Zooropa (song)
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"Zooropa" is a song by Irish rock band U2, and is the opening track from their 1993 album of the same name. The song was the result of combining two pieces of music, the first of which was conceived in the studio, and the second of which was a soundcheck recording from one of the group's concert tours that was discovered by guitarist the Edge. The lyrics were written by lead vocalist Bono and describe two characters in a brightly lit city in a futuristic version of European society. Some lyrics in the song were taken directly from advertising slogans, and they also featured the phrase "dream out loud", which has appeared in other U2 media. The song touched on several themes, including moral confusion and the future of European society.
Promotional recordings of the song were released in the United States and Mexico, and the song appeared on two record charts shortly after its release in 1993. The song was briefly performed at three shows on U2's Zoo TV Tour in 1993. The band had difficulties performing it in 1993, and it was not played again until the U2 360° Tour in 2011.
The recording of the song received mostly positive reception from critics, who praised it as the album's opening track.
Background and recording
During the Zoo TV Tour in 1992, U2 were trying to create a vision of an attractive future for Europe, as opposed to a negative, dystopian image that would be found in science fiction. With recent and ongoing events in Europe, such as the Revolutions of 1989, the enlargement of the European Union, and the Bosnian War, lead vocalist Bono created a surreal vision of a European location called "Zooropa".[1] Bono has referred to Zooropa as being a concept album,[2] with a main theme of the exploration of interpellation within the European Union.[3]
"['Zooropa'] was our attempt to create a world rather than just songs and it's a beautiful world. The opening was our new manifesto [... and] the audio equivalent of Blade Runner's visuals. If you closed your eyes you could see the neon, the giant LED screens advertising all manner of ephemera."
—Bono[4]
Bono and guitarist
"Zooropa" was written and recorded during the album's sessions at
Synthesizer sounds were added by producer
The band had originally intended on recording an EP during the sessions, but Zooropa eventually evolved into full-length album. "Zooropa" was one of five songs that were part of what would have become the band's EP, which also included "Babyface", "Numb", "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)", and "The Wanderer".[4] Prior to the song's final title, it had the working title "Babble–Zooropa", as mentioned in a May 1993 issue of Hot Press,[5] and was later titled "Zooropa I & II" in a June 1993 issue of Billboard.[11]
Composition and themes
"Zooropa" begins with a two-minute-long
"There's this image of the 'overground'. It was a time when everyone was all indie and grey and dull—the 'underground'. The overground was like coming out into the bright light of a modern city. It's an amazing place to be, walking around these modern cities like Houston or Tokyo. And the idea was coming out into that, embracing it, going after it."
—Bono[1]
The song describes two characters in a setting with a dull and grey appeal, who emerge from blinking
Following the first three verses of advertising slogans, the song continues with the lyrics "I have no compass, and I have no map" and "No reason to get back", referring to the uncertainty of the new direction of U2's music at the time.[2] The following verse begins with, "And I have no religion", which was included in the lyrics because Bono stated that he believes "religion is the enemy of God."[1] A review of the album in Melody Maker compared the lyric "Uncertainty can be a guiding light" towards the end of the song to the line "If you walk away, [...] I will follow" from U2's 1980 single "I Will Follow". The reviewer stated "The man (Bono) that once had so many answers now sounds simply confused."[16] The theme of moral confusion was first used in U2's song "Acrobat" from Achtung Baby.[5] The coda in "Zooropa" features the lyric "dream out loud", which Bono included as a reference to "Acrobat".[1] The phrase "dream out loud" was first used by Bono during the Lovetown Tour in 1989,[17] and has appeared several times in U2's work since then. The phrase was also used in the song "Always"[18] – a B-side to the "Beautiful Day" single released in 2000[19] — and was spoken by Bono in the PopMart: Live from Mexico City video.[20]
Release and chart performance
"Zooropa" was the opening track from the eponymous album, and
"Zooropa" was one of four songs from the album to be featured on the
Live performances
During the Zoo TV Tour, clips of "Zooropa" were played during the beginning of the show. The clips included the lyric "What do you want?" repeated twice, which was displayed on video screens in various languages, and interspersed with a voice saying "It's very simple". This part of the opening segment was intended to create confusion among the audience regarding the show's message, and eventually lead to information overload.[29] U2 performed "Zooropa" live at three consecutive concerts during the fourth leg of the Zoo TV Tour in 1993.[30] Bono originally discussed how the song would be played live during the album's recording sessions, saying that the Edge's guitar riffs may be extended in concert.[5] The song debuted live at a concert in Glasgow in August 1993, and was performed in the middle of the set list following "Numb". The live version was much shorter than the album version, skipping the piano intro, as well as the first three verses, starting with the line "I have no compass, and I have no map". U2 had difficulty performing the song live, which Bono acknowledged to the audience following its debut. According to the book U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, the song's first performance sounded "shaky" and needed more rehearsal, although its subsequent Zoo TV performances "sound[ed] better".[31] Bassist Adam Clayton suggested performing the song as the show opener during the rehearsals for the tour's fifth and final Zoomerang leg,[32] but it was not performed again on the tour.[30]
After Zoo TV, "Zooropa" was not performed live for 18 years until it was played towards the end of the
The song was not performed during the first leg of the Innocence + Experience Tour, but at the first show of the European leg in September 2015, a stripped-down version was performed during the second half of the concert. This interpretation of the song lacks the piano intro and first verses, serving as a segue from "Bullet the Blue Sky" into "Where the Streets Have No Name".
Reception
Critical reception
David Sinclair of
Interpretations
"'Where the Streets Have No Name' is about the Kingdom of God. It is about eventual fulfilment and completion. It is about certainty, hope, and shalom. 'Zooropa,' on the other hand, offers no fulfilment, no certainty, no hope, no compass, no map, no religion. Zooropa is hell on earth."
—Robert Vagacs, author of Religious Nuts, Political Fanatics[13]
Robert Vagacs, author of the book Religious Nuts, Political Fanatics: U2 in the Theological Perspective, describes the song as the
The use of consumer slogans as song lyrics was also commented on by various sources. Critic Perry Gettelman interpreted them as meaning to "signify the emptiness of modern, godless life".
Legacy
Zooropa producer
Kurt Koenigsberger's book The Novel and the Menagerie mentioned "Zooropa" in a section discussing
Formats and track listings
Personnel
U2
- Bono – vocals
- The Edge – guitar, piano, synthesisers, backing vocals
- Adam Clayton – bass guitar
- Larry Mullen Jr. – drums, percussion, bass guitar[note 1]
Additional personnel
- Robbie Adams – engineering
- Brian Eno – synthesisers
- Flood – mixing, engineering
- Rob Kirwan – engineering assistance
- Willie Mannion – mixing assistance, engineering assistance
- Joe O'Herlihy – second half of backing track recording at soundcheck
Charts
Chart (1993) | Position |
---|---|
US | 8 |
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[28]
|
13 |
Notes
- ^ Larry Mullen, Jr.'s bass guitar performance was uncredited.
References
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Stokes 2005, pp. 111–112.
- ^ a b Wenner, Jann (2 January 2006). "Bono: The Rolling Stone Interview Pt. 7: Zooropa – Achtung Baby" (MP3). Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
- ^ a b Keohane 1997, p. 293–294.
- ^ a b c d e f U2 2006, pp. 247–248.
- ^ a b c d e Jackson, Joe (19 May 1993). "The Magical Mystery Tour". Hot Press. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d Bono; The Edge (3 July 1993). "Carter Alan interviews Bono and The Edge". Westwood One (Transcript). Interviewed by Carter Alan. Verona. Archived from the original on 31 May 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g Flood 2005, p. 130.
- ^ a b c d e f Zooropa (Media notes). U2. Island Records. 1993. 314–518 047.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Calhoun, Scott (26 July 2013). "The @U2 Interview: Flood". atu2.com. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ Flanagan 1995, p. 230.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b Gill, Andy (1 July 1993). "ROCK / Albums: Take the Cash and run: Andy Gill on the latest from U2: is it their most adventurous recording yet? Plus a single Sugarcube". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d Vagacs 2005, pp. 50–51.
- ^ a b DeCurtis, Anthony (3 August 1993). "Zooropa". Rolling Stone. No. 662. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (4 July 1993). "RECORDINGS VIEW; A Raucous U2 Moves Farther Out on a Limb". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
- ^ Brothers 1999, pp. 256–257.
- ^ de la Parra 2003, p. 136.
- Live Nation. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
- Live Nation. Archived from the originalon 15 October 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
- ^ Mallet, David (director) (1998). PopMart: Live from Mexico City (Concert film). Island Records.
- ^ a b U2 (1993). Zooropa (promotional single). United States: Island Records. PRCD 6792-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b U2 (1993). Zooropa (promotional single). Mexico: Island Records. CD SN 199.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "U2 × 5 Logos". Amp Visual. 7 March 2012. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ de la Parra 2003, pp. 160–161.
- ^ Flanagan 1995, p. 265.
- ^ "Zooropa (1993)". Billboard.com. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ Brothers 1999, p. 247.
- ^ a b c Mühlbradt, Matthias; Axver, André Axver. "Zooropa". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
- ^ de la Parra 2003, pp. 168–169.
- ^ Flanagan 1995, pp. 374–376.
- ^ "Adam Clayton of U2 on the song Zooropa". The Independent. 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
- ^ a b Clayton, Adam (2012). U22 (Media notes). U2. Island Records. U2.COM7.
- ^ "U2 Sao Paulo, 2011-04-10 Morumbi, 360° Tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- ^ McGee, Matt. "U2 Set List: Sao Paulo, April 10, 2011". atU2. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ "Zooropa in Sao Paulo". U2.com. Live Nation. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ Lewis, Eric (1 August 2011). "'They're the coolest dudes'". The Daily Gleaner. p. A1.
- ^ Ahorro, Joe (1 June 2011). "Stadium will rattle and hum to these songs". Edmonton Journal. p. D1.
- ISSN 0140-0460.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Zooropa". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
- ^ Browne, David (9 July 1993). "Music Review: Zooropa (1993)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
- ISSN 0011-5509.
- ^ Vagacs 2005, pp. 48, 52–58.
- ^ Vagacs 2005, p. 60–62.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (23 July 1993). "U2, Zooropa". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
- ^ Considine, J. D. (4 July 1993). "'ZOOROPA' Latest U2 album isn't 'bigger' and maybe that's better". The Baltimore Sun. p. 2. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ a b Koenigsberger 2007, pp. 186–189.
- ^ Brothers 1999, p. 248.
- ^ Brothers 1999, p. 251.
- ^ Brothers 1999, p. 257.
- ^ Williams 2003, p. 250.
- ^ Bounds, Andrew (May–June 2008). "Miracle or mirage?". E!Sharp. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011.
- ^ Lynskey, Dorian (11 June 2005). "U2, King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ "Geldof expects 'glorious failure'". BBC News. 9 June 2005. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ Diez, Thomas (January 1999). "The Compass(es) of European Integration". H-Net Reviews. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
- ^ Knapp 2005, p. 111.
- ^ Bekaert & Hodrick 2008, pp. 374–375.
- ^ Vagacs 2005, pp. 83–85.
- MusicRadar. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
Bibliography
- Bekaert, Geert; Hodrick, Robert J. (2008). International Financial Management. ISBN 978-0-13-116360-7.
- Brothers, Robyn (1999). "Time to Heal, 'Desire' Time". In Dettmar, Kevin J. H.; Richey, William (eds.). Reading Rock and Roll: Authenticity, Appropriation, Aesthetics. New York: ISBN 978-0-231-11399-1.
- de la Parra, Pimm Jal (2003). U2 Live: A Concert Documentary (2nd ed.). London: ISBN 978-0-7119-9198-9.
- ISBN 978-0-385-31157-1.
- ISBN 978-0-87930-860-5.
- Keohane, Kieran (1997). "Traditionalism and Homelessness in Contemporary Irish Music". In Mac Laughlin, Jim (ed.). Location and Dislocation in Contemporary Irish Society: Emigration and Irish Identities. Cork: ISBN 978-1-85918-054-9.
- Knapp, Robin D. (2005). German English Words: A Popular Dictionary of German Words Used in English. ISBN 978-1-4116-5895-0. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
- Koenigsberger, Kurt (2007). The Novel and the Menagerie: Totality, English, and Empire. Columbus, OH: ISBN 978-0-8142-1057-4.
- ISBN 978-1-56025-765-3.
- U2 (2006). McCormick, Neil (ed.). ISBN 978-0-00-719668-5.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link - ISBN 978-1-56025-487-4.
- Vagacs, Robert (2005). Religious Nuts, Political Fanatics: U2 in the Theological Perspective. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books. ISBN 978-1-59752-336-3.
External links
- "Zooropa" lyrics – U2.com