Customer Reviews

Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own Pt.2

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (SYCMIOYO) is without a doubt one of the very best tracks on the superb How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb album. The lyrics are extremely personal, and anyone who has had troubles with their father will be able to feel Bono's pain and will find the lyrics to be hauntingly superb. Indeed, such is the quality of Bono's lyricism that the lyrics of SYCMIOYO can be related to many other situations just as adequately, as I know very well from experience. This song is a ballad of the calibre of masterpieces such as Bad, With Or Without You, One, and Stay (Faraway, So Close!), featuring some of Bono's best vocals since the Zooropa era.

The single as a format of musical release is pretty much dying, with sales continuing to decline. For that reason, bands focus more on album releases, and U2 are no exception. They have another good reason - their recording process is organic, with ideas developed in one session but not often fully formed until later (i.e. City Of Blinding Lights, recently released on HTDAAB, saw the first musical inception during 1996 sessions for Pop), and thus they do not want to release half-formed ideas that could be built upon later, especially not as b-sides on a format that is low-profile and will only be purchased by a relative few. Nonetheless, the single is solid enough and the title track itself is so marvellous that it definitely deserves a five star rating. I would definitely recommend this version (the three track release) over the other one (the two track release), if only for Ave Maria. How many other bands can claim the prestige of releasing not just one but two songs with a master like Pavarotti?

To answer some allegations, there was no iTunes debacle as no money changed hands, U2 are not sell-outs except in the sense that every band that signs a record deal is selling out their music to others, and anyone who thinks U2 have lost their way and become commercial since Pop is simply delusional. U2 are refining their art, playing to their strengths, releasing sincere and heartfelt rock in a world filled with shallow, fake Britney-pop and mindless rap. If the allegations against U2 were true, Bono would be singing "I want you in my pants" and the song would be used as part of a Levis jeans ad. That hasn't happened and the greatest rock band in the world are still the greatest rock band in the world, going where no-one has gone before and releasing some of their most successful and best music more than two and a half decades into their career. It may not be your cup of tea, but you have to admire the artistic ability. Just because U2 didn't make what YOU wanted doesn't mean it's bad. Some people need to stop living in the past.

SYCMIOYO is a superb single. The song is masterful, crafted by a band of extraordinary talent and infused with heartfelt, sincere lyrics that are both specific and universal. This is a U2 classic. Buy it today.

All these people are abviously not long time fans. This song is about his father. C'mon. If you guys would stop and listed to the words then you would get the message. Some people just want to hear the same thing over and over from the artist. Yes, this song is slow but it is a great song that makes you think. You are not gonna get a "with or without you", "If God would send his Angels, etc.." If you want that, then go listen to those songs. New album, new songs. Get over it.

This is a love poem dedicated to a lost one, not necessarily meant to be understood by anynone but the author and his father. Having been sung during his father's funeral, I can't think of many other Bono songs that fall into the "deeply personal" category as much a this one. I think anyone who's ever lost a loved one can understand where this song came from.

A message of solidarity and desperation -"let me take some of the punches for you tonight"- Bono simply reveals the way he felt during a very difficult time of his life.

I can't believe most of the reviews that I have read for this single. This is by far one of the most honest U2 songs off of their new CD.

I think sometimes people just don't have a heart to really listen to the lyrics--it's really sad that too many people think U2 has "sold out"--obviously these are the fans who are not truly U2 fans. REAL U2 FANS STILL SEE THE ART AND THE PASSION IN U2, AND MOST OF ALL IN THEIR LYRICS...This song is as personal as Bono has ever been with his lyrics-- it is for his father Bob who had passed away in August 2001.

Like one good review stated:

"It's a declaration of love and longing and respect for someone that obviously had a great impact on Bono and his music."

On a personal note, my father passed away of lung cancer in 1991 when I was only 19--I can relate to Bono's lyrics. You come to a point in your life when you realize that who you see in the mirror everyday is a reflection of your parent(s). I can remember going through the rough teenage years, and how I always argued and fought with my father. I am so VERY blessed to have heard my father's last words to me be, "It's okay." He said these words to me after I told him how sorry I was for treating him during my teenage years. There's no better way to express how you feel about someone who has had such a major influence in your life than to write a song for them. In fact, I have written a song for my father, as well as 3 poems in his memory. It's also very respectful that during the 2005 Grammy Awards, Bono thanked his father publicly for giving him the gift of singing.

And another review really caught my attention from the following:

"I find it very pathetic that people can't get past a band's "commercial success" and actually listen to the music. I seldom find that comments about a band being "sell outs" hold any merit. Do people who say such things really like music or are they just trying to be cool? Yes Pink Floyd are great and so is the song "When The Tigers Broke Free", but does this band have exclusive rights to grieving for a father in an "artistic" way? You are comparing apples to oranges my friend. I do find it ironic that you would pick Pink Floyd as a comparison. Some long time fans of the band might say that their album and later released movie "The Wall" was the band's "sell out" period...(I wouldn't of course since I love both album and movie)."

U2 as sell outs-- I THINK NOT... if any one are sell outs it's these so called U2 fans who are now making these comments about the band being sell outs...I have been a U2 fan since 1984--and I know why they have lasted for so long is because they have talent and honesty in their music unlike so many other bands who have come and gone.

By the way--who sold more tickets in 2001, U2 or N'Sync? U2 did. Ticket sales for U2 was $109.7 million, and N'Sync was only $86.8 million. Too further add-- which group is still together? U2, of course--and the band has been the same four members since their first recording "Boy" in 1980. That's 25 years of U2.

I will leave you with a very well-stated sentence from the book, "U2, The Complete Guide to their Music" by Bill Graham & Caroline van Oosten de Boer-- at the bottom of page 31 to the top of page 32 it is written:

"'And you give and you give and you give yourself away', Bono sings, caught in that peculiarly suspended state of ego loss where love can dissolve the sense of self. Somehow I could never quite understand why he was so regularly accused of egotism when so many of his lyrics concern egolessness."

U2 & Bono "selling out"-- I think not. Open up your ears, and think with your hearts and not with your eyes and what you see in the media. Sure U2 has an Ipod, and etc.--- but the music is still real--and most of all Bono is still honest in his soul.

EOM

U2 forever;

The Bono Freak

St. Charles, MO

Obviously, all of you that are writing these negative reviews haven't heard the song, or at least haven't heard it in its entirety. No, it's not Streets. It's not One. But it's pretty good. In fact, it's more than pretty good. I can't think of many of people out on the market that can write a song like this with such personal ties, but still able to be understood by anyone with someone in their life that they love. Just remember, it's a song. Not a book, not a master's thesis. It's a declaration of love and longing and respect for someone that obviously had a great impact on Bono and his music. If you want to rant about how U2 has sold out to corporate America and commercialized its music, I can understand your sentiments, but it has nothing to do with the music. Regardless of what money is changing hands where, this is a strong band, with a strong purpose, and an immeasurable ability. Never forget that.

I know that a lot of people are writting negative reviews on this song, which I can't understand because of how great of a song it is. Maybe these are the people that weren't able to get tickets to a show, or something, but if you listen to the song and know the meaning behind it, it makes it that much for of a great song. Basically, the song is about Bono's relationship with his father who passed away in 2001. The best part of the song is when Bono credits his Dad for his talent in singing. This is far from a Celine Dion song as review earlier (though I do like Celine), because of the passion put into it. I don't believe this is the best track on the album, I still enjoy 'Original of the Species' over it, but it is definitely a great one!

This is an awesome song from an incredible album by the GREATEST BAND IN THE WORLD!

This is a great song, especially after you hear Bono talk about it and tell what this song means to him. It will be really great to hear this sung live in concert.

If you do not like the song why would you buy it twice? U2 has evovled again (since zooropa)and the last 2 albums have very meaningful music. This song is what u2 is about. They keep getting better with age. Keep em coming boys....

80s new wave lovers who were looking for a retro electro house mix of Vertigo when they purchased the single with the Jack Lee Knife mix were probably as bummed as me at how weak the mix was. Well, this 7 and a half minute Redanka remix of Vertigo is exactly the kind of dance mix this classic sounding U2 track needed. It should have been the lead off mix when the single first came out.