The Satellite of Love

How a Horrendous U2 Song Inspired Me To Write

I won't deny the fact that I'm a huge U2 fan. I have no problem saying that they're my favorite band ever. But, despite this fact, I believe there are some things that should be left in the dark. Case in point … “Satellite of Love”! Let me explain.

Recently, I've been reading Bono's autobiography, Surrender (I feel a little sad for having to explain this, but in case you don't know, Bono is the lead singer and primary lyricist for the band). I love behind the music stuff, the history of the artist(s), the inspiration behind the music, what have you. I'm the same way when it comes to books and authors. I love to hear about their inspiration, the process behind the creation. This includes the failures, the not so greats, and the pieces left on the cutting room floor. As I'm reading Bono's book, I'm also listening to U2’s extensive catalog. And as I was listening to all of this incredible music, I noticed some unfamiliar songs playing. They turned out to be unreleased material, or possibly some B-sides from the original recording sessions for Achtung Baby!.

Here's where it gets dicey. The majority of these unreleased songs were lackluster meanderings masquerading as music and I completely understood why they'd been left off the final release of the album. In which case, why not just leave them there where they so obviously belonged? That was my first thought. My second was that even U2 doesn't get it right every single time. And if they're not infallible, how can I expect that of myself?

Two main areas of struggle for me when it comes to writing are not finishing what I start and not beginning at all for fear of either losing interest or that what I write won't be liked. But in reading Bono's autobiography, he writes how in the early days of the band's inception their music wasn't well received. At one point, some of the band members began talking about finding jobs or going to university. But they didn't stop creating, and they continued to perform in front of small, lackluster crowds until eventually … U2!

After hearing some of the mediocre art that came from U2's recording sessions, I was reminded that perfection is mostly an illusion and nothing great just appears out of thin air. It takes work and facing the possibility that yes, we might lose interest in our creative project. And yes, what I write might only resonate with one other person, two if I'm lucky.

So, in the end, this is me, facing both of my fears, all thanks to a song called “Satellite of Love" from the deluxe edition of U2’s Achtung Baby!. Go ahead. Give it a listen. I have doubts that you'll thank me later, but just maybe you'll agree that if Bono and U2 can unashamedly release something like this travesty, then what do we have to be afraid of?