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Vieux Farka Touré — Bullet the Blue Sky
Album: In the Name of Love - Africa Celebrates U2
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1602









Released: 2008
Length: 4:32
Plays (last 30 days): 0
In the howling wind comes a stinging rain
See it driving nails
Into the souls on the tree of pain
From the firefly, a red orange glow
See the face of fear
Running scared in the valley below

Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue
Bullet the blue

In the locust wind comes a rattle and hum
Jacob wrestled the angel
And the angel was overcome
You plant a demon seed
You raise a flower of fire
See them burning crosses
See the flames higher and higher

Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue sky
Bullet the blue
Bullet the blue

This guy comes up to me
His face red like a rose in a thorn bush
Like all the colors of a royal flush
And he's peeling off those dollar bills
Slapping them down
One hundred, two hundred
And I can see those fighter planes
And I can see those fighter planes

Across the mud huts where the children sleep
Through the alleys of a quiet city street
You take the staircase to the first floor
Turn the key and slowly unlock the door
As a man breathes into a saxophone
And through the walls you hear the city groan
Outside is America
Outside is America, America

Across the field you see the sky ripped open
See the rain through a gaping wound
Pounding on the women and children
Who run
Into the arms
Of America
Comments (194)add comment
 DrLex wrote:

This is how you do a cover. Approach it so differently that the listener only figures out half-way: “hey, I know these lyrics!”


Very well stated!  
This is how you do a cover. Approach it so differently that the listener only figures out half-way: “hey, I know these lyrics!”
 eyke wrote:


Happy news, 4 yrs later up to a 6.3! 




EXCELLENT!   I gave it a TEN!   Thanx RP!  
 justin4kick wrote:

Is there an African artist or band that gets a rating higher than 5.9 on RP? Just wondering.



Happy news, 4 yrs later up to a 6.3! 
 ExpatLarry wrote:

I don't see how anyone who thinks themself a 'music lover' wouldn't appreciate this groove. Jeeezus!




I Agree!!   
 Pjesnik wrote:

Long red low rating tail, but sadly  it seems this is destiny for most African performers here. 




I Agree! SAD!  GREAT VERSION! I really like it!  Thanx RP!   
 bdwhitepm wrote:

This is way better than the U2 version.  NO Bono!



you just keep  peeling  um off, pal...smakin um down
Long red low rating tail, but sadly  it seems this is destiny for most African performers here. 

 phlattop wrote:

check out Vieux Farka Toure's collaboration with Khruangbin https://youtu.be/k86B0gxCnE4




Thank You for the info!  I will!
check out Vieux Farka Toure's collaboration with Khruangbin https://youtu.be/k86B0gxCnE4
I don't see how anyone who thinks themself a 'music lover' wouldn't appreciate this groove. Jeeezus!
 joejennings wrote:


I just gave it a TEN!


Me too!  Wife is playing drums to this right now and loving' it!
EXCELLENT!!  Thanx RP!
 justin4kick wrote:

Is there an African artist or band that gets a rating higher than 5.9 on RP? Just wondering.



I just gave it a TEN!
 misterbearbaby wrote:

This recording is just awful. 


How did the Talking Heads put it? Oh yeah, Fear of Music.
 Guelfling wrote:


Yeah, and the drummer kicks ass, too 👍🏿 these africans can beat the drums jazz+rock stylee as well as their traditional way. Even better than the real thing, as U2 would put it 🤣😇


Agreed! In that aspect I Love ACSS! Fantastic music with strong African percussion and vibe with a mix of Irish influence!  Thanks RP!
sounds just like U2
 unclehud wrote:

Agreed.

I'm guessing that a whole lot of Africa never heard of U2, and therefore this song isn't celebrating U2.  Seems to me they're probably too busy running from bloody revolutions, trying to stay on the good side of dictators and institutionalized corruption, or trying to find their next meal.  Don't have time to be celebrating U2 anyway.

But that's all speculation on my part.
 
Speculation?  More like an assumption on your part; heavy on the @ss.  Stick to music, Uncle.    
 justin4kick wrote:
Is there an African artist or band that gets a rating higher than 5.9 on RP? Just wondering.
 
This one just did 
 unclehud wrote:

Agreed.

I'm guessing that a whole lot of Africa never heard of U2, and therefore this song isn't celebrating U2.  Seems to me they're probably too busy running from bloody revolutions, trying to stay on the good side of dictators and institutionalized corruption, or trying to find their next meal.  Don't have time to be celebrating U2 anyway.

But that's all speculation on my part.
 
Oh relax, it's just an album title.  Perhaps if it read "A Collection of African Artists celebrate U2", you'd like that better?

This music is fantastic though.  Rock solid.  Doesn't matter where you're from, or what the album is called... how does it sound?  
This is way better than the U2 version.  NO Bono!
 misterbearbaby wrote:
This recording is just awful. 
 

I kinda like it! 
This recording is just awful. 
 Red_Dragon wrote:
The only thing worse than a U2 song is a U2 cover.
 


Haters will hate

The only thing worse than a U2 song is a U2 cover.
 woodchuk wrote:
IMHO, superior to the U2 version.   Great song!   Love the spoken French parts and that Malian groove..

 

Yeah, and the drummer kicks ass, too 👍🏿 these africans can beat the drums jazz+rock stylee as well as their traditional way. Even better than the real thing, as U2 would put it 🤣😇
Interesting take on it; the lyrics have always given me chills. 
Good beat and tone - powerful message - good stuff
6 for the different approach for this song. Cool. Last I remember P.O.D. did a version.
 justin4kick wrote:
 
 
Never. Over 6 points only 'Muricans :)
 unclehud wrote:

I'm guessing that a whole lot of Africa never heard of U2, and is therefore not celebrating U2.  Seems to me they're probably too busy running from bloody revolutions, trying to stay on the good side of dictators and institutionalized corruption, or trying to find their next meal.  Don't have time to be celebrating U2 anyway.

But that's all speculation on my part.

 don't think many chinese listen to U2 either. 


Hm, one of the better U2 tunes, but, hmmm. A strange and interesting cover.

Ok, 3 months later, I like it!
Is there an African artist or band that gets a rating higher than 5.9 on RP? Just wondering.
Good stuff - definitely gets the nod!  Has a cool more spiritual element to it....
Vocals > Bono
Guitar < The Edge
Very cool, I like the diversity.  Keep it up RP!
Pleasantly weird; one of those tunes you wonder- would it be as interesting if it didn't mess with your memory of the original? I have to go listen to the original U2 album now, though. 

IMHO, superior to the U2 version.   Great song!   Love the spoken French parts and that Malian groove..

 Byronape wrote:
...  I do take issue with the whole idea of all of Africa celebrating U2...  Kinda like all of China celebrating Angelina Jolie for adopting a kid.
 
Agreed.

I'm guessing that a whole lot of Africa never heard of U2, and therefore this song isn't celebrating U2.  Seems to me they're probably too busy running from bloody revolutions, trying to stay on the good side of dictators and institutionalized corruption, or trying to find their next meal.  Don't have time to be celebrating U2 anyway.

But that's all speculation on my part.
Cool.  Comes at it from a completely different direction than the original.
I love the funky covers played here on RP...! 
 lootunes wrote:
I don't like this.  But I kind of like this.  Can't decide.
 
I agree with this.  Despite my general contempt for anything U2 (at least late 90's and up U2), this is an interesting cover.  I do take issue with the whole idea of all of Africa celebrating U2...  Kinda like all of China celebrating Angelina Jolie for adopting a kid.

To Derekd, sorry bro', but I say "Yes."

What?  Yes??  Yes, an affirmation of my enjoyment of this tune.  Bump to "8" on the rater scale.
The "ooh ooh ooohs" sound a bit... constipated....

Sorry.

It's like a screeching sour note in the middle of an orchestra... really distracts.
Interesting enough for me want to hear the rest of the album.  My ear caught the chorus and I'm happy to've heard this left of center cover!
This is a great version: I was enjoying the jam aspect, when I suddenly noticed it was a cover of Bullet the Blue Sky.  That's the best kind of cover:  the kind where you don't realize what song it is until you're well into it. 
This is really bad, at least its followed by a good U2 song
 Poacher wrote:

No? 

You mean 'no' it is too short? Is is 'no' to covers? Or 'no' to . . . oh I give up. Why is it some commenters even bother to click the link to make a comment? And for that matter do they think anyone even gives a fuck?

Just wondering.

:) 
 

Just speculating here ... this song may be too foreign for some ears. But who knows really, with an insightful and eloquent comment like "no"? Sigh.
I was thinking "cool cover."  Funny that "Cool" seems to be a common thread in the comments.  Cool.
This is awesome.
 derekd wrote:
No.
 
No? 

You mean 'no' it is too short? Is is 'no' to covers? Or 'no' to . . . oh I give up. Why is it some commenters even bother to click the link to make a comment? And for that matter do they think anyone even gives a fuck?

Just wondering.

:) 
Crazy sex music....very nice.
I don't like this.  But I kind of like this.  Can't decide.
I really love this cover! It's amazing how well the artist has added to this song. I actually just bought this album on Amazon, thanks RP!

No.
 zipper wrote:
way cooler than the original.
 
{#Beat}

Yes, it is cool...but the original is The Kind


way cooler than the original.

this is so right. . .

LOVE IT!  Heard a country/bluegrass version of this last month, and LOVED IT!  (Come on, you know you do, too!  You already know all the words!)

The concept of "outside it's America" seems to transcend language and musical genre.

... and today Bill follows it with a U2 tune.  Oh baby, do it to my ears ...

WTF?
Eeew.
This is just wrong.
This one has grown on me. {#Guitarist}
I prefer their cover of U2's "I Will Follow"

I guess by the posts below it's been getting a lot of play, but I've been gone, so I'm digging it a lot. 8
 peter_james_bond wrote:
I used to wonder why this song was getting played so often on RP and then Bill disclosed his love of oddball covers...now it makes sense. Years ago I used to listen to a late night weekend radio program on the CBC called Nightlines. The Host would play some great and some really crazy stuff. That's where I first heard Dread Zeppelin. I don't know if they are still around but Dread Zeppelin used to play Led Zeppelin covers in a Reggae style with an Elvis impersonator as the singer. I know it sounds bizarre and it was but it also worked pretty well. Bill you should check them out.
 
Immigrant Song in the RP Library.

again

SUPERB!
I used to wonder why this song was getting played so often on RP and then Bill disclosed his love of oddball covers...now it makes sense. Years ago I used to listen to a late night weekend radio program on the CBC called Nightlines. The Host would play some great and some really crazy stuff. That's where I first heard Dread Zeppelin. I don't know if they are still around but Dread Zeppelin used to play Led Zeppelin covers in a Reggae style with an Elvis impersonator as the singer. I know it sounds bizarre and it was but it also worked pretty well. Bill you should check them out.
AGAIN???{#Frustrated}
 VicEdee wrote:
you play this MUCH TOO MUCH...............!   ( for what it is - a novelty )
 
Gets worse and worse for me with each listen...and frankly, my rating of it started out bad.
So if we had a number line, we'd be in the negatives with this.

 ryuujin23 wrote:
This is a pretty cool cover. What kills me about Bono, Oprah and their (red) products concept is that for relatively intelligent people they really have no idea how to help the African people. Curing diseases is a grand cause and all, but it won't help them get out of their cycle of poverty. The oppressive governments need to be squashed and replaced with a government that is focused on helping the people. The people need education. The countries need better infrastructure. But who really wants to support that when we can consume (red) iPods, (red) Converse sneakers, (red) Dell laptops and (red) Gap t-shirts. Nevermind that only a portion of the money gained from (red) sales actually goes to the charities. Afterall the companies participating in (red) still need their profits (and I'm not talking about Bono or Oprah).
 
To be fair, the issue is massively complex of which poor governance is just one part. For instance, many countries have debts to pay off and as conditions of debt, farmers have to produce cash crops for export rather than producing food for local folk. Added to that, those same folk are flooded with produce from massively subsidised farms in the US and Europe, undercutting their local farms, making the governments dependent on imports, forcing farms to produce for export, making it necessary to buy all the fertilisers, pesticides etc, generating debt, which then must be paid, which means more farming for export and around and around it goes. 

I get Bono's and the Red folk's point: if your society is losing significant percentages of its 20-40-year-olds, you've got no chance. The Cold War scramble during the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s with attendant civil wars also didn't help, as the global scramble for multinational resources (Coltan in DR Congo for instance) is also threatening. 

And, a lot of 'leader replacement' helped get much of the continent to where it is in the first place. Mobuto Sesse Seko (pardon my spelling) and Idi Amin are among those blessed by the UK/USA.

Not saying they're doing enough, considering their fabulous wealth, but I reckon (Red)'s not a bad idea in principle (don't know of any audits and how much help's reaching the ground). Poor governance is a big problem for a great swathe of Africa, but it really is just one of many. 
Artist: good,.but there are better songs than right this one...

 ryuujin23 wrote:
This is a pretty cool cover. What kills me about Bono, Oprah and their (red) products concept is that for relatively intelligent people they really have no idea how to help the African people. Curing diseases is a grand cause and all, but it won't help them get out of their cycle of poverty. The oppressive governments need to be squashed and replaced with a government that is focused on helping the people. The people need education. The countries need better infrastructure. But who really wants to support that when we can consume (red) iPods, (red) Converse sneakers, (red) Dell laptops and (red) Gap t-shirts. Nevermind that only a portion of the money gained from (red) sales actually goes to the charities. Afterall the companies participating in (red) still need their profits (and I'm not talking about Bono or Oprah).
 
Indeed... But the reality is that nobody is willing and/or able\ to go into these countries and do what needs to be done.
Thus the cycle repeats itself...

you play this MUCH TOO MUCH...............!   ( for what it is - a novelty )
Sounds like drunken babbling. Yes, I'm smart enough to realize he's not singing in English. It just sounds like drunken babbling to me.
I love African music and Farka Toure, but this cover is pretty lame.
 ryuujin23 wrote:
This is a pretty cool cover. What kills me about Bono, Oprah and their (red) products concept is that for relatively intelligent people they really have no idea how to help the African people. Curing diseases is a grand cause and all, but it won't help them get out of their cycle of poverty. The oppressive governments need to be squashed and replaced with a government that is focused on helping the people. The people need education. The countries need better infrastructure. But who really wants to support that when we can consume (red) iPods, (red) Converse sneakers, (red) Dell laptops and (red) Gap t-shirts. Nevermind that only a portion of the money gained from (red) sales actually goes to the charities. Afterall the companies participating in (red) still need their profits (and I'm not talking about Bono or Oprah).
 

The nasty reality is that there isn't an incentive for anyone to squash those gov'ts.  The countries that have oil pretty much already let the oil companies inside.

At some point in the future, someone will get tired of China and their high wages. The best way to undercut the Chinese is to get a stable region in Africa and pay the locals 1/10 of what the Chinese factory workers make.  That might be worth squashing a gov't for.

I'm not saying I personally approve of any of this. I'm just injecting a little reality into the conversation.  What's the return on investment for some organization(s) with the amounts of cash necessary to make the change or even a dent?


getting really sick of this song - OVERPLAYED on RP......!
Brilliant!! Kind of clears the cultural cobwebs from my brain.

 jfichtenkort wrote:
Nice guitar work.  And the whole song has a nice vibe.  Thanks.
 
The guitar is wild, but what grabbed me was the Chicago-style harp playing in this context, ala Leonard Chess in Africa.

uh...no.
 DELTA__9__FOOLS wrote:
I can't stand U2, however this cover is fantastic.  I'm a huge fan of both Farka Toures. 
 

I'm a huge fan of Farka Toures and I can't stand U2.  For me this cover is kinda dull, too.  Bono, however, deserves all kudos for his efforts to fight disease and hunger in Africa. 

big Jimi Hendrix influence here on the guitar solos. sounds a bit like FZ as well


ryuujin23 wrote:
...The oppressive governments need to be squashed....
 
Look, think, read, learn...
This is a pretty cool cover. What kills me about Bono, Oprah and their (red) products concept is that for relatively intelligent people they really have no idea how to help the African people. Curing diseases is a grand cause and all, but it won't help them get out of their cycle of poverty. The oppressive governments need to be squashed and replaced with a government that is focused on helping the people. The people need education. The countries need better infrastructure. But who really wants to support that when we can consume (red) iPods, (red) Converse sneakers, (red) Dell laptops and (red) Gap t-shirts. Nevermind that only a portion of the money gained from (red) sales actually goes to the charities. Afterall the companies participating in (red) still need their profits (and I'm not talking about Bono or Oprah).
"Africa celebrates U2"? Surely that's the tail wagging the dog, even given St Bonio's enormous ego.
This song is fucking awesome.  What a testament to U2.
HarrO wrote:
Better than the original.



Emptyquotin'
Did he say "a-tuna-bunga"?
{#Bounce}{#Bananasplit}{#Bounce}
Better than the original.

 Excelsior wrote:
This really, really sucks.
 
once again, said with an authenticity developed thru decades of non stop practice
{#Cowboy}


I agree, very nice vibe on this one, and I'm a big, big fan of the original version.

{#Clap}
Nice guitar work.  And the whole song has a nice vibe.  Thanks.
I can't stand U2, however this cover is fantastic.  I'm a huge fan of both Farka Toures. 
This is certainly not my favorite song, but it's my favorite kind of cover. You can easily tell what song it is, but it's totally different from the original. I do like the song though, it's very chill.
NO!
I'm not really a fan of this cover...I much prefer the POD cover which brings a harder edge to the song.
{#Curtain} yes, indeed - music much enjoyed.

 Hannio wrote:


I was just thinking that last part, there.
 


Do you play any other song with him? I have heard this one twice this week!
The production smells Peter Gabriel-ish.

Not that its a bad thing.
 rotis47 wrote:
Alpine wrote:

All recordings, original masters, sheet music, the instruments used to create this, the writer, musicians, singers, anything and everything associated with this piece of shit should be put on the fastest rocket ship and sent on a one way trip into the sun so we never have to hear this garbage again.

Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
 

I was just thinking that last part, there.
 calypsus_1 wrote:

the power that is to be original    -   7.

note: the trend or option of the choice solely of these two artists, Vieux Farka Toure & Angelique Kidjo, beyond restrictive is not representative of all the largeness and value of all the enclosed work in this CD/LP.


 
what does that mean in english?!

 Otomi wrote:
 Krispian wrote:
MILES better than the original.

 Yep.
 

I really like this.
 Krispian wrote:
MILES better than the original.

 Yep.
Nice match with the Sam Bush. 
Still an interesting piece. Made me look.
WTF?!?
I totally dig the cover of this song. {#Dancingbanana_2}{#Drummer}{#Bananajam}
 byronwalker wrote:


P.O.D.

Southtown album
 

Thanks man.  Bill - Please play the POD version - if someone could load it up.

the power that is to be original    -   7.

note: the trend or option of the choice solely of these two artists, Vieux Farka Toure & Angelique Kidjo, beyond restrictive is not representative of all the largeness and value of all the enclosed work in this CD/LP.


I like eclectic.... but not garbled.
I likeitaLOT
Wow - cool cover of a powerful song!
MILES better than the original.

The most interesting cover of anything I've heard in a dozen years. Thanks, Bill...this is why I parked here...{#Cheesygrin}




charliesdad wrote:
free music, no commercials, all is right with my world- Play away Bill
All of you just remember its the crappy songs that make the good songs good.

If we didnt have crappy songs- even good songs would then, by nature- eventually end up crappy.

Fortunately, a click on the Playlist tab, above, quickly settles the score on which songs around here are deemed crappy (hint:  purple) (second hint:  Dengue Fever).

I like the take on this . . . somber, thoughtful . . . understanding that the topic of that song is not only for Central America, but also for anyplace that suffers violence.