U2 will release their first song in over four years on the soundtrack to the forthcoming movie 'Mandela:
Long Walk to Freedom'.
In the meantime, frontman Bono and his bandmates – the Edge, Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton – have recorded the original song 'Ordinary Love' for the highly anticipated feature film, based on the life of former South African president Nelson Mandela, due to be released on November 29.
U2 have been staunch supporters of Mandela and according to Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of film studio The Weinstein Company, the superstars were quick to get on board.
"Over the years, U2 and I have had a superb relationship, including partnering on the Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning song 'The Hands That Built America' for Martin Scorsese's 'Gangs of New York'. When I asked them to consider writing a song for this, it was the fastest 'yes' I have ever received," Weinstein said.
"The band saw various cuts of the film over the summer and worked diligently to write a song that truly reflects Nelson Mandela.
"I think they did a brilliant job honouring the man and the leader they have known for over 20 years," he added. Although the song is instantly recognisable as U2, it is not an indication as to what is to come on the long-awaited album.
"It is very U2, but I wouldn't judge anything on a song that was specifically made for a movie," RTE broadcaster Dave Fanning told the Irish Independent.
The radio DJ established a relationship with the band when they performed on his first live session on 2FM in 1979.
"I've heard bits and pieces over the past few years and I haven't a clue if any of it will actually be on the next album because there was a stage when they were going to release two or three albums," he said.
"It's going to be five years since the last album and a lot has changed – the whole landscape of the industry – but I'll be ready for the madness as ever. Bring on 2014," he said.
'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom', which had its world premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year, sees British actor Idris Elba in the lead role, with fellow British star Naomie Harris playing Winnie Mandela.
