Most Memorable Super Bowl Halftime Shows

We've got another Super Bowl and Super Bowl Halftime Show in the books. This year featured Coldplay, Beyonce & Bruno Mars in what was an okay performance. It wasn't outstanding, it wasn't terrible. The best part was when the three joined together for a "Fix You"/"Up&Up" performance that showed clips of previous Halftime shows (which for some reason left off Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake...hmm). Overall though, it just felt like something you'd watch at the VMA's or Grammy's.

So what are the most memorable Super Bowl halftime shows ever?

U2 (2002) - U2 were tasked with performing just a few months following the 9/11 attacks. And really, no band is better to handle that sort of moment. They were the first band to resume concerts in New York City with some shows at Madison Square Garden just a few weeks after the attacks. They delivered in a big way at the Super Bowl. It started out with an upbeat performance of "Beautiful Day." That led into the more somber "MLK," which is when the giant screen of the names of every victim scrolled upwards to the top of the Superdome. That led into "Where The Streets Have No Name," which picked up the pace again and left viewers feeling hopeful for the future. It culminated in Bono revealing an American flag on the inside of his jacket, a visual that still resonates. U2 were able to take viewers along for a ride through so many different emotions, which might never be possible again.

Prince (2007) - If any word could be used to describe Prince's Halftime show, it would be: electric. It was a rainy night in Miami, but that didn't stop him from putting on an energetic show, utilizing the weather to his advantage, even featuring simulated lightning on top of the stadium. He featured numerous cover songs that surprised and delighted people: "We Will Rock You," "Proud Mary," "All Along The Watchtower," and the more recent Foo Fighters hit "Best of You." He ended the night by playing "Purple Rain" in the rain, which became the signature moment that people remember. Since then the NFL has basically forced Miami to put a canopy over the seats for them to host future Super Bowls in the Dolphins' stadium, in case it were to rain. I guess the rich folks insanely spending hundreds-thousands of dollars on tickets can't handle a little water. Prince, however, went out there and showed that a little rain never hurt anyone.

Diana Ross Leaves in a Helicopter

Diana Ross (1996) - Diana Ross ran through a string of her Motown hits, but the memorable part was at the end when she declared that her ride was there. A helicopter came down onto the field and whisked her out of the stadium, in what is clearly the most memorable exit from the Super Bowl halftime of all time. The show left such an impression that the NFL went for a Motown/1960s theme in the a few of the shows after this one.

Michael Jackson (1993) - This was the first halftime show that truly went for being a major event in itself, something that would become talked about alongside the game in the following days. Jackson memorably walked out and basically just stood there to a roaring crowd for a while. He then performed some of his biggest hits ("Billie Jean," "Black or White") in a large scale spectacle that hadn't been done at any of the previous halftime shows. The set ended a bit cheesy with "Heal the World", but overall it kicked off the Halftime show as we know it today.

Janet Jackson featuring Justin Timberlake (2004) - This one doesn't even need an explanation. Its memorable for Nipplegate, and we've all heard the story. Of course, the whole reaction was overblown and showcased how ridiculous the FCC is.

Paul McCartney (2005) - Let's be real: if the NFL went by without ever having one of the Beatles play the Halftime show, something would be missing from its lore. Paul delivered a stellar set as he always does, and the show featured a healthy amount of crowd participation, ending with "Hey Jude" that featured the whole crowd singing along.

Bruno Mars featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers (2014) - Bruno Mars was one of the younger performers, as they usually get someone with a large back catalog of hits. Bruno rose to the occasion though, including a memorable drum solo, which probably gave him a number of new fans. The show made for a good mix of slower moments with high energy, while the Red Hot Chili Peppers proved to make a solid pairing with Bruno and his band.

The Rolling Stones (2006) - The Stones did what they did best, rocked the house with a rollicking performance that could probably put people half their age to shame. What was memorable about this is how the NFL & ABC aired it on a five second delay and turned off Mick Jagger's microphone for two songs with lyrics that were too "sexually explicit." The band agreed to that beforehand so it wasn't a surprise, but it just goes to show how worried networks had become about live TV after Nipplegate in 2004.

Aerosmith, Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Mary J. Blige, Nelly (2001) - This one isn't really memorable for the performances aside from when they were all on stage to join together and play "Walk This Way." It perfectly encapsulated the pop culture landscape of 1999-2001, while having something for everyone. It was an odd mashup, but one that actually worked.

And a shout out to Katy Perry, Missy Elliott, and Lenny Kravitz. While the jury is out, it did feature a few possible memorable moments: Left Shark, Missy Elliott returning to the public eye unexpectedly, and Katy Perry on a platform that "flew" around on a wire, which made for quite a stunt.

Abby Wambach Retires

Abby Wambach has ended her stellar career, playing in her final match for the United States Women's National Soccer Team in a 1-0 loss to China. She finishes with 184 International goals, a record for both women and men. The match was also significant as it was the US Women's first loss on home soil since 2004. It's almost fitting though, as the team gets set for yet another big change. Shannon Boxx, Lauren Holiday and Lori Chalupny also retired. That previous home loss in 2004 was during the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal victory tour, at the end of which saw fellow US Soccer legends Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain & Joy Fawcett retire.

Speaking of Hamm, Foudy and Chastain, they were in attendance. And yes, they will be tearing up Bourbon Street with Wambach & Co:

Ummmmmm. Yes. Yes. And yes. https://t.co/bpWiC1LYLB

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) December 17, 2015

Even though there were some questions as to whether Wambach would retire or not during the summer, you kind of felt it coming after the team won the Women's World Cup. At the start of this victory tour, it just felt like she was content and ready to move onto something else. Fittingly, Homare Sawa of Japan retired on the same day, sending off two of the best female players together.

Abby's legacy will not just be about all the goals she scored or the gold medals won. Her leadership and ability to rally her team (see: 2011 Women's World Cup match against Brazil) will be up there as well. She's also known for her being as awesome as can be when interacting with fans.

While giving an interview to FOX Sports after the match, "Beautiful Day" by U2 was playing over the stadium loudspeaker, which is a perfect way to describe Wambach's final match and career.

Abby Wambach looks on the Superdome Crowd

U2 Rock The Garden With a Cameo From Jimmy Fallon

Time goes by so fast. I remember waiting agonizingly on Ticketmaster for an hour and a half getting my tickets for U2's Innocence and Experience Tour at Madison Square Garden back in December, and was lucky enough to get some pretty great seats. And now the show happened. It was all worth it, with U2 doing what they do best...knocking you off your feet in an arena.

The set list was largely a hits set of some of their biggest singles. I'm a big fan of deep cuts and rare songs being performed, but being in there and taking it all in, I didn't care what songs they played. It all worked so well - the moments of just the band on the main stage playing some of their loud rockers, and then them moments where they used the latest technology like the giant 3-Dimensional screen that the band walked inside of to put on an orgasm for the eyes. The new songs from their latest album Songs of Innocence packed a punch, especially "Iris", written by Bono for his mom who died when he was 14.

Jimmy Fallon was pulled out of the crowd, and he joined the band in a performance of "Desire". He famously dressed as Bono on the Tonight Show and performed it with The Roots, and then before the start of the tour U2 & Fallon dressed up as street performers to perform in the Subway. The Roots were then brought out to lend a hand on "Angel of Harlem". It's not often U2 have a special guest on stage at a concert, as they don't need it. However, it worked in this setting.


The show ended with a sing-along version of "One" that concluded with Bono singing a bit of The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" since Paul McCartney was in the crowd to perfectly cap off yet another strong concert from U2.

2015 Anniversaries

How has it been 20 Years since 'Toy Story'?

Can you believe we are already halfway through the 2010's? 2015 unbelievably kicks off the second half of this decade, even though many of those Back To The Future II predictions didn't come true (although some did, like big flat screen TV's and video chatting).  There are also some hard to believe anniversaries this year.

2010, 5 Years Since... Lebron James joined the Miami Heat and oddly became a media "villain". Cavs fans burned his jersey, but now that he's made his return to Cleveland, love him again. Funny how sports work. The Chilean miners were freed and one famously kissed his mistress. The double rainbow also became a hit viral video, and now everyone searches for one.

2005, 10 Years Since... YouTube debuted. Before 2005 it was harder to find shareable videos where you can watch people make fools of themselves. You could still find them, though you had to search a bit more depending on which site people used. YouTube made it easy for everyone to use one site. Xbox 360 was launched, and its still going strong today despite the updated generation of video game consoles being released recently. August will see the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history.

2000, 15 Years Since... The last Subway Series. I mean the real Subway Series, during the World Series, not that interleague stuff. The Mets and Yankees squared off in the first Subway(All New York) World Series since the 1950's. Looking back, this was also New York in the final year before 9/11, and America as a whole was a different place in 2000. People also said "The Year..." before 2000. Why did so many people say "The Year 2000" again?

1995: 20 Years Since... Toy Story. That's right, this fall will mark 20 years since Toy Story hit theaters and launched Pixar into the huge studio it is today. Feels like yesterday when it came out and jaws dropped at the sight of the first fully computer animated movie. Clueless also came out, and perfectly encapsulates the style and lingo of the time. It was also the year of the OJ Simpson trial, one of the first times a trial became a television phenomenon thanks to cable news, and people are still obsessed with these today.

1990: 25 Years Since... Home Alone. The Christmas favorite will be a quarter of a century old. I wonder what Buzz's girlfriend looks like now? East & West Germany finally reunited. And now we get Angela Merkel pantsuits. "U Can't Touch This" was released and popularized parachute pants. Thankfully those have not stood the test of time.

1985: 30 Years Since... Live Aid took place on July 13, 1985, simultaneously from London and Philadelphia, becoming one of the biggest TV broadcasts and satellite link-ups ever. Bono sported quite the show stealing mullet when he moved down to the crowd during U2's 14-minute performance of "Bad".  The Breakfast Club and The Goonies came out. It has really been 30 years since the Truffle Shuffle.

1980: 35 Years Since... John Lennon was sadly shot in December 1980, but his timeless music and memory live on today. The Empire Strikes Back took over the world and had people waiting in long lines for tickets, which is a rare thing now thanks to the internet and apps.

1975: 40 Years Since... Saturday Night Live began, launching many careers and providing some late night laughs. Sonny and Cher divorced, which made "I Got You Babe" a bit awkward. Jaws started the summer blockbuster movie craze and scared tons of people from going in the water.

1970: 45 Years Since... The Beatles broke up and released their final album, Let It Be. I'm sure lots of people were sad, but they all went on to have successful solo careers anyway. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin both dies at age 27, which gave rise to the "27 Club" of famous musicians who tragically passed away at the same young age.

1965: 50 Years Since... The Beatles performed at Shea Stadium and the New York World's Fair took place in Queens. The NY World's Fair was not a money maker, but still has become quite a famous event which is still talked about.

The Walking Dead & U2

AMC released two new trailers for The Walking Dead with "The Troubles" by U2 featuring Lykke Li off their new album Songs of Innocence as the soundtrack to both.

It helps build up the tension nicely, with the haunting song a perfect fit for the vibe of togetherness we get from our survivors as they face their toughest task yet. The trailers don't offer up too much in the way of plot, but some great footage is spliced together giving it a theatrical feel for a show that thrives on details. The Walking Dead season 5 premieres Sunday October 12 while the deluxe non-free version of Songs of Innocence hits stores October 14. 

Ultimate First World Problem: Complaining About a Free U2 Album From iTunes

When news broke that the new U2 album Songs of Innocence would be released free on iTunes automatically in every users library, many people were happy. And many people were not happy, from regular users on twitter to Sharon Osbourne, that it downloaded into their library.

But the uproar about an "invasion of privacy" (even though there is a thing called a user agreement that you accept when you get an iPhone/iTunes...) and complaining about an album taking up space on your phone is ridiculous.

I mean picture this: a person (probably a hipster) is sitting in a nice air conditioned Starbucks with their complicated coffee order in hand. They turn on their 500 dollar iPhone and all of a sudden the new U2 album is in their music library for free. They immediately go onto social media and start complaining about it furiously. I mean...talk about a first world problem. If the worst moment of your week was a free album by a talented rock band being downloaded into your music library, well then you've probably had a pretty good week.

Maybe all these people should walk into a local homeless shelter or hospital and then complain about how awful it was to be gifted a free album by Apple. Let's see how that works out for you.

New U2 Album "Songs of Innocence" Out NOW...for FREE

How do you combat the lack of people buying albums? Well, you just give it away for free apparently.

The Temporary Cover of the Free Version of "Songs of Innocence"

U2 (Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr, Adam Clayton) announced at the Apple iPhone 6 event that their new album, Songs of Innocence, is now out exclusively on iTunes until October 13 for Free, automatically in every users iTunes around the world, where you can listen or download the album for free. Of course that means the album will not count towards the Billboard charts, but for a band like U2 who have sold millions upon millions of albums that really isn't a big deal. You can check for the album here: http://smarturl.it/newu2album.

On October 13 the physical album will be released on CD and Vinyl, containing acoustic versions of the songs as well as four new tracks not on the free digital version, plus other goodies like a book. This may be a smart idea in this age when album sales are at record lows. More people will listen to the free album that normally wouldn't pay for it anyway. Then when the deluxe/physical version comes out the fans who would buy it anyway will get that one. Bono also stated that another album called Songs of Experience may be released in the not too distant future.

So far my favorite song would be "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)", with fuzzed out guitars that scream ROCK. Sorry Gene Simmons, but Rock is not dead, just ask U2, the Foo Fighters, and Paramore among others.

The track listing:
1. The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
2. Every Breaking Wave
3. California (There is no End to Love)
4. Song for Someone
5. Iris (Hold Me Close)
6. Volcano
7. Raised By Wolves
8. Cedarwood Road
9. Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
10. This Is Where You Can Reach Me
11. The Troubles - Featuring Lykee Li

New U2 Album Being Revealed At Apple Event

The updated U2 iPod from 2006

It's been 5 and a half years since U2 last released an album, 2009's No Line On The Horizon. That is about to change, as rumor has it U2 will be releasing some information about the new album, with the date of release soon.

According to the New York Times, U2 (Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr, Adam Clayton) will be at the Apple event September 9th. Apple will be revealing the iPhone 6 that day, which should go on sale shortly after. Now the rumor is U2 will be streaming the entire album on the iPhone 6. One can assume the album will then be released shortly after that. They may also be performing their new single at the event. This all comes with little hype or warning, which worked for David Bowie & Beyonce among others. 

There may be more in relation to Apple, but that is being kept under wraps. The music industry has changed with album sales at an all time low, and artists are finding new ways to get music out there. We can possibly expect some unique new thing U2 and Apple will be trying to improve the listening experience in the digital age. The album will be released in an "innovative" way according to some. We'll find out soon what innovative actually means. 

This isn't the first time the two have linked up. Their hit song "Vertigo" was featured in the memorable silhouette iPod commercials in 2004 and 2005. Apple also released a Special Edition U2 iPod in 2004 and video iPod in 2006. 

Jared Leto Wins the 2014 Oscars

The 2014 Academy Awards have come and gone, and the clear winner of the night was Jared Leto (Who won the Oscar for Supporting Actor), for his outstanding speech which was given as a "thank you" to anyone who is struggling. First he thanked his mom, then went on to thank "all the dreamers out there around the world watching this tonight in places like the Ukraine and Venezuela, I want to say we are here and as you struggle to make your dreams happen, to live the impossible. We're thinking of you tonight."

He followed that up with, "This for the 36 million people who have lost the battle to AIDS and to those of you out there who have ever felt injustice because of who you are or who you love. Tonight I stand here in front of the world with you and for you." It will truly go down as one of the best Oscar speeches ever.

Ellen DeGeneres hosted for the second time and did a fantastic job. She was surprisingly edgy with some of her jokes, though of course with her friendly delivery, and it all came together so well. She also got pizza for everyone, which was delivered by a real pizza delivery person, not an actor. The place has delivered to The Ellen Show, hence the connection. Then took a picture (with the help of Bradley Cooper) that was the most re-tweeted photo on Twitter ever:

Gravity was the big winner of the night, taking home the most awards by owning all the technical awards as well as Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron. Sandra Bullock didn't get Best Actress, with that going to Cate Blanchett. Matthew McConaughey won Best Actor and gave an "Alright Alright Alright" reminiscent of David Wooderson during his speech, which fans of Dazed and Confused love of course. 12 Years a Slave took home Best Picture, and Lupita Nyong'o won Best Supporting Actress, and she also gave a beautiful speech much like Leto.

"Let it Go" from Frozen beat out "Happy" by Pharrell and "Ordinary Love" by U2 for best song. John Travolta mistakenly pronounced Idina Menzel's name as Adele Nazim. Talk about butchering a name. Maybe Adele Nazim is her Scientology name? Jennifer Lawrence fell again, tripping over a cone on the red carpet. She laughed about it of course, like a champ.

U2 Releases "Invisible" For (RED)

"Invisible" Cover Art

U2 have released a new song "Invisible", for FREE on iTunes, available only today on Sunday February 2nd through Monday February 3rd. The song is off their upcoming album, but not the first single. It was released in a partnership with Bank of America, who have donated $10 Million dollars to (RED) to fight AIDS. They will donate an additional $1 for each Free download, so get downloading it on iTunes by clicking here. *Edit* The song is now available through Amazon & Google Play as well. It's no longer free, but all proceeds are still being donated to (RED). $1.29 is not steep at all, please download to support the cause!

The song is a change from anything on their two most recent albums, No Line On The Horizon (2009) and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004). The intro really threw me for a loop, and the entire song sounds incredibly fresh. To compare to other artists, it sounds a bit like Kraftwerk meets The Killers, but certainly very U2 more than anything else.

They've made a career of expanding their musical palette, from starting out as a Post-Punk band and moving on to Americana and Blues, to Alternative Rock and Electronic influenced rock. They can do it all, and this song is U2 continuing to push themselves. If I had to pick two U2 songs to compare it with I'd go with "Zoo Station" from Achtung Baby & "Kite" from All That You Can't Leave Behind. Bono is in fine form vocally, and Larry Mullen Jr really stands out on drums in the commercial. Hopefully his drums are featured more in the actual song on the album version.

Part of the music video for the song will debut in a commercial during the Super Bowl, reminding people to download the song for Free to help promote & raise money for (RED). The full video will be on YouTube later. Bono describes the song of his feeling back in 1979 walking out of the London Subway and feeling uncool being from the Dublin suburbs as the original inspiration for the lyrics before moving on to what we hear now. If this is just a taste of the new album, I'm even more pumped to hear it all this Spring/Summer. You can watch a video detailing the making of the song/video below:
 

The Annual Golden Globes Censor Fail

There were about four reasons to watch the Golden Globes this year.

1. Tine Fey & Amy Poehler, who are guaranteed to bring out some laughs.

2. To see if anyone would curse and/or have a drunken speech that sends the censors into a panic.

3. To get a speech that is actually interesting to listen to, from Sandra Bullock and/or Tom Hanks, two people who know how to deliver a top notch speech with humor and humility without being dramatic.

4. U2.

Well, 20 minutes into the show and Jacqueline Bisset said "Shit" and NBC botched the censorship and only got the words leading up to "Shit". I thankfully flipped back just in time! And she definitely seemed drunk as well, which is what sets the Golden Globes apart...alcohol on the tables. It is no doubt boring sitting there for hours (as most awards shows are), so it seems someone curses and rambles every year after knocking back copious amounts of wine/champagne.

Poehler and Fey were great of course, playing off each other perfectly, featuring a nice bit with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and an electronic cigarette. Poehler also jokingly made out with Bono after winning Best Supporting Actress in a TV comedy. Sandra Bullock & Tom Hanks presented an award together, and hopefully one or both will win later in the show to show everyone how a speech is done.

U2 Bringing New Song "Invisible" To The Super Bowl?

U2 are finally gearing up to release their first new album since 2009's No Line On The Horizon in 2014.

They gave us a tease with the Golden Globe nominated song "Ordinary Love" from the film "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom". Their next single, called "Invisible", is possibly going to be released in a 30 or 60 second commercial during the Super Bowl on February 2nd as reported on atU2. One can assume the full song/music video will be uploaded to YouTube/U2.com and released to iTunes/Amazon MP3 shortly after. The new track will be supporting the (RED) campaign to fight AIDS, so there isn't any official word yet if this song is part of the new album. However, in an LA Times article where the track "Invisible" was played by Bono for them, it stated the song is from the new album. So its possible the track is both promoting the (RED) charity and the lead single.

I faintly heard part of the song, as someone on a beach managed to hear the song being played (loudly) and recorded a bit of it with a cell phone. You can't make out much thankfully, since I'd rather just hear it during the Super Bowl, but you can tell the song is going for the sweeping epic vibe. Think of it as in a category with "Where The Streets Have No Name" or "Beautiful Day".

The band (Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr) also appeared at and performed for Sean Penn's 3rd Annual HELP HAITI HOME fundraiser, performing "Hallelujah", "I Will Follow", "Desire" & "Vertigo". It was only their second performance for a crowd since the end of the U2360 Tour in Summer 2011.

2014 Anniversaries

2014 is here...and with it will bring a whole slew of new things celebrating an anniversary, some of which may shock you since you remember them happening like it was yesterday.

It's been a decade since Usher hit us with his song "Yeah!" featuring Lil' Jon in 2004. Also known as the song that even people who hate dancing couldn't help but want to dance to, regardless of what they say. That song is now 10 years old. It's also been 10 years since U2's "Vertigo" helped launch the iPod into even more households. Tina Fey also brought us 'Mean Girls' 10 years ago, going on to be quoted by pretty much everyone to this day. It all seems like it was just yesterday. 

Happy 20th, Lion King!

And believe it or not, Disney's 1994 smash hit "The Lion King" will turn 20 this year. Two full decades of Hakuna Matata. As if "Jurassic Park" turning 20 last year wasn't enough to make you feel a bit old for remembering when they were in theaters for the first time...and then when they came out on VHS finally. 1994 also saw Friends premiere on TV. 

As we gear up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, we must remember its been 20 years since the United States hosted the record breaking 1994 World Cup, and 15 years since hosting & winning the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. Both events helped make Soccer a much bigger sport in America now than it was in the previous few decades. 

The Simpsons will become 25 years old, and the series shows no signs of slowing down. I would be shocked if they didn't have a 30th Season at least.

It will also be the 50th Anniversary of when The Beatles first landed in America at JFK Airport in February 1964, performing to an estimated 34 percent of the US population on The Ed Sullivan Show. It launched a wave of Beatlemania that is still going on now, as they have continued to sell albums in the millions from their breakup in 1970 through to today.

The Beatles, February 1964

New Year's Music

When people think of Holiday themed music, Christmas obviously dominates, with hundreds of songs for the season. Halloween follows in the distance with a good chunk of music. Yet, there are numerous songs you can listen to as you ring in the New Year as well! So while you

"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" by Various Artists. This gem dates back to 1947, when it was independently written by Frank Loesser. It has since been covered by numerous artists, and my vote for the best versions go to The Carpenters and Ella Fitzgerald. Nobody did Christmas songs quite like The Carpenters, and "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" was added to their album "An Old-Fashioned Christmas". Fitzgerald also delivers a perfect rendition of the classic, as expected from a legend.

"New Year's Day" by U2. Released in 1983 on their album War, "New Year's Day" has stood the test of time as one of U2's most well known singles. It wasn't meant for that though, being a more politically charged song. The lyrics were inspired by the Solidarity Movement in Poland. So while New Year's isn't the main subject of the song, it is a piece of it.

"Auld Lang Syne (The New Year's Anthem)" - Mariah Carey. "Auld Lang Syne" is the most well known New Year's song, played every year on New Year's Eve. So for this list I just decided to include the Mariah Carey version from her 2010 Merry Christmas II You album, being one of the more recent versions, and from the woman who gave us a modern Christmas classic in "All I Want For Christmas Is You".

"Happy New Year" by ABBA. Released in 1980, this New Year's song from ABBA was a big hit in Europe, though a lot of its success came during reissues after the initial recording of the song. The English version wasn't released as a single until 1999. It did get a cheesy music video though even without a single release in 1980, which is worth watching:
                    
I mean, I know the video was probably filmed on some sound stage, but did the party need to be surrounded by total blackness? Not even a disco ball? And what was with the random horses in the background? Its cheesy, but you just can't help to love it.

"1999" by Prince.  Leading up to December 31st 1998, this song was played by pretty much every radio station and on every TV broadcast, as well as a year later in the lead up to Y2K and the new millennium. It was originally released in 1982. It made the Top 40 in 1998 as well, becoming the last single by Prince to chart that high. You can still party like its 1999, so fire this track up.

"Sleigh Ride" by TLC. Released on the Home Alone 2 soundtrack, Sleigh Ride is mainly a Christmas song that also gives some love to New Year's, so why not celebrate both?

"Maybe Baby (New Year's Day)" by Sugarland. Much like "Sleigh Ride" this song shows some love to both Christmas and New Year's. The country/rock/pop duo released it on their Christmas album "Gold & Green" in 2009. It features Kristian Bush on lead vocals rather than Jennifer Nettles, who gives background vocals this time around.

U2 Return With 'Ordinary Love'

U2 have released their first new song since 2009 with "Ordinary Love" as well as an accompanying lyric video from artist Oliver Jeffers. Bono appears briefly in the video. The song is featured in the end credits and soundtrack of the upcoming Nelson Mandela film 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom' starring Idris Elba & Naomie Harris. You can almost bet the song will be nominated for a Golden Globe and/or Academy Award.

A special version of the song will be released on Vinyl for Record Store Day 2013. The B-Side will be an alternate Nelson Mandela-themed version of their song "Breathe", which was released on 2009's No Line On The Horizon.

"Ordinary Love" sounds like a cross between "Beautiful Day" and "One Tree Hill". Their next studio album is due out in 2014, and this song won't be on the album (at least not in this current form) as it was made specifically for the soundtrack to 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom'. Watch the video below.

U2's Greatest Live Performances

U2 were in New York City last week, apparently mixing their new album at Electric Lady Studios. Rumors suggest the goal is to have their 13th studio album out sometime between October and December 2013, with a tour to follow starting in the Spring. We'll see if this holds up, but it looks like some new music is on the horizon. Throughout their long career, they've been known for creating some real chill inducing performances that could even leave non-fans speechless. Here are some of their greatest live performances, though there are plenty more to choose from.

All I Want Is You/Where The Streets Have No Name, Slane Castle (2001) - The Slane Castle concert is one of U2's most highly regarded shows. They seem to be in such a loose mood at this show, possibly because it wasn't originally going to be released as a DVD. Streets, with its slow building intro, is enough to deliver goosebumps to even the most jaded person. If you're looking for a top quality performance of the song, Slane Castle is one of the better versions you can get.  

Wake Up Dead Man/Walk On, Boston (2001) - I love the combination here, as this slow performance of "Wake Up Dead Man" leads into a passionate and rousing rendition of the live staple "Walk On". "MLK/Walk On" from the U22 Live album of the U2360 Tour has a similar effect. "Walk On", written for Aung San Suu Kyi while she was under house arrest in Burma, always has a high level of passion when performed.

Beautiful Day/MLK/Where The Streets Have No Name, Super Bowl (2002) - A few months after 9/11, U2 were tasked with putting on the first Super Bowl Halftime following the tragedy. And they delivered on a grand scale. It started with the soaring & energetic "Beautiful Day". Once the somber "MLK" kicked in, the giant screen with the victims' names rose to the roof and created the greatest moment in Super Bowl Halftime history. This eventually leads to the building "Where The Streets Have No Name" that ends the set on a high note that left everyone feeling that things were going to be alright.

Surrender, New Year's Day, & Sunday Bloody Sunday, Red Rocks (1983) - While their Live Aid performance is what launched them to mainstream status, Red Rocks (Under a Blood Red Sky) is what made U2 known amongst music fans as one of the best live bands in the world. Red Rocks is a famous outdoor amphitheater in Colorado, and on this particular night the rain was coming down, while torches lit the amphitheater. The red lighting & smoke from the fire amidst the mist and rain created quite the stunning visual and a fitting backdrop to the powerful music coming from the stage. MTV (back when they played music) put many of the song performances into rotation, and the video became a best seller. The rest is history, as the show solidified their presence. You could really pick any song, though those three are my personal stand outs from the show.

Bad, Live Aid (1985) - After the success of "Red Rocks" on MTV & video, U2 found a new venue to showcase their live performance, this time at a music festival headlined by some of the biggest acts on the planet at Live Aid 1985. The band played a 14-minute version of "Bad", which took up most of their set forcing them to cut a song. Bono jumped into the crowd and danced with a girl, who was close to being crushed by fans who were pushing towards the stage. Bono saw it and made his way to her to save the day and create a memorable moment. He just can't help himself! The performance put them on the map in a mainstream way for the first time.

SFOR Soldiers Stood Watch

Sarajevo Concert, PopMart Tour (1997) - There aren't any specific performances that stood out at this show, considering Bono was suffering from vocal issues that hurt his performances, though The Edge and the crowd helped him along. The main reason this is such a big moment is the magnitude of the show itself, where they became the first act to put on a major concert in Bosnia following the ends of the brutal Bosnian War in 1995 & Siege of Sarajevo in 1996. The band lost a lot of money on the show due to extremely low ticket prices, since unemployment in the region was so high following the war. Trains ran into Sarajevo for the first time since before the start of the war on the day on the concert. They were also the first big act to perform at Madison Square Garden just a month after 9/11 when other acts were nervous about putting on shows with large gatherings. U2 has a knack for using music and performance to help heal and boost morale.

With or Without You, Live in Paris (1987) - "With or Without You" is their signature song, and pretty much any version during the late 1980s is a gem. The live version occasionally is longer and adds the line "We'll shine like stars in the summer night/We'll shine like stars in the winter light/One hope/One love" which is simple yet adds so much to an already perfect song.

The Fly, ZooTV Live from Sydney (1993) - "The Fly" launched U2 into the 90s when it was released as a lead single from Achtung Baby, showing their versatility. The live version is a highlight from the ZooTV DVD, as the band tears through the track and Bono sings into a mic that distorts his voice. The track was thankfully resurrected on the U2360 Tour in 2011.

Vertigo, Glastonbury Festival (2011) - "Vertigo" is one of their most energetic songs, and the live version adds a nice intro that builds up to the pulsating guitar courtesy of The Edge. The crowd at Glastonbury provided some nice background vocals for Bono, as the rain fell down which was reminiscent of Red Rocks. This Glastonbury version also has a nice little snippet of The Beatles' "She Loves You", which is always great to hear.

The Rolling Stones Headlining Glastonbury 2013

The rumors have been confirmed, as The Rolling Stones will headline the 2013 Glastonbury festival along with Mumford & Sons and the Arctic Monkeys. The festival was not held in 2012 due to the London 2012 Olympics, as well as to let the fields heal. The 2011 festival was headlined by U2, Coldplay and Beyonce.

The Rolling Stones haven't played an outdoor music festival since the infamous Altamont 1969 concert that was fraught with violence when the Hell's Angels were hired as "security", which led to the stabbing death of a fan. After the huge success of a peaceful Woodstock, Altamont signaled the end of the idea of a peaceful free music festival. It shook the Rolling Stones up enough that they stopped appearing at outdoor music festivals, until now.

Some rumors have said this would be their last performance as a group, but I have doubts about that. Come on...its the Rolling Stones. How many times have we heard rumors about a final performance? Get yer ya-ya's out and get ready for what should be a great show. Glastonbury will be one stop on their tour, other dates have yet to be announced. Rumors currently say that the tour could have 18 or more dates in North America, with some in Australia a possibility as well. AEG Live is expected to announce the dates sometime in April.

What songs would you like to see them play in a set list? I hope they break out some that haven't been performed much or at all lately. "Lady Jane", "She's a Rainbow", "Look What The Cat Dragged In", "Saint of Me", "As Tears Go By", "Highwire" and "Till the Next Goodbye" would be on my wishlist. I also hope they continue to play their two new songs from GRRR!, "Doom & Gloom" and "One More Shot". "Doom & Gloom" would easily make my top 10 favorite Stones songs, I love the energy of it.

Response to 10 Great U2 Guitar Songs

Bono & The Edge

Gibson recently posted an article that attempted to bring together the 10 greatest U2 guitar songs. Tough task because the iconic rock band has so many great songs and with that comes a variety of opinions. However, I noticed that all the songs in this list were hit singles. While there is nothing wrong with that, as all those songs are outstanding, when it comes to a band like U2 you can really dig into their catalog and find so much more. So here are more songs, in no particular order, that have some of the best guitar we've heard from The Edge. Mostly sticking to non-singles with a few exceptions.

1. New York (All That You Can't Leave Behind, 2000) - Bono provides some interesting lyrics as he describes New York City, however the real star of this song is The Edge. His guitar really comes blistering into the song around 2:10 into this underrated track. It has some of my favorite guitar work from The Edge, and considering it wasn't released as a single and hasn't been played live in a while, you should probably give it another listen. Check out this fantastic unofficial fan-made video for the song:

2. The Fly (Achtung Baby, 1991) - One of the singles I'm including, it tends to be a bit forgotten considering the popularity of the other singles from Achtung Baby ('One', 'Mysterious Ways', 'Even Better Than The Real Thing'). The distorted guitar hits you right away and carries you through one of the best songs in U2's rich history. This was the lead single from Achtung Baby, and it was the perfect choice to signal the band's new alternative rock/electronic/experimental direction of the 90s after their more serious output of the late 80s. I bet when many people first heard this song, their initial thought may have been, "this is the same band that made 'With or Without You'?!?" 'The Fly' helped signal U2 as a group with many tricks up their musical sleeves.

3. I Threw a Brick Through a Window (October, 1981) - Here's another example of the guitar taking the stage ahead of Bono's vocals/lyrics. That is no easy feat considering Bono is one of the strongest singers of all time. October is their least popular album, though still a great listen, so many of the songs remain unknown to the masses. Many of the songs on October are powered by the instruments. Bono's lyrics were stolen, so they had to be re-written quickly, which is part of the reason. That inadvertantly allows The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton to shine and take a larger focus than on other albums.

4. Vertigo (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, 2004) - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb contains some of U2's most powerful and heavy guitar work. However, 'Vertigo' stands out and another hit single I just can't ignore. The "iPod" song will forever be a live favorite and staple thanks to the ear blasting guitar heard throughout in addition to the catchy lyrics. It gets people on their feet.

5. Surrender (War, 1983) - The guitar provides much variety throughout the 5 1/2 minutes of 'Surrender', going along with some of the chanting as I call it heard here. The length gives Edge plenty of opportunities to stand out. War, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and Boy are chock full of heavy, loud guitar for those who like harder rock.

6. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) (Zooropa, 1993) One of the greatest songs they've ever made. It was a single, though it should have charted much higher on the Hot 100 than its peak of 61. It makes for a great alternative ballad, and is mostly played acoustic in concert now. The guitar moves the outstanding vocals along nicely, and its the definition of what a ballad should be.

7. Breathe (No Line on the Horizon, 2009) Most people agree that this should have been a single, and probably the lead. However, it opened many shows on the U2360 tour. The song soars and lifts you up, a U2 specialty. Mainly crafted by The Edge himself, he took influence from Jack White & Jimmy Page, whom he worked with in the guitar documentary It Might Get Loud. 

8. Bullet the Blue Sky (The Joshua Tree, 1987) The guitar slides are used expertly in 'Bullet the Blue Sky', and the song carries a lot of power especially when performed live. The studio track has a great distorted solo towards the end, which was nice considering most of the album is a mellower affair.

9. The Electric Co. (Boy, 1980) From their very first album, the young Edge gets to unleash his powerful guitar throughout the album, but my favorite is on 'The Electric Co.' Electric would clearly be the best word to describe it, as his guitar travels through your speakers like lightning.

10. Until the End of the World (Achtung Baby, 1991) The song is dark and exciting, with The Edge bringing his shimmering guitar along for the ride. Another non-single that has become a live favorite of many fans. The song is perfect in every way, and The Edge delivers one of his best guitar solos. The entire song was born of a guitar riff, so its only fitting.

11. Electrical Storm (Best of 1990-2000, 2002) The "William Orbit Mix" lacks the powerful guitar intro, but you can find the guitar "Band Version" as a B-Side with the 2-disc version of the hits album, which features 'Electrical Storm' as a new song.

Guitar lovers should check out these as well: 'Elevation' (All That You Can't Leave Behind), 'Wake Up Dead Man' (Pop, 1997), 'Desire' (Rattle & Hum, 1988), 'Window in the Skies' (U218 Singles, 2006), 'A Sort of Homecoming' (The Unforgettable Fire, 1984), 'Love Comes Tumbling' (Wide Awake in America, 1985), 'Crumbs From Your Table' (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), 'Fez - Being Born' (No Line on the Horizon).

Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show 2014

Beyonce may or may not have knocked the Superdome power out with her high energy Super Bowl XLVII Halftime show, but people are already talking about the Halftime show for Super Bowl XLVIII. It will be the  first outdoor cold weather Super Bowl for the NFL, from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

Many people in the media have speculated that there will be no halftime show due to the possibility of snow wreaking havoc on it, but organizers are saying that is NOT true. There will be a halftime show, and there are already some names floating around.

There is speculation about the possibility of going to someone from the NY/NJ area, which has obviously produced many music superstars. Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, Billy Joel, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga to name a few. Apparently on the NFL Network, they suggested that U2 is being considered for the show. They would be my choice if I had any say, which I sadly do not.

U2 previously performed at the Super Bowl XXXVI Halftime show in 2002, just a few months after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Many consider it the greatest halftime show of all time. They gave fans both excitement and reflection as a tribute to those who lost their lives, with victims' names rising up to the ceiling of the Superdome as the band went from 'MLK' into 'Where The Streets Have No Name', ending with Bono showing the American flag inside his jacket. They also have another connection with the NFL, performing along with Green Day to re-open the Superdome the year after Hurricane Katrina.

If there is anyone who can do an outstanding job while being tasked with the first ever outdoor cold weather halftime show, it would be U2. Bono & U2 thrive on that. Plus, they're aiming to release a new album in the fall with a tour to follow, and there is no better promotion than performing live in front of 90-100 million people.

Its still very early, and the list of potential performers is probably large, but it is fun to speculate.

U2 2013 & Album Rankings

Rumor has it U2 will release a new album sometime in 2013, probably late summer or fall, with a tour following it. U2 always comes up with great ideas for a tour, so expect something unique again, much like "The Claw" from the record breaking "U2 360 Tour". Rumor has it most of the shows will be arena shows this time around. Julian Lennon (John Lennon's son) said they are interested in possibly using one of his photographs as the cover.

1. Achtung Baby (1991) - U2 didn't just "chop down the Joshua tree" (as they've said), they sent it through a wood chipper with songs like "Zoo Station," "The Fly" and "Acrobat." Achtung Baby was a much darker album than people were used to from them. They embraced alternative rock, as well as dance and electronic music. It's so hard to pick a top song, because each one can probably lay claim to it. Anyone who hasn't heard this album must do it now. The accompanying Zoo TV Tour is possibly the most original & creative concert tour of all time, so the "Zoo TV Live from Sydney" DVD is also worth picking up.
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2. The Joshua Tree (1987) - The Grammy-winning album that sent them into the stratosphere. It's their best-selling album, with classics such as "With or Without You," "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." This was a more mainstream sound than their early-80s post-punk albums, also showing their versatility in songwriting. The most underrated song on the album is "Exit" which starts with a slow build then explodes into a loud rocker. I'm a sucker for that. From top to bottom it feels like the album is full of radio friendly hits.

3. All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) - It's not their most creative album, but the songs very simply kick ass and never seem to get old as the years go by. Another big Grammy winner, it features the amazing "Beautiful Day" as well as other hits like "Elevation" and "Walk On." One of their best tracks, "Kite", was never released as a single and shows that even the deeper tracks on this album have as much, and maybe more, strength than the singles. Often called U2's third masterpiece after Achtung Baby & The Joshua Tree. It took U2 into the 21st Century in the most perfect way, and they haven't looked back.

4. War (1983) - My favorite of their pre-Joshua Tree albums, this has a lot of energy for a politically charged album, their first album that deals with politics and war. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day" are the well-known tracks, but most of the album has songs that are equally as good. War is one of their hardest rockers taking what they did on the first two albums to the next level. "Two Hearts Beat as One" is a rocker that makes you want to get up and move, U2 is always good at that. This is the album that proved they were more than a one hit wonder.

5. No Line On The Horizon (2009) - This one isn’t very mainstream, but it all flows together nicely, definitely an underrated album. It's a bit more experimental than the other U2 albums from the 2000s. "Breathe," "Magnificent," "Unknown Caller" and "Moment of Surrender" all stand out. It's their most visual album along with The Unforgettable Fire. "Get on Your Boots" is a good song, but is much better the way they perform it live with a different intro. Bono said the album would be more experimental that the previous two, but they probably could have taken that further.