken Bells, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic and Adele’s collaborator Paul Epworth, but also will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas and dance-music specialists like RedOne and David Guetta (whose own single “Lovers on the Sun” has more than a hint of U2 in it).

U2 has revitalized itself before with electronic dance music; that’s what it did in 1991 with “Achtung Baby.” But until the full album emerges from its long gestation, it’s anyone’s guess how U2 hears itself in the 2010s.

It’s been a long road. In November 2013, the band released its first new song in four years, "Ordinary Love", recorded for the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. The second song released after the break, "Invisible", is reportedly the first track that the band has finished recording for the upcoming studio album, which scheduled for release mid-year.

On 2 February 2014, a part of "Invisible" was unveiled in a form of a Super Bowl XLVIII commercial, and made available as a free download for 24 hours, with Bank of America giving $1 for each download of the track to (RED. According to the band's website, the period of time in which the song was available for free was eventually extended to 36 hours, and the total sum raised was $3,138,470.

The music of U2 has appealed to both Christian and secular audiences alike for well over two decades. Not only are the sounds and melodies intriguing but also the lyrics exemplify powerful emotions, which captivate audiences by identifying with inner emotions and struggles.

Challenging times for the boys as they try to complete their 13th album and find away to reach out and touch that magic that is U2. 

Faith, always been centered on ideas that man has failures and if he is willing to rise above, he too can experience greater joys in life.  It is a simpler process to create music and remove the concepts of faith it’s harder to instill them and kind a balance.
 
Its Sunday morning as I listen to some U2 music mix I begin to think about what Tuesday will bring for us as well think about how U2 has sifted through various images of religion, what does that mean to you and me?  I’m inspired so often by music and the directions that one band can take over the years seems to provide the growth that we all need. So as we await the future of U2, I ask you What does U2 music mean to you?” Inspired by U2 or is it inspired by Bono?