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  1. Taken from http://www.quora.com/Why-is-U2-so-popular

    Answer summary:
    Big market
    Product market fit
    Usability

    Big Market

    Imagine you’re a middle-aged, upper-middle-class male. You live in a large metropolitan area. You have a good job. Your wife does Pilates. Your oldest just started kindergarten. Yes, you’re an adult, but you’re still cool! Your jeans cost $125. Sometimes you wear sneakers with a blazer!

    You like the idea of being a guy who’s into live music, but the last few concerts you’ve been to were (a) too loud, (b) too crowded, (c) too foreign (you were lucky if you recognized one song). You’ll snap a few photos with your smartphone and tell your bros about it to get some street cred, but let’s face it: you didn’t enjoy yourself. There are millions of you. And you’re willing to drop cash to have a concert make you feel cool again.

    Product Market Fit

    Then you learn that U2 is coming to town—U2! Earnest, melodic, Oprah-endorsed U2! $200 a ticket? No problem. You get a sitter. Your wife is excited—this is going to be great! You invite some friends from college to join you.

    On the way, you listen to the “early stuff.” The Joshua Tree pumps through the speakers of your Lexus SUV (no judgment—you have two kids!). The harmonies soothe. The lyrics are straightforward. You recall a simpler time before car seats and prostate exams. The nostalgia is so thick you have to wipe it from your face. You haven’t looked at your phone in nearly 11 minutes.

    You arrive at the show and see yourself everywhere. Tasteful North Face and Patagonia jackets abound. The stands are awash in earth tones. No one is shoving. No one has a nose ring. These are your people.

    Usability

    The band begins with A SONG YOU RECOGNIZE! You’re on your feet. You’re drinking “craft” beer. Everyone is singing terribly.

    And the best part—YOU CAN DANCE HERE! 80,000 people surround you and there’s not a coordinated movement in sight. Even the band sets a low bar. Bono doesn’t so much dance as lunge and bounce. The other guys seem content to nod and rock. All around you, middle-aged people are rocking and lunging and bouncing and singing badly. Is that guy wearing Tod’s loafers and a Barbour jacket? Yes, he is. And he’s in the zone.

    The set is basically a greatest hits playlist. The band graciously performs two new songs that no one recognizes to give you a few minutes to use the john and grab another IPA. They might as well flash an intermission sign.

    Even the political statements go down smooth: “Democracy!” “Fight AIDS!” How could you possibly disagree? You’re not only dancing and reminiscing—you’re spreading freedom and reasonably-priced medicines to distant lands!

    And the kicker: not one, but TWO encores, the ones you know best—the ones you first heard that summer you painted houses or kissed Katie at the beach party. You’re closing your eyes now. This is sad and sweet. You put your arm around your wife. You’re wondering if Katie ever got married. A third of the crowd departs after the first encore. It’s no big deal; some of us have work in the morning! Anyway, the traffic will be better if everyone doesn't leave at once.
  2. I don't know if I like it but I certainly can't deny it!
  3. It's old but undeniably spot-on. I don't necesarely dislike it though.
  4. haha lol


  5. I'm just embarrassed that I'm one of those guys who uses the bathroom mid-show.




  6. I didn't use the bathroom/toilets at all once we entered the stadium And they were certainly the last thing on my mind once U2 had come on stage.
  7. A couple of lads that went to Manchester 2 on Vertigo05 were saying some people were filling coke bottles with piss and flinging them

  8. Originally posted by kezman:A couple of lads that went to Manchester 2 on Vertigo05 were saying some people were filling coke bottles with piss and flinging them

    At a U2 concert? Wow. That seems more proper for a Linkin Park or AC/DC show I wonder what does have to do with the topic though
  9. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    At a U2 concert? Wow. That seems more proper for a Linkin Park or AC/DC show I wonder what does have to do with the topic though


    I dont know mate,people just talking about going for a slash so just joining in
  10. Originally posted by kezman:A couple of lads that went to Manchester 2 on Vertigo05 were saying some people were filling coke bottles with piss and flinging them




    Vile creatures.
  11. Originally posted by kezman:A couple of lads that went to Manchester 2 on Vertigo05 were saying some people were filling coke bottles with piss and flinging them





  12. A couple of lads that went to Manchester 2 on Vertigo05 were saying some people were filling coke bottles with piss and flinging them


    That happened during Einstürzende Neubauten when they opened for U2 in Rotterdam, (Zooropa). E.N. totally deserved to get bottled...it was an extremely poor choice to have a German band open for U2, especially in Rotterdam.

    As for the observation in the opening post, it's certainly true for part of the audience, but no different from Pearl Jam, Coldplay or -say- Madonna concerts (400eur pp!). You will see father-son, motther-daugher pairs as well.

    I've been to metal concerts (Megadeth for ex.) where the same was true: young kids with their parents, mixing with young adolescents, twentysomthings, as well as thirtysomethings trying to relive their youth. I have no problem with that.
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.
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.