Like last week's snowstorm, U2's weeklong media deluge in Manhattan has now melted into YouTube memory. To promote its latest CD release, No Line on the Horizon, the Irish band took over the airwaves, performing late night and early morning to prove its relevancy to a depressed and anxious America. Always the ambassadors of hope, Bono and the gang softened the global rhetoric, becoming almost the carefree kids who formed the Dublin band in the midseventies.

U2 was featured for an unprecedented five consecutive nights on the Late Show with David Letterman (March 2-6). They performed on the same stage where the Beatles were launched forty-five years before, and they were certainly self-conscious about the weight of this history. Bono referenced Ed Sullivan after the first night's performance of "Breathe." In their final performance on Friday night, they ended the rousing Dylan-meets-Elvis Costello "Get On Your Boots" with an impromptu "She Loves You," an homage to the Beatles epochal debut on February 9. 1964. On Thursday night they acknowledged another one of their influences, the Ramones, the band that transformed music in the seventies like the Beatles did a decade before.  In the bridge of "Beautiful Day" they summoned up their muses for present duty: "See the world in red, white, and blue/See down to Joey Ramone Avenue/The Big Apple on Letterman/Think the Beatles on Ed Sullivan." Bono closed his now signature song with "Rock 'n' Roll High School," segueing into "I Remember You." Bono ended quoting Joey Ramone, perhaps a secret message to a shaken America, "things don't last forever."

In a more playful mood, Bono also recognized the Irish band that preceded U2 to the top of the American charts, Dexy's Midnight Runners, the epitome of one hit wonders. He interpolated a bit of "Come On Eileen" into their live debut of "I'll Go Crazy, If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight."  No discussions of debt relief or war between nations that Wednesday night, just "the right to be ridiculous."

U2 showed off their mastery of comic timing in a series of Late Show sketches. The Edge delivered the ultimate diss as he deviated from a Top Ten script.  Instead of the punch line "Uncool Name: the Itch," the Edge improvised "Uncool Name: Sting," generating immediate applause from mates and audience alike.  In another skit, the band provided live Muzak as on-hold service for Letterman callers. singing a nifty a cappella version of "Guantanamera." But the routine that has been viewed the most, even more than any of the songs, was U2 hard at work, shoveling snow. Drummer Larry Mullen displayed pure comic attitude.

U2 closed out the week with a live Friday performance on Good Morning America at Fordham University. Classes were cancelled by Fordham, dubbed by Newsweek as "the hottest Catholic school," so that students could fill up the historic quad of the Bronx campus for the cameras. Throughout their performance and interview, U2 remained very self-conscious of their age. As The Edge put it:  "it's great to be here ... amongst our peers," clarifying he means not exactly the same age, but same age group. There were no historical references this time during "I'll Go Crazy"; Bono simply stated the song was about "Friday nights at Fordham." Yes, U2 was campaigning for musical votes, telling each audience what they wanted to hear. Fragmentation in today's media means that you have to adjust your message for each new outlet. The days of sending in a video for mass consumption are long over; you win the battle one demographic at a time. But the television audience that U2 cobbled together for the week was less than one night of American Idol in prime time. At the height of his fame, Bono is left to ponder: "How do you puncture pop consciousness with a tune anymore?"