U2 Culture Show Special 2009

The show focuses on one of the world's biggest bands as Lauren visits them in Dublin to talk about the new album and hear some of the songs live. We also speak to Radio 1 DJ Nemone and writer and critic David Quantick for a frank appraisal of U2's musical career.
Is the new album one of your musical highlights of the year or are you tired of all the hype? Let us know what you think of U2 and our programme.

[@justincredible.]

Under a blood red sky and Wide awake in America sealed the deal for me in the 80's. U2 has been there for most of my life!

[@Alienkiwi730]

U2 were extremely ahead of their time. By the late 80's they sounded like a 2000's alt rock band

[@alexandriaocasio-smollett5078]

I agree with you. But that’s not an accident or coincidence... The reason for that is because of how heavily their work influenced those that came after them and settled into the alt rock scene of the 2000s. And I don’t say that to take credit away from them. But, it’s a direct causality.

[@mauricegriffin8596]

That have more to do in this world U2 are a light of fame

[@mauricegriffin8596]

U2 will bring the world together we need them now

[@mauricegriffin8596]

My song for that a about a a human being

[@justincredible.]

U2 is the soundtrack to my life since 1980, BEST band ever!

[@burnningbridges]

Damn I’m so damn old. I’ve been seeing these gentlemen in concert since the “War” tour and they still move me with their rock-n-roll stuff.

[@icetrammer905]

U2 Saturday night in las vegas

[@TheKingofRockMusic]

some people 'get it' some people don't, and never will...and that's ok too...U2 work for me better and like no other, and for over 30 years god help me...I love these guys through disappointments and everything else, though I must admit, there have never been very long disappointments...

[@juleedardeau]

Beautiful 🌏 ☮️

[@cbono69]

without u2 im done!!!!More will be shared!!!

[@eoinmaguire6691]

Such an underrated album, Loved the songwriting Adam's biggest and best album by far I loved it👍

[@JaywalkingTheWorld]

Great camera and editing. Very watchable.

[@Beautiful_Sacred_Land]

really like this interviewer. she is so down to earth. love morocco. lucky buggers :) good for them.

[@justincredible.]

Achtung Baby was there best album ever.., so far.

[@Crimsonphilosophy]

I like No line on the Horizon. It was an album rather than a collection of singles, the free one on iTunes is really conventional sounding.

[@fearitselfpinball8912]

I love that Bono said that the band's problem was that they got better at craft and (imperrilled by finally knowing what they were doing) became, at times, very good rather than great. I didn't know that he knew that and although I love their later work I think he's exactly right in his assessment. Another way to say it is that they went from 'finding sounds' to 'finishing songs'. I remember hearing the song Electrical Storm--I think it had a key change in it and I was really taken off guard that U2 would do or know to do something like that. It was almost a double take and I had to think, 'had they really never written a song with a key change to that point?'. It's hard to overstate how little they seemed to know in the early days and how much they seemed to find. By Beautiful Day, the band wasn't quite out there in the same way--they had come into the confines of a more common, more controlled competency. Again, I love their later stuff but Bono was right, sometimes catching on to craft made them something other than terrible or brilliant: just very good. Cohen quipped famously that if he knew where the best songs came from he would go there more often. It seems to be true though, that you find the best material more reliably when you have no idea where to look.

[@Will21st]

brilliant assessment I agree with.

[@scottguffey5809]

Wow - that is really spot on! I hadn’t put my finger on the “decline” but you just did.

[@bonozevolik]

Had they taken Boots/Crazy Tonight/Stand Up Comedy segment off the album, we would be talking about their best record of all time. The rest of the songs and the order is just amazing.

[@michaelmacias8]

I agree about boots but crazy tonight is so underrated and stand up...I don't know how to feel about it, it might grow on me one day. but gosh what is it about boots everyone hates so much..even me.

[@lonkylaine]

Not that bad anyway. These 3 songs are probably good stuff for any other band.

[@jasonlefler3456]

Soon Magnificent No Line On the Horizon Breathe Get On Your Boots {Fish Out of Water Remix} I’ll Go Crazy {Redanka Kick the Darkness Remix} Fez/Being Born Unknown Caller White As Snow Moment of Surrender Winter {Linear Version}

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

They should have left Boots off and put their single Electrical Storm on it. Would have fitted perfectly and made an already great album.

[@lonkylaine]

@@blackporscheroadster6415 Electrical Storm? A 7 years old song back then? Not quite original and professional. Why not put the song "Soon" from these sessions as opening track instead?

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

Why does everyone always say U2 have sold 170million albums, just because it still says it on Wikipedia. Someone said recently in 2022 they had sold 170M albums, so that must mean they haven't sold one single album since 2009m as according to this video they had sold 170m then. The numbers are bullshit.

[@janekellie3472]

When anyone tunes in to listen to Bono's Live Interviews, it's the beginnings of A U2 Sharing Themselves With Others across the globe 🌍..The Rest Comes Down To Us, Do We Let It In - Or Not..' You're Left With A Challenge '.

[@elizabetharmstrong3205]

Honestly I’ll wish to interview the U2 band🐲🙈🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@marklife.ox4]

Lauren lavern is fantastic

[@surfman88]

but does looks a bit bored though

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

She's very sexy for a blonde.

[@musicaantigua869]

Muchas gracias

[@alexandriaocasio-smollett5078]

The ridiculously silly lyrics chosen for Get on your Boots completely wasted a wonderful melody and arrangement. That had such great potential. It might be the most head scratching decision for me in their career.

[@roxanarojascolmenares416]

U2 .;) gracias x existir .....

[@vabulisedgars7400]

I have just one religion. And the God is U2. Bono is the Pastor. Amen.

[@charlimark1964]

That's funny,:):) but I know what you mean though. I really do...:)

[@claudiacosta2531]

A religião quem faz é a própria pessoa pois Deus habita dentro de cada ser vivo seja humano ou animais pois todos tem o sopro divino que é a vida.

[@goudagirl6095]

I was madly in love with U2 from nearly their beginning up until All That You Can't Leave Behind, which was a great album....but then after that Bono started got more and more excrutiatingly political, then worse yet, became an out and out globalist. After that, they left a horrible taste in my mouth that hasn't yet washed away. So for now, I have to keep them at arm's length. But as a musical phenomenon, there never was, nor will there ever be, a band like U2, purely for their influence and their reach globally. Bono's lyrics are second to none, and Edge's guitar licks are otherworldly. But many times I find myself saying "time to hang it up, boys..."

[@lorivought886]

Everyone's a globalist. Check your shirt label.

[@SovereignNational]

Adam & Bono @7:36 LOL!!

[@stuart_wiewiora]

Whoever is married to LL is a lucky bastard ❤

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

NLOH is close to my favourite U2 album. They should have left Boots off and put their single Electrical Storm on it. Would have fitted perfectly and made an already great album into a potential classic.

[@johndoyle1810]

I think bono is essential for u2 to be the successful unit they are by the way gig stands for god is good

[@catnapgee5357]

1:55 I dont know how he could be smiling, that was the year his beloved mother passed

[@justincredible.]

"They want you to be jesus, you go down on one knee. But they want there money back if you're still alive at 33"

[@beerflyvixens]

At 5:25, that live footage of "I will follow", I've never seen that footage! (and I'm a biiiiig fan lol). Where is thatfrom? a full concert? where can i find this please? thank you. Much love.

[@MrToddKa]

testing...

[@beerflyvixens]

Stig André Sømme No not the one at 5:35, that one is definitely UABRSL@RR, but the one at 5:20 is a different night (also at Red Rocks of course), but a different night, it's not from the Red Rocks I WILL FOllow video we've seen our whole lives.

[@TheEdge2002]

Looks like it's from 1981

[@cornel-lazar]

+George T. Montebruno It's from the 1981 Berlin gig at the Metropol club. It's their delayed 1st appearance at the German Rockpalast show (the first didn't happen as U2 were accidentally locked in their dressing room in Munich's Shugar Shack and the 2nd was in 1983 at Loreley. Both are avail. on KZbin.) Because of the Munich incident and another disaster in Hamburg on the same tour (U2 were booed off stage and called all sorts of names by the crowd) almost made U2 not to bother playing Germany. The Rockpalast crew fixed this in 1983 when they invited U2 to perform at the Loreley and changed their fortune across Europe.

[@ilikechocolatealot6355]

Are you taking the piss???? Your a big fan????? How? It’s red rocks you twat.

[@johndoyle1810]

I think even U2 would struggle to keep enthusiastic about being excited in success,well guys i will let you in a secret I’m homeless and am always excited in hope

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

PAUL DAVID HEWSON 10 DE MAYO DE 1960 62 AÑOS (63)

[@iggypopisgod9]

to be fair, the band took some chances and followed their intuition, at the sake of "hits". the public has a formed perception of u2, albeit it narrow. they want sing a long singles, as it seems the band does.

[@carlosarmandolermacampos7018]

U2 artista y bono boy george culture club soy yo u2 Bono with or without you feat culture club

[@carlosarmandolermacampos7018]

U2 es rock

[@carlosarmandolermacampos7018]

Culture club official soy yo u2 Bono with or without you

[@sandrinou1329]

you should active the translator in this video...

[@mandykhoo2473]

They want to go deeper and this happens?!!!!

[@surfman88]

Not much headspace in their studio :-

[@Horizon344]

Good for acoustics probably

[@brunobailly7013]

2:55 LOL I believe the show could've chosen a better picture to illustrate Bono's involvement in petitioning for Peace among world leaders 😅 (not exactly the best exemple of an "ear" for Bono's demands...)

[@majas4922]

Yes. The president of US is a bad example...might be better to find some obscure tribe leader.

[@DaLaxer98]

im tryna find that shirt bono is wearing

[@IamSooConstipated]

No Line was the last great album they wrote. The “Songs Of _____” era was some of their most bland work. And the Atomic Bomb thing was mediocre

[@scottblack9213]

NLOTH was a brave move almost a prog rock album. Bono was in fantastic voice on the 360 tour. Unfortunately the rot set in and the downfall was very fast as soon as McGuinness' departure. The decisions made since Oseary's reign have plunged the band into an artistic and credible mess.

[@antoninkubik4406]

WEF Bono...Exit..

[@jdh9676]

It's a good album. Their "best?" Um....not up to them, you, or me....

[@justincredible.]

Achtung baby was. (to me)

[@Horizon344]

U2 peaked creatively with the Unforgettable Fire LP, & commercially with the Joshua Tree, since then it's been primarily a very successful business operation. They burnt out in creative art around 1998 (20-odd creative years wasn't a bad innings for a pop music act); & in performance art around 2012 - linked to Hewson's physical aging. As a light art form pop music's fundamental spirit is that of youth, not maturity, hence Hewson's best work was at the age of 24. At its best u2 mixed joy & pathos to good effect, not merely the former. As John Squire said: rock music is a young man's game. At its best u2 mixed joy & pathos to good effect, & wasn't merely reliant on the former as Hewson suggests here.

[@iggypopisgod9]

Bono is taking the piss, slightly. only the corp rag RS endorsed it, it was a colossal failure in terms of sales, and the band has essentially disowned it live.

[@NxDoyle]

It's been more of the same since Achtung Baby. There has been nothing seminal about them for decades. They had a sweet decade, 1981 to 1991. And that was that. As for live, there's a whole other band on pre-recorded tracks.

[@andrew6978]

Edge only has one pair of arms and legs. Backing tracks are used by everybody.

[@leevww]

As Edge donated his hair to Slash..

[@carrieoconnor3605]

Great songs. Luv Larry Mullens’cool accent. His is not so Americanized.

[@jamesadcock5235]

80s u2 was great and the real them. Anything after that is u2 trying not to sound like u2. Which spoils it for me

[@Samueldonovan2007]

Did this bloke just say how to dismantle an atomic bomb and all that you can’t leave behind were disappointing?

[@edmundmclean2814]

NLOTH is where the wheels started to fall off in a big way. It’s a shame cause I love this band, but this record isn’t one of my favorites. And the albums they’ve been putting out after this have been mediocre at best with a few good songs sprinkled in.

[@paulwsdwyer]

bono - whoever said this was going to be your best album to date, should be fired.

[@burgessurgessurgesofknowle2937]

Nobody was saying this was their best album?!! What is Bono talking about? Adam Clayton is a bit deluded here if he believes this was their best album up to this point. Truest comment here was from Larry Mullen Jnr and that was "Shit Happens" and those two words could be a review of NLOTH.

[@scottcrosby-art5490]

Burgess' Urges Surges Of Knowledge nah, it was amazing

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

It's a great album.

[@dguyiop8]

Love U2 however on this album they forgot how to write songs.

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

Some fantastic songs on NLOH. You need to listen more carefully. White as Snow, Magnificent, Moment of Surrender, Breathe, Cedars of Lebanon, Fez...all great songs

[@Beautiful_Sacred_Land]

..i stopped listening to U2 when they brought out joshua tree. haha. i loved all their work before that. saw them in the phoenix park '83...amazing. so am trying to catch up with what they've been up to since here on youtube. still love all their older work.... classic. these songs on this just sound like generic rock zzz sorry.

[@thankyou2532]

+helios the wanderer from 93'szooropa is their best song,auchtung baby from 91 is excellent,1st 6 songs on pop are great,vertigo is great.

[@dannykrinkle4726]

Adam Clayton has the easiest gig on earth.

[@angelacorcoran5004]

Danny Krinkle

[@bonzoboots]

You can't underestimate perfect chemistry

[@mcleandy1]

So what have you added to this world (or easier question , who's bass lines have you copied, oh, and why haven't we heard of you?) ..... the world sees to be full of yeehaw American heroes grrrrrrr...

[@francisdaly1757]

Without Adam there'd be no Mew Year's Day,Sunday Bloody Sunday,Bullet The Blue Sky,With or Without You etc.

[@CalTrask73]

"They're not wankers, they're proper people"--wow, what a sparkling endorsement from Geldof. Geldof's estimation of himself is even more out of whack. He 'will' never get off his high horse. The Boomtown Rats, yeah so much more important than U2 in the end right?! And here I am even talking about Geldof. He's a f'n nobody to everyone but himself. Then why was he on the show? Lazy production. Geldof thinks of himself as an important artist--he's a joke, 'not' a proper person.

[@adamczarnecki4982]

Poor album. Listed to it incessantly but could not like it. It was badly mixed which was a surprise.

[@ilikechocolatealot6355]

Worst album ever. It’s funny how when they ever bring out an album , it’s always the best album they’ve ever done. Selling point. The pool cleaner has to be paid I suppose. As Larry says here, shit happens.

[@paulmallon9292]

Yeah I'd agree really. I really like Moment of Surrender and Magnificent is a good tune with preposterous title, and Breathe is okay. Outside of that it sounds like ideas half formulated to me. Even as Edge alludes to here, it sounds like an album 'whipped into shape' and not fully realised.

[@blackporscheroadster6415]

One of my favourite U2 albums. White as Snow is stunning and there are many great songs on it. Take off Boots and put Electrical Storm on it and it was a classic.

[@CatraoineKelley]

They were a greatband but Paul Hewson's arrogance truly knows no bounds... better when they were still an Irish band

[@rodmantis2550]

CatraoineKelley What's wrong with arrogance..??? You think they got where they are by being timid...???

[@user-vs8lu5wy5q]

Bono, it's "genu in ely" - not- "genu I nely".