'Remember Us?'

9 Sep 2014244
A letter from Bono, on the arrival 'of our new baby' - Songs of Innocence.

'Hello, bonjour, ciao, hola, hallo, zdravo, dobar dan, Dia duit, hæ, hej,hei, cześć, olá, ćao, namaste, sawatdee, jambo, pozdravi, Γεια σου, привіт, שלום, مرحبا, こんにちは, , سلام, 你好, Привет….

Remember us? Pleased to announce myself, Edge, Adam and Larry have finally given birth to our new baby… Songs of Innocence. It’s been a while. We wanted to get it right for you/us. We just finished it last week and thanks to Apple and iTunes it’s with you today. That’s already amazing to me as it normally takes a few months to turn this stuff around.

Part of the DNA of this band has always been the desire to get our music to as many people as possible. In the next 24 hours, over a half a billion people are going to have Songs of Innocence… should they choose to check it out. That is so exciting. People who haven’t heard our music, or weren’t remotely interested, might play us for the first time because we’re in their library. Country fans, hip hop afficionados from east LA, electro poppers from Seoul, Bhangra fans from New Delhi, Highlifers in Accra… might JUST be tempted to check us out, even for a moment. What a mind blowing, head scratching, 21st century situation. Over 500 million people… that’s a billion ears. And for the people out there who have no interest in checking us out, look at it this way… the blood, sweat and tears of some Irish guys are in your junk mail.

You’ll have noticed the album is free to U2.com’ers from the band. It’s also free to everyone on iTunes thanks to Apple. To celebrate the ten year anniversary of our iPod commercial, they bought it as a gift to give to all their music customers. Free, but paid for. Because if no-one's paying anything for it, we’re not sure “free” music is really that free. It usually comes at a cost to the art form and the artist… which has big implications, not for us in U2, but for future musicians and their music... all the songs that have yet to be written by the talents of the future… who need to make a living to write them.

We’re collaborating with Apple on some cool stuff over the next couple of years, innovations that will transform the way music is listened to and viewed. We’ll keep you posted. If you like Songs of Innocence,  stay with us for Songs of Experience. It should be ready soon enough… although I know I’ve said that before…

I hope after listening to our new long player a few times, you’ll understand why it took so long. We really went there… it’s a very, very personal album. Apologies if that gets excruciating… actually, I take that back. No apologies if it gets excruciating. What’s the point in being in U2 if you can’t go there?
There is no end to LOVE.'
BONO
Comments
244
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u2bdx
Good job guys !
Amazing album ! It was worth the wait :-D
Ilenia
Woooow!!!
You're the best guys! I love you from the deep of my heart. I hope to see you in Rome soon. Bono, you are always a great man... Proud to be your fan!
misswoo
Welcome back
Oh Yesssss!!! Loving it, great sound! Never fail to please. Thank you so much. Love you guys x
horrach
biutiful...
listening over 30 years of your music...and everytime I get so excited!! thx guys!! ;)
Sabke
Thank's
Thank's U2 Thank's Bono , thank's Edge , Thank's Larry , Thank's Adam ......... Thank's for all the great stuff .
hobbes
ThanX
What a great suprise yesterday! It was a long wait but the album is on repeat since yesterday still hearing new lines and new notes. Thank you for this new album and your letter. From innocence to experience, say no sorry it is great!
antoniettatodaro11
Thanks forever!!!!!
Posso dire solo che il mio unforgettable fire per voi continua, grazie per questo regalo meraviglioso che suggella la mia passione per la vostra musica dal 1989. Ancora oggi la vostra musica fa parte della mia vita e come posso non amare la mia vita! Grazie ! Sento ancora la vostra passione ed il vostro amore in ogni brano e lo ricambio!
Birkcran
Brilliant!
Many thanks from Atlanta! Looking forward to seeing you on tour in the city of MLK....
PaDDY JOE
Curving the ball
Didn't couldn't wouldn't of expected it. Thank you so much. Your,baby is beautiful.....
spibants
Γειά σου!
Thank U2 for another great experience with your new album. We are waiting a new tour to start to celebrate together with a LIVE as only U2 can do!
joshuat71
new album
Cool way to introduce an album. I have to listen to new U2 albums several times before I can really judge. Some nice songs good beats but nothing has jumped out as epic for me. Ive grown up on U2 .... Heck I have a joshuatree tattoo... But... I'll keep listening... I didn't Luke achtung baby when it first came out either!
iandudley
Great News So very happy
Such a long wait but I'm sure it will so be worth it. Not able to access the album from the South African iTune store though. will keep trying, this album sounds epic
dzusti007
will be a concert in Chorzow :-D
:-D
Palmeiras
Thanks for all and some more
I'm listening to Iris right now. IMPRESSIVE!!! As the whole thing. Thanks for let Mr. Clayton play loud!!!! :-) We are here as we always were, but it is so good to have our convictions reinforced: ONE OF THE BEST ALBUNS OF THE LAST 20 YEARS. Congratulations, I dont know if i would be so bold if I wear your shoes. God bless you!!!!
Pauu
I cried of happiness
I loved it. Thank you very much!!!! ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Muchas (¡muchísimas!) gracias!!!!!!!!!
Abigailpadme
What a great Tuesday!
Never saw this coming today. Long time fan. Listened to it all day (since 5 EST). This is the best you've put out since Pop! Wonderful! Great lyrics, great guitar, great drums, and I have to say amazing bass! Really good guys. Thanks for the music!!!! Can't wait for the tour:)
mofo8798
wow
Thanks guys for this album....what a deep and personal album indeed...fire and passion...could not have wished for more ....a celebration of life..a masterpiece
nikkisu2
Thank you U2 and Apple
Thank you U2 for another great LP and another quality U2 album. Keep crankin' them out! And thanks to Apple for buying this for us ...
portugirl
Welcome back! :))
Olá olá! Congrats on the new baby and looking forward to meeting his brother :) You are all welcome as always in Portugal, Lisbon is an excellent place to begin the next tour, don't you think?? :D You also have Vilar de Mouros, the first place you played in Portugal back in '82 - that festival is back now, and this time with a very special purpose, to help a cause. Did you know about it? Lots of good reasons to come visit us! Also.... Show number 15 for me! - see you then? ;) Until then, you can count on this 2 ears in a billion...
JuliaQ
What a gift!!!!
Remember you, never forgot you...never ever...with love and thanks I can't believe I have the whole album on my phone...life is much much better today!
peach23
Pulled an ALL NIGHT-er just like we did
It all happened about 2.30am here in Australia and we stayed up for it, just like we did in 1987 for The Joshua Tree. What a great reward :)
felcheve
Finally...our beatiful day!!
The long wait pays off!!!, I've been listening to it for the last 8 hours. What a great album, excellent sound, new sound, very deep soul lyrics. THANK YOU U2!!!!! THANK YOU for your hard work to please us. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
shirley2010
Now I can get some sleep
Hopefully…
Hallucination
Free to u2.com'ers?
The album is amazing. I'm actually stunned at how good this is. Easily the best release by the boys since AB. I'm curious though in Bonos statement he said it's free to u2.com'ers so...... did I miss something? I didn't recieve an email to a download link and don't see anything here. Not that it matters I'm just curious.
davepettigrew
Pretty cool stuff.
Such an interesting album, such a new sound. Loving everything that's going on in my ears right now. Nice work!
davidmauldin96
Greatest Band Ever
You never look back!
achtungabe
two thumbs up
just excellent, Cant wait for concert
shaz1992
Totally Blown Away!
THANK YOU!! This is beyond amazing! :)
tonynova66
Volcano!!!
Wow, that song rocks!!! Thanks for the great surprise, can't wait for the tour!!!!
solcm
Song for Someone
When life sucks, you can always count with old friends to make you remember the best worthy thing that you love more than yourself and find your way back home
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