Red Light
by U2

Album: War (1983)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is about the red light districts U2 saw while on tour in cities like Amsterdam. It was a strong contrast to their conservative Ireland.
  • This song features female backup vocals by The Coconuts and trumpet by Kenny Fradley, who stopped in Dublin while touring with Kid Creole. U2 never performed it live.
  • During the recording session, the band had the studio lit red for effect.

Comments: 2

  • Sammy from New York, NyI agree, I really enjoy this song, and "Surrender" even more. War is a great U2 album.
  • Brian from Meriden, CtVenturing into cities like Amsterdam must have given the boys from Dublin some inspiration to write and compose ever more lush, sensual music as heard in Red Light, Surrender and Two Hearts Beat as One. A relatively radical departure from their stark expressions of inner strength, spirituality and those of boyhood emotions as exhibited on their two previous albums. The trumpet was an interesting touch.
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