U2: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song (Stories Behind the Songs) [Perfect Paperback]

Niall Stokes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Stories Behind the Songs | Publication Date: October 6, 2009

U2 fans who want material on the band but “still haven’t found what they’re looking for” will welcome this song-by-song volume. This definitive new book features original and revealing interviews with the group, plus key people close to them. It not only traces U2’s meteoric rise to fame, but explores the background and inspiration behind every song written by the band. A full analysis of U2’s long-awaited new album No Line on the Horizon makes up the last main chapter.

 

 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Niall Stokes is the founder and Editor of Hot Press, Ireland’s bible of rock ’n’ roll and current affairs. He has also edited two best-selling books on U2, The U2 File and U2: Three Chords and the Truth. He has been translated into Russian, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, German, Dutch, and Swedish.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Carlton Books; Reprint edition (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847322875
• ISBN-13: 978-1847322876
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Forms & Genres > Lieder & Art Songs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Stick with the old edition, June 15, 2010

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Kyle Goldstein - See all my reviews
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This review is from: U2: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song (Stories Behind the Songs) (Perfect Paperback)

U2: The Stories Behind the Song is a good book for anyone wanting to know more about U2. The book is very reasonably-priced, mainly due to its small size, compared to older editions. However, this is the fourth edition of the book, and compared to the previous edition, it is quite lacking. For starters, a lot of information from the previous edition is missing. Almost every song from Boy up to No Line on the Horizon is explained in detail, but a lot of the entries for older songs have been shortened, with less information that was previously available. I compared the two books side-by-side and noticed that some song entries had as much as entire paragraphs removed. Second, the layout is much less appealing. The previous edition was very colorful and full of photographs, while this edition is simply black text on white pages, with small photographs on some pages, and other pages entirely full of text. Third, there is not much new information in this edition that was not in the previous one. The only new information that was not available in the previous edition was information on the 11 songs from No Line on the Horizon, but each song is only explained for anywhere from one paragraph to one page. Entries for older songs take up anywhere from one to three pages.

As far as additional content goes, there is a section that covers B-sides, non-album songs, the Passengers album, and The Million Dollar Hotel film soundtrack, just like in the old edition. Like the rest of the book, a lot of these entries are much shorter than the previous edition, and there is no new material found here. The B-sides range from "Boy/Girl" (1979) to "Always" (2002), but there are no B-sides covered newer than that. "Electrical Storm", a single from the compilation album The Best of 1990-2000, was missing from the previous edition, and is not in this edition either. Other new songs missing include "The Saints Are Coming" and "Window in the Skies", both from the compilation album U218 Singles.

Basically, everything is this edition is lessened from the previous edition. There are less pictures and much less content. The book is much smaller, and even the title has been shortened. Previous editions were known as "Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every Song", while this edition is simply titled "The Stories Behind Every Song". If you are looking for a great "coffee table-like" book about U2, I would stick with the old edition, U2: Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every Song. If you already own the previous edition, I do not see a need to purchase the new edition, even you are a hardcore U2 fan like myself. It is currently still available on Amazon.com (and still in print, I believe), and while it is more expensive, it is definitely worth the price.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, December 11, 2009

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Bluestars - See all my reviews

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This review is from: U2: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song (Stories Behind the Songs) (Perfect Paperback)

I was impressed with Niall's interpretations of the songs that this legendary band continually reaches out to every generation .. At times thought provoking as well as emotionally bonds the reader. I couldnt put the book down once I started reading it. It's as if you've known Paul, David, Larry and Adam all your life. I was deeply touched by the "electric" story ; and felt the love Bono has for his beautiful wife and family. Thank you Niall for a well writen book that helps to touch base with the meanings of the songs, the music and the generosity of U2s love for what they do genuniinely.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All I wanted to know, May 3, 2010

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C. Fontana - See all my reviews
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This review is from: U2: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song (Stories Behind the Songs) (Perfect Paperback)

I was always curious about the U2 lyrics, I used to search for it on the internet, I found some but I was not sure how much I could trust it. The book is amazing, it tells why and in whitch circumstances the song was written. I loved it. It's clear and understandable!