Quick Hits: U2 - "Easter Parade"
U2 is back and sounds looser, more inspired, and more alive than they have in years.
The last couple of months have been the most exciting for U2 fans in over a decade. Between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the band surprised the world with two new EPs that are inspired, loose, and more alive than much of the work they’ve done since the turn of the century.
Between the politically raw Days of Ash and the spiritually vibrant Easter Lily, it truly feels like a new chapter for the four-piece where they’re finally comfortable in their skin and are writing for themselves again rather than with expectations or hopes of chart success. “Easter Parade” is a wonderful example of this refreshing approach.
The joyful anthem on Easter Lily pulls off the incredible trick of sounding like classic U2 but also like nothing they’ve done before. It starts with a bubbling synth that hits like sunbeams shining through the clouds, joined soon by a lovely piano melody, light guitar shimmers, and a solidly buoyant bass groove that will go down as one of Adam Clayton’s best.
Once the chorus kicks in, the song ascends to new heights, creating an optimistic lift as Bono and Edge’s voices harmonize beautifully. But like many of their strongest songs, Bono includes a drop of darkness into the proceedings, which makes the hard-earned joy even more powerful. “Something in me died/But I was no longer afraid,” he sings, his voice confident and comforted by the renewed faith he’s found. The religious overtones are obvious throughout, especially the Greek prayer that closes out over chiming chords. It’s like reuniting with an old friend who’s found his way back into your life – a gorgeous meditation that’s also an undeniable earworm.
These spontaneous releases are great reminders of just how excellent this band can be. And we still have an album due before the end of the year! If that record is anything like the quality found on these EPs, we can be looking at a late-period classic for a group that still has the ability to surprise, inspire, and move people.
What’s your take? Does this track stand up with U2 recent work? Is it a new classic? Share your thoughts below!