***Official U2 Appreciation Thread***

Johnny Abruzzo

Happy for everyone who saw it. Just didn't work out. One of my all-time fave albums. :(  Maybe they'll go back and do it again.

I'll have to be consoled by the 2 Vegas Pearl Jam shows in GA. 

Poncier

Johnny Abruzzo said:

Happy for everyone who saw it. Just didn't work out. One of my all-time fave albums. :(  Maybe they'll go back and do it again.

Word is they have a standing offer from Dolan for more shows anytime they want.
Probably would only happen if Larry can't get back to work in studio for a long time and the others decide to do another run rather than sit idle.

Celticskemba8

Zod said:

It's been a month and week since I saw a show at the Sphere. I still can't shake it.   I've been listening to so much U2 since then. The concert seems to have had an insanely big impact on me.

Same! All time experience!

2-feign-reluctance

Holy Joe makes its Spotify debut, finally! Can't wait to hear what else they have for the new b-sides collection! 

nicknyr15

2-feign-reluctance said:

Holy Joe makes its Spotify debut, finally! Can't wait to hear what else they have for the new b-sides collection! 

I can’t stand that song hahah. And Miami. Two of my least favorite u2 songs by far. I do love POP though. 

2-feign-reluctance

nicknyr15 said:

2-feign-reluctance said:

Holy Joe makes its Spotify debut, finally! Can't wait to hear what else they have for the new b-sides collection! 

I can’t stand that song hahah. And Miami. Two of my least favorite u2 songs by far. I do love POP though. 

LOL! POP is incredible even with Miami on it! 

bootlegger10

Pop is awesome.  Love it.

brianlux

Question for those with a good familiarity with U2 music:  Why is there so much hate for this band?  

Yes they have a huge fan base, so obviously a lot of support, but so do the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and Pink Floyd, among others, and those bands don't get nearly that hate U2 does (maybe second only to Green Day, but that's another thread, perhaps).

Honestly, I don't get it.  I mean, I get that some people don't like the band.  I'm not a Pink Floyd fan but I certainly don't hate them!  

I think some of it is perception.  People talk about Bono's big ego or The Edge not being a big gunslinger guitarist (Larry and Adam seem to take the least amount of heat).

But are not those perspectives often really triggered by a lot of click bait, hearsay, and narrow perspective?  Yeah, Bono has an ego.  So?  He also has a generous soul, is unabashedly self-critical-- enough so that if Bono haters really cared to understand the man better, they would see that is obviously true.  If one were to read Bono's memoir, Surrender, they would see everything I'm saying is plainly evident, right there.

And what about The Edge?  Wait... so to be considered a great guitarist, one has to play long, aggressive, loud solos full of bravado and macho posturing?  Not that there aren't some fine gunslinger guitarists out there, but I dare say, damn fewer than are given credit.  How many Edge haters have ever taken time to look at his playing from another angle to understand that as much as he a guitarist, he is equally a sound architect who creates sonic landscapes using a guitar.  I don't see how that isn't evident unless someone has only listened to a few of the band's over-broadcast radio friendly hits (you know how that goes--  "Hotel California", any one?  "Alive", for that matter?), and is viewing from a very narrow perspective.

And what about this:  Why would people of the caliber of Brian Eno, Dan Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite spend as much time and creative output with U2 as they have (and don't tell us "they do it for the money", because that's not what motivates those people).

OK, I know all this sounds like a rant.  Maybe it is, lol.  But there it is. 

What's your perspective (hopefully something thought out rather than knee jerk)?

nicknyr15

brianlux said:

Question for those with a good familiarity with U2 music:  Why is there so much hate for this band?  

Yes they have a huge fan base, so obviously a lot of support, but so do the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and Pink Floyd, among others, and those bands don't get nearly that hate U2 does (maybe second only to Green Day, but that's another thread, perhaps).

Honestly, I don't get it.  I mean, I get that some people don't like the band.  I'm not a Pink Floyd fan but I certainly don't hate them!  

I think some of it is perception.  People talk about Bono's big ego or The Edge not being a big gunslinger guitarist (Larry and Adam seem to take the least amount of heat).

But are not those perspectives often really triggered by a lot of click bait, hearsay, and narrow perspective?  Yeah, Bono has an ego.  So?  He also has a generous soul, is unabashedly self-critical-- enough so that if Bono haters really cared to understand the man better, they would see that is obviously true.  If one were to read Bono's memoir, Surrender, they would see everything I'm saying is plainly evident, right there.

And what about The Edge?  Wait... so to be considered a great guitarist, one has to play long, aggressive, loud solos full of bravado and macho posturing?  Not that there aren't some fine gunslinger guitarists out there, but I dare say, damn fewer than are given credit.  How many Edge haters have ever taken time to look at his playing from another angle to understand that as much as he a guitarist, he is equally a sound architect who creates sonic landscapes using a guitar.  I don't see how that isn't evident unless someone has only listened to a few of the band's over-broadcast radio friendly hits (you know how that goes--  "Hotel California", any one?  "Alive", for that matter?), and is viewing from a very narrow perspective.

And what about this:  Why would people of the caliber of Brian Eno, Dan Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite spend as much time and creative output with U2 as they have (and don't tell us "they do it for the money", because that's not what motivates those people).

OK, I know all this sounds like a rant.  Maybe it is, lol.  But there it is. 

What's your perspective (hopefully something thought out rather than knee jerk)?

I’m a tremendous u2 fan. Right up there with PJ for me. I have nothing to add. People just love to hate certain bands and u2 just happens to be one of them. I have no logical answer. 

HughFreakingDillon

I think it’s a combination of Bono’s image of being an insufferable egomaniac trying to wedge his way into global politics by rubbing elbows with world leaders, the single “cher-like” moniker (even though Bono is just shortened from Bono Vox, which is latin for “good voice” and was the name of a hearing aid store in dublin, a nickname given to him, not chosen), the characters he portrays, their willingness to experiment, but some interpret it as trying to remain relevant or shifting with the trends. They’ve never shied away from celebrity (Ed actually sought out Bono’s counsel over pints early on about how he deals with it so well). When any band embraces the idea of being the best, there is going to be detractors who think they are doing it for the wrong reasons. 

When you go on massive tours with huge stages and props, the “it’s no longer about the music” criticisms are inevitable. 

And their songwriting and production is often criticized as being derivative of their own originality, recycling the formula, as it were. 

I’m sure Bono has a healthy ego at this point, but I honestly believe his heart’s in the right place. 

Poncier

HughFreakingDillon said:

I think it’s a combination of Bono’s image of being an insufferable egomaniac trying to wedge his way into global politics by rubbing elbows with world leaders, the single “cher-like” moniker (even though Bono is just shortened from Bono Vox, which is latin for “good voice” and was the name of a hearing aid store in dublin, a nickname given to him, not chosen), the characters he portrays, their willingness to experiment, but some interpret it as trying to remain relevant or shifting with the trends. They’ve never shied away from celebrity (Ed actually sought out Bono’s counsel over pints early on about how he deals with it so well). When any band embraces the idea of being the best, there is going to be detractors who think they are doing it for the wrong reasons. 

When you go on massive tours with huge stages and props, the “it’s no longer about the music” criticisms are inevitable. 

And their songwriting and production is often criticized as being derivative of their own originality, recycling the formula, as it were. 

I’m sure Bono has a healthy ego at this point, but I honestly believe his heart’s in the right place. 

This sums up most of it pretty well. Add in the iTunes debacle with the release of Songs of Innocence, which turned off a lot of folks due to the automatic download (Apple's fault, not U2's but nobody hates Tim Apple because of it).
I'm always flummoxed by those who hate Bono for trying to make the world a better place with his support for battling hunger and AIDS and poverty around the world. The shut up and sing crowd. If you want to criticize him for buying a plane ticket for his hat when he forgot it, that's fair. Trying to help the marginalized people of the planet? If you hate him for that it says a lot about you as a person.
If any of these folks saw his solo Songs of Surrender show (or read the book) and witnessed his self-deprecating humor, they might change their outlook a bit.

HughFreakingDillon

I never understood that “automatic download” rage people had. They acted like their rights were infringed. Like it was My iPod My Choice. Why care? 

I was like “free music? HELL YA”. Didn’t care for it? Delete it. Pretty simple. 

And when you say it was iTunes “fault”, was it a mistake? Like the download was supposed to be an option, not automatic? 

Johnny Abruzzo

I love U2 and I've seen them twice, and still listen to their stuff all the time. But yeah I've been pretty turned off by some of their insidious marketing. Like, they were trying to drown out all the other music out there. I think I was like a year later listening to the atomic bomb album - I was so annoyed by all the Apple commercials.

josevolution

I don’t give two 💩s about who or why folks hate the band or Bono! I happen to believe that they are the best band going right now I’ve seen them since way back in 81, when have you anyone been to one of their shows and said the sound wasn’t that good or they mailed it in? Every single time I’ve seen them I’ve been thoroughly impressed. 

nicknyr15

josevolution said:

I don’t give two 💩s about who or why folks hate the band or Bono! I happen to believe that they are the best band going right now I’ve seen them since way back in 81, when have you anyone been to one of their shows and said the sound wasn’t that good or they mailed it in? Every single time I’ve seen them I’ve been thoroughly impressed. 

Seen them over 20 times and couldn’t agree more 🙏🏽

Of The Aggie

Absolutely love U2. i had actually fell out of favor with the band when Zooropa came out and I actually rediscovered them with the free album on iTunes, which I really liked. I went back and got all their more recent stuff. I still haven't seen them live but I hope to someday.

HughFreakingDillon

anyone in the fan club? I joined last summer as the fan club item was BOTH of these books. Got volume 1 last fall. Second one still stays "in progress" in my account. I hope it ships soon. 

Poncier

HughFreakingDillon said:

anyone in the fan club? I joined last summer as the fan club item was BOTH of these books. Got volume 1 last fall. Second one still stays "in progress" in my account. I hope it ships soon. 

Yeah, I've been in the fan club going back to the old Propaganda magazine.
They are brutally behind with their annual "gifts". I selected lyrics volume 2 when I renewed OVER A YEAR ADO. Still haven't received it.
This year they sent out the initial renewal notice with 2 choices, volume 1. volume 2 or both. All the diehards already had both (well had ordered volume 2). Finally, they added a renewal option for "special gift to be announced". Apparently, the person who used to be in charge of Pearl Jam's Christmas?random holiday 8 months later single got a job at U2.com once PJ discontinued the fan club singles.

brianlux

Nice to see some love for U2 here!

I'm slowly savoring Bono's memoir and have to say, it's turning out to me one of my favorite music memoirs.  Great stories, and the man is not hesitant in the least to admit to his flaws.  Recommended big time!

rahjiim

brianlux said:

Nice to see some love for U2 here!

I'm slowly savoring Bono's memoir and have to say, it's turning out to me one of my favorite music memoirs.  Great stories, and the man is not hesitant in the least to admit to his flaws.  Recommended big time!

I agree, l have to listen on audible again. I love the way he reads it, not only the Irish accent. Ed should do something like this, but he probably never will.