SOE
Active topics
U2 - Songs Of Experience (2017)
 Tracks: 14
  1. Just a thought but if they are going to copy lyrics from SOI in this album, they should have released both at the same time so we understand this as references, winks or conversations between the Innocence and Experience. Since the latter was delayed until 3 years after Innocence, now this just feels cheap.
    I understand what they are trying to do. In the 90's, Mexican band Café Tacvba (which you should listen, haha, not everything is in English) released a double album with intertwined themes. One album was instrumental, the other was more traditional, but one song in the middle of the instrumental album was more traditional and one song in the other album (in the same place) was instrumental. You knew that the albums were communicating, which was great. They never reused lyrics though.
  2. Originally posted by cesar_garza01:Just a thought but if they are going to copy lyrics from SOI in this album, they should have released both at the same time so we understand this as references, winks or conversations between the Innocence and Experience. Since the latter was delayed until 3 years after Innocence, now this just feels cheap.
    I understand what they are trying to do. In the 90's, Mexican band Café Tacvba (which you should listen, haha, not everything is in English) released a double album with intertwined themes. One album was instrumental, the other was more traditional, but one song in the middle of the instrumental album was more traditional and one song in the other album (in the same place) was instrumental. You knew that the albums were communicating, which was great. They never reused lyrics though.
    I agree releasing both at the same time wouldn’t have caused this confusion or whatever you want to call it around using parts from songs. I mean look at the wall by pink floyd, that’s got so many similar sounds running through so many songs, different parts of the same song too. It definitely works better being released at the same time and also in the same package, it could have been a double disc album. But we’ve got what we’ve got, I’am quite enjoying the songs anyway but it may affect others enjoyment which is genuinly unfortunate.
  3. Define 'relevance'.

    One thing I've noticed from the last decade or so is that very few songs that were hits have stayed relevant in the long run. I'm at an age now where if I'm on a night out in a drinking area with a load of uni students, I'm expecting to hear the music they grew up to, not mine.

    'Sex on Fire', 'Mr. Brightside', 'Sexy Back' were all songs played when around the time of my first degree, and they're still being played now. And get to a certain hour of the night with a certain level of imbibing of particular beverages, and people will sing aloud those tracks.

    Point is; what's gotten airplay over the last decade or so hasn't really transformed into a long-term popularity. They're fads, that pass with the next pop fad, and I personally think SoE is an acceptance that they're not going to get long-term relevance with a new generation by going their old route.

    These songs are poppy throwaways - twaddle really - and leave a bitter taste in the mouth for those who like them inspired by great writers, wars, political movements and injustice.

    But the last two albums have failed to produce a single song that has stayed in the heads of the casual listener beyond a month or two. Can't be too surprised at this direction folks
  4. I'd suggest that the replication of lyrics from one album to the next is a nod to William Blake's approach to Songs of Innocence and Experience. Poems with the same title appeared in both the Innocence and Experience collections respectively. The same characters appeared too. E.g There is an Innocence version of the poem 'The Chimney Sweeper' and an Experience version.

    Interestingly a Ned and a Jack appear as characters in the Innocence version. I would venture that Bono's references to Ned and Jack in The Blackout derive from said poem. Just sayin'.
  5. Originally posted by TheRefugee:I'd suggest that the replication of lyrics from one album to the next is a nod to William Blake's approach to Songs of Innocence and Experience. Poems with the same title appeared in both the Innocence and Experience collections respectively. The same characters appeared too. E.g There is an Innocence version of the poem 'The Chimney Sweeper' and an Experience version.

    Interestingly a Ned and a Jack appear as characters in the Innocence version. I would venture that Bono's references to Ned and Jack in The Blackout derive from said poem. Just sayin'.
    Are you a long time fan of William Blake?

    Asking because I'm not familiar to his work and I think it'll be very interesting the nods to it in SOE (and maybe there were some hidden in SOI as well). So an expert opinion would be really valuable
  6. Originally posted by Bloodraven:[..]
    Are you a long time fan of William Blake?

    Asking because I'm not familiar to his work and I think it'll be very interesting the nods to it in SOE (and maybe there were some hidden in SOI as well). So an expert opinion would be really valuable
    spot on!
    Soi and Soe resemble the (two) book(s) of Blake. some songs on Soi have to echo in Soe.
    I love to see a double album with both records (and please some of Blake's artwork). or a few gigs just like the Roxy and play only the two albums. not gonna happen though..
    .
  7. No expertise to speak of. Just began investigating Blake's work, prompted by Bono's clear signposting of where his inspiration for these albums comes from. Definitely worth exploring to help better understand Bono's approach to these companion albums in terms of the themes and structure of his lyrics. One of the great things about U2 is how they are like a gateway for their fans to other art and interests.
  8. I always thought they would open the album with "introduction to songs of experience" (1987)
  9. @Remy
    may be a new topic to see the comparisons between the 2 albums and Blake's book (s)


  10. I've ben terribly busy - 3rd year of undergrad and starting a research project. But I always remember to visit the site when there's big news!
  11. Originally posted by cesar_garza01:Just a thought but if they are going to copy lyrics from SOI in this album, they should have released both at the same time so we understand this as references, winks or conversations between the Innocence and Experience. Since the latter was delayed until 3 years after Innocence, now this just feels cheap.
    I understand what they are trying to do. In the 90's, Mexican band Café Tacvba (which you should listen, haha, not everything is in English) released a double album with intertwined themes. One album was instrumental, the other was more traditional, but one song in the middle of the instrumental album was more traditional and one song in the other album (in the same place) was instrumental. You knew that the albums were communicating, which was great. They never reused lyrics though.
    I LOVE Cafe Tacuba! Are you talking about Reves/Yo Soy? Discovered this when I was wirh Warner Bros. Loved it. Didnt understand much but the music. Nice...
  12. I put thé ''tracklist' up a while back... comparing the Blake poems and SoI/SoE.

    It has been an inspiration to U2 for a long time.... even The Fly is on there !

    I studied some Blake at school (late 70's !! ) including A Poison Tree which I can still recite. It is definitely an influence on Bono's lyrics aims Actung Baby time eg. Running to Stand Still ...I took the poison from the Poison Tree...

    It is a rich resource for all budding lyricists !

    Certainly worth investigation even if you are not a poetry fan...

    Songs of Innocence...

    Introduction
    The Shepherd
    The Echoing Green
    The Lamb
    The Little Black Boy
    The Blossom
    The Chimney Sweeper
    The Little Boy lost
    The Little Boy found
    Laughing Song
    A Cradle Song
    The Divine Image
    Holy Thursday
    Night
    Spring
    Nurse's Song
    Infant Joy
    A Dream
    On Another's Sorrow

    Songs of Experience. ..

    Introduction
    Earth's Answer
    The Clod and the Pebble
    Holy Thursday
    The Little Girl Lost
    The Little Girl Found
    A Dream
    Nurse's Song
    The Sick Rose
    The Fly
    The Angel
    The Tyger
    My Pretty Rose Tree
    Ah! Sunflower
    The Lily
    The Garden of Love
    The Little Vagabond
    London
    The Human Abstract
    Infant Sorrow
    A Poison Tree
    A Little Boy Lost
    A Little Girl Lost
    To Tirzah
    The Schoolboy
    The Voice of the Ancient Bard
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.