U2's Inspiration

Everytime you hear one of U2's songs, you can be assured that there is deeper meaning behind the lyrics. Here are a few reasons U2 was inspired to creat "Miss Sarajevo."

http://http://www.muorji.se/U2MoL/Passengers/sarajevo.html

Art vs Violence

During a time of such turmoil a beauty pageant was held, and U2 uses this for a song of protest. Even today, fifteen years after the siege, the music video is still circulating. Is "Miss Sarajevo" and its video still around now, because its a healing agent? Or is it acting mainly as a deterrent towards possible future acts of extreme violence?

Bill Carter:

- Born in 1966

- Writer and director.

- Directed Miss. Sarajevo

Miss Sarajevo:

- Carter came to Sarajevo and filmed war from inside the city.

- Witnessed how the people there would not give in to the Serb nationalists.

- Stayed there and gave medicine and other aid.

- From the footage that was taken in the city, Carter put it all together into a documentary about all of the destruction and how horrible the war was. It also showed how the people presivered through it all and continued to try and live a civilized life.

- The documentary was named after a fasion show that took place during the besiege. It showed the blind people of the world of the realness of Sarajevo.

U2:

- When in Sarajevo, Bill Carter realized the importance that rock music had on the people.

- Contacted the band U2 and they were willing to come to play a concert.

- Was too dangerous so they set up satellite linkups so that the people could share their story with the outside world.

Why make this video?

There are three different events happening in this video:
1. The Beauty contest discribed in the song
2. the original performance from the "Pavarotti and Friends" concert
3. a tour through the streets of war-torn Sarajevo, under gunfire from the nearby troops


"The idea was simple, instead of doing what the news does, which is entertain you, I wanted to do something that the news rarely does, make a person care about the issue...I wanted young people in Europe to see the people in the war, I didn't want them to see politicians or religious leaders or military spokesmen."—Bill Carter

think about it:

• how many times a week do you watch the news?
• if you wanted to to get something out there how would you do it?

• Bill wanted to grab peoples attention, give them an insight on how the people of sarajevo are felling, what they were going through.
• you would feel larger sence of apathy towards the situation if you could see what was happening rather than read it in the news paper. for example you don't realize how bad something can be until you experience it through reality or live it through someone elses eyes.
• Bill wanted the people of sarajevo(who had been cut off for about a year in a half) to have a voice.

Lyrics

Is there a time for keeping your distanceA time to turn your eyes awayIs there a time for keeping your head downFor getting on with your day

Is there a time for kohl and lipstickA time for curling hairIs there a time for high street shoppingTo find the right dress to wear

Here she comesHeads turn aroundHere she comesTo take her crown

Is there a time to run for coverA time for kiss and tellIs there a time for different coloursDifferent names you find it hard to spell

Is there a time for first communionA time for East SeventeenIs there a time to turn to MeccaIs there time to be a beauty queen

Here she comesBeauty plays the clownHere she comesSurreal in her crown

Dici che il fiumeTrova la via al mareE come il fiumeGiungerai a meOltre i confiniE le terre assetateDici che come il fiumeCome il fiume...L'amore giungeràL'amore...E non so più pregareE nell'amore non so più sperareE quell'amore non so più aspettare

Translation of the above]You say that the riverfinds the way to the seaand like the riveryou will come to mebeyond the bordersand the dry landsYou say that like a riverlike a river...the love will comethe love...And i don't know how to pray anymoreand in love i don't know how to hope anymoreand for that love i don't know how to wait anymore
End of Translation] Is there a time for tying ribbonsA time for Christmas treesIs there a time for laying tablesAnd the night is set to freezeO lijepa, o draga, o slatka slobodo,[dar u kom sva blaga višnji nam bog je do...]