A couple of days ago, we reported that Leona Lewis was lined up to sing “I See You (Theme From Avatar)” for um, “Avatar,” and some people were sort of (hilariously) offended that we would dare to suggest that song might be anything but good.
Well, we’re ready to take on another round of bloggers (and U2 fans) furrowing their brows at us, because we’ve actually heard U2’s “Winter,” written for the forthcoming Jim Sheridan film “Brothers” and it sucks. U2 fans may have already heard the song as it appeared earlier this year on the Anton Corbijn directed short film “Linear” which accompanied U2’s latest album of tedium, No Line On The Horizon. There is no doubt that this won’t be positioned for a Best Song consideration, but we’re still banking on T. Bone Burnett and “Crazy Heart” making quick work of the so far uninspired category.
The song, which clearly is about a boy going off to war, has some painfully obvious and high school level metaphors going on here. “Summer sings in me no more”? In a song called “Winter”? You have to be fucking kidding us with this shit. As for the music, it’s very typical of latter day U2 with the Edge’s dull and now lazy shimmery guitar thing and Bono‘s voice swooning all over the place. Bono even has the audacity to attempt to dramatically speak some of the lyrics midway through the song. It’s ugly folks. As for the rhythm section, they seem to have taken a time out on this one.
The full lyrics (courtesy of Oscar lovers InContention) and the over six minute song are below:
The yellow sun
Well it took the hand
Of a country boy
To a city in a far off landOk, we read that far and stopped, it’s just not worth it. Meanwhile, according to the Wrap, a full-blown “Brothers” Oscar campaign will soon be mounted by Lionsgate. Sounds correct, as “Brothers” screenings are a umm… line on the horizon. Here’s the lighter-flicking anthem.
"You have to fucking kidding us with this shit"
despite the missing "be", this line is the highlight of my week so far. thank you.
You're our highlight of the week. Say hi to Bono for us on your way out.
woah. is my sarcasm detector broken or is yours? i was totally agreeing with your sentiment.
show some love, The Playlist is my shit.
Obviously this author is a person who doesn't understand U2's music or the meaning behind lyrics. The song is called Winter because, as you fail to grasp (big surprise), "…summer sings to me no more." [face palm] Typically, it helps to actually break out the lyric sheet and READ IT and least try to understand the song meaning…but that's pretty much journalism 101.
Is it U2's best song ever? Hardly. Tough I am surprised that someone can so thoroughly misunderstand a song lyric.
Then again, given the rest of the "author's" proselytizing, I guess that speaks volumes as to why the song is misunderstood. Plus, the tired chorus of "U2 sucks" is popular on the internet these days, so might as well…right?
Your "analysis" of a U2 song = FAIL
Michael, I understood the lyric it's just that the metaphor is fucking terrible. It reads and sounds like high school poetry.
Michael, you're defense of U2 includes a line that, literally, a sixth grader would conjure up if his homework assignment was to write a seasonal-themed poem for Language Arts class. I suppose your next defense will be that his parent's probably helped him write it, so ha!
but seriously, i have nothing against Bono or U2. just piss-poor lyrics.
You're entitled to your opinion. Guess that's the good thing about music, it typically means different things to different listeners. The lyric makes total sense to me, and it happens to resonate.
Different strokes, different folks.
Again, Mark, your opinion. Doesn't make it truth, except for you. In this song, I can totally relate to a season in life that just doesn't work for me anymore. Time to move on. Try something new. Discover something different/other time in life and said life returns.
You're entitled to think it's "sixth grade." Fine. I just don't happen to share your view. No one's saying the song is "deep" or anything like that…it obviously wasn't a good enough song for the band to include as a track on their latest album; that still doesn't mean it's "sixth grade" to everybody.
Nothing against others' opinions either…I just don't happen to share them. I guess then that makes me someone with a "sixth grade" intellect. So be it.
Too bad you couldn't even get the song right. It's "White as Snow" that appears in the movie.
You just wasted half an hour writing a blog post bashing a song that wasn't supposed to be commercially released.
I'm pretty sure there are a few U2 songs used in Brothers including Winter and White as Snow (which is basically O Come O Come Emanuel with different lyrics). Obviously White as Snow can't be up for the Oscar because it was released on their album previously, although that didn't stop Falling Slowly from winning, did it?
Yeah, there's at least 2. Winter, white as snow. Dude doesn't know what he is talking about.
Whoever did this article is dumb. U2 is awesome and so is that song, get over it.
I'm having flashbacks of the Benjamin Button beatdowns from last Christmas.
I guess you should never mess with Fincher fans or U2 fans.
Yeah, just remember I called that Ben Button would win nothing major at the Oscars and when that happened, they all totally disappeared. 😉
Am I the only one who finds it funny that everyone who has criticized the songs lyrics for a lack of creativity has used the exact same metaphor of a child writing the song — over and over again.
*cringes and waits for blogs author to make witty joke about how much I must love U2*
Hey Keeb13r,
I saw the movie. It's definitely "Winter."
In your face, douchebag.
that's a rough demo version you have there, ripped from the 'Linear' dvd that accompanied their admittedly poor last album. To be fair to them, an improved sounding alternate version is used in the movie/on the soundtrack.
I really hadn't heard this song until I saw the new film "Brothers" recently. Maybe it's because the movie was so emotionally powerful, but I think you're way off on this U2 song. It's so powerful. This song is almost reminiscent of songs from "War" or "Joshua Tree" in the message it sends. I think that's why the song was nominated for an oscar for "Brothers".
U2 is one of my favorite bands ever. The mix great music with a great message, and they are still rocking more than 20 years later!
from what I know the song that made it into the film is a different version that is being played here and on youtube, the version for the movie is being streamed on their official website and it sounds different, it has an acoustic guitar and even the lyrics sound different. the are only playing a 90 seconds clip.
Are you kidding me?
FIRST OFF
some of these comments are stupid cause " White as snow" is not in the movie. "Bad" is played in the movie and "Winter" is played at the end.
2ndly, Its a BEAUTIFUL song for a BEAUTIFUL ending. SHUT THE HELL UP about Edge's guitar playing. It is NOT the same as every song. Its a great song. Bono has once again written an amazing song.
Hey now – I do think the lyrics Bono wrote for this particular track are certainly not laden with intangible depth; but still, it is atmospherically beautiful, the message can be considered simple, I'd call it accessible (why must every lyric considered great be layered to the point of incomprehension and endless interpretation?). Instrumental beauty also bestows the track with appealing factors. Harsh criticism in a day & age where the general intelligence & intellectualism is defined by Katy Perry (eye of the tiger… hear me roar/ boy that's way past grade six capacity.) LOL Pick and choose and you shall find, eh? Silly attempts at quantifying what educational level lyrics may arise.. very pathetic notions to review a song. ; )