Bono & the Boys Return

by Chris Narloch

Even before COVID reared its ugly head, U2 had been quiet for a little while. Not so anymore. Bono was obviously writing his memoirs during that time, and he and the band were working on “Songs of Surrender,” their recent 4CD boxset of revisited hits.

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Then there was that delicious Disney+ documentary with Bono and The Edge a few months back, which was marred but not ruined by the participation of David Letterman, who turns everything into a joke – and not always a good one.

I am not a big fan of Letterman and his Father Time beard, but he doesn’t wreck the documentary, which has the ego-driven title “Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with David Letterman.”

If you can ignore Letterman, the almost 90-minute movie is a fascinating journey through time to U2’s origins, using old performance footage and new interviews, plus a recent concert by Bono and The Edge in Dublin that previewed the acoustic-driven covers of their own songs that make up “Songs of Surrender.”

We learn things about the band in the doc that I didn’t know, and the director (Morgan Neville) does a fine job of giving viewers a historical and political context for the rise of the hugely popular Irish band.

I don’t like everything on “Songs of Surrender,” which includes a generous 40 tracks on four CDs, but a few of the new versions are even better than the originals, and the ones that aren’t are still interesting.

“Songs of Surrender” strips down and reworks past hits like “Pride (In the Name of Love),” “One,” “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “Beautiful Day,” and many more, putting the focus on the often-magnificent lyrics and Bono’s quieter vocals.

The third recent gift for U2 fans was Bono’s excellent autobiography, “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story,” which is a very revealing trip through the life of Paul David Hewson (Bono’s real name) and his famous band’s career.

An artist, activist and a lead singer, Bono has lived an amazing life, and he shares very private details of his upbringing in Dublin as the child of a Catholic father and a Protestant mother.

The rock star also writes movingly about his enduring romance with his wife, Ali, whom he began dating soon after U2 formed.

Bono also sheds light on the creative differences and occasional turmoil within the band, which (thankfully) is still going strong after more than 45 years together.

The Best U.S. Cities to Get Lucky

Which cities have the sauciest hookup scene or the most opportunities to score? Bespoke Surgical scoured locations across the country to find which ones have the most singles, minimal sexual frustration, the highest number of bars, adult entertainment clubs, and other indicators of a thriving hookup culture – all to help you find the perfect place to get lucky. So, get ready to pack your bags and leave your inhibitions at the door because we’re about to dive into the best cities in the U.S. to get it on.

Key Findings

• Tampa, FL is the #1 best U.S. city to get laid. 43% of Tampa’s population is single, and Floridians boast 14 orgasms per month, on average. The national average is 12.5.

• Pittsburgh, PA ranks #2 because it has 225 bars for every 100,000 residents––more than any other city in the ranking. The national average is 86 bars (per 100K).

• Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 because 45% of the population is single. LA has 16 drive-in movie theaters for getting frisky and 54 swingers clubs for sexual play.

•Las Vegas, NV lands the sixth spot because it has more adult entertainment clubs than any other city––10 clubs per 100,000 residents. The national average is two clubs (per 100K).

Of the top 20 cities to get lucky, 13 are located on the coastline. Out of the top five cities, three are located in Florida, indicating that sea air, sunshine, or warm weather may go a long way when it comes to getting in the mood.

You can find the full study at: https://bespokesurgical.com/2023/03/02/best-us-cities-to-get-lucky/