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  1. or punches someone. Or at least sticks on that bowler hat and make-up and doesn't be Bono. That would catch my interest


  2. Mine too. Depends if he wants to preview any tour-ideas I guess. I've a strong feeling there may be a character or 2 on the tour.

    More likely he'll show off his nice new sexy boots.


  3. Why not? That's half the fun. I'd be bored to tears (or on Interference) if we all turned into sycophantic like-minded admirers.


  4. Originally posted by djrlewis:Why not? That's half the fun. I'd be bored to tears (or on Interference) if we all turned into sycophantic like-minded admirers.

    And you sure as hell wouldn't get away with that comment on Interference

    I appreciate the general line of thought is coming from, and to an extent I agree (the last 2 albums do strike me as back-to-basics, although that's not to say that I dislike them for it) but I think that it's what is to be expected in the way that the band have branched out since the early days. I do get the feeling that the band isn't the priority in Bono's case, whilstl Edge has founded stuff like Music Rising etc., and it's given obstacles for everyone to work around. HOWEVER, that said, I'm definitely more excited listening to GOYB than I was when they released Vertigo. I don't want to agree with the line of thought that Gerard suggests with GOYB being a direct evolution from HTDAAB but I can't help but see what is meant by that, but I just think that it's an evolution that is far more engaging in the way it's come about. Despite the fact people haven't heard the album proper yet, people are suggesting that GOYB doesn't strike them as a logical first single, but with that in mind I kind of like that - it does suggest that perhaps they're not playing it as safe as they used to?


  5. Tell me about it.....
    Originally posted by HarryDespite the fact people haven't heard the album proper yet, people are suggesting that GOYB doesn't strike them as a logical first single, but with that in mind I kind of like that - it does suggest that perhaps they're not playing it as safe as they used to?


    Good man
  6. Hey, finally a good discussion.

    U2 being to commercial..well, I agree with Gerard that everything before JT was non-commercial. I mean, they needed to prove themselves back then but JT was the turnaround. They smelled succes and their bit of the big money-pizza became bigger and bigger.

    Fact is, U2 was innovative in the nineties and made some brilliant music. They made some strange choices in the eyes of the masses but they kept their relevancy. Pop however costed them a lot of the early fans (looking at the U2-fanbase with two sides: experimentals and back to basic rockers). ATYCLB was a turnaround again, going back from experimental to basic rock. It was a succes, but ATYC:B never reached the level of AB/JT. Pop was a completely different album so I won't compare. And I think it went wrong after ATYCLB. U2 were back in their comfort zone, afraid of doing anything experimental again after Pop (while a lot of fans adored it, but also a lot didn't).

    I was dissapointed with HTDAAB. It was way too safe. It wasn't bad and I know it doesn't have to be experimental to be good, but I categorize HTDAAB in the same department as October or Boy. With Boy being better and October being weaker.

    The Vertigo Tour however was a big succes, so I didn't really know what to expect for the new album. It sounds promising though.

    And U2..well, I didn't really like the Obama-performance either. It was cheesy and it's not the straight forward Bono from the eighties or the ironical Bono from the nineties. It's another Bono, the serious humanitarian, trying to be everyone's friend. I don't like it either, but it's just the way he is. Although I hope he will change it soon.
  8. germ, I'm confused. You implied that they've turned into something "you can't live with" and yet you say you're excited for the album... how do those two ideas connect?

    I think Bono takes himself way too seriously now-a-days. Larry should start saying more stuff out loud to raise people's ire. Bono should be a rock star sometimes, and leave his activist boots at home, esp at the Grammys. What does all of this have to do with the topic? I think these are symptoms of the 'problem' germ's talking about.

    But at the same time, when you're pushing 50 and still trying to be 'viable' I think you kinda gotta tow the party line a little, and watch what they do/say. And the definitely have to market themselves. I mean most 16-23 year olds aren't just going to pick up the new U2 without some savvy marketting.
  9. Originally posted by zooey:germ, I'm confused. You implied that they've turned into something "you can't live with" and yet you say you're excited for the album... how do those two ideas connect?



    read up. My thought are about the decade to date. February 27th is outside of my thought train
  10. Originally posted by zooey: And the definitely have to market themselves. I mean most 16-23 year olds aren't just going to pick up the new U2 without some savvy marketting.



    I'm thinking that, these days, it's almost necessarry and a part of the 'competition'. you gotta be innovative with the marketing, catch people's interest, because there's SO much stuff out there, so many possibilities to market your music. even a known band like u2 would go down in the masses of the music media if they didn't hop on the commercial train, I'm afraid.
  11. Okay, so I just heard the song used in an ad for the NFL network or whatever during the superbowl. sellouts.
  12. Originally posted by zooey:Okay, so I just heard the song used in an ad for the NFL network or whatever during the superbowl. sellouts.


    Haha yea I saw that as well for a Nike shoe ad or something.

    I haven't been a U2 fan for nearly as long as some of the senior members on here, but I've listened to a lot of bootlegs and all of their albums. All I can say is, I'm excited for the new release. I haven't been around to notice a commercial change, only what I've read in books. I think we do need another "U2 of the 90's". And I'm also exicted for the new album. Hopefully it's what we're all looking for, in some form or another.
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.