I was catching up with the extras on the “Across the Universe” DVD and saw that it has an extended version of Bono’s “I Am the Walrus.” People have asked whether seeing or buying “Across the Universe” is worth it just to see Bono. Here’s the breakdown of where he appears, so you can decide for yourself.

• The scene where he performs “I Am the Walrus” is about 5 minutes long, the song about 4 minutes. He has some speaking lines before and after his song, most of which come across as his character, Dr. Robert. But when he says, “Hate to mess with your groove, New York!” I get a flash of Bono on stage. Same for when he starts singing. Despite the walrus mustache, that first shot of him singing is just so Bono.
• You can also hear director Julie Taymor talking about Bono if you watch the scene with the audio commentary on.
• The extended version of “I Am the Walrus” is about 4 minutes 30 seconds and features more face time for yer man.
• Bono sings “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” over the end credits, but it’s only audio.
• On the second disc, the “Creating the Universe” documentary starts off with Bono (after the intro). His segment is only about 2 minutes long, but it shows him arriving at the studio and working with the director (and warning her against working with Irish rock stars). He’s also quoted praising Taymor as a “rare kind of figure in popular culture.”

So there you go. I think the movie is worth it because it’s beautifully done, musically and visually. Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood have fantastic voices; I could listen to this soundtrack all day. (And have.) Bono’s appearance is just a bonus in this case.

Gosh I love that title! You can do so much with it…

Anyway, in honor of the 25th anniversary of War, I’m going to ask a question about the album:

What is your favorite song from the album and why?

My own answer (and I realize I’m in the minority here):

The Refugee

Why?

As Larry once said…”It’s all about the drums.”

Bono, The Edge, Adam and Paul McGuinness were interviewed on the way into the Dublin premier of U2 3D last week.

The Edge and Bono commented about the new album, with Edge saying, “We haven’t decided what songs are going to make the album yet …”

Bono calls the new stuff “uncompromising and radical” and I believe he is trying to channel John Wayne (?) when he warns that “you young people better watch out now.”

I’m sure just about everyone reading this blog saw the YouTube video of the live performance of The Ballad of Ronnie Drew on The Late Late Show, but you also might want to check out the video of the full show available on the RTE website. It includes interviews after the performance with Ronnie Drew and some of the musicians on stage, including Bono and The Edge.

That whole thing gave me a flashback to 1987—when U2 were on stage at The Late Late Show, on a special occasion honoring, guess who? Ronnie Drew and the Dubliners. In that 1987 performance, U2 performed the Peggy Seeger song Springhill Mine Disaster, which was often played by the Dubliners. Here’s the video:

—This post brought to you by Scatter O’ Light.

If you’re a fan of the Irish band The Frames (like me), or loved the recent film Once (like me), chances are you were ecstatic last night when the song “Falling Slowly” took home an Oscar.

What you might not know is that Glen Hansard, the male lead and co-writer of the song, received a special text message from our favorite front-man before the ceremony.

Read the full story here.

It really is great when nice guys finish first.

… then it belongs on the @U2 blog. Here’s that new, Ireland-only, all-star tribute song that was partially written and partially performed by members of That Band, “Here’s To You Ronnie Drew.” (thx SW for the link)

U2 3D is going to be seen speeding around a NASCAR race track this weekend in California.

Well, not the movie itself — they’re not showing it at the California Speedway. But the NASCAR #19 car driven by Elliott Sadler will be advertising the movie on the car’s hood, sides, and something called a “decklid”. Here’s what Elliott’s car looks like without the U2 3D stickers:

As you can see, the U2 3D stuff will replace Best Buy’s logo — and that’s how this all came together. If you were reading the blog last month, you may recall Sherry writing about Best Buy’s involvement as a “presenting sponsor” of the movie.

As for the driver, he doesn’t sound like he knows much about U2, but like all other NASCAR drivers, he’s well-schooled in talking up his sponsors:

“U2 is one of those bands known around the world. I know so many people who have been to their shows and tell me what an experience it is to see that band live. Now, with this new 3D movie, it seems like everyone in the theater is going to feel like they’ve been to a U2 show when they leave. California is the perfect place to run this type of scheme. I mean, U2 and a 3D concert film…you don’t get much better.”

Of course, the success of this advertising plan depends on how well Sadler does during the race trying to keep up with the “Fast Cars.” If he doesn’t … you can insert your own “…Pay for Your Crashed Car” pun here.

(Thanks Nic O)

As fans, we spend a lot of time debating a) which songs U2 should stop playing, and b) which songs they should play live for the first time. I’ve listened recently to a couple old concerts that I haven’t listened to in ages, and heard a whole bunch of songs I’d love to hear again.

So, with that in mind, here’s my list of the Top 10 Songs U2 Should Play Live Again. Any song is eligible, except for songs they played during the Vertigo Tour. (So, “One Tree Hill” is disqualified because it was played a couple times in New Zealand. And “Kite” is out because it was played late in ‘06, too.)

1.) Please

2.) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

3.) The Unforgettable Fire

4.) Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around the World

5.) A Sort of Homecoming

6.) October

7.) Ultraviolet

8.) In God’s Country

9.) Gone

10.) Exit

What would be on YOUR list?

So I saw “U2 3D” for the fourth time this weekend. And I have to say, No. 4 was just as good. I still found myself grinning and bouncing in my seat from the first “Everyone.”

My excuse for yet another viewing was that my friend and sister wanted to see it. But let’s face it: I don’t need an excuse; I’d take a stranger to see it.

My friend Kate saw U2 with me in Chicago on the third leg of the Vertigo tour, so I knew she’d like the movie. (And she did; she said she even got tears in her eyes at one point.) I wasn’t sure what my sister would think, though. Laura grew up listening to U2, not because she wanted to but because her big sister was always blaring it from her bedroom. I’ve heard a lot of people say that’s how they were turned on to U2, but it never grabbed Laura for whatever reason. Of course she was only 9 when I went to college, so maybe I left too soon for the music to sink in.

But now, for the first time in the nearly 19 years since I moved out of the house, I got Laura to a U2 event. She went for the 3D because she had heard so much about it (it wasn’t just from me, I swear). And she had a great time. She sang me the lyrics to let me know when she recognized a song. She got a kick out of my chair dancing. And best of all: Laura now wants to see a U2 concert.

Now that will be worth writing about.

The folks over at Zoom-In Online contacted me today to say they just posted a podcast interview with Catherine Owens, director of (do I need to say it?) U2 3D.

Megan Cunningham, for On The Circuit, spoke with Owens at the Sundance Film Festival the day after the film’s premiere. The podcast lasts about 12 minutes. Enjoy.

Bono made an appearance recently in the comic ‘Pearls Before Swine.’ Links are here:

www.comics.com/comics/pearls/archive/pearls-20080208.html

www.comics.com/comics/pearls/archive/pearls-20080209.html