"The Joshua Tree" by U2

Ranking: #27

Original Release Date: 9 March 1987

Genre: Rock

"The Joshua Tree" is the fifth studio album released by U2. That seems to be a pattern so far with the albums on this list - it always seems to be the artist or band's fifth album that leads them to greatness. Their album prior to this one had a more experimental sound, but the band wanted to release something grittier that paid homage to their Irish roots while being influenced by American rock music at the time. The band - and Bono in particular - had a fascination with the "real" America and wanted the album to evoke the idea of America's vast landscape. The imagery for the album sleeve were artistic photographs of the American desert. Hence the title, "The Joshua Tree," a species of Yucca plant that only grows in California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. Having grown up in Arizona (with period visits to California), I'm quite familiar with the sight of Joshua Trees. They have a certain spiritual meaning to us desert-dwellers - they represent beauty and strength that grows out of dysfunction. People are always surprised by how much grows in the desert, how much natural beauty there is. There are plants and animals you can only see in the American Southwest, though, and I think that's one of the things that makes it special. And there's something spiritual in that special-ness - the kind of power that attracts rock bands from Ireland.

"The Joshua Tree" was release in 1987, a year I'm already quite familiar with since it's the year I was born (insert joke about it being a pretty good year here). During March 1987, one of my favorite musicals - "Les Miserables" - opened on Broadway to rave reviews. It was the "Hamilton" of its day, quite literally. John Gotti, a gangster from the Gambino crime family, was acquitted of criminal charges (including racketeering) - the first time. The FDA approved the sale of the AIDS drug, AZT. Not a month later, Freddie Mercury - Legend and Ascended Master - would be diagnosed with AIDS. The first National Coming Out Day - a now yearly celebration for the LGBT community - was organized in Washington D.C. during October, in conjunction with a National March for Gay Rights. During Wrestlemania III, Hulk Hogan won against Andre the Giant, successfully defending the heavyweight title. Later in 1987, Andre the Giant would also appear in the beloved film, "The Princess Bride." And the most popular names for newborns would be Jessica and Matthew. Yes, there were a lot of Jessicas born in 1987. And I've met approximately 50% of them - we seem to attract and then orbit each other. Like star clusters. As far as years in America go, 1987 actually was a pretty good year and March was a fairly decent month in general.

See the stone set in your eyes

See the thorn twist in your side

I'll wait for you

Sleight of hand and twist of fate

On a bed of nails she makes me wait

And I wait, without you

Moving on to the astrology of 9 March 1987, it should be noted that the Sun was in Pisces and that's all you really need to know. This album is all about the feels, drowning in the feels, as it includes multiple iconic love ballads. In fact, this album has multiple influential water placements, including the Moon in Cancer (the sign of her rulership) and Pluto in Scorpio (the sign of his rulership). Mercury in Pisces lends a sort of dreaminess to the sound of this album, but with Jupiter in Aries, there's a powerful expansiveness in the rhythms and riffs of the songs, too. The desire and calling for independence and freedom - a theme for this album, as identified by the band - is also a strong hallmark of Jupiter in Aries, which is further enhanced by North Node in Aries. Again, we have another album with Mercury on the Midheaven (in Pisces), which seems to be a beneficial placement for music. The energy of this album is conflicting - the Trine aspect (the most harmonious) and the Square aspect (the most challenging) appear an equal number of times. Venus is also in Aquarius, a placement indicative of detached emotions and a distancing in relationships. The theme is also very prevalent in the lyrics of the aforementioned love ballads. In "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," the singer has done everything to gain the love of his person but there's still dissatisfaction. And in "With or Without You" - well, now is a good time to transition into our featured song from "The Joshua Tree."

I chose "With or Without You," not only because it's one of my favorite songs (I had planned to write about it in December but ran out of time) but it's also one of the most iconic love songs of the late 20th Century. In fact, when people hear it, I can bet it conjures to mind one couple in particular - Ross and Rachel of "Friends." For those who aren't familiar (Shame on You!), Ross and Rachel are the sitcom equivalent of star-crossed lovers. They are soulmates or, as Phoebe so eloquently put it, Ross is Rachel's lobster (because lobsters mate for life - just another thing I learned from TV!). Let's face it, their relationship is frustrating, because it's so obvious they belong with each other, even to them. But the writers always find some way to put a wrench in their plans. Throughout the course of the show, they get together multiple times and break up multiple times, but still remain friends. They also seem to decide they want to be with each other at the most inconvenient times - like right before Ross gets married to his second wife (he says Rachel's name instead of Emily's when reciting his vows). Or right after Ross leaves for China. There's a lot of unrequited (but not really unrequited, because they both feel it, they're just not saying it) energy. Ross had a crush on Rachel since high school but she didn't see him - probably because he was a dork and that's not the type of guy the Rachel Greens of the world are supposed to want. "With or Without You" became Ross & Rachel's anthem when it was played during two critical episodes of the show, when their relationship is under the most strain.

Through the storm we reach the shore

You give it all but I want more

And I'm waiting for you

With or without you

With or without you

I can't live

With or without you

Bono wrote "With or Without You" because he wanted to hear a love song that dealt with "real issues." He's said that it's about a tortuous relationship that one can't (or doesn't want to) escape. He has also said that it can represent any relationship where you love someone but can't be with them for some reason (such as distance or addictions or past hurts), which was relevant to his life. At the time he was writing it, his lifestyle as a musician kept him apart from his wife for much of the time. He was having conflicted feelings about it - on one hand, he wanted to be the responsible protector; on the other, he wanted to live the wild, exciting life of a rockstar. He eventually came to an understanding that this tension between his desires is what made him an artist and he found a balance. He learned how to integrate the shadow with the light. There have been many runs where I've pondered the deeper meaning of the lyrics, particularly the words "You give yourself away." I've come to interpret it as he sees the person he's singing to giving too much of themselves, to everyone, but especially to him. I base this assumption on a previous lyric - "You give it all but I want more." And it makes me wonder - he seems to be aware that he's taking a lot but what is he giving back? Is he able to "give it all" in return? And if he's not, is it really fair for him to want more? Deep questions, indeed. Not surprisingly, like me, Bono's Moon is in Scorpio. Additionally, the cusp of his 7th House is in Cancer. There's a lot of possessive instincts, but with his Venus and Sun in Taurus, he expects it to be one way. He needs his freedom but it scares him to give it to someone else. I have a feeling Bono would be fun to psychoanalyze - there's clearly a lot going on in that head of his.

"With or Without You" Video