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  1. the next time u2 are touring im definitely going to see them. the problem is not a lot of my friends are into u2. what is the best way to get people into u2? they are not going to tour again until 2008 so that gives me plenty of time. ive been playing a lot of live songs at the moment in my house and in my car and some of my friends have really taken a liking to stay, one, zoo station, out of control and even the wanderer. also whenever my friends call to my house i try to have beunos aires vertigo tour or sydney zoot.v. tour playing on my dvd player. anybody got any other ideas?
  2. I think that's already the biggest part you can do...
    Maybe you can just tell some interesting stories about the band ?

    For example
    * The time when Bono jumped of the stage and danced with at black women at Live Aid
    * Music Raising + all the work Edge do for this organisation
    * The work from Bono for Africa
    * The story about how the band began (In Larry's kitchen ; Bono couldn't sing or play guitar ; the were with 7 and called Larry Mullens Band...)
    * MacPhisto calling to eg the US President
    * Some cool ZooTV info (TV Station, the Trabies...)
    * Bono climbing up stage during Electric Co
    * Caracters from Bono (The Fly, Mirrorballman, MacPhisto...)

    I don't know but maybe these kind of things let grow the interests from your friends...
  3. Hehe I play quite a few live songs like Vertigo and City of Blinding Lights. Some fans of Green Day are a bit into U2 because of The Saints Are Coming.
  4. Originally posted by robbie07the next time u2 are touring im definitely going to see them. the problem is not a lot of my friends are into u2. what is the best way to get people into u2? they are not going to tour again until 2008 so that gives me plenty of time. ive been playing a lot of live songs at the moment in my house and in my car and some of my friends have really taken a liking to stay, one, zoo station, out of control and even the wanderer. also whenever my friends call to my house i try to have beunos aires vertigo tour or sydney zoot.v. tour playing on my dvd player. anybody got any other ideas?


    Hi Robbie07

    Try to show all U2 shows to your freinds...audio or video....someday they finaly will agree with you about the band...They will say:U2 is the best band of the world!!...because nobody can resist to a live performance of U2...Your friends will go to the show with you...and listen to a live performance of the band is very diferent than go the the show and sing with the band...live...it's a life experience that they'll never forget
  5. I could write a book on my attempts to convert fans to U2. I’m FASCINATED by the subject, I’ve thought long and hard about it, I have tried it many, many times, and I have A LOT to say about it. So I think I will write a book… or at least a (quite lengthy) serial post. I call it:

    “HOW TO DISMANTLE A NON-U2 FAN” by Eddie Quiñones

    DISCLAIMER: All that is written henceforth I honestly believe to be true from my own experience. Your experiences may vary. Feel free to be entertained by my words, and to follow or discard them as you please.

    Yet another WARNING: I know you want some strategies or techniques right away. While those are coming, I have to start off with the theory first. I tell you, this WILL take a while. But have patience, my little grasshopper, and in the end it will all be worth it.

    Part I: WARNING! DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

    I don’t want to spoil your plan, but first things first: I feel the intense need to warn you that your friendships are way more important than the possibility of your friends loving U2 as much as you do. If you try too hard to change your friends in any way, you could endanger the friendship more than you currently realize.

    If someone you know begins to feel that you are trying to convert him to ANYTHING, he will instinctually RETREAT. Please re-read that before you continue.

    This is true whether you are trying to attract a partner, share your religious faith with someone, or get someone into a band. (The mechanics of three processes are eerily similar; they're pretty much the same thing.) The idea is that if you push too hard (or show too much clingy interest), you will freak them out and they will run. It’s just somehow embedded into human psychology and behavior.

    What goes on in their head is something like the following: “Wait! My friend is trying to change me. I like him/her and all and I don’t want them to feel rejected just because I’m not into their faith / band / not attracted to them, but they’re also acting really weird. Ehh… awkward… I’m gonna try to avoid this topic altogether.”

    If the friend is simply not interested and this is carried to an extreme over time, it could kill the friendship. If you were to mention U2 EVERY time you hang out, constantly try to force them to listen, etc., it may get to the point where they get fed up and want to hang out less. Don’t worry, this is an absolute worst-case scenario, and only happens if it’s carried to an extreme and if you are ignorant of their responses.

    I know this out of experience. During my freshman year of college (I will be a senior this fall), I tried to turn my friend into a U2 fan, and he enthusiastically educated me on the Baha’i Faith (which I love and respect completely but am not a part of). We both pushed a bit too hard. Needless to say, neither worked as a conversion strategy.

    Now, we didn’t lose the friendship, but I fear that if both of us had not lightened up a bit, we could have lost it (which is a very sad thought). Thank God, over time we lightened up on both sides, and as a result 1) we are MUCH closer as friends and 2) I have increased respect of Baha’is and he has increased respect for U2, even if we didn’t “convert” one another. This is an ABSOLUTE win-win in my book.

    The take-home lesson from this section is this: love your friends unconditionally, for what they are and what they aren’t (i.e., even if they aren’t a U2 fan). Don’t be pushy or try to change them in any way… “and no one gets hurt.”

    As a side note, if your friend shows no interest or even (gasp!) actively dislikes U2... please, PLEASE try not to take it personally, because it doesn't mean they are rejecting YOU. More on this, coming up next...
  6. Part II: A BRIEF PRIMER ON WHY WE LOVE (AND HATE) MUSIC:

    If someone asks you why you love U2 the way you do, you might talk about their unique sound, riveting live performances, Bono’s lyrics, or how you respect them as people. These are all common answers, they are all true, and they make sense, because they have to do with the band.

    What most of us don’t realize, though, is that there are also many personal factors at work that we aren’t even consciously aware of. So, part of the reason of liking any band is the THEM, and the other part is YOU. For instance, music is a powerful “anchor” that can trigger various associations that are linked up to it in your mind. If, say, you listened to Streets during a life-changing experience (as I did), then listening to that song may continue to stir up that memory or even just those same vivid emotions with no effort on your part, for many years into the future! U2’s music may bring back emotions you felt during a happy memory or it may bring you back to your childhood and make you feel like a young kid again, when things were so simple and you had so much fun. Just thinking about U2 may cause you to feel in tune with some of your highest values (love & connection, making a difference, etc.). Perhaps U2 is the thread of common ground that supports a great friendship or relationship! Maybe a close friend already likes U2. I could go on and on.

    Personally, U2 is VERY linked to my childhood, my close relationship with my Godfather, and some very fond memories of concerts. I became such a big fan at such an early age that being obsessed with U2 became a part of how people thought of me; it had become an integral part of my identity.

    I bring this up because unconscious personal factors can also cause someone to HATE U2 with a vengeance even if they haven’t yet given the band an honest chance! This is the problematic part for U2 fans, because it’s tough for a U2 addict to believe that any sane person with a brain could possibly not love U2.

    But the truth is, someone may not like U2 on principle, simply because they’re the biggest band in the world right now. My dear friend MCB, for instance, hates U2 (and never ceases in reminding me of that). Upon closer inspection, however, it’s clear that she hates anything that she perceives to be “establishment,” and I am convinced that if anything got popular enough she would stop liking it (she also hates Starbucks on principle, go figure). Note: I absolutely love MCB to death, I just also love busting her balls for hating U2.

    Another acquaintance is turned off by U2 simply because he knows “his dad has heard of them.” Uhh, that is the stupidest excuse I’ve EVER heard to NOT like someone or something, but who am I to argue?

    I’ve learned some very valuable lessons from my observations:

    1. WE DON’T KNOW ALL THE REASONS WHY WE LIKE OR DISLIKE SOMETHING
    2. WE OFTEN DO THINGS AND LIKE THINGS FOR IRRATIONAL REASONS     (…THEN WE MAKE UP A “RATIONALIZATION” LATER)

    …and this includes being a U2 fan, as well as hating U2. When someone hates U2, it’s bad enough. But if they can’t even explain a good reason for it? It seems like a heinous crime, but I see this constantly.

    What are the consequences of this idea? Well, you didn’t get “talked into” liking U2. You had to feel it for yourself. You can’t convince someone to like new music (at least not by pure reasoning and argument), and you can’t convince someone that their favorite band sucks.

    But for now, enough of my blind, intuitive attempts to explain why we do things.

    “Off with the horns. On with the show…”
  7. But wait a minute! I thought this was a guide on how to convert / dismantle non-U2 fans? Why, OH WHY, did you make me sit through all this garbage about human behavior, psychology, and U2-haters?

    I wrote all this because I fear that if you go ahead, full speed, trying to make everyone in your life a U2 diehard, you are bound to meet with little-to-no success, your relationships will all be strained, and you won’t even know why. You may even begin to resent the band a little.

    Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll move on to a VERY important stumbling block converting fans: identifying which category of non-fandom they currently fit into…

    Part III: Non-U2-Diehards

    Non-U2-Diehards usually fall into one of three categories:

    1. They Like U2 (a little bit):
    “I am familiar with some of the more famous singles, and I like what I hear.”
    Insert some combination of: Vertigo, With Or Without You, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Sweetest Thing (::shudders::], Beautiful Day, Elevation, Pride, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, One (although they might call it “One Love”).

    WARNING: NEVER, EVER make fun of someone because they’ve “only” heard the above or if they royally screw up a song title, even if you’re tempted to, even if you’re just kidding. People who fall into this category are more likely than anyone else to ultimately “convert,” and if you make them feel stupid or act like a snob you WILL kill your chances.

    2. Neutral:
    “I can name a few singles (tops) and I must admit I don’t quite understand what all the fuss is about, but I’m open to learning more about them.”

    3. They Absolutely Hate U2:
    “U2 sucks. I hate everything about U2 and I want to punch Bono in the face. They are overrated and they put out mediocre music, yet the world continues to kiss their ass. Bono is a pompous asshole who exploits poor Africans for more publicity. Bono eats babies.”
    ***This usually happens when someone simply doesn’t see the appeal of U2 in the first place, but over time they feel that people are shoving U2 in their face, so they grow more annoyed, angrier and more frustrated about it.

    Friends from the first two groups are probably open-minded, and thus, particularly open to new music. I would strongly suggest that you NOT try to push U2 on this last, third group, or they will only get angrier. It’s just not worth it. Remember my friend MCB from my anecdote in Part II? She DEFINITELY falls in this category. She actually once told me, “Bono eats babies.”

    In case you have to deal with a Category-3, here are some guidelines:
    1. Don’t get personal: Don’t feel as if they are rejecting you as a person just because they’re not a U2 fan. You can still be friends, for goodness sake!
    2. Don’t get all defensive and/or pushy: If you lose your cool you will just look very bad every single time. Plus, you’ll just reinforce the person’s misinformed beliefs about U2 and about U2 fans.
    3. At the same time, DON’T apologize for being a U2 fan: Never, EVER feel ashamed of yourself. When someone gives U2 a nice verbal trashing, it can be easy to get manipulated into submission, where you sound as if you are sorry for listening to the band. Please try to avoid this, and stand up for yourself if you have to.

    I believe only one section remains…
  8. Wow U2met86!!!!!!

    For me, I make two to four audio discs for my friend. Two discs containing tracks that are rarely heard or that stick out, off the albums maybe two tracks from each album(depending on the person your trying to convert). Then another two discs of a best of live complilation. Tracks that would never be heard, but are the best.

    U2 is best live right? So if they come back saying they really like it. Burn them a copy of your fav. live performance.

    This has worked for me. I have successfully converted people into U2 fans, It feels great!!!
  9. Part IV: NOW ONTO THE GOOD STUFF: WHAT HAS WORKED FOR ME:

    WAYS TO PRESENT THE MATERIAL

    1. In the same room with them
    Nothing good on TV? Why not flip in a live U2 DVD? You can pick some of your favorite live cuts, preferably ones that quickly pack a punch yet will be accessible to a newcomer (I have a couple of my own recommendations below). As roxrios suggests, choosing something that stands out (and explaining why it stands out) will help them remember it better. If you’re in the same room, you can see their reactions real-time, make relevant comments about the band, and if you notice that they’re a bit bored, you can change the song or disc immediately.

    2. In the car with them
    All the same benefits to being in the same house, only you don’t have the visual stimulus.

    3. Email individual YouTube link(s) or .mp3 file(s)
    If you’re a high school or college student, Facebook and YouTube are your best friends!!! A quick wall-post or Facebook message is surely to be read, because we students are professional procrastinators, and check these websites several times a day!
    You can either send individual .mp3 / .aac files, or links to YouTube. Between the two, personally I choose YouTube any day, because if I have audio-only, and I’m staring at the iTunes interface when hearing a song for the first time, I tend to be more impatient. Also, YouTube has a whole bar of similar links in case they like the first song and want some more!!! Just be careful that you don’t send too many links or files at once.

    4. Lend them a mixtape, DVD, album, DVD-rip, or bootleg
    This can be very powerful, especially if one or more of the following conditions are true: you regularly share & recommend music to each other, you already enjoy similar music, or you’ve already played some of the songs in their presence and you know they like it. This is nice because it allows you to put your own personal touch on it.
    The only drawback is, they may not listen to a whole hour or more of new music on their own.

    U2-101? A FEW BASIC APPROACHES

    1. The Live DVD Approach
    This is personally my favorite approach. It is my specialty, and in my experience it has worked wonders. If not, a YouTube link to the individual song is very effective (cause it’s a short investment on their part). You could lend them the DVD but if they’re not that interested they may not bother to watch it. DVDs are great, because when they are visually engaged as well as sonically, there is less chance that they will grow tired of it.
    Boston: Where The Streets Have No Name (often my very first stop), In A Little While
    Rattle And Hum (the 2nd half of the film is currently my bread & butter): Sunday Bloody Sunday – Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With Or Without You, Bullet The Blue Sky, Bad
    Slane (I will use this more and more): Out of Control (500 pounds), Kite (both of them pissed as farts), Sunday Bloody Sunday (put your hands in the sky), Streets (operatic intro), Elevation – Beautiful Day (Beautiful goal)
    Chicago: City Of Blinding Lights, Love & Peace - Sunday Bloody Sunday (bono drumming), Yahweh, Mysterious Ways, Where The Streets Have No Name (always a winner)

    2. The MixTape
    You can make your own compilation, and you can include hits, rare gems (Acrobat, Heartland, anybody?), live cuts both official and bootleg. You have total control over this. If you’re going to lend them a CD cold, however, the importance of making each track stand out increases. So I would include a note suggesting how each track stands out and which 2-3 parts to look out for “trampled in dust – 3:29” or “edge solo – 4:46”

    3. Burn / Lend Them an Album
    I would not normally recommend this off the bat because it puts a stranglehold on variety, but it could work if one or more of the following conditions are met: your friend is a music snob (try Achtung Baby, Joshua Tree, ATYCLB), your friend is album-oriented in general (the first two overlap quite a bit), or if they already like several of the songs on that given album. again, bonus points if you include your own brief notes on what to look out for.

    4. The Singles Approach
    Ahh, the greatest hits. Start off by lending or burning U218, Best of 1980-1990, or Best of 1990-2000. Doesn’t take a lot of thought, and you may sacrifice some of what makes U2 REALLY stand out from other bands, sometimes the songs just explain themselves. There is a really good chance your friend (if they listen all the way through) will think to himself about 20 times (OH! THAT’S who sings that song)

    I DO NOT RECOMMEND:

    1. Taking a non-U2 fan to a U2 concert. This is just my opinion, but I want to go f***ing crazy at a U2 show, and if I feel like I am “hosting” an outsider 1) I won’t have as much fun, and 2) my enjoyment of the show will DEPEND ON whether my friend enjoys it. Eek! It COULD work out; they may be blown away, but why risk it when for every available ticket you could find 10 U2 fans who would sell their souls for the ticket?
    2. Dumping on your friend a LOT of material at once with no explanation of what makes particular tracks stand out. Try to keep it to 1-2 CDs (or just use your judgment there)

    SHARE YOUR PASSION vs. CONVERT

    The main problem with the spirit of “converting” someone is that they fear that you will only like them on the condition that they like what you are presenting to them.

    Focus instead on maintaining the common ground you already have, and that common ground will naturally spread. U2Start has an incredibly accurate slogan of “Share Your Passion,” and I highly suggest you move forward with that spirit in mind.

    CLOSING REMARKS: REMEMBER…

    Remember: being a “fan” takes INVESTMENT. Someone can like & respect an artist but still not listen to them every day. That is obsession. There is nothing wrong with obsession and it can be perfectly healthy (indeed, I am obsessed with U2, else I would not be writing this LONG serial post!). However, being obsessed with anything takes up your time and energy, and since time and energy are scarce you can only have so many things to be obsessed about (bands, hobbies, etc.). So be easy on your friends in terms of expecting them to “take up” U2.

    Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed my opus here. I hope it’s spurred some new and interesting thoughts, and I hope y’all type out those thoughts here on the forum. I wish you many years of successful “converting” and sharing U2. From your description it sounds like things are going well so far. All the best!

    (Wow, that was long. Why do I suddenly feel the urge to start chanting, “How long to sing this song…” out of key?)

    PS: I wrote a paper for school that was 2580 words (4 single spaced pages) and took me 17 hours. I just wrote 3202 words within 4.5 hours, not counting breaks (7 single spaced pages)
  10. Show them Slane Castle...and let them listen Point Depot.
  11. u2met86 has perfectly explained it.
    I agre with all the 3202 words...
  12. Originally posted by MWSAHShow them Slane Castle...and let them listen Point Depot.
    I put some time ago Running To Stand Still + Dirty Old Town (from the 30th december Pint Depot show) in my house when a friend was coming here and he was absolutely astonished. The "Dirty old toooown" sang by 5000 people converted him to a U2-Fan...