U2
Album: All That You Can't Leave Behind
Song: It's a Beautiful Day
Reviewed by: Krystal Burns
The Band
How can we talk about music without talking about the band proclaimed by many to be the greatest rock n’ roll band on earth? Rolling Stone (March 25, 2004) featured U2 in the article Immortals—a tribute to the 50 greatest musical artist of all time. After nearly 25 successful years in the fickle world of music, U2 has certainly earned it. The Irish group officially became U2 in 1978 (historical context: the year after Elvis Presley died), and released their debut album “Out of Control” in 1979. Since then, U2 has released 13 other albums plus singles. “Joshua Tree” (1987) topped the worldwide charts and is still one of their best sellers. Having established themselves in the rock music empire, U2, Bono (songwriter and lead vocalist) in particular, has in recent years been a voice for various civil rights movements such as Drop the Debt, Greenpeace, and Chernobyl Children’s Project.
The Music
All That You Can’t Leave Behind was recorded in Dublin and released in October of 2000. While the backbone of the group’s philosophy is heart and mind, the album in particular is “more real, less poetic than other albums” according to drummer Larry. Bono says of their music, “Pop music often tells you everything is OK, while rock music tells you that it’s not OK, but you can change it. There’s defiance in rock music that gives you a reason to get out of bed in the mornings. Most pop music doesn’t make you want to get out of bed, I’m sorry to say. It puts you to sleep.” The wildly popular “It’s a Beautiful Day” is a good demonstration of their philosophy. Other songs on the album include “Stuck In a Moment and You Can’t Get Out of It,” “Wild Honey,” and “Grace.”
The Song
In 2001, “It’s a Beautiful Day” won three Grammy awards. It is by far one of the most positive songs that continues to grace the radio waves. Bono begins the song by painting a bleak picture that echoes the sentiments of many. “You’re on the road but you’ve got no destination/ You’re in the mud, in the maze of her imagination/ You love the town even if it doesn’t ring true/ You’ve been all over and it’s been all over you.” We often feel a bit lost and out of sorts in the world as we try to make sense of the things around us. Despite the difficult circumstances we find ourselves in, all is not lost.
The song encourages us to focus on the good in life. “It’s a beautiful day/ Don’t let it get away… Touch me, take me to that other place/ Teach me, I know I’m not a hopeless case.” Bono also introduces images of hope. One that is particularly noteworthy is that of “the bird with a leaf in her mouth” followed by “after the flood all the colors came out.” This is referring to the time when God destroyed the earth by flood. When Noah sent out a dove and it returned with a leaf in its mouth, he knew there was dry ground and new life. God gave the rainbow as a sign that he would never again destroy the entire earth with a flood. (Genesis 8-9). Hence the rainbow, as God intended, is a sign of hope and regeneration. Bono goes on to say “What you don’t have you don’t need it now/ You don’t need it now, you don’t need it now.” This is powerful in that it goes against everything our culture tells us. We live in a world that says you do need everything and you need it now. Often I find myself thinking it would be so much better if I had this or that, and maybe next year or in ten years I’ll really be happy. But the Bible tells us to learn (key word: learn, it doesn’t come naturally) to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:12) and not to store up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19-21).
Life is hard—there’s no doubt about that. But we do not have to be overcome with the pain and suffering we experience and see around us. Jesus Christ is our hope. Focus on the goodness of God. The Psalmist writes, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
So What Do You Think?
1. What are five good things that have happened today?
2. What are you most grateful for in your life?
3. How can we encourage others who are in hard situations?
4. Bono gives a pretty harsh criticism of pop music. Do you agree or
disagree, why or why not?
5. In your opinion, who are some other “timeless” musical
artists