Recommendations of the Editorial team
You can see how bad things are in the world by the fact that even Bono can hardly stand it anymore. But we’d be damned if he didn’t do something about it! U2 are among the musicians you could always rely on in the fight for justice, peace and freedom. So maybe it shouldn’t have been such a big surprise that they suddenly released an EP on Ash Wednesday that no one had any idea about before. And at the same time it is of course a sensation, because we all know how long Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. usually sit in the studio working on songs until they finally release them.
The urgency is what makes “Days Of Ashes” so impressive
The obvious urgency is what makes Days Of Ashes so impressive. There are actually only five songs, not counting the 77-second spoken word piece “Wildpeace” (a poem by Yehuda Amicai, read by Adeola, accompanied by U2 and Jacknife Lee). Five songs about a world in ruins that we can only get back together with a lot of courage and hope. Let’s go for it!
It begins with a crashing guitar chord and Bono proclaiming: “You have the right to remain silent… or not…” Of course not! “American Obituary” isn’t an obituary for Bono’s promised land of rock’n’roll, it’s a reconquest: “I love you more/ Than hate loves war!” he shouts in the chorus, the band is behind him with all their might. As always. Jacknife Lee builds them a larger-than-life sound because there’s no need for subtle details.
The song is dedicated to Renée Nicole Macklin Good, who was murdered by ICE. Bono repeats like a mantra: “The power of the people is so much stronger than the people in power.” It doesn’t seem like it right now, but maybe it will manifest itself if we wish it often enough! Here, every song is a statement, every moment a celebration of the values that need to be upheld.
Death surrounds the pieces, but the liveliness of the band stands in contrast
The best piece, “The Tears Of Things,” immediately stands out because of its enormous frame. At first, only Bono’s voice can be heard in front of a quiet acoustic guitar – scratched and yet (or precisely because of that) so strong. He sings to God, once again, and laments the state of the world, but without missionary thoughts, on the contrary: “When people go around talking to God/ It always ends in tears.” At the end, after Michelangelo, Mussolini and others have appeared and the song builds to a breathless eulogy, there is the realization that everyone is one – and Bono asks: “Everybody is my people/ Let my people go.” Immediately afterwards, “Song Of The Future” gets really busy – it tells the story of 16-year-old Sarina Esmailzadeh, who died during a demonstration in Iran. Death surrounds all of these pieces, the liveliness of the band stands in stark contrast.
Bono had already revealed the title “One Life At A Time” in advance because he liked the idea that the world can only be saved one life at a time. To focus on the smaller environment in which something can be achieved, instead of despairing about the bigger picture – in this case the Middle East conflict. The song was inspired by the murder of a Palestinian activist. Getting powerlessness under control is what it’s all about. U2 resist with what they have – music and words. They may not be able to save the world or even democracy, but they stand side by side with Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg and other upstanding people – and we can be happy that they are stepping forward instead of hiding.
In another world, “Yours Eternally” would be a hit
And then U2 also got Ed Sheeran around for the anthem “Yours Eternally.” Bono let it be known that he didn’t actually want to express himself so explicitly politically, but they probably cheated him a bit. Now the Ukrainian Taras Topoli is also singing along. In another world, this song would be an instant global hit. When Bono sings “Don’t bet/ On getting rid of me/ Yours eternally” at the end, it’s not a threat, but a promise. Their clearly political songs are now out in the world, and all options are open to them for the album, which will be released at the end of the year.
“Days Of Ashes” gets four stars, there has to be room for improvement. The band U2 will be 50 years old in September 2026. They have already given themselves the best present: they have proven that they are still good for surprises. It’s just never boring with them.
