Last night marked another moment in television history, as late night host Jimmy Fallon made his much-anticipated debut as the new host of The Tonight Show. To kick off the new era, Fallon had a start-studded lineup of surprise appearances, but his featured guests were actor Will Smith and rock icons U2. From atop Rockefeller Center as the sun faded away on the horizon, U2 performed their newest single, “Invisible” which can be viewed above. In addition to the band’s stellar performance, the stunning view behind them was Fallon’s statement of “we’re back”, as it was the first time The Tonight Show had been shot in New York City in 42 years. Later on in the show, U2 joined Fallon on the coveted couch to talk with Fallon about what’s next for the band. After the interview, the they performed their other new track, the Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated song, “Ordinary Love”, which can be viewed below.
U2 wrote their first new song in three years, “Ordinary Love”, as tribute to the
great crusader of peace Nelson Mandela. The track is featured on the soundtrack to the biopic, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom starring Idris Elba and is nominated for the Oscar Best Original Song at this year’s Academy Awards, which air on Sunday, March 2 on ABC. The track also garnered the band a Golden Globe for Best Original Song – Motion Picture. U2 released the song on 10-inch vinyl back November 29 for Record Store Day’s Back to Black Friday. The special vinyl also included a remastered version of “Breathe”, a track off the band’s last album, 2009′s No Line On The Horizon. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and #1 on nearly every other chart around the globe.
Back in January, U2 released another new tune, “Invisible”, and for 24 hours, the track was available for a 24-hour free download. For every download, Bank of America donated $1 to the (RED) for the fight against AIDS. U2 frontman Bono co-founded (RED) in 2006. The recipient of the funds raised will be The Global Fund for to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The Global Fund provides testing and treatment services around the world. U2 have reportedly enlisted renowned producer Danger Mouse to produce their next album, which is due out in April 2014. It will be the band’s first full-length LP in five years. U2 is undoubtedly one of the greatest artists of all time. Throughout their illustrious career, they’ve sold over 150 million albums worldwide. They have garnered 22 Grammy Awards, the most by any band in music history. In 2005, U2 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. – by Matt Bishop (Middle Right Photo Courtesy of Paul Drinkwater/Reuters/NBC Universal)
U2 – Bono Interview & Acoustic Performance… by IdolxMuzic