Sound off

On our minds and on our playlists

(stan honda/afp/getty images)

Hey, remember that time you were listening to U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" and you started to seriously consider what it would be like to "tear down the walls" that hold you inside?

Well, you're not alone. Next year you'll have a chance to rack your brain for enlightenment with "U2: The Hype and the Feedback," the first-ever academic conference devoted to the Irish band's music and legacy.

Hosted by Cedarville University, the conference is scheduled for May 13-15 at the New York Marriott Marquis, with veteran rock scribe Anthony DeCurtis delivering the keynote address.

It makes sense that U2 would be the subject of such intense scrutiny. "For more than 30 years, U2 has asked us to look at the world, wrestle with ourselves, and then dream out loud," says the conference's website.

It's fitting, then, that organizers have issued a call for papers and topics for presentations and panels. But you can't just pitch garden-variety fluff like "Bono's Global Impact on Sales of Tinted Sunglasses." Suggested areas of exploration include music and cultural engagement, peace efforts and social justice, and the multigenre modern rock star.

Registration to attend the conference opens tomorrow at www.U2conference.com. Nov. 10 is the deadline to submit proposals for papers, panels, and presentations. E-mail proposals@ U2conference.com.

Do let us know if you find out where the streets have no name. JAMES REED