Bono let's his hair being coloured and has had plastic surgery? I don't believe that...
Anyway: I love the Bono of JT, Lovetown and ZOO TV. And also the one from Elevation. I think Vertigo was the most political tour so far and I hope it was the last too. I agree with all those speeches for One and Miracle Drug. Get's boring...If I was in the audience, I'd listen to a U2-song on my MP-3 device until Bono was done.
I hope U2 and Bono will focus on music, the upcoming tour, and not on politics. And I know that what he's been doing is very good, more people should do that...but it just has nothing to do with U2.
But U2 without Bono isn't U2 and vica versa...
It has nothing to do with U2?
Are you people listening to the same band I'm listening to? Politics have been part of their music ever since Live Aid and then The Joshua Tree.
U2's music was always something more than just music.
"There are people who would say that you shouldn't mix music and politics. But I think that's kinda bullshit."
-Adam Clayton
You don't want message in music, music without purpose? Hey, listen to AC/DC then. Or Britney.
Are you people listening to the same band I'm listening to? Politics have been part of their music ever since Live Aid and then The Joshua Tree.
U2's music was always something more than just music.
"There are people who would say that you shouldn't mix music and politics. But I think that's kinda bullshit."
-Adam Clayton
You don't want message in music, music without purpose? Hey, listen to AC/DC then. Or Britney.
You're right on this - but you're missing the point. It's one thing to write and perform political songs, but it's another thing to talk about your political project at a concert in a length that equals two songs.
I pay them a fortune to see them perform, not to hear Bono talk about how to "help" Africa.
they'd be a much cooler band than they are now without Bono's preaching. I had a drunken chat with a guy last night who wants to like U2 but Bono and his speeches hold him back. I had no reply
Most friends of mine who are not U2 fans admire Bono and U2 because of their activism...
Your missing the point!
All the people I know that "like" U2 admire Bono as well. That's because they don't know what U2 was like before Bono became "this kind of monster figure". U2 has always mixed poliitcs with music and thats what makes songs like Please and Sunday Bloody Sunday so beauitful.
People like us, who can't live a day without talking or reading about U2. That know everything about the band including their kids names, wives, blah blah blah. You get my point? Its those people that Bono pisses off. Because we know how good they can be and because of Bono's preaching it holds them back.
And honestly, I'm going to go out on a limb here, but HTDMAAB was decent. Not great. A few great tunes on there, but not an overall great album. Its not like any albums of theirs have ever been amazing but usually the songs come alive live. This was not the case with Bomb. Miracle Drug, SYCMIOYO and Vertigo were the only songs that came to life. And Mercy is a great song and has great potential if only Bono sung it better. It feels like hes putting all the energy he has left into politics and not the music. Its like he is drained when he comes to the studio to sing and has no more of that "x factor" to give. Which to me makes U2 songs. Even Windows and Saints are Coming and Wave of Sorrow. They are decent songs, they just don't remind me of U2. ya know?
You're right on this - but you're missing the point. It's one thing to write and perform political songs, but it's another thing to talk about your political project at a concert in a length that equals two songs.
I pay them a fortune to see them perform, not to hear Bono talk about how to "help" Africa.
Exactly! I know U2 has some very political songs, and rightly so. But U2 is a band, not a political party or somethin'. And like Yeah more or less says, U2 should concentrate on making music, even if it is political, not on political speeches.
I'm okay with Bono's activities, but keep the speeches for meetings with presidents and stuff. I'm okay with it if Bono says something small about politics and world aid, but don't fill up an entire show with it.
Some people will always say things like: "Hey, I want to have a good time, so don't overshadow my day with a preaching about the injustices of the world. Sing a nice touching song about Africa if you want to but don't really expect me to do something but be a little touched - I only want to be entertained." But I don't think U2 really needs fans like these.
I think the message has to be stuffed into people's faces, may they like it or not. It's not about entertainment, it's about reality. People die down there. Don't like that? Well, I don't either. I'm sure Bono doesn't, too. But if you think it's too much, why don't you just take a little trip to the third world yourself and find out what's going on there. If this doesn't turn you into a complete cynic and hedonist it'll probably change your mind. You might even start to preach, too. I've been on the Philippines three times now. I've seen a lot of things there, and life's pretty easy there compared to some African nations. So find out what you can DO. I think everybody in the first world should be a dedicated activist, this would really make a change. So don't blame Bono for being one.
But most people prefer to look away. They might want to be touched for a minute - but they don't want to do anything about it. To change things will cost us. It's easier to switch channels and be entertained. Heaven, I wished the day had come when all this preaching would not be necessary anymore. But things didn't get much better during the last twenty years.
Sorry folks. Just my two cents. I'd still love Bono and what he speaks and does even if he never sang a single note again. Maybe he just got a little tired after all these years. But hey, keep on doing it. Someone has to, and some will always listen and act accordingly.
Sorry if this hurts anybody's feelings. Wasn't meant to. Peace and Love
Some people will always say things like: "Hey, I want to have a good time, so don't overshadow my day with a preaching about the injustices of the world. Sing a nice touching song about Africa if you want to but don't really expect me to do something but be a little touched - I only want to be entertained." But I don't think U2 really needs fans like these.
I think the message has to be stuffed into people's faces, may they like it or not. It's not about entertainment, it's about reality. People die down there. Don't like that? Well, I don't either. I'm sure Bono doesn't, too. But if you think it's too much, why don't you just take a little trip to the third world yourself and find out what's going on there. If this doesn't turn you into a complete cynic and hedonist it'll probably change your mind. You might even start to preach, too. I've been on the Philippines three times now. I've seen a lot of things there, and life's pretty easy there compared to some African nations. So find out what you can DO. I think everybody in the first world should be a dedicated activist, this would really make a change. So don't blame Bono for being one.
But most people prefer to look away. They might want to be touched for a minute - but they don't want to do anything about it. To change things will cost us. It's easier to switch channels and be entertained. Heaven, I wished the day had come when all this preaching would not be necessary anymore. But things didn't get much better during the last twenty years.
Sorry folks. Just my two cents. I'd still love Bono and what he speaks and does even if he never sang a single note again. Maybe he just got a little tired after all these years. But hey, keep on doing it. Someone has to, and some will always listen and act accordingly.
Sorry if this hurts anybody's feelings. Wasn't meant to. Peace and Love
Some people will always say things like: "Hey, I want to have a good time, so don't overshadow my day with a preaching about the injustices of the world. Sing a nice touching song about Africa if you want to but don't really expect me to do something but be a little touched - I only want to be entertained." But I don't think U2 really needs fans like these.
I think the message has to be stuffed into people's faces, may they like it or not. It's not about entertainment, it's about reality. People die down there. Don't like that? Well, I don't either. I'm sure Bono doesn't, too. But if you think it's too much, why don't you just take a little trip to the third world yourself and find out what's going on there. If this doesn't turn you into a complete cynic and hedonist it'll probably change your mind. You might even start to preach, too. I've been on the Philippines three times now. I've seen a lot of things there, and life's pretty easy there compared to some African nations. So find out what you can DO. I think everybody in the first world should be a dedicated activist, this would really make a change. So don't blame Bono for being one.
But most people prefer to look away. They might want to be touched for a minute - but they don't want to do anything about it. To change things will cost us. It's easier to switch channels and be entertained. Heaven, I wished the day had come when all this preaching would not be necessary anymore. But things didn't get much better during the last twenty years.
Sorry folks. Just my two cents. I'd still love Bono and what he speaks and does even if he never sang a single note again. Maybe he just got a little tired after all these years. But hey, keep on doing it. Someone has to, and some will always listen and act accordingly.
Sorry if this hurts anybody's feelings. Wasn't meant to. Peace and Love
Alex
Thank you so much for this post!
Do you remember thing with ZooTv and broadcast from Sarajevo? That was cold shower for band and audience. Even Larry said that faces in audience were like "What the fuck are they doing?" : ))))))) They were just doing the right thing to do.
If U2 gives 2 hour show I don't mind 5 minutes listening about Africa.
Great stuff Alex...as I said before I don't have probs with his activism now (it's just that...before, I thought he is doing it to help his ...celebritiness - which isn't even a word! )
I agree with you, on the things you said...but, I think he could do it in a way to make it look better...I mean when they did Sarajevo in ZooTV, it wasn't the same speech every night, it was live out of control videos from Sarajevo which is a complete different story!!
And yes, it did have bad reactions...I think I read on U2ByU2, larry I think, said that one night, the live footage was of a very upset woman yelling at them saying :"you don't care about us! After this you'll just go back to your concert and forget about us" ... which just broke the show that night!...maybe that's why they are keeping it to under-control speeches!
Do you remember thing with ZooTv and broadcast from Sarajevo? That was cold shower for band and audience. Even Larry said that faces in audience were like "What the fuck are they doing?" : ))))))) They were just doing the right thing to do.
If U2 gives 2 hour show I don't mind 5 minutes listening about Africa.
Me too...I'm okay with Bono's activism. But Edge, Larry and Adam also said that Bono shouldn't exaggerate it. Activism and attention for world aid is a very good thing, I just want U2 to know that they still are a band, not a political organisation or a sort of Greenpeace.
very good discussion. No one is hurting anyones feelings here
My point is that I don't listen to U2 because of whats going on in third world countries. I think its horrible and I donate money toward One and Project Red. I do agree that everyone should do something about it. HOwever, I just don't want to be preached at by U2. If I'm at a show, I want to hear music!!!! Not Bono preaching to me about Africa. There is a time and place for it and a U2 show is def. not that time. If they played songs in the time that Bono spent talking about Africa on Veritgo, they could've fit 2 more songs in the set at least. Which means, maybe just maybe Please would've made a debut. If he wants to sing differnet lyrics about Africa thats ok as well. I just don't want to hear him without a song behind it.
And I think its great that he's doing all these other campaigns outside of U2, but it just seems like hes losing focus of whats important to him and U2's fans. Hes draining himself elsewhere, and not putting himself into the music like he always says he does. If your voice is gonna blow, let it blow because of the music. Not talking to idiots like Bush!
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"Sometimes it comes across as if I got into U2 to save the world. I got into U2 to save myself. I meet people out on the street who approach me like I'm Mahatma Gandhi."
- Bono
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