U2 Vertigo- mistake?

[georgit79]

On U2's new single 'Vertigo', on the intro Bono shouts, 'Un, dos, tres, catorce!'. Is this just a really bad, classic mistake, or is there some hidden irony there which is lost on me?

[mikey172]

It is just 1,2,3,4 in a foreign language

[georgit79]

No it's not, or I wouldn't have said anything. I speak Spanish, and the reason I posted the question is because what he's actually saying is: 1, 2, 3, 14. Bit of a mistake!

[Alej]

well if its said how you have written it then theres 2 mistakes because its 'uno'

[Greedyfly]

Its a bad song

[yeti69]

alej, you better get some manners and a crash course in spanish if you're gonna try to correct a spanish speaker. georgit, it hink it's a deliberate mistake. and greedyfly, i agree with you. this is as lousy of a song as it gets. in between the mediocrity demonstrated in the last album and this "spanish 101" single with crappy backgorund music, we have lost U2 forever. they should either retire or change names.

[DJ Tenacity]

Gotta agree that Alej needs to chill. But I think thats a very good question. In fact, the reason I found this forum is because, during the commercial, I was like "Catorce? Isn't that fourteen?" So I went to google and typed "U2 Vertigo Catorce" Just to see if there was any information to why they said that, and here I am. lol. Well I don't have an answer to it, but another search result that came up said something about 1:14, 2:14, and 3:14 being the bible verses that focus on U2's morals through the years. "Money, God, Money" They said they didn't know if it was right, but it was a wild claim they'd heard. Could be true.

[Jezzie]

The counting at the beginning of this song drives me CRAZY.  If you listen closely, he is actually saying, "unos, dos, tres, catorce."  "Unos" in Spanish means "some."  So he is actually saying "Some, two, three, fourteen."  If anyone has a theory as to whether or not there is some covert meaning to this, i would love to hear it.  Otherwise, it is a really, almost embarrasing mistake.

[georgit79]

You are completely right, Jezzie. Some, two, three, fourteen?! It's crazy. How can someone not have checked, and told them what a bad mistake they were making? Also, I'd have thought Bono would be able to count from 1 to 10 in Spanish!

[ebolstad]

Obviously no real U2 fans on this thread...  It's just Bono being Bono.  He knows "Unos" means "some" and he knows "catorce" means "14".  Why does he do it that way?  There's no hidden meaning - he's just screwing around, having a great time with his mates as they launch into a destroyer of a song that opens an album that is going to prove truly phenomenal.  If you don't like it, try again.  If you still don't like it, grow up and try again, 'cause you're acting like the same morons who panned Actung Baby 'cause it wasn't like The Joshua Tree.  U2 is set to do what they've never truly done before (they've merely dabbled): they're ready to play some serious, hard-driving rock and roll.  If you can't handle it, just get out of the way; 'cause ready or not, here they come: "Unos, dos, tres, catorce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Jezzie]

Well, you said that there musn't be any true U2 fans on this site, and it is obvious that you count yourself among those who are not true fans.  When did you start listening to U2?  How can you say "U2 is set to do what they've never truly done before (they've merely dabbled): they're ready to play some serious, hard-driving rock and roll."  Have you ever heard their early music?  If that wasn't real rock, i just don't know what is.  Since you have obviously never heard their early albums, let me offer you a couple of the popular early songs you may have heard--Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day.  I'd list more, but it seems you mustn't know them.

Regardless, the song Vertigo doesn't sound like he is trying to do any hardcore "rocking out."  It sounds more like a cross between rock, and pop-dance music.  I'm not saying it's bad, i'm just saying that it's not "serious, hard-driving rock and roll."

Furthermore, i never said anything negative about Achtung Baby.  I thought it was fantastic.  No, it wasn't the same as the Joshua Tree, which was also great, but who wants every album by a group to sound exactly the same.  It's called change and progress, which is terrific.

BUT THE COUNTING STILL SUCKS !!

[ebolstad]

Jezzie:

Didn't mean to insult you, and you make some good points.  Actually, I'm 35 and I've bought every single U2 record the day it came out.  As I acknowledged, they've "dabbled" in rock and roll, but never fully embraced it.  The early stuff you refer to is more pop/punk (although, neither of the two songs you refer to fall into either category, but are, rather, quintessentially U2).  "Achtung Baby," in my opinion, is as close as they've come to actual rock, but, as a whole, it still doesn't really qualify.  Also, don't make your decision about "...Bomb" being pop-oriented based only on "Vertigo".  Insiders (including the band) are calling the guitar-driven album a "rock album."  They're also saying it's their best album ever.  Imagine that!  I'm hoping they're right.  Even if they're not, it's going to be good.  Cheers... 

[Jezzie]

Ebolstad:

Sorry if my response was a little harsh.  I hope you're right and the new album rocks!  I certainly won't judge the whole album based upon the couting in "Vertigo."  I love U2 and i can't wait to hear the whole thing.

[TheFaerie]

Okay this is a little out of place after all the discussion, but I think that "catorce" is deliberately used because it's like, 1,2,3 -14! It's meant to be like shooting right up to fourteen and giving a sense of vertigo.

[Jezzie]

TheFairie:

Interesting thought.  That might be in line with their reasoning, although it still doesn't explain the "unos," which as i mentioned earlier, actually means some.  I'm now thinking that the miscounting is definitely intentional.  Some, two, three, fourteen--sort of to give the sense of disorientation that accompanies vertigo.  Similar to what you said.

[mydogwalks]

Something to ponder: Spanish speakers aside, most folks can't count beyond 10 in Spanish.

[georgit79]

ebolstad- no, I'm not a U2 fan. And I think this song is rubbish. And why is speaking Spanish wrongly joking around?

PS: I don't think he's joking anyway, as in the video he holds his fingers up as he shouts the words...and he hasn't got fourteen fingers.

PPS: Bono has done a brilliant job for peace and has visited loads of countries. He should be able to count to ten in Spanish.

[Epete]

Hi, I'm spanish and "uno dos tres catorce" means 1,2,3,14. As I know, 1,2,3,14 means the number of albums that Lillywhite has been involved with U2: at first, second, third and fourteenth. Several U2 fangroups are discussing if we've to count "Best of" and "Wide Awake in America". In any case and in my oppinion, it's not a mistake so we've to know the real meaning. Cheers!

[lececi]

mistake or not i think it should be explained. the area in which i live in is full of spanish speakers including people in my family and they are all extremely perplexed when they hear the song or see the commercial. if it has to do with "Vertigo" then say so, if not then apologize for the mistake and quit offending/confusing people. it's easy to find someone who can count up to at least 5 in spanish.

[StarfisH<3U2]

They are grown ups!!!!! Of course they know that it is uno does tres quatro!! They must have had a reason to write that. A hidden message or something, we all have that, but if it bothers you so much that they say it then don't listen to them!

[rachellynn]

One question everybody:  How many albums have U2 released counting "Under a Blood Red Sky", "Wide Awake in America", and the "Best Of"s?

14!

"One, two, three, fourteen" is no mistake!!!