by Mary J. Blige: U2’s Number One Fan
When it comes to musical influences, Mary J. Blige wears her heart on her sleeve. Throughout her legendary career, the Queen of Hip Hop Soul has named countless artists who have shaped her sound and songwriting. But there is one band that Blige has consistently cited as her greatest inspiration and her all-time favorite: U2.
“They are the only band that I can always listen to,” Blige told Rolling Stone in 2017. For three decades now, U2’s music has had a profound impact on Blige. She admires their willingness to experiment, their exceptional songwriting, and their ability to tackle big questions about life and humanity through their lyrics. Simply put, Blige loves U2 and she’s not afraid to shout it from the rooftops.
Blige first discovered U2 as a teenager in the late 1980s. She was instantly drawn to their unique sound and the power of Bono’s voice. Like millions of others, she was swept up by hits like “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” But she also connected with the band’s more political and spiritual lyrics, finding solace in songs like “Pride (In the Name of Love).”
As Blige began developing her own signature soulful and confessional songwriting style in the early 90s, she continued looking to U2 for inspiration. She has said that examining Bono’s lyrics helped show her the depths that pop music could reach. On her breakout album What’s the 411?, Blige actually recruited U2’s Adam Clayton to play bass on several tracks, hoping to infuse the recordings with some of the band’s unique energy.
Over the years, Blige hasn’t been shy about expressing her U2 fandom. She frequently discusses how their music has impacted her artistry in interviews. When she sat down with MTV in 2006, Blige stated that “Bono is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation.” She went on to explain that his lyrics tackle the most important topics in life in poetic and profound ways. It was obvious that studying U2’s songwriting helped shape Blige’s own mastery of writing vulnerable, hard-hitting songs.
Blige also admires what U2 has been able to accomplish outside of music. Their activism and philanthropic work have shown Blige the power that artists can have as agents of change. She praises their efforts to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa as much as she does their iconic albums.
In 2017, Blige finally got the chance to collaborate directly with U2 when she was invited to join them on stage during their Joshua Tree Tour. Blige duetted with Bono on the 1987 hit “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” blending her smooth R&B vocals with Bono’s soaring rock register. After the performance, Blige could barely contain her excitement, grinning ear to ear and hugging the bandmates. It was a full circle moment to sing with musicians who motivated her from the very beginning.
Now over 30 years into her career, Blige still names U2 as her favorite band and biggest inspiration. She continues to praise their musical fearlessness and unique songwriting genius. In our current era of fleeting trends and short-lived pop stars, U2 has demonstrated to Blige that great artistry can endure. Their music has become a constant for her, which is why U2 remains Blige’s number one band after all these years. Clearly this Queen’s reign has been uplifted by the work of these four Irish kings.
