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  1. Originally posted by Thib6992:Well, if he can use his popularity to help people, can't see where's the problem.

    But I think the problem for some U2 fans is that Bono does not separate his activities. I mean, during gigs, you can have speeches lasting five minutes about AIDS, poverty, Aung San Suu Kyi...

    I'm not that disturbed by this though. I can't remember how much money the Vertigo Tour's ads for the One Campaign that he made every gig raised but I think it's a lot. So, even if we are disturbed by Bono speeches for five minutes, come on, it helps people...


    but it doesn't always help! it can also have the opposite effect. read the article on the previous page

    if he genuinely wants to help people he should be much more discreet about it (like he used to be). that would probably help much more




    and as for the mixing of the two - bono's lyrics say much more than his preaching so why do both?!
  2. Originally posted by ric:[..]


    and as for the mixing of the two - bono's lyrics say much more than his preaching so why do both?!

    Exactly. If you have such powerful songs, incessant preaching is really annoying. He really went overboard with it during the Vertigo tour.
    Still, his activism is really one of the reasons I love him, even thugh he is a hypocrite, let's face it (shooting his mouth off about everyone and, on the other hand, paying taxes in the Netherlands etc). However, he probably did at least raise awareness, which is more than other people of his profile do. The media are very cynical towards someone who has the best of intentions (at least I like to believe he does).


  3. No, that's why I'm not going to criticise him.
  4. Originally posted by yeah:His popularity doesn't help people, that's the problem.

    And the mixing you mention is something I'm sick of, too. As I mentioned before in this topic, I'm glad that U2 is a political band. And it's okay to mix these things into the shows like they did on 360. What pissed me of was the preaching during the Vertigo tour, but I guess they learned from that.

    Agree completely with the last paragraph. You can be a very political person/band, but you must NOT forget what you're there for: you're on a stage to play music. Interrupting your job (and the activity for which 50'000 people paid 60€ to you!!!) to make a political speech is NOT right. (Even though I agree with 99% the things he says/said, I'm not blind).

    Let's take the opposite example: if a politician (who is the lead singer of a band in his spare time) is speaking in the Parlament, should he stop his speech to sing one of his songs??
  5. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    Let's take the opposite example: if a politician (who is the lead singer of a band in his spare time) is speaking in the Parlament, should he stop his speech to sing one of his songs??


    I'm personally hoping this will NEVER happen



  7. that would be way too funny, it would look like your in a musical or something


  8. You have to know some Brazilian politicians...

    And I agree with Sergio btw...
  9. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    Agree completely with the last paragraph. You can be a very political person/band, but you must NOT forget what you're there for: you're on a stage to play music. Interrupting your job (and the activity for which 50'000 people paid 60€ to you!!!) to make a political speech is NOT right. (Even though I agree with 99% the things he says/said, I'm not blind).




    I completely understand what you're saying and maybe you're right, but on the other hand: when Bono starts preaching during concerts, people always listen and start to applaud and that must count for something.
    Another thing is: people know what to espect from U2 (or in this case Bono), so they know they pay € 60,- to hear him sing AND preach.
    Like it's been said before: U2 is a political band and in my humble opinion: I expect no less.

    Wat would happen when Bono would stop preaching during live concerts? People probalby would start to wonder if he lost his interest in the political environment. That would piss off people or at least make them wonder and raise questions about him.
    Somehow it's never good enough and one always needs to have something to nag about.
  10. Originally posted by Rob1965:[..]

    I completely understand what you're saying and maybe you're right, but on the other hand: when Bono starts preaching during concerts, people always listen and start to applaud and that must count for something.
    Another thing is: people know what to espect from U2 (or in this case Bono), so they know they pay € 60,- to hear him sing AND preach.
    Like it's been said before: U2 is a political band and in my humble opinion: I expect no less.

    Wat would happen when Bono would stop preaching during live concerts? People probalby would start to wonder if he lost his interest in the political environment. That would piss off people or at least make them wonder and raise questions about him.
    Somehow it's never good enough and one always needs to have something to nag about.



    if bono stopped preaching during concerts i would think 'ahh this is SO nice! - reminds me of the majority of zootv and popmart'.... (my first U2 gig was popmart Leeds - have a listen to that and see if you can hear any preaching at all.... listen to ZooTv sydney.. any preaching there? no just a great powerful concert) great days...

    and yes U2 is a political band but like i said before they convey that through the medium of music and lyrics which works 10000000000 times better than bono's embarrassing speeches...
  11. Originally posted by ric:[..]

    if bono stopped preaching during concerts i would think 'ahh this is SO nice! - reminds me of the majority of zootv and popmart'.... (my first U2 gig was popmart Leeds - have a listen to that and see if you can hear any preaching at all.... listen to ZooTv sydney.. any preaching there? no just a great powerful concert) great days...

    and yes U2 is a political band but like i said before they convey that through the medium of music and lyrics which works 10000000000 times better than bono's embarrassing speeches...



    ZOO TV and Popmart? There was definitely preaching there: he just did it in another way. He used more humor and sarcasm to spread his messages, but it was definitely there. Aside from all the phrases that were used on all the screens and the link-ups to Sarajevo and everything else that they did, like the hint towards the the big "M" from McDonalds during Popmart. They just used other means to bring the message.
    Maybe he is only more serious now (because he's older?).
    The one thing I can agree to is that he takes more time on stage to preach between the songs. Some years ago, there was more preaching during the songs. So yes, that may be the difference and that may be the thing that annoys people more nowadays, I don't know.

  12. Originally posted by Rob1965:[..]

    ZOO TV and Popmart? There was definitely preaching there: he just did it in another way. He used more humor and sarcasm to spread his messages, but it was definitely there. Aside from all the phrases that were used on all the screens and the link-ups to Sarajevo and everything else that they did, like the hint towards the the big "M" from McDonalds during Popmart. They just used other means to bring the message.
    Maybe he is only more serious now (because he's older?).
    The one thing I can agree to is that he takes more time on stage to preach between the songs. Some years ago, there was more preaching during the songs. So yes, that may be the difference and that may be the thing that annoys people more nowadays, I don't know.




    i think you and i have a totally different idea of what the word 'preaching' means! when i use the term i'm only referring to his earnest speeches (preaching like a priest/preacher would).. everything you mentioned (apart from the sarajevo link ups) i never had a problem with and see it as conveying a message rather than preaching, - as you say it was done in a much more subtle way with humour and irony and that worked perfectly for me and is the way things should be done in a live concert situation. i see that as getting the message across in a clever and interesting way rather than bashing people over the head with it relentlessly every night.!

    when i said there was hardly any preaching in the 90's i meant he didn't talk about some issue like africa and poverty every night for minutes on end at every gig and it was better that way.

    anyway this is just my opinion - i preferred everything about U2 in the 90's - this is just another thing!
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