The Pop Zeal Project (Track 80): U2: “New Years Day”

Cold War

“I will be with you again,” sings Paul “Bono” Hewson on the band’s 1983 hit from the album, War. As Bono began writing the lyrics, they morphed from a love song to his new wife, Alison, into something with a much broader (political) context: the Solidarity movement occurring in Poland at that time. “I, I will begin again.” This backstory is further detailed in Niall Stokes’ book, “U2: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song,” which spans from 1980’s “I Will Follow” to 2009’s “Cedars of Lebanon.”

The video for “New Year’s Day,” directed by fellow Irishman, Meiert Avis, was filmed in Sweden in December 1982, during the dead of winter. According to guitarist, David “The Edge” Evans, the four riders on horseback, implied as the four members of the band, were in fact four Swedish teenage girls in disguise. Also worth noting that in the performance footage filmed in frigid temperatures, Bono is the only member not bundled up, no protective cap and gloves, as he lip-syncs the lyrics while, undoubtedly, feeling the burr.

The Pop Zeal Project (Track 78): Jay-Z; Bono; The Edge; Rihanna: “Stranded”

Some of the biggest names in music contributed to the benefit album, Hope for Haiti Now, in response to a catastrophic 2010 earthquake that occurred in the country. A telethon was organized, and included several on-air musical interludes. One such featured the song, “Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour),” as performed by Jay-Z, Rihanna, and from U2, the lead singer, Bono and lead guitarist, The Edge.

The track, created especially for the album, features rap verses by Jay-Z. They’re a reflection on the devastation, and at times a prayer to heaven, as well as a call to those on earth for immediate unity and assistance, a call which also includes a brief political critique, reminding “New Orleans was flooded/So we know we just can’t rely on the government.” In the chorus, Bono and Rihanna send additional messages of commitment and protection into the ether to those in that extremely difficult circumstance.