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U2 — City Of Blinding Lights
Album: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 924









Released: 2004
Length: 5:43
Plays (last 30 days): 0
The more you see the less you know
The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then than I do now

Neon heart dayglo eyes
A city lit by fireflies
They're advertising in the skies
For people like us

And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground...

Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh

Oh you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights

Don't look before you laugh
Look ugly in a photograph
Flash bulbs purple irises
The camera can't see

I've seen you walk unafraid
I've seen you in the clothes you made
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me

And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground

Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh

Oh you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights

Time... time
Won't leave me as I am
But time won't take the boy out of this man

Oh you look so beautiful tonight
Oh you look so beautiful tonight
Oh you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights

The more you know the less you feel
Some pray for others steal
Blessings are not just for the ones who kneel... luckily
Comments (87)add comment
 justlistening wrote:

Anyone else hear a little Midnight Cowboy in the opening piano line?


Very little - similar but different sequence of notes.
strange how I thought this was Sigur Ros during the intro section
 Pieter wrote:

U2 does Coldplay




Meh does meh.
My kids were little when The Devil Wears Prada came out - we must have watched it at my house a million times. This song plays when they're in Paris, it always brings a smile to my face.
 Pieter wrote:
U2 does Coldplay
 

Yes, but reverse that statement.
U2 does Coldplay
This is a non-album version of this song. Guitar and vocals sound a little different. Anyone know where it’s from?
I want to be back in Dublin, but the rent is cosmic high and it's hard to find a flat now as far as I'm concerned. I love this city so much! But still love Dublin years of me life.
Its OK, but far from my favorite U2 tune!
Tho thumbs up.

 
karlaanne wrote:
this song was always awesome, but ever since seeing them live, and they opened with this song, its one of my alltime favorites
 

Muck.
I like this song, because for once Bono is not agonising about social issues, but just having a good time and rocking out.  I think this freedom also shows in the performances of the other band members, particularly the Edge.  It is a happy song!
Anyone else hear a little Midnight Cowboy in the opening piano line?
UTTERLY AWESOME.
What a lovely song. One of their best, ever. I can totally get lost in this song. A 10.
 karlaanne wrote:
this song was always awesome, but ever since seeing them live, and they opened with this song, its one of my all time favorites
 
Cool!


 thumbs down
I'm a fan, but not of this piece of work. 
{#Puke}
U2 hasn't even started yet...and I'm already tired.
stalfnzo wrote:
Awful voice, terrible music, less-than-mediocre band. What's the fuss about U2?
What's your thing with U2 being "less-than-mediocre"? Why not just say "terrible"? One word, just as effective. This may not be their best tune, though. Sounds like they're ripping off their own 80s sound. A 4 at most.
Tireux_De_Roche wrote:
The rest of the song is...meh.
Yep. If you look up the word "meh" in the dictionary, you'll find this song referenced.
this song was always awesome, but ever since seeing them live, and they opened with this song, its one of my alltime favorites
stalfnzo wrote:
Awful voice, terrible music, less-than-mediocre band. What's the fuss about U2?
Well, for me it's because for more than 20 years I've had a huge crush on Bono. But seriously, in U2 I hear passion, soul, heart, spirituality (not to be confused with religiosity), honesty...........
SAW THEM AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN & THIS SONG ROCKED... I LOVE EM, I DON'T CARE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS!
Love the guitar in the build-up to where Bono sings, "oh you look so beautiful tonight". The rest of the song is...meh.
If only they'd realized their peak was at Joshua Tree and then stopped right there... Not much has been good since.
Awful voice, terrible music, less-than-mediocre band. What's the fuss about U2?
Saw them at Staples Center this past Tuesday night, and they were spectacular. The live version of this song was as good as you could ask for. I can understand some people getting bored of their sound, but you won't catch me badmouthing them.
kevinc wrote:
It's also no like most of their post Achtung Baby material. It's more or less, continuing the retro sounds of All That You can't Leave Behind. If you want to hear a great u2 track, find Mercy and give it a listen. Easilly the best track they recorded for the new album. Fast Cars is a nice track too.
i haven't heard mercy yet... where is it from? i keep missing it on the lrc... was that yr upload?
psycholynx wrote:
Techno HAhahahahaha. Not in it's weirdest alternative to the alterative did U2 come anywhere near the genre of Techno.
It's also no like most of their post Achtung Baby material. It's more or less, continuing the retro sounds of All That You can't Leave Behind. If you want to hear a great u2 track, find Mercy and give it a listen. Easilly the best track they recorded for the new album. Fast Cars is a nice track too.
reedifus wrote:
I was wondering how the rest of this song could sound like U2's techno albums of the 90s as stated.
Techno HAhahahahaha. Not in it's weirdest alternative to the alterative did U2 come anywhere near the genre of Techno.
And it must be people like you who encourage them to put out plebeian drivel.
it must be people like you who helped U2 earn a reputation as the biggest band of the last two centuries.
psycholynx wrote:
The opening sounds like that song by "The Killers-Smile Like You Mean it" and the rest sounds like...well....every every other U2 song that came out after Achtung Baby.
Good call. Someone please tell Christ- uh, I mean Bono- to shove it. I can't even remember the last time anything they put out didn't make my ears bleed from the dull pain of mediocrity.
sherp wrote:
I wasn't sure about this cd on the first couple listens but it's grown on me more and more. I find that happens with a lot of great albums. This is one of the best on the cd in my opinion. Good stuff.
Agree. Same thing happened to me with the last U2 offering.
psycholynx wrote:
Did I stutter? It sounds just like that song in the opening. Same notes and everything.
I was wondering how the rest of this song could sound like U2's techno albums of the 90s as stated.
reedifus wrote:
...uh....what?
Did I stutter? It sounds just like that song in the opening. Same notes and everything.
psycholynx wrote:
The opening sounds like that song by "The Killers-Smile Like You Mean it" and the rest sounds like...well....every every other U2 song that came out after Achtung Baby.
...uh....what?
saw them in chicago last night. they opened with this one and it was amazing. so much better than the cd version, imo.
Always liked U2 and Edge's guitar sound.
The opening sounds like that song by "The Killers-Smile Like You Mean it" and the rest sounds like...well....every every other U2 song that came out after Achtung Baby.
phineas wrote:
Takes a while to get going, then doesn't bother going anywhere anyway.
phineas wrote:
Takes a while to get going, then doesn't bother going anywhere anyway.
Exactly, I just don't get these guys anymore. They're too old for the pouty, rebellious, angry young men look, especially as they look down from their multi-million dollar mansions. I quit taking them seriously after the Joshua Tree.
Takes a while to get going, then doesn't bother going anywhere anyway.
Trustocity wrote:
Stay alive, U2. Keep genre rock thriving. As for this song, holy crap, I hate it. I'm leaving this dreck on the shelf with my Cranberries and listening to "The Joshua Tree" instead. Not dreck because it sucks, but dreck because it's not even innovative enough to suck.
So true, It's not innovative at all. It sounds like some crappy rehash of a "Joshua Tree" Cut mixed together with that Interpol song all mxed with a Industrial(pun intended)-sized blender.
Thanks, needed that right now. Go boys!
I really like the 'early' work of U2, but this song and others I've heard of the newest albums, sound kind of bland and generic. It's not bad but there's nothing exciting about it either. A 5.
Can't get much more pedestrian than this.
Shite. Steaming, that is.
hey there! in my opinion RP is playing too much U2, i like some old songs, but i don't really like the new album.. :P
U2 set a really, really high bar for themselves early in their career. The last U2 record I thought was good was Zooropa. Most seem to forget about that one. This isn't a bad record, however it is recorded really, really badly. On a good system it just stinks. :!:
An instant U2 classic. For the first time in a while I got so excited about a song that my heart jumps just knowing it's coming up next on the CD - that's what this is all about, isn't it? Yes, U2 is more overexposed than Paris Hilton, but they are #1 for a reason (not always the case!), and this song is a powerful reminder why.
Tux wrote:
Original thought to compare U2 with Microsoft Would that explain why I also dislike Microsoft (see my avatar and alias)? I also muchly prefer Burger King over McD, if ever I go there (once a year)
Wow, dude, you are like TOTALLY your own person. Keep up the good work and FIGHT the POWER! Word.
Mugro wrote:
Get used to it. U2 is everywhere. Like McDonalds and Coke. Can't avoid the constant marketing campaign.
Original thought to compare U2 with Microsoft Would that explain why I also dislike Microsoft (see my avatar and alias)? I also muchly prefer Burger King over McD, if ever I go there (once a year)
Theodoransky wrote:
there is a lot of good music out there. Why do we have to hear everyday U2? I don't claim they are bad, although I don't like them. but please play other stuff!!
Get used to it. U2 is everywhere. Like McDonalds and Coke. Can't avoid the constant marketing campaign.
there is a lot of good music out there. Why do we have to hear everyday U2? I don't claim they are bad, although I don't like them. but please play other stuff!!
LET'S GIVE U2 THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE!
Nice U2 sound but I lose interest half way through. Still, it's not offensive.
:curtain.gif: 8O
What is this shit. I can begin to see why people make fun of Peter Gabriel, even though I'm an unstoppable devotee. Some music is "best in genre" and doesn't really add (or need to add) anything new to the world encyclopedia of music; further down the list is "slightly less than best in genre" where one music lover appreciates a band in this category (sappy post-prog rock) and another in another (ringing guitar-driven anthem rock like this). Some bands are indisputable gods, and some are content to "keep up the good work" (Gabriel and U2 both). Stay alive, U2. Keep genre rock thriving. As for this song, holy crap, I hate it. I'm leaving this dreck on the shelf with my Cranberries and listening to "The Joshua Tree" instead. Not dreck because it sucks, but dreck because it's not even innovative enough to suck.
g-rod-b wrote:
There aren't a lot of bands that are still making new, vital music the same year they get inducted into the Hall of Fame. One of the few bands I genuinely respect. If you haven't yet read "U2: at the End of the World" you should.
Good point. I felt a little "used" by Vertigo (that song seems to be just an empty pop song exploiting simple pop songs), but I have a soft spot in my heart for U2. I was surprised at how their last album snuck up on me. I was trying my best not to like it, but it got me anyway and I play it a lot even now. Even though I would try to claim that they are "over the hill", they are not!
do I hear Metroid?
I like that beginning... A 10.
There aren't a lot of bands that are still making new, vital music the same year they get inducted into the Hall of Fame. One of the few bands I genuinely respect. If you haven't yet read "U2: at the End of the World" you should.
jeffpp wrote:
The problem with U2 is they've become an oldies act like the Rolling Stones, no body listens to any Stones albums after Some Girls but it gives them an excuse to tour and play the classics. U2 will probably play no more than 3 songs off this album when they tour. This is not a bad thing, just the way it is.
The set list for the Elevation Tour included 7 of the 11 songs off the All That You Can't Leave Behind CD. That's hardly an oldies act.
The problem with U2 is they've become an oldies act like the Rolling Stones, no body listens to any Stones albums after Some Girls but it gives them an excuse to tour and play the classics. U2 will probably play no more than 3 songs off this album when they tour. This is not a bad thing, just the way it is.
Beats the socks off Vertigo.
I wasn't sure about this cd on the first couple listens but it's grown on me more and more. I find that happens with a lot of great albums. This is one of the best on the cd in my opinion. Good stuff.
Sounds like Pete Yorn at the end...
briandel wrote:
My favorite off the new album. Instant U2 classic, IMO.
I'll second that!! Not groundbreaking, but so what? When you have a great sound, go with it.
:|
Sounds a lot like U2, doesn't it? I was hoping for a new direction from this new album of theirs, but this "same-old" isn't bad either. A good tune. U2 has a killer sound, anyhow!
buddhakowski wrote:
eh? er? hmmm?
I like a lot of U2 tracks. I love a lot of other U2 tracks. This one? I'll go with the Buddha.
I can't trace exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the way U2 lost 'it', didn't they? Their early stuff was awesome and definitive - this is just, well... yawn
I listened to this whole album today: https://www.vh1.com/artists/az/u2/802905/album.jhtml?popThis=playIt() I would have to listen to it a few more times to give it an all-encompassing review. So far: eh? er? hmmm?
My favorite off the new album. Instant U2 classic, IMO.
trekhead wrote:
C'mon JOKES , rate it a ONE!!!!
I already did. No joke.
trekhead wrote:
C'mon JOKES , rate it a ONE!!!! Just suck all the fun outta life! C'MON!!!
But it's a ho-hum 3. A bit better than Vertigo, but not much. I'm finally learning (thanks to someone dear mentioning it) that it's Bono's voice that ruins U2 for me. The music is great. I'd really like to hear it with the singer weeded out, or with a different voice.
C'mon JOKES , rate it a ONE!!!! Just suck all the fun outta life! C'MON!!!
Hmm... not sure of this yet. Maybe after a few more listens....
THANKS for playing it !!! ... play some other cuts if you want, I won't mind ;-)
Man, they just continue to be awesome. They're unstoppable! :)
Wow...I LOVE sneak previews!!!! New U2!!
Whoah! First! Must be off the new one! Go!
"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." Bob Dylan
Oooo, new U2. How fun.