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Rating: It's 1992, and U2 were crisscrossing America and Europe with their gigantic (and successful) ZOOTV Tour. We're in the era of Bono as The Fly or Mephisto, giant screens, and Trabants hanging above the stage. In the gaps between legs of the tour, U2 recorded a brand new album.
The CD was called ZOOROPA and was released worldwide on June 5, 1993. Zooropa marks yet another transformation in U2's sound. Here, there's a big emphasis on electronics and the production by Brian Eno. It's a controversial album that split the fans of the four Irishmen into two camps.
The album begins with the majestic intro of the title track, where electronic voices (What Do You Want?) blend with simple piano notes. The arrival of Edge marks the true beginning of the song, which unfolds in a slow and evocative rhythm, with a good performance by Bono. Midway through the song, the rhythm changes completely, driven by a very powerful beat from drummer Larry Mullen Jr. And here, Bono delivers a great vocal performance, accompanied by excellent bass work. The lyrics reflect the album's content and U2's new worldview; a world dominated by advertising and electronics. The second track is BABYFACE, an electronic ballad based on a very syncopated rhythm, with Bono being very sensual and in shape. However, the song doesn't leave much of an impression on the listener. BABYFACE is followed by NUMB, the song promoted by the band as the album's lead single. The choice, judged in hindsight, proved to be spot-on. NUMB is indeed the sonic manifesto of the band's new direction. Developed on a very hypnotic rhythm, the song revolves around Edge's totally expressionless singing (Numb). In the background, there's a good falsetto performance by Bono (who only joins in the chorus) and the confused sounds from Eno. Right after, we find LEMON, a track that surprised many with its electronic and almost dance rhythm. Here, Bono's great vocal performance stands out, his falsetto drives and characterizes the whole song. The song even surprised the band members themselves, as Edge said:"It always made me laugh to know there was a song like that on one of our albums." The track flows with all its liveliness and lightheartedness, with a spine-tingling change. Larry's drums introduce the album's masterpiece, STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE!). Written by U2 for German director W. Wenders, "Stay" is the song where electronics take a back seat for once, in favor of a superb performance by the entire band. The track will go directly into the band's classics alongside songs like ONE, BAD, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU. Certainly, the most successful episode of the album.
The second part of the album opens with the intro of DADDY'S GONNA PAY FOR YOUR CRASHED CAR, an electronic blues that initially shocked many longtime fans. However, the track is very enjoyable, supported by the usual excellent bass work. The same can be said of SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, a fully electronic song, very relaxed and fun. The only downside is the superimposition of a synthesizer sound over Edge's solo, a choice that leaves many bewildered. THE FIRST TIME is a classic U2 ballad, led by Eno's piano. Bono is outstanding here, truly in great shape. At number nine, we find DIRTY DAY, pure negative energy unfolding in a very complex drum rhythm, followed by good bass work. The lyrics, co-written by Bono and The Edge, are very deep and, in the final part, even cite C. Bukowski (Days Run Away Like Horses Over The Hills). The concluding track is THE WANDERER sung by J. Cash. The lyrics are very evocative (many post-atomic images), masterfully interpreted by Cash's deep voice, accompanied by an electronic sound background.
A sound of an alarm definitively closes the album. If there were a technological and computerized nation like Zooropa, this sound would be its National Anthem.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Zooropa (06:31)
Zooropa... Vorsprung durch Technik
Zooropa... be all that you can be
Be a winner
Eat to get slimmer
Zooropa... a bluer kind of white
Zooropa... it could be yours tonight
We're mild and green
And squeaky clean
Zooropa... better by design
Zooropa... fly the friendly skies
Through appliance of science
We've got that ring of confidence...
And I have no compass
And I have no map
And I have no reasons
No reasons to get back
And I have no religion
And I don't know what's what
And I don't know the limit
The limit of what we've got
Zooropa... Don't worry baby, it'll be alright
Zooropa... You got the right shoes
Zooropa... To get you through the night
Zooropa... It's cold outside, but brightly lit
Zooropa... Skip the subway
Zooropa... Let's go to the overground
Get your head out of the mud baby
Put flowers in the mud baby
Overground
No particular place names
No particular song
I've been hiding
What am I hiding from?
Zooropa... Don't worry baby, it's gonna be alright
Zooropa... Uncertainty... can be a guiding light
Zooropa... I hear voices, ridiculous voices
Zooropa... In the slipstream
Zooropa... Let's go, let's go... overground
Zooropa... Take your head out of the mud baby
She's gonna dream up
The world she wants to live in
She's gonna dream out loud
02 Babyface (04:01)
Catching your bright blue eyes in the freeze frame
I've seen them so many times
I feel like I must be your best friend.
You're looking fine, so fine
Dressed up like a lovely day.
Babyface, Babyface
Slow down child, let me untie your lace.
Babyface, Babyface
Cover girl with natural grace.
How could beauty be so kind
To an ordinary guy?
Comin' home late at night to turn you on
Checkin' out every frame,
I've got slow motion on my side.
Turnin' around and around
With the sound and colour under my control
Round and around, goin' down,
Dressed up like a lovely day.
Babyface, Babyface
Slow down child, let me untie your lace
Babyface, Babyface
Tinfoil hair all tied up in lace
Babyface, Babyface
Bitter-sweet girl, won't you give me a taste
How could beauty be so kind
To an ordinary guy?
Babyface, Babyface
Slow down child, let me untie your lace.
Babyface, Babyface
Open that door, let me unpack my case.
Babyface, Babyface
You're everywhere, child, you're all over the place.
Babyface, Babyface
You're comin' to me from outer space.
How could beauty be so kind
To an ordinary guy?
03 Numb (04:20)
Don't move
Don't talk out of time
Don't think
Don't worry
Everything's just fine
Just fine
Don't grab
Don't clutch
Don't hope for too much
Don't breathe
Don't achieve
Or grieve without leave
Don't check
Just balance on the fence
Don't answer
Don't ask
Don't try and make sense
Don't whisper
Don't talk
Don't run if you can walk
Don't cheat, compete
Don't miss the one beat
Don't travel by train
Don't eat
Don't spill
Don't piss in the drain
Don't make a will
Don't fill out any forms
Don't compensate
Don't cower
Don't crawl
Don't come around late
Don't hover at the gate
Don't take it on board
Don't fall on your sword
Just play another chord
If you feel you're getting bored
I feel numb
I feel numb
Too much is not enough
I feel numb
Don't change your brand Gimme what you got
Don't listen to the band
Don't gape Gimme what I don't get
Don't ape
Don't change your shape Gimme some more
Have another grape
Too much is not enough
I feel numb
I feel numb
Gimme some more
A piece of me, baby
I feel numb
Don't plead
Don't bridle
Don't shackle
Don't grind Gimme some more
Don't curve
Don't swerve I feel numb
Lie, die, serve Gimme some more
Don't theorize, realise, polarise I feel numb
Chance, dance,dismiss, apologise Gimme what you got
Gimme what I don't get
Gimme what you got
Too much is not enough
Don't spy I feel numb
Don't lie
Don't try
Imply
Detain
Explain
Start again I feel numb
I feel numb
Don't triumph
Don't coax
Don't cling
Don't hoax
Don't freak
Peak
Don't leak
Don't speak I feel numb
I feel numb
Don't project
Don't connect
Protect
Don't expect
Suggest
I feel numb
Don't project
Don't connect
Protect
Don't expect
Suggest
I feel numb
Don't struggle
Don't jerk
Don't collar
Don't work
Don't wish
Don't fish
Don't teach
Don't reach
I feel numb
Don't borrow Too much is not enough
Don't break I feel numb
Don't fence
Don't steal
Don't pass
Don't press
try
Don't feel
Gimme some more
Don't touch I feel numb
Don't dive
Don't suffer
Don't rhyme
Don't fantasize
Don't rise
Don't lie
I feel numb
Don't project
Don't connect
Protect I feel numb
Don't expect
Suggest
Don't project
Don't connect
Protect I feel numb
Don't expect
Suggest
04 Lemon (06:58)
Lemon, see-through in the sunlight.
She wore lemon, see-through in the daylight.
She's gonna make you cry, she's gonna make you whisper and moan.
When you're dry she draws water from a stone.
I feel like I'm slowly, slowly, slowly slippin' under.
I feel like I'm holding on to nothing.
She wore lemon to colour in the cold grey night.
She had heaven and she held on so tight.
A man makes a picture, a moving picture
through the light projected, he can see himself up close.
A man captures colour, a man likes to stare.
He turns his money into light to look for her.
And I feel like I'm drifting, drifting, drifting from the shore.
And I feel like I'm swimming out to her.
Midnight is where the day begins.
Midnight is where the day begins.
Lemon, see-through in the sunlight.
A man builds a city, with banks and cathedrals.
A man melts the sand so he can see the world outside.
A man makes a car, and builds a road to run (them) on.
A man dreams of leaving, but he always stays behind.
You’re gonna meet her there
She’s your destination
You gotta get to her
She’s imagination
And these are the days when our work has come asunder.
And these are the days when we look for something other.
Midnight is where the day begins.
Midnight is where the day begins.
Midnight is where the day begins.
Midnight is where the day begins.
A man makes a picture, a moving picture;
Through light projected, he can see himself up close.
A man captures colour, a man likes to stare.
He turns his money into light to look for her.
Gotta meet her there
She’s your destination
There’s no sleeping there
She’s imagination
She is the dreamer, she's imagination.
Through the light projected, he can see himself up close.
05 Stay (Faraway, So Close!) (04:58)
Green light, 7-Eleven
You stop in for a pack of cigarettes
You don't smoke, don't even want to
Hey now, check your change
Dressed up like a car crash
The wheels are turning but you're upside down
You say when he hits you you don't mind
Because when he hurts you you feel alive
Oh now, is that what it is
Red light, grey morning
You stumble out of a hole in the ground
A vampire or a victim
It depends on who's around
You used to stay up to watch the adverts
You could lip-synch to the talk shows
And if you look, you look through me
And when you talk it's not to me
And when I touch you, you don't feel a thing
If I could stay, then the night would give you up
Stay, and the day would keep its trust
Stay, and the night would be enough
Faraway, so close up with the static and the radio
With satellite television you can go anywhere
Miami, New Orleans, London, Belfast and Berlin
And if you listen I can't call
And if you jump, you just might fall
And if you shout, I'll only hear you
If I could stay then the night would give you up
Stay then the day would keep its trust
Stay with the demons you drowned
Stay with the spirit I found
Stay and the night would be enough
Three o'clock in the morning
It's quiet and there's no one around
Just the bang and the clatter as an angel runs to ground
Just the bang and the clatter as an angel hits the ground
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Other reviews
By Bleak
"With all the controversies it has brought along, it remains for me one of the best albums by the Irish band."
"Not a masterpiece, I repeat. In the case of U2, in my opinion, such a word is absolutely to be avoided."
By hypnosphere boy
It seems the meaning of the entire work is concentrated in the apocalyptic presage version of 'Zooropa.'
Zooropa offers a portrait of the world as elusive, dreamlike, poetic, and realistically complex.
By Rax
"'Zooropa' is a series of songs of an idea dressed in elegant electronics."
"Pass marks for the production and the decency of the songs. U2 never engaged in the bravado that fills REM albums."
