U2 is a band often derided by critics (including me) as being mundane and uninspired. Yet we cannot deny they have inspired a generation of fans with their specific type of music. In 2018 with the help of producer Jacknife Lee, arranger Brandon Collins and a repeatedly overdubbed string quartet, U2 released this version of their single ‘Light’s of home’. https://youtu.be/no4xelJxmkY
It starts with urgent strings playing as bells cascade
around. Then Bono’s vocals come in with the guitar. The reverb on the track is truly
grand, but not deafening. A nice mix. We get some stabs from the basses to add
angle to the track. When we get to “hey now, do you know my name…”, Edge’s
wailing guitar complements the strings arrangement well.
We have a short instrumental interlude with a cello solo.
The basses are lifted off and replaced by block piano chords. Bass drum hits
fill out the low end until the next chorus, opening space. It is minimal drumming
but adds to the musical scenery.
In the guitar solo there is a more traditional U2 arrangement,
with the basic drumming. The strings fold away for the next chorus and are
replaced by a louder guitar and piano, but they seem back in towards the end.
The shrill glissando that opens the coda is spine chilling
and adds to the gravity of the tom’s fill. The distorted guitar sounds
fantastic and plays well with the timbre of the strings, which are in the back
escalating, behind creative uses of percussion.
The ending is a short strings version of the broader outro
that fades out. I’m not sure if that was necessary.
Usually I’m not the biggest U2 fan, but I do love this
track. The strings are such a fantastic mix with the band, and Bono’s voice.
Final Rating: 9/10
Comparative Ranking List:
1. Dear Prudence: 10/10
2. Rachmaninov Prelude in G (Original): 9/10
3. Stranger In Moscow 9/10
4. Black Sands: 9/10
5: Lights of Home (St Peter’s String Version)
6. Jupiter (The Planets): 9/10
7. Hollywood Heart: 8/10
8. Make It Easy on Yourself 8/10
9. Janet 8/10
10. Another Day in America: 8/10
11. Mi Re (Give into life)
12. Don’t Let it Show 7/10
13. Adagio For Strings 7/10
14. One Hundred and Rising 7/10
15. It’s Your Move (Parkinson) 7/10
16. It’s Your Move (Vaporwave Version) 7/10
17. It’s Your Move (Ross) 7/10
18. Don’t Lead Me On 7/10
19. Rachmaninov Prelude in G (VSO): 5/10
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