How Come People Hate on U2?

Newch91

I would like to know that. Personally, they're top 5 for my all time favorite bands but a lot of people complain about them. Love or hate 'em, they've made some of the best rock music in the last 30 years with Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, War, The Unforgettable Fire, All That You Can't Leave Behind. Sure Bono talks about Africa and AIDS a lot during the shows and nothing wrong about that (for me, that is), but he wants people to be aware of what's going on there and to take action. Do we complain when Ed will talk about something political or something that has to do with the environment? We support what Ed says.

This question was inspired by an Ultimate Guitar article where the headline was "U2: Biggest Touring Act in US in 2009" and I was reading the comments and I couldn't believe a lot of the U2 haters on there.

Do any of YOU like them or hate them? And can someone give me a good answer to the subject title? Either way, it won't change how I much I love U2 just like how much I love The Beatles and Pearl Jam.

Evacuation Rules

I've always found them to be tremendously boring. There's really not much more to it than that. It has nothing to do with their politics or their style changes or their pretentions. They just bore the shit out of me. I feel the same way about the Grateful Dead. I know that's an unpopular opinion round these parts, but hey....

Newch91

Evacuation Rules wrote:

I've always found them to be tremendously boring. There's really not much more to it than that. It has nothing to do with their politics or their style changes or their pretentions. They just bore the shit out of me. I feel the same way about the Grateful Dead. I know that's an unpopular opinion round these parts, but hey....

Grateful Dead bore me too, but that's not what this thread is about. I respect your opinion on U2.

marcos

I think U2 lost alot of fans because they may have lost touch with they're fans because of the ticket prices possibly. I guess they spend alot on pyrotechnics and video screens but they really don't need that stuff. I respect they have been around awhile and want to put they're prices on par with the Stones and such and maybe Bono's voice isn't quite what it was, but I still like his voice, and think the guys play well, and that they don't need to rely on that stuff. I just like the guys simply playing but am not interested in all the other stuff.

AnarionKing

I've never taken an interest in them or sat down and listened to a lot of their music, but what I've heard (the hits) is in my opinion boring, simple, appeal-to-the-masses-stuff.

Wilds

I like U2. Just thought this was a funny pic.

keeponrockin

I find their live show to be over the top. If they announced a 'back to basics' tour with a blank stage, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

gabers

I just don't get how anyone can say they hate U2. Okay, if you're bored with them that's one thing, but there are a lot of folks around here who claim they hate them. That's like hating The Beatles or Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. The word just doesn't fit these bands if you're any kind of fan of rock music. I have been disappointed in them a lot since the mid 90's, but their new album was one of their best, and Achtung Baby was the best album to come out in 1991. Yeah, I said it. Their catalog rivals any bands', in my opinion.

mookeywrench

AnarionKing wrote:

I've never taken an interest in them or sat down and listened to a lot of their music, but what I've heard (the hits) is in my opinion boring, simple, appeal-to-the-masses-stuff.

sounds about right to me when I think of U2. Sounds good the first time, but after repeat listens its nothing I would listen to voluntarily.

g under p

marcos wrote:

I think U2 lost alot of fans because they may have lost touch with they're fans because of the ticket prices possibly. I guess they spend alot on pyrotechnics and video screens but they really don't need that stuff. I respect they have been around awhile and want to put they're prices on par with the Stones and such and maybe Bono's voice isn't quite what it was, but I still like his voice, and think the guys play well, and that they don't need to rely on that stuff. I just like the guys simply playing but am not interested in all the other stuff.

I first saw U2 in Boston on the Boy Tour who played in Boston a club what seemed like the size of my living room. Bono was over the top then as he is now, nothing much has changed except they're filthy rich. I saw them in subsequent tours till Zooropa. War and Unforgettable Fire being the best no stage props, no videos just music and energy that caught my eye back on the Boy Tour.

To bring in a new age of fans they've done so and done so very well with tremendous amounts of stage props and effects. Along the way many bandwagoners have jumped on because they're hot, sell records and have endless amounts of money to spend on a spectacle like last years 360 World Tour. Interesting idea but was never really needed, I was there and i have to say my favorite moment was the countdown at the start of the show to David Bowie's Space Oddity. I've always loved that song, if they lost the effects they may lose the new jump aboard fans but the oldies like me may just come back strong, just in waiting.

Peace

aneutronbomb

yeah i dont get it, u2 is awesome!!

auchtung has been in my top ten all-time albums since i first heard it!!

and joshua tree and zooropa are also some of my very favorite records from the 80s and 90s respectively, rattle and hum was one of my first beloved rock movies that i owned

all of it is fantstic far as im concerned

kenny olav

I have a love/hate relationship with U2. They were my favorite band before Pearl Jam, but they get overexposed with each new album, and eventually Pride (In the Name of Love) doesn't make you feel the same way anymore, if you feel anything, and then Bono's ego annoys the fuck out of you, and then they start to put out really shitty songs like Elevation, but then when you least expect it, you hear Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses on the radio, and it's magic again.

facepollution

They have some great songs, but I think their music had been overshadowed by all the political grandstanding over the last ten years or so. Put bluntly I think they're a bunch of hypocrites when they keep banging on about global warming issues, yet continue to use private planes and put on massive shows that require literally hundreds of trucks to move the stages around. It's been a long time since U2 were just about the music. I hope they get back to it some day, because I think they're capable of great things.

Johnny Abruzzo

I don't hate U2 - I'm kind of a fan actually. But their hype machine can really put me off. It took me 6 months to go get that Atomic Bomb album, because I was already sick of all the songs from Apple commercials. Turns out it was a pretty good album, except for Vertigo. So, as others have said, sometimes all the extra crap just gets in the way of the music, which is pretty damn good.

I do think the new album is pretty weak. Seems like they are way past their prime at this point.

helplessdancer

i seriously have a problem with anyone who hates anything in general.

especially when it comes to music.

btw...i'm a u2 fan

RiotAct10

I personally have really not been very interested in their music since Pop. Which I think is ironic, because they are way more poppy now. I think that album is pretty underrated, and I dont think its been mentioned in this post, which would support that some, but I think its a pretty solid rock album.

pandora

Its those stupid glasses Bono wears. Personally I like to see eyes, they tell all, so I feel if someone is hiding them they are hiding themselves or are they just too cool? Very glad PJ doesn't do that

JL19851

I don't hate U2, I don't love them...but here are 3 things that really gnaw at me with them:

1) the God complex

2) 30 years in, and they are still recycling the same old riff they've been using from the beginning and peddling it out as new music, then see #1

3) The Edge is easily the most overrated guitarist of all time, bar none (see #1 and #2)

g under p

g under p wrote:

marcos wrote:

I think U2 lost alot of fans because they may have lost touch with they're fans because of the ticket prices possibly. I guess they spend alot on pyrotechnics and video screens but they really don't need that stuff. I respect they have been around awhile and want to put they're prices on par with the Stones and such and maybe Bono's voice isn't quite what it was, but I still like his voice, and think the guys play well, and that they don't need to rely on that stuff. I just like the guys simply playing but am not interested in all the other stuff.

I first saw U2 in Boston on the Boy Tour who played in Boston a club what seemed like the size of my living room. Bono was over the top then as he is now, nothing much has changed except they're filthy rich. I saw them in subsequent tours till Zooropa. War and Unforgettable Fire being the best no stage props, no videos just music and energy that caught my eye back on the Boy Tour.

To bring in a new age of fans they've done so and done so very well with tremendous amounts of stage props and effects. Along the way many bandwagoners have jumped on because they're hot, sell records and have endless amounts of money to spend on a spectacle like last years 360 World Tour. Interesting idea but was never really needed, I was there and i have to say my favorite moment was the countdown at the start of the show to David Bowie's Space Oddity. I've always loved that song, if they lost the effects they may lose the new jump aboard fans but the oldies like me may just come back strong, just in waiting.

Peace

Oh I forgot to mention HATE is a very stong word to use for any band.


Peace

PearlOfAGirl

I don't Hate U2!!!

g under p

pandora wrote:

Its those stupid glasses Bono wears. Personally I like to see eyes, they tell all, so I feel if someone is hiding them they are hiding themselves or are they just too cool? Very glad PJ doesn't do that

You are aware Bono has an medical eye problem with glare/light and has to hide behind those glasses.

Behind Bono's Sunglasses I'm sure if Eddie Vedder or any other member of PJ had the same eye problem they would be wearing them too. None of us here would have a problem with them wearing sunglasses to protect their precious eyesight.

peace