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Bono uses songs, imagery to convey his faith, convictions
By L. KENT WOLGAMOTT / Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Dec 23, 2005 - 12:04:04 am CST

“This is your song now, America.” So proclaimed Bono as the opening riff of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” echoed through Omaha's Qwest Center last week.

In case some of the 19,000 in attendance didn't get the point of a new reference for the anti-war anthem, U2 segued into the Clash's “Rock The Casbah” — a direct reference to the Middle East and, by extension, the war in Iraq — before ending things with a snippet of John Lennon’s “Merry Xmas (War is Over).”

That’s pretty powerful stuff, particularly when it comes from a performer as compelling and charismatic as Bono.

Named one of Time’s Persons of the Year for 2005 along with Bill and Melinda Gates, Bono earned as many headlines this year for his work to try to eradicate poverty in developing nations as he did for U2’s music.

I sometimes find his constant crusading and the accolades he receives annoying. He’s still a rock star siphoning up millions of dollars each year, not a saint who has taken a vow of poverty.

But in an arena, delivering passionate anthems, there’s nobody better.

As he threw himself into “Pride (In The Name of Love),” which felt very much like a church song, I wrote in my notebook: “Bono could have been one hell of an evangelist.”

There’s more truth to that observation than I originally intended.

Not to overstate the point, but pairing U2 and rapper Kanye West produced arguably the best Christian music show ever to come to Nebraska.

Early on, U2 was particularly noted for the manner in which its music was influenced by faith. And the Grammy-nominated “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” is a marked return to that kind of music, with songs titled “Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your Own,” “Love and Peace or Else” and “Yahweh,” all of which took on additional power live.

As if that wasn’t enough evidence of U2’s spiritual inclination, the final song of the night was “40,” a recitation of the 40th Psalm set to music, and Bono hung a rosary on the microphone as he left the stage.

While some scoff at this notion, West also lets his faith come through in his music, particularly on the song “Jesus Walks.” Here’s how the song starts:

“I need to recruit all the soldiers/All of God's soldiers

We at war/We at war with society, racism, terrorism, and most of all we at war with ourselves

(Jesus Walks)

God show me the way because the Devil try to break me down

(Jesus Walks with me with me with me with me)”

Clearly identifying with “Jesus Walks,” Bono inserted a bit of it into U2’s rocking version of “Vertigo,” explicitly tying the acts, their passions and beliefs.

There was no explicit mention of Christianity in the concert. But there was a palpable sense of uplift and spirituality in the show. And U2’s emphasis on compassion, both in lyrics and in Bono’s comments about his “One” campaign and social responsibility, comes from the best of the Christian tradition.

So does the anti-war sentiment expressed in the medley that was the show’s emotional high point.

But Bono is too clever to get caught in the "he hates America" trap that often snares those who speak out against the war.

To avoid that quagmire, U2 followed the "Sunday Bloody Sunday" medley with "Bullet the Blue Sky" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," which Bono dedicated to the "brave young men and women of the United States military."

Smart, smart, smart — just like the rest of the brilliant show.

After seeing last week’s show, I’m more convinced than ever that U2 is among the best two or three live bands in the world, if not THE best arena/stadium act going.

That's not just because it has striking staging and lighting, can deliver its decades worth of hits with great effectiveness and is led by a charismatic frontman. Those things hold true for many bands.

But U2's music has a message — of peace, love and compassion. And it is so powerfully conveyed that the band's live shows reach beyond entertainment to something bigger and ultimately more important.

Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com. Want more talk about U2? Click here to join the discussion at GZO.