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U2 — New Year's Day
Album: War
Avg rating:
7.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4490









Released: 1983
Length: 5:27
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Yeah

All is quiet on New Year's day
A world in white gets underway
I want to be with you, be with you, night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's day
On New Year's day

I will be with you again
I will be with you again

Under a blood red sky
A crowd has gathered, black and white
Arms entwined, the chosen few
The newspapers says, says
Say it's true, it's true
And we can break through
Though torn in two
We can be one

I, I will begin again
I, I will begin again

Yeah, ohhh

Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah

Ah, maybe the time is right
Oh, maybe tonight

I will be with you again
I will be with you again

And so we're told this is the golden age
And gold is the reason for the wars we wage
Though I want to be with you
Be with you night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's day
On New Year's day
On New Year's day
Comments (408)add comment
 cely wrote:

This was ubiquitous back when, and I've heard it too many times, and I had a hard time liking it back in the 80s because it was just so drama-filled.  Enough bombast already.  But...that piano, that guitar, the steady rhythm, the plaintive vocals.  When you hear it years later you realize that it's just excellent, and it makes sense these guys took the road less traveled to become the paradigmatic rock band for so many years.  Maybe even still.


And to be fair to Bono et al., Ireland itself was pretty drama-filled in the 80s.
 reallylost wrote:
 
 
It's the same child on the covers of "Boy" and "War".  His name is Peter Rowen and he became a professional photographer in Ireland. But all is not serene because, when U2 supported liberalizing Ireland's abortion laws, Rowen - a Christian - posted: “Horrified to see U2 using their voice to promote something that’s so obviously wrong! ....." 




Good for Pete Rowen! I felt the same when they supported the cruelest crime.
Save both lives!!!
 NordinkFignob wrote:

such an over played, arrogant rich bunch of pop stars. not what I come to RP for. just my opinion.




So, RP shouldn't play Beatles, Stones, Floyd... I thought RP played good music, just for the sake of the music. But I may be wrong, sorry.
if only Bono the world saver would pay a cent of tax in Ireland, along with the rest of them. Greedy sponging multi-millionaires.
i 1st heard this song as a cover in the 90's; some industrial dance mix & i really liked it. searched to see if i could find it & found this one on youtube (i did listen to a lot of fla), but either my ears/tastes have changed or i had a different version, cuz that one is not as great as i remember
such an over played, arrogant rich bunch of pop stars. not what I come to RP for. just my opinion.
 

wgsu_1978 wrote:

If only they could have stayed this way ...





Imagine 37 years of the same kind of stuff over and over again.
They'd be like Pink Floyd.


.
Grade 9 chemistry class i was introduced to U2 and this album. How is it possible this many years of gone past ?
EXCELLENT!!!
 sfoster66 wrote:

One of the hottest girls in high school asked me to go to see U2 in Toronto around this time cause "she had an extra" ticket.  I declined...what the hell was I thinking?  Stupid me....and all these years later, I still haven't figured out women...or U2.....



Woof! WTH indeed! :D 
One of the hottest girls in high school asked me to go to see U2 in Toronto around this time cause "she had an extra" ticket.  I declined...what the hell was I thinking?  Stupid me....and all these years later, I still haven't figured out women...or U2.....
 thewiseking wrote:


Not so sure. Those of us who followed closely saw U2 back then as derivative and pretentious AF. Over the years they matured into a great ROCK BAND.



Not so sure. Those of us who followed closely saw U2 back then as derivative and pretentious AF. Over the years they didn't change at all.  FIFY.

 paulr.noble687 wrote:

This is why U2 became huge, a series of groundbreaking records that changed rock music in the 80's



Not so sure. Those of us who followed closely saw U2 back then as derivative and pretentious AF. Over the years they matured into a great ROCK BAND.
 Lazarus wrote:


Yes, it is...  hope you are having a marvelous evening right this minute...

everybody in my church loves this song...
 

Hope you are still around.  Always loved your song comments.
 kazoo wrote:


Imagine 37 years of the same kind of stuff over and over again. They'd be like the Rolling Stones.


The Rolling Stones are hardly 37 years of the same kind of stuff!  The meat of their career is a continual reinvention.

It may not seem that way now--that continual reinvention has been replayed incessantly on commercial radio for the last 20 of those 37 years--but you can't possibly believe that Their Satanic Majesties Request bears anything but the most superficial resemblance to Emotional Rescue.
 jonahboo wrote:

Joe Biden would sniff this LP cover 




Interesting, bringing politics to this site.
 curtlichter wrote:

Steve Lillywhite deserves some credit for the energy coming through in this track.


Yes, Lillywhite's a great producer with a very impressive list of works and artists.

Great tune from their most important album. 
 jonahboo wrote:

Joe Biden would sniff this LP cover 


That's where your mind goes? Creeeepy.
 Pioneer_Sing wrote:
Be interested in the story of the young lad on the front cover of anyone knows
 
It's the same child on the covers of "Boy" and "War".  His name is Peter Rowen and he became a professional photographer in Ireland. But all is not serene because, when U2 supported liberalizing Ireland's abortion laws, Rowen - a Christian - posted: “Horrified to see U2 using their voice to promote something that’s so obviously wrong! ....." 

10th row seats . Bono out in the audience waving the flag-could have touched his leg.

great freeway song.
Be interested in the story of the young lad on the front cover of anyone knows
Absolute classic. 10
This album; this song - so important for the ‘80s
Joe Biden would sniff this LP cover 
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
If only they could have stayed this way ...

If you could, yes you would, but what really is that you want? 

 craigthedove wrote:
Mostly U2 set my teeth on edge but this and a few others are utterly sublime
 
This is still their anthemic stage rather than sublime. For me, U2 got sublime starting with Joshua Tree. This is a straight out, Cold-War,  hit-you-over-the-head anti-war song.
Mostly U2 set my teeth on edge but this and a few others are utterly sublime
I give this song 8 Courics.  
I actually like U2's music. But I just can't stand Bono's voice in the 80s.
I can't stand this pathetic singing.
Therefore only a 4 instead of an 8 without a bono. My opinion.
this song still makes my hairs stand up on my arms. ... it's a 10 for me- thanks for playing it!
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
If only they could have stayed this way ...
 

Imagine 37 years of the same kind of stuff over and over again. They'd be like the Rolling Stones.
 all_ears wrote:


Agreed. I've not heard anything from U2 as compelling as War. When it came out, I was listening to a college station in another town. Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. WOW. That was powerful. Innit interesting how many debut albums end up being the best from a band. In my case, I think that applies to U2.
 

This was U2's third album after Boy and October; all three produced by Steve Lillywhite who worked with so many alternative bands in the late 70s and 80s.  U2 evolved, much as music evolved. These first albums were very raw which is why they have such emotion. War is an amazing piece of work and arguably their best, at least in my opinion, and which holds up well even 35 years later.  
Awesome song!
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
If only they could have stayed this way ...
 
Then we never would have seen/heard the amazing albums The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby!
Certainly they've had their ups and downs and this was in the "up" era.  Zooropa, arguably the down but really it all depends on YOUR taste. Right? This was a great era as with UF and JT. But they did well with All That You...etc and the following album. Hell, I think all their albums have some good stuff to offer.
His annoying politics aside (like Sting), they're still pretty fine acts.
I rate this a solid nine. It's still relevant in 2020, and think about how groundbreaking this song was back in 1983. While the band has evolved into something many music "aficionados" now dislike, this was great music then as it still is now. And my test of how good a song is, is how it evokes memories of a time/place from years ago. And this song does that for me. 
This album was a gift from my first girlfriend when she came back from the States.
Wow 37 years ago i was hearing that and still love it today


my Rating 8 
 all_ears wrote:


Agreed. I've not heard anything from U2 as compelling as War. When it came out, I was listening to a college station in another town. Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. WOW. That was powerful. Innit interesting how many debut albums end up being the best from a band. In my case, I think that applies to U2.
 
Might've been their first number one album, but I know that they released at least two albums before "War".  The first was "Boy" in 1980 and then I believe "October" followed in 1981.  I had them both and loved those records but "War" really was on another level but it wasn't  their debut album.
 all_ears wrote:


Agreed. I've not heard anything from U2 as compelling as War. When it came out, I was listening to a college station in another town. Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. WOW. That was powerful. Innit interesting how many debut albums end up being the best from a band. In my case, I think that applies to U2.
 

omg...moved to another level
This effort is/was their pinnacle for me
 Retrograde-orbit wrote:
I am going to claim ultimate bragging rights relative to U2.
 

I believe the small crowd of fans waiting in rain and cold  who were personally served hot tea by Bono prior to the Under a Blood Red Sky show in 1983 will claim otherwise.
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
Probably their most important work (album).
 
I'll go along with that.  This song in particular represents some of their best work.
Probably their most important work (album).
Steve Lillywhite deserves some credit for the energy coming through in this track.
while not my fave U2 track it stands out in my memory as being the first music video I ever saw on tv. There was so much talk of video being an *interesting* development but I don't think any of us could have predicted as the 80s began what a game changer it would become.
 cely wrote:
This was ubiquitous back when, and I've heard it too many times, and I had a hard time liking it back in the 80s because it was just so drama-filled.  Enough bombast already.  But...that piano, that guitar, the steady rhythm, the plaintive vocals.  When you hear it years later you realize that it's just excellent, and it makes sense these guys took the road less traveled to become the paradigmatic rock band for so many years.  Maybe even still.
 

Paradigmatic. Excellent choice of term. 
I am going to claim ultimate bragging rights relative to U2.  I saw them during this tour at Cayuga Community College.  My buddy and I got in early (festival seating) and I was standing in the front row, in front of Larry Mullens.  I could have pulled him off the stage that was how close we were.  I'll bet they don't even remember playing that venue that early in their careers.  I saw them again in much later at Soldier Field ($500 a pop seats) located in essentially a 5 sided box - the standing waves were horrendous.  Worst sonics ever, we would have been better off in the nose bleed section if we wanted to actually hear the music.  I will not do that again.
 quintana wrote:
Back when U2 made great music! 9/10
 

Agreed. I've not heard anything from U2 as compelling as War. When it came out, I was listening to a college station in another town. Sunday Bloody Sunday came on and stopped me in my tracks and made me listen. WOW. That was powerful. Innit interesting how many debut albums end up being the best from a band. In my case, I think that applies to U2.
Image result for bono red rocks
If only U2 would get back to recording songs of this quality.
Still sounds good after all these years.
Somebody mentioned Bono as that 'Marching Dwarf' years ago.

Since then, that is all I can see when listening to U2. 

(apologies to anyone hight challenged)
This is why U2 became huge, a series of groundbreaking records that changed rock music in the 80's
Back when U2 made great music! 9/10

I'll bump my rating on this track from 6 → 7 simply for the great lyric:

"And so we're told this is the golden age

And gold is the reason for the wars we wage."

Bono speaking truth there!!  Hell.... 7 → 8 and LONG LIVE RP!!

Music made for stadia : https://www.ted.com/talks/david_byrne_how_architecture_helped_music_evolve
 cely wrote:
This was ubiquitous back when, and I've heard it too many times, and I had a hard time liking it back in the 80s because it was just so drama-filled.  Enough bombast already.  But...that piano, that guitar, the steady rhythm, the plaintive vocals.  When you hear it years later you realize that it's just excellent, and it makes sense these guys took the road less traveled to become the paradigmatic rock band for so many years.  Maybe even still.

 
Indeed. 
This was ubiquitous back when, and I've heard it too many times, and I had a hard time liking it back in the 80s because it was just so drama-filled.  Enough bombast already.  But...that piano, that guitar, the steady rhythm, the plaintive vocals.  When you hear it years later you realize that it's just excellent, and it makes sense these guys took the road less traveled to become the paradigmatic rock band for so many years.  Maybe even still.
Oh the times when Bono had a voice of a peasant.
New Year's Day on New Year's Day.
 Pike wrote:
A marmite band if ever there was one! I hate marmite.

 
Are you more of a Vegemite enthusiast?
When they NEEDED to be heard!
go to NY's day song {#Cheers}
YEAH! Still sizzles, still begs to be CRANKED! The distinctive ringing Rhodes piano, that outrageous guitar — and remember, this was decidedly not like anything else at the time! — the fabulous, driving, mad Celtic drumming, the lyrics; wow! and yes, that consummate vocal performer with passion and lungs to match; well, for me, it sounds as awesome as ever, especially coming after "Zombie!" The tour they did that year was astounding! They had to cut the show at Red Rocks short after just long enough to record the album Live at Red Rocks because The Edge was nearly zapped by a lightning strike, but they gave all of us who held a ticket stub a very special indoors show the very next night at the CU Events Center and it went for over 3 hours — Bono climbed atop a huge speaker stack and sang his heart out for encore after encore! and it remains as perhaps the best rock show I've ever seen... I saw their 2001 tour here, too!
 randyblew wrote:
Just got tickets for the Philly show in June! I missed the Joshua Tree in 87. Love U2, always have, always will.

 

Only saw them once—2/21/82 @ First Ave. in Mpls. for $4

It was 35 years ago, but seems like it was in another lifetime.

Setlist—-

Gloria

Another Time, Another Place

I Threw a Brick Through a Window

A Day Without Me

An Cat Dubh

Into the Heart

Rejoice

The Cry

The Electric Co.

I Fall Down

October

I Will Follow

Twilight

Out of Control

Fire

11 O'Clock Tick Tock

The Ocean

Encore:
Southern Man
(Neil Young cover)

I Will Follow


Just got tickets for the Philly show in June! I missed the Joshua Tree in 87. Love U2, always have, always will.
...and Bono served tea to the early arrivals.
 


nutrod42 wrote:

Well, it did rain...

 


 oppositelock wrote:
I had a chance to see these guys at Red Rocks but I turned it down because I thought it would rain.  Oops.

 
Well, it did rain...


New year's Day was my introduction to this band. 
I had just done 4 years in the United States Coast Guard when 'WAR' was released in early 1983
and It felt great, like stuff can at 22. 
Enough. This song should only be played once a year. Sorry but it doesn t work for me after 10,000 plays. I don t mean on RP but before there was this exceptional station, commercial radio just killed it when U2 was so popular. 
 maboleth wrote:
You can hear his peasant voice in early U2 releases. Barely nailed it in Unforgettable fire, straight great in Joshua to Zooropa, then lost everything and now is so bad, less than mediocre.

But still, the same guy had such an ego to call himself a "good voice" straight in 1980. I should have known. 

You have gotten one fact wrong: Bono did not choose that name for himself. He was given that name by members of a youth gang to which he belonged prior to the formation of the band, mid-70's. It was most likely a comment on his being rather loud as the name came from a Dublin seller of hearing aids which is in business to this day: Bonavox Hearing Specialists. In my experience teen-aged boys do not give each other flattering nicknames. The fact that he kept the mocking nickname is evidence of humility rather than ego in this case — they were calling him a hearing aid. Peace.
 
I had a chance to see these guys at Red Rocks but I turned it down because I thought it would rain.  Oops.
Under A Shamrock Sky

Happy St. Paddy's

Let's get into a sports car and go driving 90 mph!
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
If only they could have stayed this way ...

 
yup....{#Yes}
On New Year's Day? Now that's timing.
 DeemerDave wrote:

...and here come the U2 haters!

How predictable.



 
Have you tried Marmite?
Brilliant from the first time I heard it.  Will always be.
Under a blood-red sky...
 DeemerDave wrote:

...and here come the U2 haters!

How predictable.



 
Nah, I just hate incompetent cyclists.
Still like it 30+ years later.
 DeemerDave wrote:

...and here come the U2 haters!

How predictable.

 
There's a reason for that.
Only Florence can shout a song louder.
 Pike wrote:
A marmite band if ever there was one! I hate marmite.

 
...and here come the U2 haters!

How predictable.


 Funkybro wrote:


 
< Sorry ... Lost your post, but it carried the theme that this song was stronger than anything on Billboard's '83 list.>

Compare this to Flashdance and the rest of the Billboard drek, and yeah, it's not so awful.
But there were a lot of other releases to enjoy that year, such as Subterranean Jungle and Baby Snakes and Legendary Hearts and Local Hero, so that you could safely cross the River of '83 without ever wetting your feet with this anthem.
 bluejay08003 wrote:

It certainly was very overplayed in its day on FM radio.  Today the site shows 3 plays in 30 days, which is heavy rotation for RP, but not every-hour saturation.  

To me, this song still sounds fresh and survived overplaying.  Still has energy and urgency.  I can understand why some find it over-the-top, but it stood out compared to the hits of 1983, and still holds up today.  
Agree with you Bluejay - that Billboard list of crap from '83 is disgusting.  I'd just graduated from high school - what an embarrassing list of regrind but BB doesn't reflect the energy from bands that dominated that decade.   


 


A marmite band if ever there was one! I hate marmite.
Bill's gone early with our daily dose of U2! At least our ears are safe for the rest of the day.
 AndyJ wrote:
Overplayed, everywhere.

Too soon. I need another five-ten years before I can enjoy again.

PSD me.
 
It certainly was very overplayed in its day on FM radio.  Today the site shows 3 plays in 30 days, which is heavy rotation for RP, but not every-hour saturation.  

To me, this song still sounds fresh and survived overplaying.  Still has energy and urgency.  I can understand why some find it over-the-top, but it stood out compared to the hits of 1983, and still holds up today.  
TURN IT UP! ! Always loved the way the bright, ringing electric piano cuts in to dance with Clayton's wicked sinister bass, and the way Edge excites his guitar into those trademark vibrational spasms that mirror and echo the frenetics of matter at its jumping, pulsing core, and how can one possibly top Mullens' fantastic drumming that's like a storm coming down from the mountains, like mighty gusts from the four winds? and probably there's no one who can pour an entire soul's worth of infinite passion into the lyrics and vocals like Bono!
If only they could have stayed this way ...
 Fabienne wrote:
I just don't like Bono... I can't stand his voice since I heard him for the very first time. I have no idea why people are so much into his voice and music. Maybe I'm too young? {#Ask} Well, 32 shouldn't be too young?! {#No}

 
different stokes and folks Fab. lol  worry about something else, Bono will survive without your adulation! lol 
I just don't like Bono... I can't stand his voice since I heard him for the very first time. I have no idea why people are so much into his voice and music. Maybe I'm too young? {#Ask} Well, 32 shouldn't be too young?! {#No}
Great stuff

full of emotion and content 
Arghh!! PSD!!! PSD!!!
 Will62 wrote:
For the life of me I cannot understand the fascination with this lot. Talented - yes but so is my 15 year old cellist son. Exceptional? Far from it. Bono (self-serving git) shrieks, whines and screeches his way through mundane melodies. And i will put my foot through the sitting room wall if I hear one more time "the edge is the greatest". Before anybody starts - Mr Hewson gave himself the sobriquet "Bono" from the Latin Bona Vox - good voice. No better than the neighbours warbling in the shower.

 
Send me your CD when you make it.....I would like to hear your talents Will.

I'm not a very good guitar player but I do know one when I hear it....and yes, The Edge is VERY good.

Bono's voice is fantastic and full of Irish emotion. I am a very good singer....Bono is a GREAT singer IMO!


Bono is a bastard
They got too much airplay
Wish he'd shut up
Average rating 8....

 I think the vocal minority should accept greatness with grace.

 
We used to like it, but we grew up
 panlad wrote:
Say it's true! It's true!!!!  We can break through  though torn in two, we can be one!

Really effective guitar playing here.  First U2 song I ever heard. 
Still hits me hard.

 
Same here.  {#Cheers}
How can this song be anything other than a 10?
 AndyJ wrote:
Overplayed, everywhere.

Too soon. I need another five-ten years before I can enjoy again.

PSD me.

 
Yes, I agree. FM annihilated the listenability of this otherwise good track for quite a while. Still, here on R.P., where any song is no longer encumbered by the dead weight 10 ton anchor of commercials and moronic robot "on air talent" the song frees itself and becomes what it was meant to be: a solid, thoughtful rocker. 
 
Overplayed, everywhere.

Too soon. I need another five-ten years before I can enjoy again.

PSD me.


No Comment....too great
 
A once mighty young band.
Say it's true! It's true!!!!  We can break through  though torn in two, we can be one!

Really effective guitar playing here.  First U2 song I ever heard. 
Still hits me hard.
As I was the first one awake in the house this morning, this song went through my head!  Of course.  Happy 2015 everyone!
Happy New Year!
 coloradojohn wrote:
I consider myself truly blessed to have seen and felt (a show by U2 is a visceral experience!) them doing this in that truly magical year!

 

I saw them too in 1983! What a fantastic experience with 10 row seats in a 4000 people auditorium.
All grown up.

Boy Peter Rowen War
Eternally vital music, and nice to hear, considering that it's the eve of the vote for Scottish Independence. Dare to break the old chains!
Takes me back to the early 80s MTV... not necessarily a good thing. I've just heard it too many times. I remember being awed by the newness of the sound, at the time.
 ScottN wrote:
. . . For the U2/Bono bashers.  The point has been made often enough.  PSD is there for you, so stfu.
 
Amen.
For me, their first decent song.  Their sound is by now becoming defined.
For the U2/Bono bashers: The point has been made often enough.  PSD is there for you, so stfu.
For the life of me I cannot understand the fascination with this lot. Talented - yes but so is my 15 year old cellist son. Exceptional? Far from it. Bono (self-serving git) shrieks, whines and screeches his way through mundane melodies. And i will put my foot through the sitting room wall if I hear one more time "the edge is the greatest". Before anybody starts - Mr Hewson gave himself the sobriquet "Bono" from the Latin Bona Vox - good voice. No better than the neighbours warbling in the shower.
My first vinyl single. Wild. I didn't understand the lyrics at the time.
I still don't understand one thing today: why is England allowed to have a colony while the whole western world agrees that you can't occupy another country and hold it prisoner? Just England and Israel seem to be allowed to do that nowadays. Very strange...
¡Rolota!
This is freshman year of college Christmas holiday but ... My then boyfriend after the holiday broke up with me ... And the song played on ... Agh !!!!
..... as it finished yet