The Unforgettable Fire

- by Stacy Kelly| StacyGK@aol.com 

My own U2 beginnings happened in 1985 at a camp in northern Ontario (Canada). Some kid brought out a "ghetto blaster" (they were somewhat rare, I think, at least if you were 14) and played this song that totally blew me away. It became our unofficial camp song, an anthem, and it haunted me for years. I actually wasn't cognizant of the band as I grew up in the country (cable was the stuff of science fiction). So it wasn't the cool images, the new video-era machination of created identities that grabbed me. It really began with the music. The song, by the way, was "Pride" and I've been in love ever since.

I have remained very loyal to U2, even with these later albums. I am discouraged when I talk to people who have nothing good to say about their music after 1991. So many people I know seem not to care for it. I will admit, in my opinion the height of U2 will always be The "Joshua Tree"-"Rattle and Hum"-"Achtung Baby". This is their classic trio that they will probably never equal in power and quality. That being said, they have produced some real gems on the "Zooropa"-"Passengers"-"Pop" records that deserve more attention than many (including critics) have given them. My guess is that if you pulled out "Zooropa" now and threw it in the cd player, it would show you things you hadn't seen before. I think that U2 is truly like a great wine. Their music ages and develops inside you in ways that surprise you.

I can recall running out to the store to buy one of the first copies of "Achtung Baby". I ran home and with my best friend, threw in on. The opening notes to "Zoo Station" really threw us off and to be honest, we didn't like it all that much. The problem was, we had been listening endlessly to "Rattle and Hum" for three years, enjoying the album and the record. They became our soundtrack while at university. So we were quite taken aback by this new album. But it wasn't long before I realized that it is actually U2's best work, bar none. It is acknowledged as their best album and despite the fact that "The Joshua Tree" is my personal favourite, I recognize that "Achtung Baby" was the far more matured, crafted and outstanding record. Anyway, since that period I think I respected U2 so much for refusing to stand still. A lot of the music on the post "Achtung" albums were brilliantly rendered in their live shows. This is when U2 really shine, and I am eager to see my heros on the stage again.

With regards to their political work, I am most interested in Bono's efforts on erradicating third world debt. Ever since high school, though, I have been inspired by U2's support of Amnesty International. I think they deserve credit for being among the first big bands to stand for causes-even while they took alot of abuse and mimicry for it. It's interesting. I got into a discusion with another fan who thought that U2 were less political than "the good old days". He felt U2 were better when they were "more political". I argued that U2 were, in fact, just as (and possibly) even more inolved as a band. Just because some of the songs were not as politically overt (as in "Sunday, Bloody Sunday", "Pride", "Running to Stand Still", etc) that the band continued their support and active involvement with many issues. Anyway, I have been enlightened and inspired by U2 and consider them of the upmost importance in my life.

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