Originally posted by LikeASong:Bridges are quite often my favorite parts of songs I love this thread.
Agree with @beerok, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses has probably the most inspired bridge of any U2 song, and it's also a double bridge: first the "the deeper I spin" which is in A minor key (bringing the listener to a very dark place, following the lyrics), which then goes into the incredible C major, F major, D major shift ("Hallelujah, heaven's...") that takes us to the post-bridge-pre-chorus part ("don't turn around"). From a musical and lyrical point of view it's just magic, masterful.
One could argue for/against the "you took me by the hand" part in Iris being the bridge, but if it is, it's definitely up there as one of the greatest bridges they've done.
I have a soft spot for A Man And A Woman's bridge ("brown-eyed girl across the street").
And last but not least... The Unforgettable Fire. Again, since it's such a strange song with no recognisable verse-chorus pattern it's debatable what's the bridge and what isn't, but for me it's that part between "c'mon take me home, home again" (02:32) and "and if the mountain should crumble" (03:23), the part where usually Bono would say "with the Edge orchestra!". If that section doesn't move you, you better check your vitals.
Originally posted by miryclay:[image]
I love this bridge!
Originally posted by bpt3:[..]
Absolutely for The Unforgettable Fire. I wasn't sure if the part you mentioned was actually a "bridge" either so that's why I left it off my list. But I'm with you.
Also would include A Sort Of Homecoming, then ("no spoken words, just a scream").
Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
Yeah it's hard to tell. For me the bridge is usually the part of the song which is either in a different key to the verse&chorus, and/or it's radically different in instrumentation, rhythm or meaning/feeling than the verse&chorus. I know the TUF "bridge" technically doesn't qualify in any of those categories because it stays in Dm key, the rhythm doesn't change and there are no lyrics, so it could be argued it's more of a "solo" section rather than a bridge But to me it's always felt as the bridge before the "lift" of the "if the mountain should crumble") part.
I forgot to mention SYCMIOYO's bridge ("I know that we don't talk / can you hear me when I sing"), which is masterful and takes an already great song to a higher level.
Originally posted by bonoschild:TTTYAATW🍷 for shits and giggles, add in middle eights to the conversation..gotta respect No Line live, one of my favorites