Friday, March 31, 2006 |
Nothing Changes on New Year's Day
“New Year’s Day” by U2, from the album War
First week of January, 1983
I like U2. I don’t love them but I like them. My inner soul train just doesn’t really get on with them quite right. I’ll grant this at the very least, U2 is a solid, respectable band. Perhaps it’s blasphemy, perhaps not. I do have some feelings about “New Year’s Day” though, thanks to a friend of mine clever enough to play said refrain at precisely 12:01 on New Year’s Day 1994. I know what you’re thinking: that’s really flipping clever, this mastermind had to have gone on to cure cancer and discover alternate forms of energy. That said, and being the sentimental chap I was (a.k.a. a moron), I rocked out intently, singing along with the words and mixing in the odd “Auld Lang Syne”. Bringin’ in the New Year in style. Bono brings words of hope! It was the New Year after all, the girl I had a crush on was pounding wine coolers like they could save the world and Bono was on the mic. Holla! Then I realized, Bono was telling me to just chill: “Nothing changes on New Year’s Day”. Well thanks for the update, Slim. Unfortunately, the man was correct. Despite my best intentions, I was still a lonely virgin with no weed and an anxiety disorder, albeit on New Year’s Day. So was this song about unrequited love or a political statement about a tyrannical government Bono had issue with that drove him to action, that drove him to song? Well, I just don’t know the answer to that. Ask Bono, I’m sure he knows. He knows the answer to everything, doesn’t he? He’s such a smart ass.
—N.J.
