‘We need to overcome arguments and politics’: U2 receives Woody Guthrie Award

‘We need to overcome arguments and politics’: U2 receives Woody Guthrie Award

Bono and The Edge performed protest songs like “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and spoke about political division at a ceremony at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa (Oklahoma)

If the U2 is receiving an award in honor of the folk singer Woody Guthrieit is to be expected that Bono use the moment to reflect on music, protest and the current political landscape. And that’s exactly what happened Tuesday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when Bono and The Edge took the stage at Cain’s Ballroom to accept the Woody Guthrie Prize.

“We need to consciously fight history — or it will repeat itself,” he declared Bono during the speech.

Recognized for decades as one of the most influential sociopolitical voices in music, the U2 received the award from *Anna Canoni, Guthrie’s granddaughter. Just Bono and The Edge — who form the group alongside Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. — participated in the ceremony, which brought together around 800 people in the theater. In addition to receiving the honor, they also performed a 45-minute acoustic set.

In his introductory speech, Canoni highlighted: “THE U2 firmly believes that popular music is also a force for justice and truth.” Soon after, Bono and The Edge played acoustic versions of some of the group’s biggest protest anthems, such asRunning to Stand Still”, “Mothers of the Disappeared” and “Pride (In the Name of Love)”as well as songs from Guthrie.

During the presentation of “This Train Is Bound for Glory”, Bono he played a harmonica solo and, in “They Laid Jesus Christ in the Grave”led the audience in a collective chorus. The high point came with “Sunday Bloody Sunday”when the fans followed the chorus in unison “How long must we sing this song?”followed by an extended guitar solo by The Edge.

Faced with the political polarization of the United States, the duo took the opportunity to remember the transformative power of music. Before the show, Cady Stantondirector of Woody Guthrie Center, summarized the importance of U2:

“Their voices filled stadiums — but more importantly, they amplified the voices of those who would otherwise never be heard.”

TEXT BY: JOSH CRUTCHMER (Rolling Stone USA)

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Source: Rollingstone

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