U2 re-imagine 40 classics for new album Songs of Surrender & fans teary over 'lifetime of memories'

Virgin Radio

11 Jan 2023, 14:55

U2 reimagined 40 of songs for new album Songs of Surrender

Credit: Getty

It's a Beautiful Day for U2 lovers. The band have delighted fans by re-imagining 40 of their hit songs from across their catalogue in the shape of Songs of Surrender set to drop on March 17, St Patrick's Day. The new offering goes hand in hand alongside Bono’s memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.

The minute-long trailer includes a spine-tingling version of Beautiful Day along with a nostalgic look at historical moments and a retro sprinkle of their all-encompassing career. The first track available is the anthemic Pride (In The Name Of Love).

Songs Of Surrender is curated and produced by The Edge and sees the band revisit some of the most celebrated songs of their 40+ year career, including With Or Without You, One and Sunday Bloody Sunday and, in some cases, new lyrics.  

The Edge said of the project: “Music allows you to time travel, and we became curious to find out what it would be like to bring our early songs back with us to the present day and give them the benefit, or otherwise, of a 21st century reimagining. 

"What started out as an experiment quickly developed into a personal obsession as so many of our songs yielded to a new interpretation. Intimacy replaced post punk urgency. New tempos, new keys, and in some cases new chords and new lyrics arrived. A great song, it turns out is kind of indestructible."

Lucky fans have even received handwritten letters from the band, explaining more about their new album. One fan shared their letter from the Edge on social media. The music gold read: “The fact is that most of our work was written and recorded when we were a bunch of very young men.

"Those songs mean something quite different to us now. Some have grown with us. Some we have outgrown, but we have not lost sight of what propelled us to write those songs in the first place.”

He continued: “Intimacy replaced post-punk urgency. New keys, new chords, new tempos and new lyrics arrived… Once we surrendered our reverence for the original version, each song started to open up to a new anthemic voice of this time, of the people we are now, and particularly the singer that Bono has become.”  

Bono wrote in his recent memoir, released in November 2022: "The project gave me a chance to live inside those songs again as I wrote this memoir,” he explained. "It also meant I could deal with something that’s been nagging me for some time. The lyrics on a few songs that I’ve always felt were never quite written. They are now. (I think.)”

According to the Edge, new U2 music is coming. He told Rolling Stone last year: “We are firmly locked in the tower of song and working away on a bunch of new things. I’m just having so much fun writing and not necessarily having to think about where it’s going to go. It’s more about enjoying the experience of writing and having no expectations or limitations on the process.”

"Amazing to see a near lifetime of memories go by. U2 have been part of my life since I was 13. Soundtrack to my life," said one fan.

U2

Credit: YouTube

"U2, the best band ever in my life. I'm 52 and listen to them with the emotion of the first day. My best wishes for Larry's recovery and the best for U2," commented a fan.

"Can't wait for this album, listening to classic sings reimagined, something I hoped U2 would do for a long time," said another.

The complete Songs Of Surrender track listing is: 

Side 1 – The Edge 

One  

Where The Streets Have No Name 

Stories For Boys  

11 O'Clock Tick Tock  

Out Of Control  

Beautiful Day 

Bad 

Every Breaking Wave  

Walk On (Ukraine) 

Pride (In The Name Of Love) 

Side 2 - Larry 

Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses 

Get Out Of Your Own Way 

Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of 

Red Hill Mining Town 

Ordinary Love 

Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own 

Invisible  

Dirty Day 

The Miracle Of Joey Ramone 

City Of Blinding Lights  

Side 3 - Adam 

Vertigo 

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For  

Electrical Storm 

The Fly 

If God Will Send His Angels   

Desire 

Until The End Of The World  

Song For Someone 

All I Want Is You 

Peace On Earth 

Side 4 - Bono 

With Or Without You 

Stay 

Sunday Bloody Sunday 

Lights Of Home 

Cedarwood Road 

I Will Follow 

Two Hearts Beat As One 

Miracle Drug 

The Little Things That Give You Away 

40 

Songs Of Surrender is available in the following formats: Full 40 track Digital; Limited Edition 40 track 2 x CD Hardback Deluxe; and Limited Edition 40 track 4 x Vinyl. Pre order now. https://U2.lnk.to/SOSPR 

Here's Bono talking to our Chris about the origins of his stage name and how he's been 'called a lot of things'.

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