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U2 — Two Hearts Beat As One
Album: War
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2250









Released: 1983
Length: 3:58
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I don't know, I don't know which side I'm on.
I don't know my right from left or my right from wrong.
They say I'm a fool, they say I'm nothing
But if I'm a fool for you oh, that's something.
Two hearts beat as one.
Two hearts beat as one.
Two hearts.

I can't stop to dance
Honey, this is my last chance
I said, can't stop to dance
Maybe this is my last chance.
Two hearts beat as one.
Two hearts beat as one.
Two hearts.

Beat on black, beat on white
Beat on anything, don't get it right.
Beat on you, beat on me, beat on love.

Oh, I don't know
How to say what's got to be said
I don't know if it's black or white
There's others see it red
I don't get the answers right
I'll leave that to you
Is this love out of fashion

Or is it the time of year?
Are these words distraction
To the words you wanna hear?
Two hearts beat as one.
Two hearts beat as one.
Two hearts.

I try to spit it out
Try to explain.
The way I wanna feel
Oh, yeah, two hearts.

Well I can't stop to dance.
Maybe this is my last chance.
And I said, I can't stop to dance.
Maybe this is my last chance.
I said don't stop to dance
Maybe this is my last chance.
I said I can't stop to dance.
Maybe this is our last chance.
I said don't stop to dance.
Maybe this is our last chance.
Oh, oh!
Comments (287)add comment
One of the few U2 songs I like.
 TotalHip wrote:


OH WOW, Trouser Press!!!  What wonderful memories. Thank you.


Love to hear more of the other bands featured on that cover in rotation here on RP... but U2 keeps getting regurgitated over and over and over.... sigh. 
 frisbeepilot wrote:

Early U2 was almost scary-good.

Then they decided that filling arenas was more important. Now we have... well, modern U2. No thanks.




They are still a LOT  better than  most of the krappola on broadcast radio!   
 Jeffrey_Mishik wrote:

the best album the band ever did.




Along with Achtung Baby!   
the best album the band ever did.
Early U2 was almost scary-good.

Then they decided that filling arenas was more important. Now we have... well, modern U2. No thanks.
 Montreal_Mort wrote:

Love it!! Great bass line




I agree!!
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:

...  totally agree.  The most overrated band ever and Bono is a self righteous hypercritical TWAT.


You have pretty eclectic taste and can sling words OK.  Could you be a little more specific?  Also, did you mean hypocritical?
 treatment_bound wrote:
Where's Larry?

Image result for trouser press magazine covers


Wahou !!! Big time
 noe.architecte169 wrote:
I remember i was fourteen and I bought this album


Love it!! Great bass line
 treatment_bound wrote:


Image result for trouser press magazine covers
 

OH WOW, Trouser Press!!!  What wonderful memories. Thank you.
Can t believe this serĂ®es of songs ...RP rules ! Vous assurez les mecs ! 
I don't know, I don't know which side I'm on.
I don't know my right from left or my right from wrong.
They say I'm a fool, they say I'm nothing
But if I'm a fool for you oh, that's something.

Hmmnn... those lyrics just made me think. I think that is me...  
sublime.. el mejor U2...
annoying
halfway into every U2 song i get conscious of U2 playing and realize what was annoying me the past minutes.
JAMS! I came across this 1980 clip (YouTube, link below) of their first TV performance, and I got a big kick out of it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xmtXouDW_I
I like their new release too, especially this one, The Blackout — check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaJCFHXcWmM
It seems to me that they have returned to the simpler, driving, catchy and edgy formula that got them started!
Where's Larry?

Image result for trouser press magazine covers
Peasant rock tune.
 1wolfy wrote:
back in the 80's we were bombarded with a lot of over produced synth rock...this was a breath of fresh air for me...powerful, emotion packed rock...just what I needed.  I've always admired early U2

 
Just posted another comment that made the same point in the reverse way.  It was in response to a song by the Fixx, and example of what was wrong with 80s music.  I mentioned early U2 as the antidote.

But good for RP for playing both anyway.  Nobody is supposed to like everything here. 

I do like this, however! 
 sxediy wrote:
One of the most overrated music band{#Stop}
This track is absolutely bullshit{#Beat}

  Insightful.  Thanks.


I love the guitar. 

It has an Edge.


Why do you listen to Radio Paradise if you don't want to hear those artists, would be my question? IMO those are all great artists worthy of much air time. Glad to hear them, along with the great wealth of diverse music here. Thanks Bill!
 

benhardt57 wrote:

Why does R.E.M., U2, Talking Heads and Peter Gabriel get SO much air time here? I can think of LOTS of good artists I never hear.



 


One of the most overrated music band{#Stop}
This track is absolutely bullshit{#Beat}

Why does R.E.M., U2, Talking Heads and Peter Gabriel get SO much air time here? I can think of LOTS of good artists I never hear.


Sucko-barfo
Yep, not so much a fan these days but there is no denying this was magic.
 dsd wrote:
I refuse to get on the u2 sucks bandwagon when it comes to this album. Loved it when it was released;  still do.

 
Same here.  Great band. Great song. 
I can never forget how it was to jam to this when it was just out and fresh and wild and sounded absolutely fantastic as I drove along the fault-riddled PCH between Portuguese Bend and Palos Verdes, with the sun going down in the sea and the buzz up in my head...
I refuse to get on the u2 sucks bandwagon when it comes to this album. Loved it when it was released;  still do.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Yes, I think we all get it now; you don't like U2.
Maybe hit the PSD and spare us the tired insults.

 
They never tire of their tired insults.  It is tiresome.
 old_shep wrote:
I'm too tired to walk across the room and mute this crap.   Probably a mistake.

 
You had an odd upbringing!!
This is a top tune. I've got it on 12" somewhere, awesome extended version, must dig it out. U2 at their best!!
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:
...  totally agree.  The most overrated band ever and Bono is a self righteous hypercritical TWAT.
 
Yes, I think we all get it now; you don't like U2.
Maybe hit the PSD and spare us the tired insults.
 Poopsey wrote:
no - i dont like this - kinda hurts my ears 

 
...  totally agree.  The most overrated band ever and Bono is a self righteous hypercritical TWAT.
no - i dont like this - kinda hurts my ears 
I'm too tired to walk across the room and mute this crap.   Probably a mistake.
back in the 80's we were bombarded with a lot of over produced synth rock...this was a breath of fresh air for me...powerful, emotion packed rock...just what I needed.  I've always admired early U2
 jimtyrrell wrote:
Way to much U2. Such unimaginative music, same drumming, same screaming monotony. Played on RP as though they are the Beatles but they are as creative as roaches.
True, The Roaches have been around a long time.
 

 
Beatles or not, they do average pretty high song ratings overall, which is probably why they are played here.
 ScottN wrote:

He was  correct, imo. You can hear the "band-to-be" as they learn to write and play music.  This song itself is lame, though.

 
You're welcome to your opinion on that last bit. When i geae this song I hear an unrelenting and deperate beat driving a raw emotional work. A thumb-full of Bono's passion from this song is far greater than albums of work produced by lesser artists. I think Lillywhite was burned out on punk music, he'd produced so many punk albums up to that point.
Way to much U2. Such unimaginative music, same drumming, same screaming monotony. Played on RP as though they are the Beatles but they are as creative as roaches.
True, The Roaches have been around a long time.


 
Catchy little pop song.
 h8rhater wrote:

Why is it always the Brits that cry the loudest about Bono?

 
I like U2's music, though am not particularly fond of this specific song. 

I agree with the critique though:  "Bono is an Illuminati tool." 
Some artists should learn to sing about controversial issues and avoid becoming too prescriptive.   
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:
Its a dilemma. 

On one hand, U2 made some fine music.

On the other, Bono is an Illuminati tool.   

 
Why is it always the Brits that cry the loudest about Bono?
 Poacher wrote:
Its a dilemma. 

On one hand, U2 made some fine music.

On the other, Bono is an Illuminati tool.   

 
Of all the criticisms I have heard and read of Bono, that one seems the most entertaining.
Ill
Anyhow, good tune, even if it is on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's iPod.
One of the key songs of my life.

Adore more than I can express.
 
Drab, boring, music by numbers. No fascination with them then - none now.
Its a dilemma. 

On one hand, U2 made some fine music.

On the other, Bono is an Illuminati tool.   
 Sasha2001 wrote:
One of my favorite interactions with an old neighbour who happened to be Steve Lillywhite, this album's producer, was when I asked him what he thought about this particular song which happened to be playing in the background at the time. His response: "Pure rubbish!" I followed up with, "Is there anything on this album you like?" To this he said, "no, I can't listen to anything from before Joshua Tree anymore." "Why not?" "Because everything from before War was Bono trying to be like Johnny Lyndon a complete wank. Pride... was the first good song they wrote."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I disagreed.
 
 
He was  correct, imo. You can hear the "band-to-be" as they learn to write and play music.  This song itself is lame, though.
A breath of fresh rock from across the pond? And Irish? Why yes, thank U2 !!
One of my favorite interactions with an old neighbour who happened to be Steve Lillywhite, this album's producer, was when I asked him what he thought about this particular song which happened to be playing in the background at the time. His response: "Pure rubbish!" I followed up with, "Is there anything on this album you like?" To this he said, "no, I can't listen to anything from before Joshua Tree anymore." "Why not?" "Because everything from before War was Bono trying to be like Johnny Lyndon a complete wank. Pride... was the first good song they wrote."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I disagreed.
 
 clickfaster wrote:
This album is pure genius!  For those around at the time, it was an innovative, gutteral, rocking breath of fresh air after the disco 70s and onset of the androgynous 80s. 

 
It indeed was
In general the lyrics do not move the chains when it comes to my song rating...but this is schmaltz.  2
Every song sounds the same. Appalling.
 kcar wrote:


YOU HAVE AROUSED THE KAISER'S MOUSTACHE! 

Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany in military uniform and spiked helmet




 
Not to mention his spiffy headgear.
GOD these guys sound so much like...  U2....  
Still love this album all these years later. My cassette tape faded out from so much playing.
 Stingray wrote:
NO WAY - SIMPLETONS!

 

YOU HAVE AROUSED THE KAISER'S MOUSTACHE! 

Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany in military uniform and spiked helmet


PLEASE YELL MORE ABUSE! 
This album is pure genius!  For those around at the time, it was an innovative, gutteral, rocking breath of fresh air after the disco 70s and onset of the androgynous 80s. 
a weak U2 song from my least favorite U2 album.

...in the day - but not to day - let's move on  - more Clash.


 maxgruv wrote:
Man, back when U2 *really* rocked. Miss those days.
 
It's been quite a while since they put out a new album. Maybe I'm way off but they seem to be fading into obscurity or retirement.
 Klondike_Gabe wrote:


Yes... agree 100%.  Why is the world not sick of hearing these guys yet?
 

Not undone by  personal excess . They are some of the last men standing in rock. To some extent fashion is repetition and familiarity. U2  fashionable trendsetters by default. Although they may be rank amateurs; they are Rock n Roll outliers ...... Copyright 2012
 islander wrote:
These guys were so great during this era. Red Rocks and MTV!
 

Seconded!!!   Was it really 30 years ago that this came out?  Where did it all go!
 jberko wrote:
This band is hugely overrated.  
 

Yes... agree 100%.  Why is the world not sick of hearing these guys yet?
 drsteevo wrote:

You could say the same thing about most guitarists.  Just about every modern guitarist who plays an electric guitar relies on a large array of effects to create their sound.  Jimi Hendrix was fantastic, but his "sound" relies on the whammy bar and several effects pedals plugged into the electric amplifier.  No modern rock guitarist would sound the same on an acoustic guitar, but the great ones are still great.

The Edge has a very unique style and is very reliant on the digital delay pedal to get his signature sound, but it doesn't take away from his ability.  Just ask anyone who has ever tried to sound like The Edge and they will tell you how difficult it is to play like that.  Especially live!  The Edge sounds fantastic live. 

He is no Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughn, but then again, who is?
 

WORD. Well put.
These guys were so great during this era. Red Rocks and MTV!
{#Bananajam}
 Jim_Highfield wrote:
Vile crap. Showcases everything that is wrong with this naff band.
 
Jeez, get off the fence already; do you like it or not?!
Vile crap. Showcases everything that is wrong with this naff band.
This song rocks!

Great album cover for the times...

Cold war was such a strange period.

 
NO WAY - SIMPLETONS!
Just got back from touring Dublin.On my last day a taxi driver asked me if I'm into U2 and I said..."of course".
He took me down a small street where this and other records of theirs was recorded and told me all his stories about knowing a friend of Bono's(he gave Bono his name).....and all the crap they did in the 80's and 90's.Great ride! 
 secretsauce wrote:
Don't change your opinion of a guitarist because of something you "read" about him.  Your last sentence is what matters ... you like his sound.

It's true that if he played a Tuba he wouldn't sound at all like this.  Who cares.  

Listen to the guitar *playing* on this song.  Edge is playing the s..t out of the instrument ... that's not just "his machinery."
 
And I've seen them do this live, so machinery or not...he plays it.
This is when I thought U2 was really good. I hear this now though and think...ahhh not so much.
 Stingray wrote:
I always considered "THE EDGE" to be a great guitarist,
till I read it's not him, but his machinery,
that does 90% of his sound!
Still - I like his edgy sounds!

  Don't change your opinion of a guitarist because of something you "read" about him.  Your last sentence is what matters ... you like his sound.

It's true that if he played a Tuba he wouldn't sound at all like this.  Who cares.  

Listen to the guitar *playing* on this song.  Edge is playing the s..t out of the instrument ... that's not just "his machinery."


Dear RP,

2 U2 tunes in 1 day is 2 too many.
Man, back when U2 *really* rocked. Miss those days.
From France to Ireland - thanks for journey RP.
 

{#Puke}
 mperry wrote:
Yeah, I was also surprised this wasn't on the 'best of'.
From the WAR cd, this is U2 young, vibrant and breaking out
figuratively and literally. passionate, hungry, U2 really did go on to
fulfill all the potential hinted at, and more often bursting from, this recording.
 

{#Yes} Totally agreed. Well said. {#Clap}
 Stingray wrote:
I always considered "THE EDGE" to be a great guitarist,
till I read it's not him, but his machinery,
that does 90% of his sound!
Still - I like his edgy sounds!
 
You could say the same thing about most guitarists.  Just about every modern guitarist who plays an electric guitar relies on a large array of effects to create their sound.  Jimi Hendrix was fantastic, but his "sound" relies on the whammy bar and several effects pedals plugged into the electric amplifier.  No modern rock guitarist would sound the same on an acoustic guitar, but the great ones are still great.

The Edge has a very unique style and is very reliant on the digital delay pedal to get his signature sound, but it doesn't take away from his ability.  Just ask anyone who has ever tried to sound like The Edge and they will tell you how difficult it is to play like that.  Especially live!  The Edge sounds fantastic live. 

He is no Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughn, but then again, who is?


 ZiegZeon wrote:
Twice the ego of the Beatles with half the talent...
 
Twice the tired stereotypes of previous commentary with half the content...

Bill, this isn't fair...I have stuff to do that requires me to take off my headphones, but you keep playing great music!
I agree completely. This is by far their best album.

 
clickfaster wrote:
Sorry to be a geezer about this, but this is the best U2 album bar none.  Young, gritty and not yet completely enamored with themselves.
 


 cschneiderwa wrote:

i couldn't agree more.
 

that owes to musical ignorance of BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS...
Twice the ego of the Beatles with half the talent...
 jberko wrote:
This band is hugely overrated.  
 
i couldn't agree more.
This band is hugely overrated.  
Two hearts mute as one.
 TJOpootertoot wrote:
Edge is a great, innovative guitarist - you can tell because you can always recognize when you're hearing him. He's just a totally different kind of player than Jimmy Page or Eric Clapton. It's not that hard a concept to wrap your head around.
U2's guitar playing doesn't belong in the same category as Page & Clapton - no where near a similar level of nuance or innovation. Nor is this edge character working from a Blues background - he doesn't seem to know of what he references - he just apes something her heard before somewhere.
Sorry to be a geezer about this, but this is the best U2 album bar none.  Young, gritty and not yet completely enamored with themselves.
is he singing 2 Farts Bleat as One ?
1982 Fort Collins............... Boy tour..........fantastic!
 TJOpootertoot wrote:
...Is a DJ less talented because he didn't "invent" the beats he's manipulating?...
 Think I just blew an O-ring!

 Stingray wrote:
This is how I see "U2":

10-20% of their songs are true CLASS.
80-90% are fillers, many of them just...,"nothing".

I always considered "THE EDGE" to be a great guitarist,
till I read it's not him, but his machinery,
that does 90% of his sound!
Still - I like his edgy sounds!

U2...? OVERRATED!

 
A guitar is, more-or-less, a "machine", which is responsible for 100% of every guitarist's sound.  The manipulation of one's equipment is what makes the "sound" of that musician.  It's not as if he is pretending to play his guitar over tape loops of some other guitar player's work.
The Edge's guitar sound was unique and innovative in its day.
I love this song!!! It has been sometime since I heard this. Reminds me of U2 at Red Rocks!! The memories are flowing back!! {#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana}
 Stingray wrote:
I always considered "THE EDGE" to be a great guitarist,
till I read it's not him, but his machinery,
that does 90% of his sound!
Still - I like his edgy sounds!

U2...? OVERRATED!

 
But he's the one programming the machinery and manipulating the sounds. Is a DJ less talented because he didn't "invent" the beats he's manipulating?

Edge is a great, innovative guitarist - you can tell because you can always recognize when you're hearing him. He's just a totally different kind of player than Jimmy Page or Eric Clapton. It's not that hard a concept to wrap your head around.

LOTS OF RATTLE...
ho-no hum!


This is how I see "U2":

10-20% of their songs are true CLASS.
80-90% are fillers, many of them just...,"nothing".

I always considered "THE EDGE" to be a great guitarist,
till I read it's not him, but his machinery,
that does 90% of his sound!
Still - I like his edgy sounds!

U2...? OVERRATED!

I was so young ....  good portraits of my life!!
 fredriley wrote:

Now, I'm no fan of U2, Saint Bonio, or even this song, though it is tolerable, but I'm having real trouble unpacking that statement. How can anything be "incredibly average"? If it's average, it must almost by definition be believable - it's extremes that deserve superlatives. And the second part really does have me scratching my bonce {#Stupid}
 
It's ironic word-play of a sort, but I suppose it could be "incredible" or "unbelieveable" how "average" a work could be — without the work itself being deserving of a superlative. Mostly, however, I think the statement was more intended as irony or sarcasm.  I like this tune, personally, and find it neither "average" or "incredible".


Never realized how much the Arctic Monkeys owe to this sound until now.
 fredriley wrote:

Now, I'm no fan of U2, Saint Bonio, or even this song, though it is tolerable, but I'm having real trouble unpacking that statement. How can anything be "incredibly average"? If it's average, it must almost by definition be believable - it's extremes that deserve superlatives. And the second part really does have me scratching my bonce {#Stupid}
 
Incredible is a synonym of unbelievable.  If fredriley heard 50 u2 songs and every one of them was a 10, he might find it incredible that they created this average song.  I'm pretty sure that makes it an incredibly average song.

Personally, I think it's one of the best tracks on War.

 andrewimft wrote:

Appreciating Bono persuading dumbass right wing senators to spend money to help poor people who really need it to survive, when no one else could open up their stone cold hearts is evidence of a tiny mind, but a snotty comment about a snotty satire on South Park is evidence of greater intelligence. Oh, ok.
 
so, I see you don't get it either.

Gah, my player freaked in the middle of this.  I like this song, dammit!  Hopefully as often as Bill plays U2, this will come up again soon.
This is when this band was good. Downhill from here!
I'm a fool for this song!  Earnest, urgent, hopeful, striving, hurtling along.
a true classic and certainly one of my faves!

Sasha2001, spot on {#Arrowd}. How about Pretenders, Learning to Crawl? Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones? I was also going to add Big Science (Laurie Anderson) but it's from 1982. As is Prince's 1999.

The release date is wrong - War came out in 1983. Hey U2 haters, think back to what was popular in 1983. Go to a website that lists the top 100 for that year and circle all the songs you would still claim to enjoy today. Be honest, there's only 10 or so songs you would still listen to that are not "nostalgia" pieces. 

Challenge - 5 better albums then "War" from 1983. I can only think of 4 that are as good:
Synchronicity - The Police
Murmur - R.E.M.
Power, Corruption & Lies - New Order
Speaking in Tongues - Talking Heads

From there it gets dicey. Who else do you include? Violent Femmes? Eurythmics? Modonna? Cyndi Lauper? John Cougar? All great albums of there time but were any but the above mentioned truly timeless?

 upgal wrote:
everything U2 does sounds the same and it's all bad.  and it gets played a lot.  that and elvis costello!!! argh!
I wish they would play some jackie greene or lots of other stuff that doesn't make me want to bang my head on the wall.
 
Discotheque, sounding like I will follow? Angel of Harlem, sounding like Vertigo? Sunday bloody sunday, sounding like With or without you? Why don't you say, instead: "I don't like U2 for personal reasons that are obscure even to myself?". It's so simple.

{#Bananajam} {#Drummer} {#Dance}
 upgal wrote:
everything U2 does sounds the same
 
What's funny about this comment is that this album is so completely different from everything U2 produced afterward.

You say "high school" and "old?"  I still consider this to be "my kids'" music. 
 Webfoot wrote:
Takes me back to high school (in a good way).  I'm old but still lovin' it.  9
 
same here. When U2was good. HIgh school. Ha! 
I was two years and two days ahead of you. :) 
 redtex wrote:
An incredibly average song from a band better than this.

 
Now, I'm no fan of U2, Saint Bonio, or even this song, though it is tolerable, but I'm having real trouble unpacking that statement. How can anything be "incredibly average"? If it's average, it must almost by definition be believable - it's extremes that deserve superlatives. And the second part really does have me scratching my bonce {#Stupid}
Takes me back to high school (in a good way).  I'm old but still lovin' it.  9
 upgal wrote:
everything U2 does sounds the same and it's all bad.  and it gets played a lot.  that and elvis costello!!! argh!
I wish they would play some jackie greene or lots of other stuff that doesn't make me want to bang my head on the wall.
 
Elvis was a hero to most, but he never...

Well, you won't here that here either.