The Edge names the only rock song U2 ever made: “21st-century rock ‘n’ roll”
U2 exist more as a brand than a proper rock band nowadays. While they have penned some of the most immortal lyrics that the 1980s ever spat out, they were never afraid to flaunt themselves just a little bit, whether that meant embracing irony on the ZooTv tour or making the decision that everyone deserved to own a copy of their album Songs of Innocence immediately upon release. Then again, The Edge never considered himself a member of a rock group, and he thought that ‘All Because of You’ was the closest they ever came to what people call traditional rock.
While U2 might not have reached the iconic status of The Rolling Stones, their influence on rock music is undeniable. Browsing through their discography, even a casual fan of the genre would likely recognise standout tracks like ‘Bullet the Blue Sky’ and ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’. These songs have made a significant impact, resonating with audiences and cementing U2’s place in music history.
Compared to the other acts coming out that had grit to their sound, U2 never meant to have that kind of intensity behind their music. Their material was about conjuring something from deep within their psyche, and even when they put out heavier tracks, it was all about channelling anger rather than being the next Led Zeppelin.
In a strange way, they’re almost a folk group based on how they deliver their tunes. Bono might have all the charisma of a rock and roll preacher when they played the Achtung Baby tour cycle, but you have to remember that he was playing a pastiche. During one of their concerts, Bono even ended songs with the phrase ‘Is this rock and roll?’, posing the question to the crowd if this ‘Fly’ persona was truly up to the standards of David Bowie and Mick Jagger.
Then again, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was one of the few times when U2 put their ego on the shelf and got back to sounding like an actual group again. Whereas All That You Can’t Leave Behind put them back on solid ground, hearing the opening guitar hits of ‘Vertigo’ is still one of the most satisfying guitar moments that The Edge created that didn’t feature delay.
There were still a lot of downtempo moments on the record like ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’, but The Edge considered ‘All Because of You’ the most straight-ahead rock song in their entire canon, saying, “The riff for ‘All Because Of You’ came out of the now legendary Monaco sessions. We just wanted to make it a piece of great, raunchy, twenty-first-century rock ‘n’ roll. It’s probably the only real rock ‘n’ roll song we have ever written.”
And, regardless of them being well past their musical prime, this version of them still really works. Having gone through the world as pop stars, spiritual musicians, and sonic deities to a handful of fans, U2 could still make something that felt like the future when they walked into the studio.
The quality may have taken a bit of a nosedive on No Line on the Horizon, but ‘All Because of You’ is U2 staking their claim as a rock act and doing everything they can to earn their spurs. A bit odd that they waited over 30 years in the business before trying to validate themselves, but hey, better late than never.
