The collaboration between U2 and Martin Garrix continues. «Every time we meet again» says The Edge «it's always a new adventure», which however doesn't shine through in the songs they release. This is the case of Fireflies which came out today and where for the first time the Dutch DJ collaborates with the entire Irish group. The piece is credited to Martin Garrix & U2. In 2021 it was out We Are the Peoplethe European football anthem in which only Bono and The Edge participated.
Fireflies was presented a week ago by Garrix and The Edge at Tomorrowland. The DJ participated in the production of another recent piece by the group, Scarsfrom the EP Easter Lilyas well as having produced You Song Saved My Life by U2 for the soundtrack of Sing 2. Bono is also among the authors of Garrix pieces such as Angels for Each Other, Catherine, Weightless.
«The relationship with Martin has lasted a long time and every time we meet there is always a sense of adventure», says The Edge in a statement, even if this sense of adventure does not emerge from the song which is rather ordinary. «Playing for the first time Fireflies at Tomorrowland, in front of one of the most passionate festival audiences there is, it was an incredible emotion… in fact, perhaps I liked it too much. It reminded me why I love playing outdoors.”
According to Garrix, «Fireflies it has a unique vibe, it's a special piece that we started working on six summers ago. It was thrilling and surreal to finally present her live for the first time at Tomorrowland alongside The Edge. I had already worked with Bono and with him, but collaborating with the whole band allowed me to experience their chemistry and understand why U2 is who it is. They are extraordinary friends and collaborators, it was a great honor to work with them again.”
Fireflies is written by Garrix, Bono, The Edge and Simon Edmund Carmody, already co-author of, among others We Are the People and of Yours Eternallythe piece with Ed Sheeran dedicated to Ukraine taken from the Irish EP Days of Ash. “You and I are fireflies born for summer skies,” Bono sings in the chorus of Fireflies“the light in our eyes, fireflies / Let's forget that the sun will rise / Let's meet in the air tonight.”
A couple of weeks ago U2 released the single Street of Dreamsthe first extract from the album which will be released later this year. It is the first of unreleased works from Songs of Experience of 2017. It came out three years ago Songs of Surrenderbut contained revisitations of old pieces.
