There’s a long list of U2 songs that largely go unnoticed by casual fans that are truly remarkable in their own right. One of the favorite underrated tracks is “The Ground Beneath Her Feet”. Used only on the UK version of All the Things You Can’t Leave Behind, “The Ground Beneath Her Feet” is a refreshingly simple love song. The Edge’s direct acoustic strumming captures your attention right away even before Bono breaks into the lyrics. You can expect something special right away from the melody. The fact that this song didn’t make the US version of the album is a testament to the level of songwriting the band was at during the All the Things sessions.

From the chord pattern to the lyrics, the song’s beauty is in its simplicity. The song almost sounds lke it could of been a Police hit in the 80’s with its almost reggae styled melody. The song still has Bono’s heart over head lyrical sensibilities with lines like “Black is white, and cold is heat/For what I worshipped stole my love away/It was the ground beneath her feet”. Check out their acoustic performance of the track here.

Time to catch up on all U2-related happenings of the last week or so. Just because Bono is recovering from back surgery doesn’t mean the rock star isn’t staying busy. Bono and his private-equity company Elevation Partners uped their stake in social media giant Facebook to $210 million. The successful businessmen is hoping this investment will prove much more lucrative then the company’s wretched investment in mobile phone manufactor Palm Inc.

The Edge has made use of his newly found free time by rocking out at Glastonbury with emerging rock superstars Muse. Edge joined Matthew Bellamy and company on stage for a rendition of “Where the Streets Have No Names”. U2 was suppose to headline the 40th edition of the UK festival, but Bono’s injury prevented their appearance.

 U2 ranked as #7 on Forbers World’s Most Powerful Celebrities list, making $130 million in the last year. The band had the 11th largest web rank of all celebrities. The year off touring should knock the boys off the list next year, but could see a return to the top after Bono’s recovery.

Turn Off the Dark, the Spiderman musical Bono and the Edge have written songs for looks to be finally getting it’s act together. The production cost already is rumored to be around $50 million dollar for the Broadway show that features Spidey swinging from NYC buildings while belting out rock ‘n roll. Reeve Carney will play the role of Peter Parker has been lauded for his big voice and charisma by Bono and The Edge. While Bono is trying to recover from his emergency back surgery, the show goes on and a October preview date is scheduled. Finiancial difficulties, cast member departures, and production set backs has delayed the mega-musical for some time. The show will play at the Hilton Theater on 42nd Street in New York City. Live Nation chairman Michael Cohl could perhaps be Spiderman’s Broadway savior providing much needed funding into the show at Bono’s request. Theater fans will keep their eye on the preparations for Shut Out the Dark in the coming months.

Reports look promising for record producer Daniel Lanois after his serious motorcycle accident last weekend. The Canadian musician helped U2 produce The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, All That You Can’t Leave Behind, How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and No Line on the Horizon. Reports are coming out that Lanois is expected to moved out of intesive care, but it will take a number of months of rehabilitation to recover. Lanois was forced to cancel his scheduled dates with most recent project Black Dub Collective. The 58-year-old Canadian has worked with other artists like Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, and Sinead O’Connor. We wish Daniel and his family all the best in his recovery.

U2’s highly underrated track “Tryin to Throw Your Arms Around the World” isn’t a bad title for the band’s mission statement over the last three decades. The Daniel Lanois/Brian Eno produced track off of the magnificent 1991 album, Achtung Baby, has both a seductive and ambitious tone. The lyrics point to struggle between one’s balance of accomplishing one’s grand dreams and loving your partner. The song’s lesson on the surface is that one cannot be so consumed with one’s own might deeds, and ignore the one who they love they most. Bono almost is almost pleading for a woman to give him one more chance as he sings the chorus of “I’m gonna run to you…woman be still”. The enigmatic often brings a woman from the audience up on stage whenever they play “Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World”. I’d love to hear a Bono and Edge rock out a acoustic version of this song. Maybe some day!

After requiring emergency back surgery last week, Bono is expected to return full health. U2’s massive U2 260 Tour of North America had to be called off for 2010, as the rock star will need to undergo a involved rehabilitation process. With more than one million tickets already sold for the tour, the dates are expected to be rescheduled for the summer of 2011. In 2009, the 360′ Tour raked in $311 million dollars, and was expected to break the Rolling Stones all-time tour gross of $558 million. Their concert DVD U2360: Live at the Rose Bowl will be released early on in June, so fans we’ll be able to at least be able to watch U2 that way. Gorillaz will replace U2 as the headlining act at the UK festival Glastonbury.   

Bono was in the capital city of the United State to meet with President Barrack Obama. Besides showing the President a dance move or two, Bono and Obama spoke about the U2 front man’s recent trip to Africa. Bono was also able to conduct an interview with Obama for the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail about the upcoming G8 Conference in Canada. They discussed topics ranging from how new technologies can help Africa’s economy grow and the way first world countries can help third world goverments be more just. Obama spoke about his memories from his last trip to Africa, remembering his visit to Ghana right as the country had held a successful election. It is rumored that Obama may make an appearance at the World Cup this summer in South Africa. In other notes, U2 get back to the 360 Tour in 14 days playing their first show of the spring in Salt Lake City, UT on June 3rd.

Bono and former US President Bill Clinton attended the 35th American Ireland Annual Fund to help raise money for musical education for children in Ireland. Like U2’s front man. Clinton has long been a supporter of the arts in his time in public service. Growing up playing the saxophone, Clinton wasn’t able to further his musical education because his family didn’t have the money. During his time in office, Bill Clinton was very active in the Ireland-Northern Ireland peace process, and continues to be involved in Irish affairs. One of the biggest contributors to Bono’s desire to make music himself was when his family sold their piano when he was young. U2 has donated 7 million dollars to the cause alone. Who knows? The money going towards musical education could foster Ireland’s next U2 someday.

Ireland might of got cheated out of the World Cup by French, but at least their most famous rock band will play some part in the festivities this summer. ESPN will be using various tracks recorded by U2 and the Soweto Gospel Choir together for their World Cup coverage in South Africa. A commercial using “Where the Streets Have No Names” is currently airing depicting the soccer league that formed at Robben Prison amongst political prisoners during their fight against the Apartheid. Clips from U2’s concert at the Rose Bowl with the Soweto Gospel Choir will be shown between highlights during the coverage during and in the lead up to the World Cup.The American-based sports media giant, ESPN, will be rolling out unprecedented World Cup coverage. The five U2 songs that will be used besides “Where the Streets Have No Names” include “City of Blinding Lights”, “Magnificent”, “Out of Control”, and “Desire”.

Did you miss out on seeing U2 this past summer? Well, in June you will have the chance to purchase their DVD, U2 360′: At The Rose Bowl, and see witness the band’s biggest show of all time in the United States. Filmed entirely in HD, the concert film is one of the best U2 has ever made. You will feel like you’re actually in the crowd with 27 different camera angles and 97,000 screaming U2 fans. The band plays songs from their most recent release, No Line on the Horizon, as well as hits from their previous 11 albums. There is also a Blue Ray version and a double disc version to be released that includes a documentary on how the concert was put together featuring interviews with the band. The double disc version includes a bonus track from the performance and a few music videos and other performances. At The Rose Bowl is a must have for any die-hard U2 fan.