“The Blackout” is imminent!

Original Story by Don Morgan (2017-08-29)

Despite continued indications that “You’re the Best Thing About Me” will be the first song from Songs of Experience released to radio in early September, tomorrow U2.com will premiere a video for a different song from the album, “The Blackout.” The clip is set to premiere through the band’s Facebook at 12noon EST.

U2 announced the premiere with this post on its Facebook page:

‘The Blackout’, just for you. From upcoming album Songs of Experience. Tune in August 30th. First single, ‘You’re The Best Thing About Me’ coming Sept. 6th, along with all the album news. #U2TheBlackout #U2SongsofExperience “In the darkness where we learn to see”

A small clip of the video is also available through the band’s Instagram and Twitter accounts:


The video was filmed in a small club on the grounds of Westerpark in Amsterdam, called Westerunie, on July 28. A small number of fans was selected by U2.Com to appear in the video, and each fan selected had the opportunity to bring one guest. It is estimated that 200 people in total were present at the video shoot. Prior to the shoot, the invitees were assembled in another building on the Westerpark grounds called the Gashouder.

The footage was likely shot by director Richie Smyth. He was spotted on the grounds of the Westerpark on July 28, and even retweeted an image of himself and the Edge arriving at the venue on the night of the filming.


Smyth has worked with U2 before, of course, directing videos for “The Fly“ (with Jon Klein), “Even Better Than the Real Thing (Dance Remix),” and a little-seen video of “Until the End of the World“ during the Achtung Baby period. He also directed the “Last Night On Earth“ video from Pop (with John Bland) and the “HQ Video” version of “Vertigo“ from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

Wirtz Film & Experience, a Dutch production company, had tweeted several images from the July 28 video shoot, including one of Bono where he appears to be wearing all black (with the exception of his purple sunglasses). Other images from the session show The Edge dressed in black and grey. Participants at the shoot were also requested to wear nothing but black and grey.

“The Blackout” was teased in letters sent out in time for the full solar eclipse. Those letters were sent out to U2.com subscribers in the path of the eclipse.

On August 28, emails were sent to U2.Com subscribers who had participated in the film shoot in Amsterdam. The emails included a photo of the crowd with the question, “Remember the Gashouder?” The email also included the hashtags #U2TheBlackout, #U2SongsofExperience, and #Experience.

The lyrics of the song heard in the small clip released on Twitter and Instagram appear to be:

When the lights go out.
Throw yourself about.
In the darkness where you learn to see.

When the lights go out.
Don’t you ever doubt.
The light that we can really be.

With tomorrow’s release of “The Blackout” video and the radio premiere of “You’re the Best Thing About Me” expected within the next few days, the promotional campaign for Songs of Experience is clearly switching into high gear. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates!

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