They Know That They Can't Dance

Larry Lootsteen, Conestogo, Ontario, Canada

As the various bits of news about the possible fall release for U2 continues to build (and I do think that is real as I believe the album has been done for quite awhile despite tweaking), the thought of a dance album scares the crap out of me.

As I think about what that means, I started thinking, what does 'dance music' mean to U2.  One song always comes to mind for me.  Lady With The Spinning Head!.

best of 1990-2000 b side

Now let's face it, for the most part dance to U2 is club remixes for the most part.  We can list songs like Get On Your Boots which could be an indication of today's direction.  And I can honestly say I have danced to songs like Two Hearts Beat As One.

So what do you all think?  What songs do you consider U2 dance tracks?  Is there a remix that really caught you?  Some energy track that you felt was danceable?  Inquiring happy feet want to know!

The Mystery

Larry Lootsteen, Conestogo, Ontario, Canada

As U2 fans, we are most certainly all music fans.  We cannot be otherwise.  We all listen to U2 but we also listen to many other types and forms of music.  Some, like me, become somewhat obsessive.  I take a great deal of selfish pride in searching out new music.  Others focus on a few bands.  Some, only one.

I created this video at http://www.youtube.com/editor

So that got me thinking about why.  Why do we love U2?  Why do we love the music we love?  When there are SOOOO many different types and styles of music, what connects us to it?

Some of it is most certainly mood related.  Some angry music when we are in a bad mood.  Moody, dark, sullen tracks when we are hurting.  High intensity, beat driven when we are manic.  Soaring, beautiful melodies when we are feeling good.

To me, all music, no matter the style has to come from somewhere.  Our imaginations produce myriads of ideas.  Is that as simple as a few chemical combinations in our brains producing things which we had never imagined before today?

Music, like many aspects of our lives, is a mystery.

And what then, when people work together and the combination of thought, personality and ideas somehow mange to produce something more than the individuals could have ever assembled separately.  How does that work?  Does the introduction of ideas from multiple sources trigger different brain responses?  Or as U2 often says, does 'God walk through the room'?  Are those two ideas ultimately the same thing?

Love.  Yet another mystery, seems to play into it.  And you might say 'Hey how does screamo metal have anything to do with love'?  Not every song is about love.  But to produce a really great song in any genre requires love.  Love of music.  Love of creation.  Love of imagination.

I don't have an ultimate answer.  Maybe one day we will, whether God, brain chemisrty, pheromones or whatever.  All I know is that I'm thankful each day for this mystery.  And the mystery of what our favourite band might deliver us this time floats on the ether of the universe, ready to tell us a new story and connect to our lives in the many ways that it can.

10 Reasons

Larry Lootsteen, Conestogo, Ontario, Canada

As we recently heard Bono state, the internal working name for the new album is 10 Reasons To Exist.  What do you think of that name?

Not sure why but I really hate it!

I think maybe I'm tired of these long names they keep coming out with.  We've had All That You Can't Leave Behind, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, No Line On The Horizon.  I'm not sure I want to see another long one.

Maybe I miss the days of Boy, War, Pop and Zooropa!!

I'd be more in favour of 10 Reasons as a title.  Really though, I hope neither 10 Reasons nor Songs of Ascent come out as names for the release.  Short and direct.  But that's me right now.

Anyone else have some thoughts on this?