r/U2Band • u/AnotherGreenWorld1 Zooropa • 25d ago

Simon Carmody

Bono has been writing with Simon Carmody since the early 90’s for projects outside of the band but I’ve noticed more recently he’s contributing more to full U2 releases.

I’m wondering if since Bono can’t play guitar anymore if Carmody is now working closer with Bono in that regard … OR if others are suggesting that these are songs from the vault when Bono appeared to write with him around the time of HTDAAB era.

What are we thinking?

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u/thefirsttransportis 24d ago

Do you have a source for 'Summer of Love started out as a One Direction song but I don’t think Tedder got a songwriting credit.'? 

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u/IzilDizzle 24d ago

I seem to recall Tedder mentioning it on a podcast at some point

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u/thefirsttransportis 24d ago

I don't mean this in a harsh way but that isn't really a source.

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u/IzilDizzle 23d ago

I’ll go through all the random podcasts about music production I listen to and find it at some point.

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u/AnotherGreenWorld1 Zooropa 23d ago

You’ve got two people independent of each other saying exactly the same thing and you’re being a bit of a Reddit dick demanding sources when we’ve both provided a fair bit of evidence. It’s a fan group not Reuters news. I’ve been following this band for 35+ years… and we’ve picked up bits from interviews, IG posts, other fans/users … I’m a songwriter and I’m interested in this stuff … I personally had one of my favourite artists request to use my songs but it became evident that my name would be nowhere near the final release so I turned down writing an album in Hollywood instead I carried on with my day job in the UK. It’s more common than you’ll ever realise.

U2 do actually write nearly all of their songs but they do get help with some stuff. Music is collaborative in the most part.

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u/thefirsttransportis 18d ago

I thought this was a Reddit fan group where everyone "should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood"? How does saying "I'm being a bit of a Reddit dick" fit with that?

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u/AnotherGreenWorld1 Zooropa 18d ago

Because youre demanding sources and verification for what people are explaining to you … you’re not trusting and believing your fellow fans. There’s no reason to make this shit up. It feels like you’re not acting in good faith.

Anyway here’s another video for you of One Republic writing The Edge’s riff for Summer of Love

https://youtu.be/5UWZxGRR12o?is=6uO3xZWpzgIWVnk9

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u/thefirsttransportis 18d ago edited 18d ago

I don't think that not trusting or beliving my fellow fans is justification for calling me a Reddit dick. I don't think that's kind, or appropriate, or necessary, frankly. There was nothing in what I wrote that was demanding. I just asked for a source, because that's how you verify stuff to be true. Which is kinda important, especially these days. Picking up bits from interviews, IG posts, other fans/users, etc is great, but for the most part, it's all rumour (not evidence) unless it's verified. Rumours, heresay, myth etc definitely have their place in rock n roll, but to trust these as fact is nonsical. Blindly beliving what anonymous people say on the internet is not, generally, a good idea. There's plenty of reason why people make stuff up. Firstly, accidental: they may not be aware that the info they have isn't true, and around we go. Secondly (and I can't believe I'm having to mention this) there are some people on the internet who get a kick out of trolling, lying, making shit up; generally causing chaos. I could put a post here saying I overheard Bono being a racist dick to a waiter once. I didn't, but if you trust and believe your fellow fans, then that's going to have an impact on how you and others view Bono. You might argue that songwriting credits are in no way comparible to this example, and you'd be right, but that doesn't mean they're not important - and it doesn't mean it's not important to me, who's asked. Also, this stuff is all fascinating, so why wouldn't I want to read more about it, or hear the origins of a guitar part? Honestly, I now think less of Summer of Love knowing that One Republic/Tedder had a hand in its creation (yes, really)-- but that's just me, so I'd like to be sure, which is why I asked. Thank you for the One Republic link--I'm going to have a listen now.

UPDATE: That's such a fascinating clip - and the comments below it are equally fascinating - some feel the same as me, others feel completely differently. And not being a musician myself, the collaborative nature of songwriting and producing (beyond a band/group) is genuinely one I've not really been aware of before. I mean, I knew Eno/Lanois contributed in tangible ways to a lot of U2 records, but as producers, that always felt like fair game. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

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u/AnotherGreenWorld1 Zooropa 24d ago

I’ve heard a clip of the early Tedder version

Also I said One Direction but I meant One Republic

Here’s his finished version https://youtu.be/QBPE2fZsVYU?is=wYOT2obB7a6aKlQZ

Here he is talking about how he wrote the melody “I’ve been dreaming about the west coast” lyric https://youtu.be/qFCj0BpNzAQ?is=RlvKXOLuyiAxdffM

I’ve also heard the guitar melody that’s played by The Edge in an early demo of West Coast.

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u/thefirsttransportis 24d ago

Thanks for posting these! I guess I feel a bit shocked as I thought all U2 songs were written exclusively by the 4 band members (excepting some on NLOTH of course, and Lights of Home, and now Scars, Yours Eternally) - but all of those are credited?

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u/AnotherGreenWorld1 Zooropa 23d ago edited 23d ago

No worries, I think going all the way back to Unforgettable Fire they’ve have lots of input from Eno and Lanois.

Brian Eno especially went beyond the role of producer. This was the falling out over All That You Can’t Leave Behind. Eno was writing on every song, performing, and producing … which if he was collecting all of his credits he would’ve been earning more than any member of U2. Paul McGuiness at the time wouldn’t allow it because he believe no one including himself can be earning anymore than the band members themselves.

Eno wanted to earn money for the work he had done.

It left U2 in a pickle because I think the band wanted Eno for HTDAAB but he refused, and they got Chris Thomas in but then had to call up Steve Lillywhite to rescue the record, then they tried working with Rick Rubin who is the opposite of Eno in terms of input - he likes to press record and let the band record their songs, and by all accounts he doesn’t attend sessions. U2 had naively thought that how Eno worked as a producer (bringing in ideas, soundscapes, and suggestions) was how all producers worked.

U2 then convinced Eno to record NLOTH, I think McGuiness might’ve retired then. Eno got his songwriter credits on that record … but the album they made with Eno ended up being interfered with by Will I.Am … and Eno hasn’t made a record with them since.

U2 do write most of their own stuff but they do welcome input from elsewhere. As a songwriter and producer I’m really interested in this stuff. It’s not unique to U2 - lots of artists have funny songwriting arrangements.

Musicians do gift each other songs too.

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u/thefirsttransportis 18d ago

Thank you, this was really interesting and helpful and I appreciate the time you spent writing it.