Close X
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
ADVT 
Hollywood

U2 offers new album free on iTunes

Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 Sep, 2014 08:08 AM
    Irish rock music group U2 surprised those present at the Apple event in Cupertino, California, with the announcement that their new album "Songs of Innocence" is now available for free download on iTunes.
     
    Bono, the leader and vocalist of U2, announced the new album after performing the song "The Miracle” (of Joey Ramone) on stage at the Flint Centre in Cupertino where Apple Tuesday launched its first smart watch (iWatch) and the two latest iPhone models.
     
    U2's first album in five years includes 11 songs and is available in 119 countries through iTunes, iTunes Radio and Beats Music, a company that Apple acquired in August.
     
    "The music is very involved in Apple's DNA, it is at the centre of all our products," said Apple CEO Tim Cook during his joint appearance with Bono.
     
    "I do believe you have over half a billion subscribers to iTunes, so - could you get this to them," Bono asked Cook, who replied that there was no problem and it could be downloaded for "free".
     
    Five seconds later the album made its debut.
     
    "It's the biggest launch of a record of all times," Cook claimed.
     
    The album will be available exclusively from Apple platforms until Oct 13.
     
    "The album has roots of the first and the strongest influences of the band including the Ramones, Bob Dylan and The Clash," reads a text that accompanies the new album on iTunes.
     
    It also explains how it pays tribute to U2's formative years in Dublin and its transformative pilgrimage to California.
     
    In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine that was published Tuesday on its website, Bono said that the band wanted to make a "very personal" album.
     
    "The album is about first travels, first geographic, spiritual, sexual travels. And that is difficult" to address, said Bono, and added that despite the challenges they decided to explore this space.
     
    The band worked on this album for two years with the producer Danger Mouse.
     
    "We wanted to have the discipline of the Beatles or the Stones in the Seventies, when the songs were real. There is no way of hiding in them, the thoughts are clear, the melodies are clear," Bono said.
     
    The album includes a very personal song about Bono's mother, Iris Hewson, who died when he was 14 years old.
     
    "Forty years ago, my mother fell dead at her own father's funeral, and I never spoke with her again," Bono told the Rolling Stone.
     
    "Rage always follows grief, and I had a lot of it, and I still have, but I channeled it into music and I still do. I have very few memories of my mother, and I put a few of them in a song called 'Iris'," explained Bono.
     
    According to Rolling Stone, the happiest song on the album is "California (There is no end to love)" in which the band recalls its first trip to the US state.
     
    At the other extreme is "Raised by Wolves" that tells the story of a bombing in Dublin.
     
    "It was a real incident that happened in our country where three car bombs were set to go off at the same time in Dublin on a Friday evening at 5.30 (p.m.)," said Bono.
     
    The album also includes a song with the name of the street where Bono was born, Cedarwood Road. 

    MORE Hollywood ARTICLES

    Mila Kunis shows baby bump

    Mila Kunis shows baby bump
     Actress Mila Kunis, who is reportedly expecting a child with fiance Ashton Kutcher, was seen displaying a growing tummy.

    Mila Kunis shows baby bump

    Gwyneth Paltrow again spotted sans wedding ring

    Gwyneth Paltrow again spotted sans wedding ring
    Actress Gwyneth Paltrow was first seen without her wedding ring March end, laughing with her estranged husband Chris Martin. Soon, she put it back on her finger and now she has taken it off again.

    Gwyneth Paltrow again spotted sans wedding ring

    Lady Gaga getting engaged to Taylor Kinney?

    Lady Gaga getting engaged to Taylor Kinney?
    Singer Lady Gaga's boyfriend and actor Taylor Kinney is reportedly planning to propose to her soon, after two years of dating.

    Lady Gaga getting engaged to Taylor Kinney?

    Katy Perry trash talks ex-beau for his metrosexuality

    Katy Perry trash talks ex-beau for his metrosexuality
    Singer Katy Perry has reportedly been criticising former boyfriend and musician John Mayer for his over-the-top metrosexuality.

    Katy Perry trash talks ex-beau for his metrosexuality

    Post third child, Uma Thurman at peace

    Post third child, Uma Thurman at peace
    Actress Uma Thurman no longer feels guilty about being a working mother and says that she is much more relaxed after her third child, Luna, who is two-years-old.

    Post third child, Uma Thurman at peace

    'Samrat & Co' sequel on cards: Rajeev Khandelwal

    'Samrat & Co' sequel on cards: Rajeev Khandelwal
    Rajeev Khandelwal says the team of "Samrat & Co" has already thought of a possibility of a sequel to the film, and the actor has expressed a keen interest to be part of it.

    'Samrat & Co' sequel on cards: Rajeev Khandelwal