Tag: U2

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Bono apologizes for infecting your iPhone with U2’s album

U2’s Bono says he’s sorry for Apple automatically downloading his band’s 2014 album Songs of Innocence to every iTunes user’s account.

In an excerpt from his memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story published by The Guardian, the man with no last name says that his “vaunting ambition” was why he approached Apple CEO Tim Cook with the idea.

During a meeting with Cook, Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, and Phil Schiller, current Fellow at Apple and former head of the App Store, Bono explained the Cupertino, California tech giant should pay U2 for the album and then “give it away free, as a gift to people.”

“Wouldn’t that be wonderful?,” the Vertigo singer said. Cook, however, wasn’t convinced and explained that he didn’t feel right about giving away the band’s “art” for free. Regardless, the deal eventually happened, prompting the album to appear on everyone’s iPhone like a rampant virus.

“I take full responsibility. Not Guy O, not Edge, not Adam, not Larry, not Tim Cook, not Eddy Cue. I’d thought if we could just put our music within reach of people, they might choose to reach out toward it. Not quite,” writes Bono in an excerpt from the memoir.

Thanks, Bono, what a wonderful gift. At least we now know how one of the strangest big tech moves of the mid-2010s happened.

Back in 2014, I remember spending the better part of an hour trying to find a way to remove Songs of Innocence from my iTunes library. While I eventually was able to ditch the album, the process was far more complicated than it needed to be.

On the bright side, it doesn’t seem like U2 will appear on your iPhone for free again when the band’s next album drops.

Source: The Guardian Via: Variety

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Potins

Kesha steals Grammys with emotional performance

Kesha stole the show with her emotional performance of ‘Praying’ at this year’s Grammy Awards.

The 30-year-old singer was joined on stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday (01.28.18) by Andra Day, Camilla Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Bebe Rexha, Julia Michaels and the Resistance Revival Chorus for a performance of her hit single, with the group dressed in white to echo the white roses worn to the event by those supporting the anti-harassment Time’s Up initiative.

Kesha was visibly emotional and fought back tears as she sang the track, which is about the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of producer Dr. Luke.

And afterwards, she tweeted: " "after everything you’ve done I can thank you for how strong I have become" thank you to the @RecordingAcad, the women on stage with me tonight, and everyone who has supported me through this whole journey.(sic)"

Singer Janelle Monae had introduced the performance with a call for equality in the music industry.

She said: "We come in peace, but we mean business. And to those who would dare try to silence us, we offer you two words: Time’s Up.

"We say time’s up for pay inequality, time’s up for discrimination, time’s up for harassment of any kind, time’s up for abuse of power. We also have the power to undo the culture that does not serve us well. It’s not just going on in Hollywood, it’s not just going on in Washington, it’s going on in our industry."

Elsewhere during the event, Kendrick Lamar received a standing ovation for his performance, which saw him open the show with a medley of his hits including ‘XXX’ and ‘King’s Dead’.

Kendrick – who won five Grammys – was accompanied by U2’s Bono and The Edge, as well as comedian Dave Chapelle, and had a giant American flag and dancers wearing hoodies who collapsed to the sound of gunshots.

Dave said of the performance: "I just wanted to remind the audience that the only thing more frightening than watching a black man being honest in America, is being an honest black man in America."

Eric Church, Maren Morris and Brothers Osborne teamed up for an emotional tribute, singing ‘Tears in Heaven’ in honor of the music fans who lost their lives during the shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas in October and the terrorist attack at Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, North West England, last May.

Chris Stapleton and Emmylou Harris paid tribute to the late Tom Petty, who passed away in October, by performing ‘Wildflowers’. Their performance also served as a memorial to others from the music world who lost their lives last September, with a montage of artists including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Don Williams, Hugh Masekala, Jerry Lewis, Prodigy, Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington airing during the segment.

Sir Elton John, who announced his retirement from touring last week, was joined by Miley Cyrus for a duet of his classic single ‘Tiny Dancer’, and the night’s big winner, Bruno Mars, teamed up with Cardi B for a rendition of ‘Finesse’, while Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Pink, Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee and Little Big Town were among the other artists to perform during the show.

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Bruno Mars wins big at Grammys

Bruno Mars was the big winner at this year’s Grammy Awards, picking up six prizes.

The 32-year-old singer took home Sunday (01.28.18) evening’s top prizes, Album of the Year and Record of the Year for ’24k Magic’, and Song of the Year for ‘That’s What I Like’, as well as Best R&B Album, and Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Single for ‘That’s What I Like’.

Accepting Song of the Year – which is given in recognition of songwriters – at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Bruno thanked the Recording Academy, as well as his co-writers Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus and Jonathan Yip.

He said: "I’ve known these guys for over a decade.

"All the music, the music business horror stories you see in the movies, we’ve been through all of it. And this is the first time on this album that we all came collectively as a group and put this song together and put the album together.

"So fellas, it is an honor to share this with you tonight. These are my brothers."

In addition, his LP was also recognized as Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

Elsewhere at the ceremony, Kendrick Lamar also picked up five prizes, with ‘Humble’ honored as Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Music Video, while ‘Loyalty’, his collaboration with Rihanna, was named Best Rap/Sung Performance and his album ‘Damn’ was named Best Rap Album.

Accepting his album award, he said: "[Hip-hop] is what got me on the stage, this is what got me to tour around the world. Most important it showed me what a true artist is.

"It’s really about expressing yourself and putting that paint on the canvas for the world to evolve for the next generation and the next."

He then urged fellow nominee Jay-Z – who was nominated in eight categories but failed to win a single trophy – to run for office, ending his speech with: "Jay for president!"

Chris Stapleton swept the country categories, taking home Best Country Album for ‘From a Room: Volume 1’, Best Country Solo Performance for ‘Either Way’ and Best Country Song for ‘Broken Halos’.

Ed Sheeran didn’t attend the music extravaganza – which was hosted by James Corden – but won Best Pop Solo Performance for ‘Shape of You’ and Best Pop Vocal album for ‘Divide’, while other winners included The Weeknd, Childish Gambino, Little Big Town, and Alessia Cara, who was named Best New Artist.

Performers at the ceremony included Bruno, who teamed up with Cardi B on ‘Finesse’, Kendrick, Kesha, Sir Elton John and Miley Cyrus, Pink, Sam Smith, Lady Gaga, and Broadway star Ben Platt.

Grammy Awards 2018 Selected List of Winners:

Album of the Year:

’24k Magic’ – Bruno Mars

Record of the Year:

’24k Magic’ – Bruno Mars

Song of the Year:

‘That’s What I Like’ – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus and Jonathan Yip (Bruno Mars)

Best New Artist:

Alessia Cara

Best Pop Solo Performance:

‘Shape of You’ – Ed Sheeran

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:

‘Feel It Still’ – Portugal. The Man

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:

‘Tony Bennett Celebrates 90’ – Various Artists; Dae Bennett, producer

Best Pop Vocal Album:

‘÷’ – Ed Sheeran

Best Dance Recording:

‘Tonite’ – LCD Soundsystem

Best Dance/Electronic Album:

‘3-D The Catalogue’ – Kraftwerk

Best Rock Song:

‘Run’ – Foo Fighters

Best Rock Album:

‘A Deeper Understanding’ – The War on Drugs

Best Alternative Music Album:

‘Sleep Well Beast’ – The National

Best R&B Performance:

‘That’s What I Like’ – Bruno Mars

Best Traditional R&B Performance:

‘Redbone’ – Childish Gambino

Best R&B Song:

‘That’s What I Like’ – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus and Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars)

Best Urban Contemporary Album:

‘Starboy’ – The Weeknd

Best R&B Album:

’24K Magic’ – Bruno Mars

Best Rap Performance:

‘HUMBLE.’ – Kendrick Lamar

Best Rap/Sung Performance:

‘LOYALTY.’ – Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna

Best Rap Song:

‘HUMBLE.’ – Duckworth, Asheton Hogan and M. Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)

Best Rap Album:

‘DAMN.’ – Kendrick Lamar

Best Country Solo Performance:

‘Either Way’ – Chris Stapleton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:

‘Better Man’ – Little Big Town

Best Country Song:

‘Broken Halos’ – Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton (Chris Stapleton)

Best Country Album:

‘From a Room: Volume 1’ – Chris Stapleton

Best Music Video:

‘HUMBLE.’ – Kendrick Lamar

Best Music Film:

‘The Defiant Ones’ – Various Artists

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Camila Cabello draws attention to immigration issue

Camila Cabello praised the "dreams" of immigrants at the Grammy Awards on Sunday (01.28.18).

The 20-year-old singer received strong applause from the likes of Beyonce and Lorde for her inspirational speech, as she highlighted the plight of children of undocumented immigrants who are fighting to stay in the US because of recent legislation, insisting her own story wasn’t much different.

She said: "Today, in this room full of music’s dreamers, we remember that this country was built by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream.

"I’m here on this stage tonight because, just like the dreamers, my parents brought me to this country with nothing in their pockets but hope. They showed me what it means to work twice as hard and never give up. And honestly no part of my journey is any different from theirs.

"I’m a proud Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in Eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City, and all I know is, just like dreams, these kids can’t be forgotten and are worth fighting for."

Camila was on stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden to introduce U2’s performance of ‘Get Out Of Your Own Way’, and she praised their own connection to the "American dream".

She said: "Tonight, it is my great honour to introduce one of the greatest bands in music history, U2.

"This band from Ireland first rocked the Grammy boat when they won their first four awards 30 years ago for Joshua Tree, an album that explored their own powerful connection with the American dream. 46 Grammy nominations and 22 awards later, they extend their stunning Grammy legacy tonight by celebrating in New York City and the promise that has drawn generations of immigrants here from around the world."

The ‘Havana’ singer spoke out to call attention to the fact President Donald Trump has rescinded his predecessor, Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, which gave the children of undocumented immigrants – dubbed DREAMers after the DREAM Act – a chance to legally obtain work permits and protection from deportation.

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Bono feared for his life

Bono had a "major fright" for his life that shaped U2’s new album.

The 57-year-old singer confirmed his bandmate The Edge’s comments last month that the band’s album, ‘Songs of Experience’ had been delayed after the frontman suffered a "brush with mortality" in 2016, and though the ‘One’ singer – whose multiple fractures in a 2014 bike accident also delayed the record – refused to be drawn on the details, he admitted it shook him up.

He said: "Edge wasn’t fibbing when he said we had to stop and take account of what was going on in the world.

"He just didn’t want to mention what was going on in my world.

"I don’t want to get too into the details of it, for fear of the melodramatic reality TV kerfuffle. A lot of people have these moments, I’ve had a few. Not quite at this level."

Edge added: "It was serious enough that he genuinely had a major fright. But where that brought him to as a writer was an amazing place."

But the rocker insists he is now back to good health.

He said: "I’m way better. I’m on top form. I’m singing like a little girl."

Though the record was initially expected to reflect the changing political climate, Bono admitted his experiences made it more personal than they planned.

He told Q magazine: "The personal and political apocalypse came together. But I think, if we’re honest, the personal elbowed the political out of the way."

Instead, the album came together as a series of letters to Bono’s family, friends, and fans.

He said: "It’s just one of those moments when nothing else matters. So what do you have to say for yourself? And what do you want to say to the people that you love?"

While Bono may have had a health scare, he isn’t slowing down his partying.

Responding to Noel Gallagher – who supported the group on their ‘Joshua Tree’ tour this summer – and his admission he couldn’t keep up with Bono’s drinking, the singer said: "I would never have outed him as a lightweight. I’ve too much respect for the man. But when I go out… Yes, I do go out."

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Noel Gallagher was hungover as he met Ireland’s President

Noel Gallagher had lunch with Irish President Michael Higgins while he was still nursing a hangover.

The 50-year-old star was on tour with rock icons U2 in July when Bono, the band’s lead vocalist, arranged for Noel to meet with the Irish politician in Dublin straight after a heavy night of boozing.

Recalling one of the more surreal incidents during The Joshua Tree Tour, Noel said: "We do the gig in Dublin and we go the after show. I’m staying at his house and we leave at half five in the morning.

"The next thing I remember is my phone going and I’m in this place I don’t know. It’s him on the phone, and he says ‘Oh you’re alive, where are you?’ and I was like, ‘Well I’m supposed to be in your house, but I don’t recognise, where am I?’ I was in a guest house at the bottom of his garden right.

"So he says, ‘Oh you’re alive anyway, come on, everybody’s here waiting for you’ and I was kind of going ‘What for?’ He said, ‘For the lunch I’m throwing in your honour, there’s 75 guests have arrived’."

The former Oasis star admitted he wasn’t in a fit state to attend the bash, which was also attended by the Irish President.

What’s more, Noel couldn’t believe how relentless the fun-loving band, and Bono in particular, were in their partying ways throughout their tour.

Speaking to Christian O’Connell on the Absolute Radio Breakfast Show, Noel recalled: "I said ‘I’ve only just got out of bed’. He said ‘Look the President of Ireland’s just arrived and you’re sitting next to him, so hurry up’. So I had to get showered, get up there ‘whey, ey’ and all that.

"The lunch started at three. Do you know what time it finished? Ten past four in the morning."

Noel also admitted Bono is more resilient to the effects of alcohol these days, despite being seven years older than he is.

Remembering another of their shows in Paris that followed a boozy night out, he said: "I’m sweating pure lager, and he gets up and sings like a 24 year old."

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Bono says Where the Streets Have No Name is ‘unfinished’

U2’s hit single ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ is "unfinished", according to Bono.

The 57-year-old rock star has revealed his lyrics to the 1987 song are incomplete, even though it’s one of the most popular tracks on U2’s best-known album ‘The Joshua Tree’.

Bono – who stars in the band alongside Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. and The Edge – explained: "Musically it’s great and the band deserve credit for that, but lyrically it’s just a sketch and I was going to go back and write it out.

"Half of it is an invocation, where you say to a crowd of people ‘Do you want to go to that place? That place of imagination, that place of soul? Do you want to go there, because right now we can go there?’

"To this day when I say those words you get hairs on the back of your neck stand up because you’re going to that place."

By contrast, the band’s producer Brian Eno has never felt like the song is incomplete.

Recalling his conversations with Brian, Bono shared: "Brian said, ‘Incomplete thoughts are generous because they allow the listener to finish them.’ As a songwriter I have to realise that the greatest invitation is an invocation."

Meanwhile, The Edge – whose real name is David Evans – disagrees with Bono’s assessment of the song, saying his bandmate is too harsh on himself.

He told Beats 1: "I love the track, myself. I disagree with Bono. He’s very hard on himself."

Asked what he would like to change about the single, Bono said: "’Where The Streets Have No Name’ is not a great lyric.

"I just wouldn’t have rhymed ‘hide’ with ‘inside’. I knew I could write that better."

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Potins

Liam Gallagher blasts Noel’s friends U2 as ‘beige’

Liam Gallagher has blasted U2 as a "bunch of beige f***s".

The 44-year-old rock ‘n’ roll star is not a fan of Bono and co, and his dislike of their music seems to have increased since his estranged older brother Noel Gallagher became their support act for their ‘Joshua Tree Tour’ this summer.

When asked by a fan on Twitter if he would be heading to Twickenham Stadium in London this weekend to watch U2 and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in action, Liam launched into one of his trademark tirades.

The fan tweeted: "Are you going to see U2 at the weekend? If you are, catch the support act, I’m hearing good things about them."

To which Liam replied: "I’d rather eat my own s**t than listen to them bunch of beige f***s as you were."

The ‘Wall of Glass’ hitmaker then described U2’s brand of music as "toff rock".

Feeling pleased with his online put downs, Liam tweeted: "It’s good to be back never went away you clowns just got the tools now to shine a light on you FAKES (sic)"

Ending his angry tweet spree, Liam posted: "Not scared of bingo and his naff band you can’t bull shit a bullshitter ain’t that the edge … Beware of bongos farts ha ha (sic)"

Noel, 50, was announced back in January to be the main support act for U2 for their special tour marking the 30th anniversary of their seminal 1987 album.

And back then the news didn’t sit well with Liam who accused his sibling – whom he has barely spoken to since Noel quit Oasis in 2009 – of "brown nosing" Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. to get the gig.

Logging onto Twitter, he wrote: "I see all that brown nosing is finally starting to pay off NO SHAME LG x (sic)"

The outspoken rocker’s comments came after Noel admitted how thrilled he is to get to open for his idols.

He said: "It will be both a pleasure and an honor to play my part in what still remains the greatest show on earth."

Liam regularly mocks Noel on the social networking website, frequently comparing pictures of him to a "potato".

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Adam Clayton thanks U2 bandmates

Adam Clayton has thanked his U2 bandmates for their support in helping him overcome alcoholism.

The 57-year-old bassist – who checked into rehab in the early 1990s to get help for his drink problem – is grateful Bono, The Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr. have always stuck by him and kept their policy that it was all of them or none of them as they moved forward with their careers.

He said: "We have a pact with each other. In our band, no one will be a casualty. We all come home, or none of us come home. No one will be left behind. Thank you for honouring that promise, and letting me be in your band."

Despite his problems, Adam doesn’t think he would have the "wonderful life" he does now if he hadn’t had his difficulties.

Speaking as he picked up the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his support of the MusiCares MAP Fund, which offers musicians access to addiction recovery treatment, he told the audience at the Playstation Theater in New York: "I’m not used to achieving anything on my own.

"I’m an alcoholic, addict, but in some ways that devastating disease is what drove me towards this wonderful life I now have. It’s just that I couldn’t take my friend alcohol. At some point I had to leave it behind and claim my full potential."

The ‘One’ hitmaker recalled how he was persuaded to seek help by Eric Clapton – who has battled drug and alcohol addiction himself – in a frank chat, and also thanked The Who’s Pete Townshend for his support while he was in rehab.

And Adam went on to admit he will always be "unreservedly grateful" for the constant support he received from his bandmates.

He said: "I was lucky because I had three friends who could see what was going on and who loved me enough to take up the slack of my failing. Bono, The Edge, and Larry (Mullen) truly supported me before and after I entered recovery, and I am unreservedly grateful for their friendship, understanding and support."

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Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso look in love at concert

Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso "looked very much in love" as they enjoyed the U2 concert together over the weekend.

The ‘Jason Bourne’ star and his wife were "super cute" together as they enjoyed the band’s performance at the Gillette Stadium in New England on Sunday (25.06.17).

A source told People magazine: "They were super cute together. Hugging. Kissing. Very happy, relaxed and just enjoying the night. They looked very much in love. It was nice to see!"

Meanwhile, the 46-year-old actor previously insisted he "got lucky" meeting his wife.

He said: "I got lucky meeting her. I think marriage is incredibly difficult because it’s so hard to have that one partner who is everything.

"Looking at it objectively, it seems an insane idea. So it’s not that I love marriage in general, it’s that I love being married to her. And that’s the difference. And I just got lucky. I sure did."

The couple met in 2002 whilst Matt was filming ‘Stuck On You’ and Luciana was a waitress, and Matt loves it when his wife and children – Alexia, 17, Isabella, 11, Gia, eight, and Stella, six – accompany him on location when he’s filming.

He added: "We just try to soak in what we’re seeing and I think that’ll ultimately be the best education for my kids.

"A big problem in America is that we’re geographically isolated, which gives rise to the Donald Trump thing where people think it’s actually a good idea to build a wall between ourselves and other people. Hopefully, by taking my kids around the world, they’re going to be open to the world. And that’s going to do a lot for them."