U2 Is Back, But Is It Up To Scratch?!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2023
- U2 have released a new song "Atomic City" going into their mega Las Vegas residency in the new venue The Sphere. Is this a classic U2 sound or is it a bit too much like that Blondie hit...what do you think?
You can watch U2's music video for Atomic City Here: • U2 - Atomic City
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Boo U2- snobbery or just good taste?
It's Vegas the filmed location Justin
Fremont street, down by where the Streets have no name location
Yes, the Call Me reference is obvious, but James is also smuggled in there. Listen to the guitar vibe of this U2 track, right from the off, then listen to "Waltzing Along" and "Ring the Bells" by James.
Definite James vibe going on here.
Which is no bad thing.
He doesn't know the town he his playing in tonight
I think it was never gonna be a mind blowing ground breaking song. It's an invite to their Vegas Shows, and it's 100% a tribute to Blondie and The Clash, which they've admitted. It's enjoyable and fun, and that's all a once off single really needs to be.
Sounds more like a tribute to Shed Seven, mate.
They also credited Blondie, so it definitely a tribute.
It's definitely a rip off.
You can hear some Beach Boys and Beatles in there too. It's an homage and they haven't shied away from that.
I'm a hardcore fan and critic of U2 and I like this song a lot - I feel like everyone brought it on this track - and yes - it may have shades of Blondie in there, but a lot of bands have lifted U2's sound, and they have earned the right to sample as freely as other artists do themselves. Adam Clayton gets better and better, and Steve Lillywhite - who produced this - brought the drums to the forefront - thank god. Bono's vocal delivery is stellar too. It's been a bit since we had something from them that was fresh, melodic and had some punch. Looking forward to the new record that is just about done from what I hear. I give this song a 4/5.
Played live at Sphere, the song is accompanied with an amazingly realistic outdoor view that then then becomes a time lapse showing the dismantling of the structures and the return of the desert. The total package is a wonder even if the song might be popcorn by itself.
I love the balance he gets between listening to the song as a pure music lover and then decoding the technical side of the it.
I love it, they're open about the Call Me lift. Not one of their all time bests but catchy and fun all the same. Love the swinging beat and Adam's bass groves. They still have it. Rock on Larry!
Loved seeing Larry. Hope he's healing well.
Well I mean she was paid for it (the lift)
I fixed a leak in Adam Clayton's house last year.. just wanted to put that out there.. 💪
My brother came along for the ride to Sac. -He said on the way home - The lead singer was an exceptional front man. Takes talent to sing and play lead guitar like that. He got a kick out of the audience participation. Said it was the best show he has seen in a long time. AND that’s right he is now a fan! Whoooo hoooo!!! 😁🌺❤️-- I’m so thankful to have made it to the barricade. Even got blessed with some Justin sweat lol ❤️THANK YOU for a fantastic night!
They're playing in a section called Freemont St. on a semi truck trailer. It's a cool place to check out if you haven't already.
It is. The strip has been there for many decades however so not so new in some cases.@@StreetPreacherr
My 7 year old daughter was told “girls can’t be rock stars” by boys in her class (I mean my god, how does this shit get perpetuated so early on 🙄) and it really upset her, because she wants to “try all the jobs” when she’s older and was looking forward to her rock star stint. So we brought her to see Blondie this summer. And while rocking out to Call Me, with Debbie centre stage in her red suit, I could see the unbridled joy and belief back in my daughter again 🤘🏻
Blondie’s a good one! And yeah, that crap starts early, never really ends and unfortunately, it isn’t any better today than what it was in the 70s. (Sorry if I’m overstepping but the way female artists are treated really makes me angry) Just in case your looking for some others, there are lots of woman led and/or all female bands to look out for. I’m not sure who else you may already know and had her listen to, so here’s some “classic” artists & a bunch of new/upcoming ones that are my favorites. btw, A few different styles in here.
Heart
The Runaways
Joan Jett
Veruca Salt
Stevie Nicks
Chrissie Hynde
Siouxsie Sioux
Boygenius
The Cranberries
The Corrs
Sinéad O’Connor
Dream Wife
Laufey
Måneskin
Pacifica
The Last Dinner Party
Picture Parlour
Heartworms
Wet Leg
Genevieve Artadi
Bikini Kill
Kathleen Hanna
(I feel like I’m forgetting some, so I might be back to edit)
LOL...Just let her know the boys in her class are all dumb-asses...well...they are 7 I guess. LOL. Tell her to rock on!
Warpaint
@@sah-win What a lovely message 😍 Thank you for taking the time to put together such a great list, i love it! We brought her to a few gigs this summer with great female leads, and your list will be gone through diligently for all and any we haven’t already explored with her. 🙌🏻
@@rosey_ie The Warning, Mexican all sister power trio. ❤✌🤘 U.K.
They filmed this in downtown Las Vegas just a day or so before they headlined at the Sphere. 8:20 Part of the middle section looks it was filmed inside the Sphere. I hear a lot of Blondie and then a little bit of the Beach Boys in the middle 8.
I’m always gonna love a new U2 song.
Atomic City was the original name of Las Vegas, I believe.
Justin, this was recorded in Las Vegas. In Downtown and inside the Sphere, their new venue for the next few months. Hence the Vegas mention in the song. Atomic City was a Vegas nickname in the 1950s.
Thanks for the review. Its fair. This is not my favorite U2 song however, its like an earworm, so thats something. I love the middle bit actually.
I’ve seen U2, twice.
As far as stadium gigs go…they really know how to do it.
I saw them in the 80s, they knew how then, I’ve seen them since and it seems they forgot how.
Just four guys and a shitload of backing tape.
It's Vegas, originally called Atomic City, and is the same location where they filmed...I still haven't found what I'm looking for? Double check my math but I think that's correct. ;-)
Yes, the chorus is an ode to Blondie's "Call Me" written by Songwriters: Giorgio Moroder / Debbie Harry, for which they gave songwriting credit.
00:42 don't perv the fretboard!🤣
I love episodes like this one in which you extend in the guitar analysis!🎸
Also thanks for showing properly the fretboard today!!! ("No double entendre"😆)
Great one!👍
Justin, very good of you to point out the musical bits that surpass the norm! Personally, I had a hard time getting past the feeling of the song being slapped together from bits and pieces of better tunes, and it not equalling the sum of its parts. A familiar move with rookie bands, but U2 is well past being a rookie band. I kinda miss the days when *their* songs were the ones worth borrowing from.
I so love what the bass player is doing here...sticking in just the right note. The F. It's punching well above it's weight class. That's what you pay your bass player for. I like this song more than I've liked anything from them in a long time. And that one damn note brings the noise and makes it happen. Except that part in the middle that sounds like Brian Wilson's all up in the hizz-ouse.
It’s Justin Fucking Hawkins Rides Againnnnn! In the name of loooooove! 🎶🎶🎶🎸
I'm normally not a U2 fan, but this is actually really catchy and I enjoyed it! Going to check the album out. Great analysis too!
Probably down to the fact you've heard the song before..
Saw the darkness last night at ace of spades front row. They are legendary.
Was the venue full? I actually came here hoping he would be broadcasting from the road.
That's awesome, I'm jealous
Was packed house not completely sold out tho but a very packed house. They played I love you 5 times.
@@michaelscarborough5726 So glad! Wish I could have been there!
The chorus reminds me of Blondie’s “Call Me”. I sang it right along with it , fits right in.
Even the opening drum solo is just like on Call Me.
It's intentional, U2 was writing a song about Vegas to fit with opening the Sphere so they made it Blondie-ish to fit the atomic theme. There's some similarity but it's an intentional homage.
My thoughts exactly
I think it is an exciting song, and I credit them for that. What’s interesting about U2 is that when you don’t have a great first impression of a song of theirs, you tend to like it a lot after many listens. When I first bought the Pop CD, I really loved two songs, and was ambivalent about the other 10. Fast forward a couple months and I really loved 10 songs and was ambivalent about the remaining two. I do think that Bono’s voice sounds tired in a large live setting now, and I think they would do better to perform small, intimate gigs for diehard fans that included extensive Q&A‘s, and the opportunity for fans to play with them. Imagine leaving a small U2 show and having a video of yourself on stage with them. it would obviously involve entertaining far fewer people at a time, but I think it would be a more worthwhile endeavor. I do not hold it against them that their albums have fewer standout tracks these days. I mean, think of how many great songs they’ve already recorded. Most musicians’ best songs aren’t as good as a middling U2 song.
Man, I love your videos. The TH-cam algorithm brought one of your videos to me, and ever since, im hooked. Keep up the good work Justin, legend 💪🏻
Despite being a pretty big fan of the band I'd kind of checked out from them over the past couple of albums but I legitimately like this tune.
I’d recommend checking out the last two. SOI is really damn good, very consistent. Maybe 1 or 2 that are just meh. Quite a few standouts. SOE , has a few I skip, but also some really good songs, and a lush atmosphere to it overall. Been a fan for 37 years and I’m always up for what they can bring, even if not at consistently the same level as pre 2000’s output.
A Vegas sphere promotion is all
I love to watch you playing guitar!
I was in a U2 show here in my city, several years ago.
The song is good, and the guitar solo and the middle part of the song which i don't remember how it's named... i loved them!
I miss the All that you can't leave behind/How to dismantle an atomic bomb U2. That time period between the release of the first and the release of the second album was awesome. They played some great shows and had a lot of popularity.
My parents saw the first show at the Sphere this past weekend and they said it was pretty amazing. Not just seeing U2 play, which was amazing, but the venue was incredible as well. They said it was quite a feat of engineering. Love your analysis of the song as always, great video.
And such an incredible waste of money!
@@chriscunningham8703 The sphere will generate massive amounts of money for Las Vegas. The return will eventually make up for it and then some.
@@chriscunningham8703 why? we can't have amazing feats of engineering and technology anymore?
Justin.. I also caught you and the band last night at Ace of Spades.. You all kicked ass!... despite the bass issues at the beginning 😂🤘
this is one of my favorite JHRA videos I love how you break down the guitar and bass parts and decode the musical mystery as you go. So entertaining and educational! They're in VEGAS baby - I actually think it's great that a world class rockstar like Justin DOESN'T instantly recognize the neon streets (and it's my hometown). To answer your question - yes they are up to scratch!
the sign on the venue said Las Vegas. Bono is looking and sounding great.
@@cherylhurst7093 Oh yeah it wasn't a very big mystery - just responding to Justin's comment at the beginning that he wasn't sure which city it was in
I was too, I didn't see your response before I wrote mine.
@@jessethetodd
lol, the description of this video: "U2 have released a new song "Atomic City" going into their mega Las Vegas residency in the new venue The Sphere"
chorus does sound lil like Blondie, but Call Me also sounds a bit House of the Rising Sun-ish...still a cool tune with awesome bridge
Glad someone else thought this, as soon as the chorus kicks in that's what i hear playing
The whole song is very much early U2. You can hear the elements from Gloria Sunday Bl. I will follow New years day... My favorite band as a teenager back in the 80s... Bono and U2 saved my life... Just like the Rolling Stones Led... etc...
Every once in a while U2 comes out with something mindblowingly brilliant, when you least expect it. This isn't one of those occasions.... Thanks for the analysis
You almost had me for a minute, lol.
I thought, "surely sirtogii can't be that tone deaf."
😂🙌
Basically, you bloody Sunday mucked it up for yourself because of great expectations.
Some of their music is also better live. I think about Unknown Caller. Mostly forgettable on the album, but the live rendition/presentation during that tour was great.
@@TheRetroManRandySavage Brilliant nick name btw.
Rinse & repeat for last 10+ yrs
U2 is my favorite band ever and Achtung Baby/ Zooropa are my favorite albums from them. So I’ve been watching the lives from the sphere every show.😂😂 And Honestly, I really dig Atomic City a good return to “big music from them.”
Does anyone else hear a bit of Clash's London Calling in this too? Maybe it's the drum part and the four bar snare triplet fill and the guitar tone and down strokes on the down beats. Bit of a similar arrangement as well... With Call Me tagged on.
Watched this to see your opinion on U2, but ended up enjoying your analysis of the chord progressions.I really do have to say, I would quite like to see you do an unplugged session with just some lovely guitar work. I think you understand it enough to care about what the ear consumes. Thanks for that
If you'd like to have your mind blown, go back to their first album, Boy, and you'll see that every single thing that you pointed out about Edge's guitar playing exists there, as well. He was inventing all those semi-open chords back then and had already figured out the interplay with the bass and vocal parts. What we've been hearing all these years from U2 is the musical brilliance of Dave Evans being polished by his bandmate's talents.
I was never a big fan of U2 but I respect their musicianship, success etc. Their music depresses me for some reason. As opposed to The Darkness. I was at the SF show and it was freaking awesome, worth breaking my nail (I know!) and risking covid, driving out of town and sleeping in an uncomfortable hotel bed so I could go to the show. It was absolutely one of the most fun and happy times I have ever had, especially post pandemic I really appreciated the chance to see you again. You and the boys are amazingly talented I am in total awe. You are an amazing entertainer/front man/writer/guitarist/singer. THANK YOU.
Well I for one am happy to see you talking about U2. :-) You did only one video about them before.
The drum is a little light because Larry Mullen Jr. is recovering from back surgery. He joined them for this song, but apparently what we hear was pretty painful. Glad to see him, but he still has some recovery ahead of him. In the mean time the stand-in drummer (Bram van den Berg) is doing a great job in the shows at The Sphere.
Not the biggest U2 fan, but I love this fffffffing song!!! ❤
Beautiful Day is still an amazing song. One of my favorite from U2
Even the intro drum sounds like Call Me by Blondie!
I don't know why, but the chorus also gave me an "House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals" vibe, mostly due to the voice.
Just attended the U2 concert in Vegas at the Sphere on 11 October....and WOW! Bono & the whole band was in amazing form! The innovative art graphics to go with the songs were amazing too. I've been to many great concerts in my life but this one blew me away.
As Justin said U2 gave Blondie’s “Call Me” writers Debbie Harry & Giorgio Moroder songwriting credit. The drum intro and chorus vocal melodies are lifted from Blondie with credit & $ given. The video was shot with Larry on drums who is sitting out of The Sphere shows due to back surgery.
Yes, the Call Me reference is obvious, but James is also smuggled in there. Listen to the guitar vibe of this U2 track, right from the off, then listen to "Waltzing Along" and "Ring the Bells" by James.
Definite James vibe going on here.
Which is no bad thing.
Love this! I’ve been with them all the way from the mid 70’s they never disappoint- great tempo.
Great breakdown Justin. It kind of reminded me of the bluetones in the intro.
Most songwriting credits I have ever seen on one track was the Happy Mondays Lazyitis 12" which noted: Ryder/Ryder/Day/Whelan/Davis/Lennon/McCartney/Sylvester Stewart/David Essex (oops and Karl Denver too, I think!)
On 2nd listening this cake is made up of Oasis, Clash - London Calling, Beach Boys middle 8 and a layer of Blondie Icing and candles ... Ive never been that keen on U2!
I've led quite a sheltered musical life for over 40 years. I'm enjoying outsourcing my newfound prowess and understanding to you, Justin. Thank you for these great analytical pieces.
That was fantastic. You just took me through a amazing journey 🎼🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Another great video and loved the guitar chord breakdown. Been a big U2 fan for about 30 years now and it's good to see you feature them. I agree with many others that their better days (pushing the envelope/taking risks) are behind them which is a real shame...but they are in their 60's I suppose. I still think they could make another Zooropa at least - just throw all cation to the wind. One day...maybe. They have won 22 grammy's for a reason but unfortunately for a long time now it has become it's own fashion to hate them for no reason or pathetic reasons for some folk. Odd how some don't like the thought of others being successful and having a talent. Such is life!
Cheers justin...top man.
I thought No Line On The Horizon was a bit of return to 90s form. Maybe not quite at Achtung or Zooropa levels of creative and sonic brilliance, but you can hear it’s the same band that made those incredible albums. Title track, Unknown Caller, Magnificent (which I call the sexy sister of Streets), FEZ/Being Born, Cedars of Lebanon, Breathe…all sound like THAT band to my ears. It’s a shame they’ve abandoned these songs by and large.
U2 play it quite safe when it comes to potential copyright infringements. Remember Beautiful Day? With the A-ha-ism (a-ha moment?). Probably better this way...before enjoying a new spin on something without knowing you were supposed to have enjoyed it more when the pioneers did it first.
U2 has plenty of their own hits, they don't need to rip people off. Aha's song is very different, you're really reaching on that one.
@@anthonysclafani3963 Yeah That's my point. I'm really not dissing them...sounds nothing like Blondie except for a few seconds in total that could sound like "Call Me". And the interval of 2 words in Beautiful Day that sound like "Touch Me" in Sun Always Shines on TV...(and so do millions of other phrases). That one wasn't my reach at all. I just think it's cool that instead of waiting for the reachers in absurd copyright claims U2 acknowledge incidental similarities even when they don't have to and get on with their music.
"The band described the track as a musical homage to artists such as Blondie, Giorgio Moroder, and the Clash as well as post-punk music of the 1970s, while the lyrics reference Las Vegas. "
Nice one Juzzo.
Don't mind this ditty but being old the first 3 albums by U2 are my faves.
They have though had some pretty good stuff since gotta say.
I am in a two piece acoustic band & we are both massive U2 fans but we don’t have any U2 songs in the set. So we are going to do this new one. If it goes down well we will keep it in the set if not there are loads of great U2 tracks to choose from.
All I want is you , One , Stay , Staring at the sun , Sunday bloody sunday ,Desire ,Drowning man (best u2 song) ,are all great for acoustic playing
@JustinHawkinsRidesAgain hearing you break down the Edge’s playing really makes me want to see your reaction / assessment of ‘It Might Get Loud’
This video was shot on Fremont street in Las Vegas. The same area where the video for Still haven't found what I'm looking for was shot in 1987.
Saw them on 9/30 at sphere- amazing!!!!
Great video mate and this is a great tune! Especially live in the Sphere👍
I see the d chord constructed that edge is playing the d as a sus 2 and adams F implies the minor 3rd, edge often doesnt play 3rds so the chords are less defined, and in this case Adam uses his role as bass player to flavour it with some tension while Bono’s melody is more major key… or something like that?
It looks like the live perf part of the video was filmed in Las Vegas. Seems like an old school Fremont Street vibe
It was filmed on Fremont.
I believe Larry wasnt going to play drums on this as he had back surgery and is in recovery, hes sitting out their Sphere concerts. However he went in just to see the studio and ended up doing them anyway. Probably couldnt do what he wanted with his back recovery.
hahaha,i heard Call Me on first hearing on the track and commented on it but didn't know u2 added Blondie to the writing credits
I looked up Atkin guitars because of this video and can say, very nice, and sounds fantastic. Fun review, thanks!
Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For video was also filmed on Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas.
Justin - love your work, but I'm also a big arsed U2 fan as well. Vegas is the city - they recorded video for Still Haven't Found also almost in same location and U2 have done the vocal thing you mention, (overlay of one vocal to the other between Bono and Edge) they've been doing since before Boy! Listen to Electric Co, Stories for Boys, Out of Control - oh and the song you played when you first heard the chord progression - Sunday Bloody Sunday . . . .
As Justin mentioned the drums several times… The drums - not only the intro - are as well a reminiscence to Blondie‘s „Call Me“… enjoy it! 🎼🕺🏼
You're on fine form young lad .I seen U2 in Glasgow when they were a new band still sound new to me .
Huge U2 fan here, and I commented elsewhere that I thought this song was a bag o shite, but after your dissection, I now see it's worth amongst their catalogue! Thanks, Justin! ❤️
I'm a huge U2 fan. Not sure about this song yet though. Maybe it'll be a grower. Good to hear Edge having more prominent vocal parts. He has a great voice. Chorus definitely similar to Blondie's Call Me though. Love yr channel Justin 😉
I think it would be awesome if you did a video on The Gulps! They're really entertaining live; Dont forget to shoutout their gig on the 16th of December at the Moth Club, London!
Larry has been dealing with a lot of health problems from his years of hitting the drums hard. He's had some surgeries this year and is sitting out the Vegas residency to recover, so I'm sure that has something to do with the drums not being as forceful.
Justin, it's Fremont street in Vegas. They did something like a pop up concert there.
YOU'RE SUCH AN AMAZING GUITAR PLAYER TOO JUSTIN AND WHAT AN EAR. THANKS FOR SHARING DUDE.
A brilliant u2 concert is zoo tv out in the early 90s i saw saw the show myself in dublin the stage is the best stage i ever seen and i have been to few concerts.Check out that concert if youve never seen it you wont be disapointed and yes you can get it easy enough.
U2 finished just before the Zoo TV encore when Bono came on as a pathetic "character". All downhill since then.
the part of the song with the guitar stabs is London Calling by The Clash.
Agree totally about the Dm/F (or 1st inversion of Dm) in anticipatory role being a U2 trademark.. I hadn't noticed this. Good thinking Batman! Nice one Justin. ⭐👍
So very VERY comforted by the fact that an accomplished muso like Justin struggles with an F barre. Thought it was me, just me indeed😊
More positive reactions for the
darkness than for u2 hahaha 😂
I think an interesting episode would be to look at the musicians or bands who have successfully crossed genres. This seems to be the most difficult thing to do since it is harder to market your self as a rock band, metal band or progressive rock band if you are changing up your musical style too often. What say you Justin about changing up genres? Outside of a few names not many have been too successful at it. Can a musician who is capable of writing songs and performing them across genres be successful, or is that most just don't have the desire to do so?
I can hear Blondie's "Call Me" right from the start. That's the second time they've filmed a video in Vegas. The first was for the video "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."
Larry just had surgery not hitting em as hard as normal
The chorus really does sound like call me, glad they did the right thing by Debbie and Georgio
U2 have been phoning it in for a long, long time now. All the energy and vitality of a retirement village.
Love your quick takes on these songs. Your use of language makes it. The timbre of that guitar line 😂
I find it hard to believe that anyone gets super excited about a new U2 song
Since Christian Contemporary music took over their sound I can't
They make music for boring men to listen to on the drive back from the golf club. 🤢🤢🤢🤮
I do
They earned it early doors.. absolutely huge band back in the day !
@@JohnViguerieexactly like living in a place where any grocery store will be playing cc music like it just sounds like that to me. Even their earlier stuff. They could play u2 mixed in with cc & nobody would notice
Grew up listening to U2 - can't help but think they peaked in Sydney in 1993 for the Zoo TV tour - nothing for me has quite hit the same since that era.
True, That album and tour was their crowning achievement. Since then, they've sort of been hanging around.
I adored the Elevation era! Around 9-11. Even loved No line and their 360 tour...but there was something very special about Zoo TV.
Naaa The most inventive U2 was no line in the horizon and Pop . It was more a sign of the times than exactly what U2 were doing to make you think they peaked.
I love your breakdowns. Nothing quite like an intelligent guitar player. Spectacular.
Actually Debbie Harry and Giorgio Moroder ARE credited as composers and lyricists.
That's Good Vibrations Irish style in the middle isn't it?
I'll have another listen
The band U2 is playing on a stage on the bed of flatbed truck down in Fremont area (old part) of Las Vegas, Nevada which IS ATOMIC CITY! I was right in front of ADAM!
I was a religious U2 fan for years but I found that I was just buying their records out of Habit rather than being amazed by them. I tuned out somewhere in the late '90's... This song is another reason why I don't really give a flip anymore.
No Line on the Horizon was a more experimental non bubble gum album
I love this song👏 Their best single since Vertigo, heard it on the radio plenty of times too. Welcome back, lads. Great video, Justin!
Great analysis! Love the channel and love the song.