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U2 — Surrender
Album: War
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 554









Released: 1983
Length: 5:23
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Oh, the city's alight with lovers and lies
And bright blue eyes.
Oh, the city is bright, it's brighter than day tonight.
(Surrender, surrender)
(Surrender, surrender)

Sadie said she couldn't work out what it was all about
And so she let go.
Now Sadie's on the street and the people she meets you know.

She tried to be a good girl and a good wife
Raise a good family
Lead a good life
It's not good enough
She got herself up on the 48th floor
Gotta find out
Find out what she's living for.

Oh, the city's afire
A passionate flame that will make me the same.
Oh, the city's desire to take me for more and more.
It's in the street gettin' under my feet
It's in the air, it's everywhere I look for you.
It's in the things that I do and say
And it I wanna live I gotta die to myself someday.
Comments (122)add comment
Steve Lilywhite production (third in a row). Then came Eno, Lanois and they went big, deservedly.
 maboleth wrote:
Oh no, these losers again. :O
 
Don't be so hard on yourself.
 maboleth wrote:
Oh no, these losers again. :O

 
Oh yes!
it's rockin me this morning.
Just to be sure you heard me the first time...
{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated} {#Arghhh}{#Arghhh}{#Arghhh} {#No}{#No}{#No} 
{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}{#Frustrated}  {#Arghhh}{#Arghhh}{#Arghhh} {#No}{#No}{#No}
please stop the Eeeuuuwww-too madness
Oh no, these losers again. :O
I still think it's great, and I sure get the biggest kick out of hearing this out of the blue sometimes. And yes, it was a stunner live in 1983!
 colleen wrote:
This is why I love Radio Paradise. Bill picks these obscure, long forgotten tracks and brings them back and weaves them into his flow....
 
True, but I wish he'd do that a bit more instead of playing something that got beat to death on FM radio back in the day. 

This didn't get a lot of airplay when War came out IIRC. But it's pretty damned good and far more welcome than the tired stuff from the last album.  
This was by far there best album. Enjoyed many a collage parties listening to this album
U2 were pretentious and boring then.
Much less so as the years progressed. 
Sure brings memories so alive and clear I could almost laugh in the time's face.   
Just saw them and they've lost a little but good to hear still after all these years. This would've been a great tune live!
This is just to remind me that these guys actually created decent music a long time ago.
Yes, a bit of cowbell at the end, imo.
U2 is better than this.
Judging by the previous comment, it looks like this hasn't been played in a few years (I got it by hitting PSD). Great tune, off of "War". 30+ years ago.
And is that a cowbell I hear in the mix? 
 crazy wrote:

 

uh no, that was their last 2 cds for the most part (and of course the inimitable "Pop" (ie "Gag"){#Rolleyes}
 redeyespy wrote:
Try again.
zactly 
 


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhhhhh make it stop!!!
ALWAYS a toe-tapping, head-wagging gem of a rocking song! and always welcome on board my deck as I type type type into my Mac!
This is why I love Radio Paradise. Bill picks these obscure, long forgotten tracks and brings them back and weaves them into his flow....
One of my favorites
bluematrix wrote:
everyone's entitled to their opinion, but this autopilot? hahahahahahahahahahaha. like it or dislike it, but their heart is in it.
I agree bluematrix. U2 always pours its soul into the music. Tho I'll say surrender isn't among U2's strongest songs, its definitely still quite good. And this is Pre-Joshua Tree and Unforgettable Fire too.
rcurrier wrote:
U2 on autopilot. Yawn...
everyone's entitled to their opinion, but this autopilot? hahahahahahahahahahaha. like it or dislike it, but their heart is in it.
prickelpit96 wrote:
Boring & uninspired.
Try again.
gloriajanell wrote:
vintage U2 is their best work. Keep the oldies coming, Bill!
Sigh-Is this really an oldie now?
vintage U2 is their best work. Keep the oldies coming, Bill!
Dig the early stuff just as much as I love "All that you can't leave behind"!
Boring & uninspired.
MinMan wrote:
This is as good as it gets? All sound & fury. Nothing cohesive. It doesn't hold a candle to the Radiohead or Bowie tunes that preceded it in the current lineup. Condolences.
Hey, MinMan. Any relation to Microsoft? HaHa. Early U2 is the best. And it more than holds a candle to Bowie or Radiohead. And I know. I have all of Bowie's albums, most of Radiohead's, and all of U2's. And the early U2 was so pure, and unadulterated. Easily compare this to Ziggy Stardust, or The Bends.
U2 on autopilot. Yawn...
Have I commented on this song? Not sure. I've rated it, I see. God, I love this album and all it evokes for me.
ChardRemains wrote:
Ooooh.... The Edge! My favorite one-trick pony.
Pegged it - thank you!
Good stuff! Hardly ever tire of U2
Ooooh.... The Edge! My favorite one-trick pony.
MinMan wrote:
This is as good as it gets? All sound & fury. Nothing cohesive. It doesn't hold a candle to the Radiohead or Bowie tunes that preceded it in the current lineup. Condolences.


Give me this U2 over their current stuff any day of the freakin' WEEK!!!!{#Cheers}{#Cool}{#Music}

This is as good as it gets? All sound & fury. Nothing cohesive. It doesn't hold a candle to the Radiohead or Bowie tunes that preceded it in the current lineup. Condolences.
Darkmatter wrote:
I have to admit the bassline is kinda cool, but what's up with the seagull guitar? Was that really considered hip back in the 80's? I cannot remember myself.
The guitar is still cool in the 00's.
I have to admit the bassline is kinda cool, but what's up with the seagull guitar? Was that really considered hip back in the 80's? I cannot remember myself.
wow those coconut girls are badasses
now you're on a roll. keep the music flowing!
what, no cowbell jokes?
i remember listening to this song over and over from my bedroom in fargo ND. i was transported... was prolly 13 or 14 i just want those girls in the background to be in my band... there's some thing " very slippy slidey surrendering" in their voices that I love.
druid47 wrote:
Ahhh......when U2 rocked and the world was on the edge of nuclear obliteration.....good times, good times.
those were the days!! eerrrr, wait - we are STILL on the edge of nuclear obliteration - just from a different enemy.
druid47 wrote:
Ahhh......when U2 rocked and the world was on the edge of nuclear obliteration.....good times, good times.
Yeah, fond memories. If only I had a time machine to relive them.
mrrmt wrote:
maybe u2 no longer rocks, but aren't we still on the edge of nuclear obliteration? isn't that comforting?
We still need to worry about nukes, but I don't think they'll obliterate us. It'll be a virus of some sort, probably.
I'm not a huge U2 fan, but I love War...Awesome!
druid47 wrote:
Ahhh......when U2 rocked and the world was on the edge of nuclear obliteration.....good times, good times.
maybe u2 no longer rocks, but aren't we still on the edge of nuclear obliteration? isn't that comforting?
druid47 wrote:
Ahhh......when U2 rocked and the world was on the edge of nuclear obliteration.....good times, good times.
Ahhh.... when Bono had something to contribute to rock and roll.... before he became a polititian.
Ahhh......when U2 rocked and the world was on the edge of nuclear obliteration.....good times, good times.
Even though all of their music is great, U2's first three albums captured the essense of their music and everything released later never moved me as much as the first. Cheap Trick did the same. Just saw them last week and can remember when a $1.50 cover charge got me four sets of Cheap Trick. First time I saw U2, cost me I think 5 or 6 bucks. War was such a call for young people to wake up... didn't work as well as they hoped.
I simply love it...
Though I usually dig your segues Bill, I disagree with Bowie's Sound and Vision into U2's Surrender. Maybe that's because I don't like U2 anyway, no matter what they come up with. Besides, musically the two songs are waaay apart (IMHO, of course)
love the cowbell on this one.
iMacomania wrote:
I feel with you! *1963
can I join this club? (67)
...THOSE WERE THE TIMES WHEN FIRST BONO SPOKE ABOUT POLITIC....IN A COMPLETELY HONEST AND INGENOUS WAY, WITH HIS HEART AND HIS WHITE FLAG IN THE HANDS...THOSE WHERE THE TIMES WHEN THE EDGE'S GUITAR MAKES YOU JUMP ON THE CHAIR, WHILE YOUR BRAIN WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN: " WOW! HOW CAN HE PLAY GUITAR LIKE THIS??".....AAHH MEMORIES.... WHY YOU'VE GROWN UP GUYS?.... LOVE!
daveesh wrote:
as in them?:
if they could sing and bring something to the masterpiece that was "War" I say "you go girlfriends!"
squidish wrote:
Little known fact? the backup singers are the "Coconuts" from Kid Creole and the Coconuts.
as in them?:
drover wrote:
Ah yes, back when Bono knew how to make a rhetorical statement without sounding like a pompous fist-magnet.
I know what you mean--speaking the truth can really piss people off.
i like the back up singers in this...
iMacomania wrote:
I feel with you! *1963
Right here with you. 1960.
Now here is an example of mining a little bit deeper into a bands catalog. I'm sorry but RP plays way too many of the obvious hits from major major talents without ever touching on what really makes them so major and proves their talents -- their off-chart monsters! And RP plays these same obvious hits over and over and over to the obvious exclusion of much heavier music from the same artists -- think David Byrne if you need an example. Or U2. This is a good example of finally breaking that trend.
drover wrote:
Ah yes, back when Bono knew how to make a rhetorical statement without sounding like a pompous fist-magnet.
Fist magnet?
normand64 wrote:
The good old days when i was 18.... I want to cry... NAh my life is OK i guess
I feel with you! *1963
Remember this tour - bonnie Bono running by us with his white flag! At the Bronco Bowl in Dallas, this big lady got up and enveloped him in a bear hug. He sorta disappeared, except for the flag on a stick - priceless!
This is painfull!
The good old days when i was 18.... I want to cry... NAh my life is OK i guess
gandalfbmg wrote:
I may be a young'n raised on the Joshua Tree, but this is by far my favorite U2 album as a whole.
I agree. This album is raw U2 at it's best. And the sexy female vocal is a nice touch.
Little known fact? the backup singers are the "Coconuts" from Kid Creole and the Coconuts.
LordBaltimore wrote:
Great song from a great album. Love the crazy guitar and female background vocals.
background vocals by michael jackson
Great song from a great album. Love the crazy guitar and female background vocals.
snurfer wrote:
War - the last U2 punk album...
I may be a young'n raised on the Joshua Tree, but this is by far my favorite U2 album as a whole.
brandog wrote:
:mute:
More sound for the rest of us!
Good choice RP! Nothing like U2 to kick-start the morning. Bono still rocks!
War - the last U2 punk album...
Probably my favorite U2 song!
sounds like U2 .... oh, my bad it IS U2 *laughing hysterically*
jah_blessed wrote:
Yeah, the album was produced by Steve Lillywhite. The Unforgettable Fire was the first album where Eno and Lanois got involved.
Yeah, that sounds right. Thanks, Jah.
kazuma wrote:
Not bad, but seems to lack something in comparison to the stuff that was coming thereafter. Was this before Eno and Lanois got involved? Everything seemed a lot more interesting and focused after that.
Yeah, the album was produced by Steve Lillywhite. The Unforgettable Fire was the first album where Eno and Lanois got involved.
Not bad, but seems to lack something in comparison to the stuff that was coming thereafter. Was this before Eno and Lanois got involved? Everything seemed a lot more interesting and focused after that. Well, at least until Bono's ego outgrew his body.
Always liked the guitar on this song.
Good to hear classic U2 from an awesome album...thanks, RP!
Breeze from the 80's is still fresh
Radiohead-head wrote:
. . . I may have got the years mixed up but the point I was making is still valid. So step off.
<-- swallow. Then make sure your facts are straight if you don't want them refuted.
drover wrote:
MTV went online in 1981, and INXS already had at least one video in MTV's rotation before 1985 ("Original Sin" released in 1984.) So it's hard to pin the blame on MTV considering INXS was already in their rotation when you claim they were still "fresh" and not "pop-mainstream." In fact by 1985 they were already a mainstream act and "Listen Like Thieves" (released in 1985) went platinum.
First - the songs I am referring too were "One Thing" and "Don't Change" from 1982...not Oiginal Sin and these songs were not on MTV's rotation until much later as INXS was an obscure band from Australia at the time. From the INXS website under the timeline for year 1982 - 15 June - INXS begin recording of Shabooh Shoobah at Paradise Studios. In July, INXS are signed to WEA records. 'The One Thing' is released and reaches #14 on the national charts. Shabooh Shoobah is released in Australia in October 1982. It becomes the band's third gold album in succession and #14 nationally. Second - MTV - if you're old enough to remember - was origianlly an alternative format only - in fact much of U2's success was due to the exposure they got from MTV as they were a perfect fit for MTV's alternative format...MTV didn't start expanding (or retracting depending on your perspective) to a more pop format (Janet Jackson, et al.) until years later as the business men at viacom figured out that they could attract a larger audience and more advertising dollars if they went more mainstream (exactly as radio did...hence the need for minicasting like RP)...the music that didn't "fit" into their pop format was pretty much booted off run-of-show exposure at prime viewing times and was sequestered into other special music programs (Hip-hop, metal, alternative, etc). Record labels and producers were well aware of the power of MTV (ie - U2, madonna) and they began to promote music that fit with this new POP format (just like they do with radio) which led to pressure on musicians to produce more "MTV-Friendly" music...hence the watered down versions of U2 and INXS I was reffering too. So...when MTV became more mainstream pop (I'd guess that this was probably in the mid-80's)...not when it launched...is actually when I was referring too. I may have got the years mixed up but the point I was making is still valid. So step off.
Radiohead-head wrote:
Great tune...early U2 is the nuts. Makes me think about how great early INXS was too when I first heard them on some late-night pre-MTV video show back in like 85 or something. Then they all went pop-mainstream with the MTV must-make-music-accessible-to-larger-market virus and the music was shite after that. Oh well.
MTV went online in 1981, and INXS already had at least one video in MTV's rotation before 1985 ("Original Sin" released in 1984.) So it's hard to pin the blame on MTV considering INXS was already in their rotation when you claim they were still "fresh" and not "pop-mainstream." In fact by 1985 they were already a mainstream act and "Listen Like Thieves" (released in 1985) went platinum.
Great tune...early U2 is the nuts. Makes me think about how great early INXS was too when I first heard them on some late-night pre-MTV video show back in like 85 or something. Then they all went pop-mainstream with the MTV must-make-music-accessible-to-larger-market virus and the music was shite after that. Oh well.
brandog wrote:
:mute:
Aw, now, that's just rude.
Tux wrote:
1. to keep being unprejudiced (as much as possible) 2. even a perfect filter can be improved 3. to have a *reason* to complain. If I just nag and rate low because I've heard only shit from a certain formation, that doesn't mean they would not be able to make something I like (though U2 still hasn't managed to do so). I've noticed some songs from groups in my mute list that even got a 7.
:iamwith:
What an amazingly mature work, yet full of youthful passion. It's held up well; my 11-yr-old wants her own copy of this album.
Edge's slide work on this is amazing. I've always thought that he should have continued to play more in their work after War.
oh so tired of THE BIGGEST ROCK BAND IN THE WORLD!! Does anyone believe that outside of Bono's head?
drover wrote:
Ah yes, back when Bono knew how to make a rhetorical statement without sounding like a pompous fist-magnet.
HEAR HEAR!!
Ah yes, back when Bono knew how to make a rhetorical statement without sounding like a pompous fist-magnet.
orpheus wrote:
7 posts of the same so far, care to make it an even 10? 8O :o ...
Sorry, must have been my browser. That's what you get when running alpha software during system upgrades. I've deleted the 6 duplicates. Sorry for the noise. Was not intended.
one you just don't hear on run-of-the-mill radio. awesome guitar on this. boy, war, october were their best albums albums, if you were to ask me.
OK, I like U2, but compared to Bowie's 'Sound and Vision' which we just heard, this is just crap.
RichardPrins wrote:
8) When it had an edge...
agree. great tune, makes me miss the pre-Pop days of U2 yore. 8)
zipper wrote:
Well, it isn't good. But they've done worse. Why did you turn off the filter?
1. to keep being unprejudiced (as much as possible) 2. even a perfect filter can be improved 3. to have a *reason* to complain. If I just nag and rate low because I've heard only shit from a certain formation, that doesn't mean they would not be able to make something I like (though U2 still hasn't managed to do so). I've noticed some songs from groups in my mute list that even got a 7.
Tux wrote:
I'm still listening, but it hurts. This is awful. RP must hate me. They punish me for turning off the filter.
Well, it isn't good. But they've done worse. Why did you turn off the filter?
8) When it had an edge...
I still gyrate like a maniac when I hear this, even 20 + years on. Awesome.
I'm still listening, but it hurts. This is awful. RP must hate me. They punish me for turning off the filter.
They put out a LOT of great music over 20 years ago and it is still just as good today. More stripped down than their later stuff, more pure.
Guess Tux has this on auto mute.
ANYTHING off this album gets an 8 or higher, IMO.
Yashure wrote:
Not my favorite album but definitely one of my favorite songs by the lads.
This is my favorite album. Not disagreeing with you per se, just clarifying. Gods of RP, send down the cleansing rain of fire and sweep away all that is post-"Pop" U2 from the playlists. Older U2 only, please.
Great pedal steel slide work.
To go from Bowie's Sound and Vision into this somewhat obscure AND outstanding earlier cut from U2 is inspired programming. What a treat to hear this song again....it reinforces just how good U2 is and also how good their Atomic Bomb CD is....they have hardly lost a step....after 25 years...
Not my favorite album but definitely one of my favorite songs by the lads.
My second favorite on this album. Great cut! :)
Oh, yea... 8)
I love these 4 irishmen. I love U2, I love their music. Their early years are great. In fact, I think that every U2 era is very rich. Marie Pain
Sherman, set the wayback machine for 1983. I should really give War/Boy/October another listen, my memories of those albums are somewhat clouded by the fact that I was listening to crappy tapes on crappy tape players. This is an underappreciated track IMO, great to hear it on RP.
OK, big U2 fan , here . I didn't even recognize this. Must be early...still ...a 10. No wrong! NONE!!!! Go Boys!
Oh, yum!
This has always been one of my favorite "off-hit" songs by them!! Thanks so much for the upload! Rock on, U2!!
I LOVE THIS SONG! U2s best album
Uploaded: September 02, 2004