Grant Koropatnick

Bono is very inspiring. In many ways, he is like any middle class person growing up in the 70s. However, he has taken life’s experiences and interpreted them with uncommon wisdom. He speaks many ancient truths and principles in the pages of Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. His experiences with music, art, and activism are shared with personal details and insights. I admire anyone who has overcome the perils of this world and themself, and has the courage to tell others with such candor and vulnerability. The man is a rock star, but I get the sense he is grounded in principles that transcend stardom and history. “Sex, drugs and rock and roll” didn’t destroy him. On the contrary, as he said in his book “it saved [his] life.” The evidence is obvious. He has learned to love himself, his band mates, wife, family and community. He has turned his celebrity into “currency” and is spending it on projects bringing relief to human suffering throughout the world. Way to go Bono! You inspire me. I believe Bono is a modern day Jesus. He uses allegories and personal stories to share thoughts, ideas and concepts that everyone can follow. There is much to be learned from this man’s story. Will people be carrying his book around and quoting him 2,000 years from now? I don’t think so, but you never know. Maybe. Thanks Bono – love to all.

I’ve listened to this four disc set several times. It provided a mystical atmosphere while painting in my studio this winter. I can relate to the aging process; being almost the same age as Bono and the Edge. Their maturity as artists comes through after forty plus years of writing and performing. The re-worked lyrics, acoustic guitar, cello, piano and mature vocals captivated me. I really like how these two older dudes are not living in the past, but have matured and changed with time. U2’s hit songs were always great, but the new versions of these songs have a mature, reflective quality that the early versions do not have. The title Songs of Surrender, implies a confession by Bono and the Edge that after fighting for many years, they are accepting the reality of this world, and their own place in it. I admire these guys for not succumbing to the perils of rock ‘n roll stardom as so many have done. Instead, they have managed (dare I say struggled) to overcome the world and self, and display the courage to tell their stories to others. They show a lot of candor and vulnerability by presenting new interpretations of their music. I give it five stars. Thanks Bono and Edge – way to go! Love to all.