Miss Sarajevo

U2's 'Miss Sarajevo' is a song that intertwines the beauty of everyday life with the harsh realities of conflict. The lyrics pose a series of rhetorical questions that reflect on the appropriateness of normal activities during times of strife. The song was inspired by the real Miss Sarajevo beauty pageant that took place during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, serving as a form of protest and a statement of resilience by the citizens trapped in the war-torn city.

The contrast between the mundane acts of applying makeup or shopping and the gravity of a city under siege is stark. The song suggests that even in the darkest times, there is a human desire to experience normalcy and beauty. The refrain 'Here she comes' followed by 'Heads turn around' and 'To take her crown' symbolizes the defiance of the pageant participants against the backdrop of war, asserting their dignity and humanity.

The Italian verse, sung by Luciano Pavarotti, adds a layer of depth to the song, translating to a message about the inevitability of love and its power to transcend boundaries. The verse 'E non so più pregare' (And I no longer know how to pray) and 'E nell'amore non so più sperare' (And in love, I no longer know how to hope) convey a sense of despair, yet the recurring theme of love as a river that inevitably reaches the sea suggests a lingering hope for peace and unity.