5 Ways U2 Has Influenced Modern Worship Music
Where Rock and Religion Meet
“To move people with music, you first have to be moved by it.” -Bono, Surrender
My husband and I recently saw U2 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Though I aspire to be a writer who describes my experiences eloquently, I am left speechless at the absolute tidal wave of art and beauty portrayed that night.
Even though I tend to have a reserved personality, I still recklessly cheered and cried the moment I heard the guitar intro for Where the Streets Have No Name. My normally passive 40-year-old exterior was betrayed by the screaming teenager inside, and I loved every second of it.
You can read more about my experience here:
Having been immersed in worship ministry for most of my life, and having been a fan of U2 for that same amount of time, I’m confident that my fellow worship leaders would agree with me when I tell you that we see this band’s fingerprints all over modern Christian music today.
To be clear, I am not saying that worship music sounds like U2, or vice versa. What I am saying is that U2’s influence has leaked into the contemporary worship genre in several key ways.
1. Songwriting
One reason for U2’s popularity is their ability to appeal to a wide audience. Their career has spanned over four decades and dominated the rock, pop rock, post-punk, and alternative genres throughout those years.
One of the main tenets of congregational worship is wide appeal. For a worship song to be successful, it has to resonate with a diverse variety of people from multiple walks of life.
While many vitally important aspects of honest worship must be present in order to usher in the presence of God (humility, honesty, worshiping in spirit and truth, to name a few), it can all fall flat if the song is not good.
Hints of U2’s magnetic arena rock anthems can be heard in almost every contemporary worship album today.
2. Melody
Lead singer, Bono, and guitar player, The Edge, are the primary songwriters for U2. Their vocal melodies absolutely, unequivocally soar. Memorable and easy to sing, those songs are in your head whether you want them there or not.
In a similar vein, Bono’s singing is accessible. His pure and emotive approach is organically inviting to sing along with.
One of the primary things a good worship leader will be looking for when they introduce a new song is the congregation’s response (or lack thereof).
When melodies are catchy, singable, and have lyrics that resonate with the listener, they will elicit a response that can create a unified and powerful moment in the room. Apply that to a congregation that is united in adoration for Jesus, and you’ll move mountains.
3. Guitar
U2 fan or not, most cannot deny The Edge’s magical guitar fingers. Similar to their vocal melodies, his guitar leads are impactful enough that they stay with you, but not so complex that they feel unattainable to aspirant guitar players.
His signature use of dotted 8th delay has forever infiltrated worship music and probably isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
Blues artist B.B. King once said,
“Notes are expensive, spend them wisely.”
The Edge spends his notes with flawless restraint so that every string plucked, perfectly plucks the heartstrings of the listener.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a guitar player soundcheck with a U2 song during worship rehearsals.
The Edge’s guitar parts have ridden a line between iconic and attainable that most guitar players want to emulate. This most likely includes the person who will play electric guitar at your church this Sunday.
4. Rhythm
“All musical instruments are useful for love and exhortation. Only one is essential for war: the drums.” -Bono, Surrender
Drums and bass play different roles in music depending on the genre. For U2, that rhythm section holds everything together. Rarely flashy, they lay a foundation that the rest of the song can securely stand on.
The genius of bass player, Adam Clayton, and drummer, Larry Mullen Jr, is how intentionally they use their instruments. No one is mindlessly bashing cymbals or attempting attention-grabbing bass solos. They are thoughtful and methodical about their parts and arrangements, with minimal pieces to the drum kit, and bass lines that ground every track. They serve the song over serving themselves.
Since worship music tends to center around lyrics and melody, you’ll often find a similar philosophy of musicianship.
5. Technology
You won’t see many shows more immersive than what U2 has been putting out for decades. Their high-production concerts feature, not only music, but extensive lighting, tech, huge screens, and now they are enjoying a residency at the most technologically advanced concert venue in the world, The Sphere.
As the worship genre progresses, we’re seeing more advanced lighting rigs, hazers, and innovative digital backgrounds for projected lyrics.
While the church is unlikely to reach U2's production levels, we once again see the influence here. People with a talent for production and technology are being given more opportunities to serve in church and worship settings than ever before.
I’d like to take a moment to address a common criticism I hear when it comes to technology in worship:
“This is not worship, it’s a concert! Why do we need all these lights and fog machines?! It’s not worshipful!” -Grumpy Church Goer
My instant response is always this: where will tech and production engineers use their gifts to serve Jesus if not in church? I’ve seen, from my point of view on stage during worship, lighting rig operators lifting one hand in worship and using the other to cue lights. I’ve had sound people breathe prayers into the in-ear monitors of the worship team right before the music starts and then crank the living daylights out of those concert-like subs, vibrating the chest of everyone in the room.
I understand that a concert-like setting is not for everyone, but I do wish that those who don’t enjoy it would not use it as grounds for judgment, deeming it somehow less worshipful than something more stripped down.
Worship is worship. If you’re using your talent to honor God, whatever that may be, go for it.
Rant over.
As a musician and music-lover, I appreciate how worship music has been steadily growing in quality with the passage of time. Artists like Phil Wickham, Maverick City Music, and Steffany Gretzinger have breathed musicality, energy, and creativity into the worship genre while remaining accessible to those who want to sing along.
Let’s continue in that direction.
U2 started as a few church kids in Dublin, in the 1970's. Bono has been quite vocal about his faith in Jesus. It’s easy to see how their anthems would sound sacred.
Thanks to bands like U2, I learned how impactful music can be.
During my own experiences as a worship leader, I’ve seen the room change right before my eyes, where music was the tool that ushered in God’s praise.
Music is powerful. Let’s harness it for the glory of God.
Thanks for reading!
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