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  1. Originally posted by dylbagz:[..]


    I haven't had anything to be excited about since they started playing unreleased songs on 360. What's changed? One subpar new song?

    Jesus man, for your sake I hope the new album is more up your alley!
  2. Originally posted by ahn1991:On another note, when did U2 fans become so pessimistic towards the band they love? Holy crap is it bad here. With all the doubt going around, I could barely tell that this was a U2 fan site. We should be excited for what U2 can do.


    Valid question, the best I can answer that is the band often says their fans have high standards that they feel obligated to meet. Though for quite a while they keep acting that they make music for the charts, not for the fans.

    So to that end I feel, and they feel, true fans are here to tell them when they are making bad decisions. Having your first two steps be:
    - get a superbowl ad
    - find a corporate sponsor

    Sounds to me like their hearts and efforts aren't in the place I'D like to see as a fan.
  3. Well the Superbowl ad is a legitimate move. When U2 performed during the Superbowl halftime show, their fanbase skyrocketed. Now the "true fans" can say what they want about the U2 of ATYCLB and HTDAAB, but the fact of the matter is that during those times, the band ruled the world. Their fans believed that and, most importantly, the band themselves believed that.

    I think we as fans are doing a huge disservice to U2 by propagating this feeling of doubt. If people are checking out the band and they see that their fanbase is disapproving of their every move, people won't care when U2 releases a new album.

    Also, isn't it ironic that in our discussion of U2 and relevancy, we have essentially been saying "don't do what the other artists are doing, do what we tell you to do?" It's a huge double standard and is also the main reason I don't like talking about "relevance" because while we're telling U2 not to follow one crowd, we're telling them to follow another crowd: the fans.

    This is the way things are supposed to work. U2 takes a step in a some direction and we follow them. I'm sure they've had tons of people with greater in depth knowledge than us analyzing their moves, so by what authority can we say that U2 is not heading in the right direction?
  4. I'll give an example - I think Bowie did a brilliant job rolling out his new album. Dead silent, and boom, released an album not intended to open the VMA's but speak to his fans and the music scene as an elder. An artist who has transcended tracking his billboard chart placement to his relevance. And he succeeded - it was loved by fans and critics - deemed "relevant" by both camps.

    I just wish U2 had that confidence and maturity. SO much of their best work is done by being brave, and SO much of their crap work is done by being meek or trying to please everyone at once.

    To that end, when I say I wish they would follow what interests them the most, that means I want them to embrace the freedom they've earned and escape the mind trap that a good album = a #1 on the billboard charts.
  5. It's all about the tunes. Plain and simple. A superbowl add or any big campaign will be fine if they have the tunes to back it up. It's not about pleasing fans or being relevant. They will please fans and be relevant if they have the tunes. Some people seem to treat U2 like they are a football team, to be supported or followed no matter what, with complete suspension of critical faculties. U2 should be judged on their art, i.e. are the songs any good? And the last album was a real let down in that regard and hence that is where the 'doubt' comes from. All this talk of relevancy, chart position, radio air play and pleasing fans, etc. is just distracting. It's all about the tunes. All the rest will follow if they have the tunes.
  6. ^
    Totally agreed. Well said.
  7. Rumour circulating is that U2 tour will start end of May 2014 in North America.

    Indoor only shows..
  9. Originally posted by TheRefugee:It's all about the tunes. Plain and simple. A superbowl add or any big campaign will be fine if they have the tunes to back it up. It's not about pleasing fans or being relevant. They will please fans and be relevant if they have the tunes. Some people seem to treat U2 like they are a football team, to be supported or followed no matter what, with complete suspension of critical faculties. U2 should be judged on their art, i.e. are the songs any good? And the last album was a real let down in that regard and hence that is where the 'doubt' comes from. All this talk of relevancy, chart position, radio air play and pleasing fans, etc. is just distracting. It's all about the tunes. All the rest will follow if they have the tunes.

    Have you heard Ordinary Love?

    They've got the tunes. So please, calm down, U2 fans.


  10. A guy who attends shows frequently, though he's not giving up his source. As I said, it's just a rumour doing the rounds.
  11. Palau St. Jordi (Barcelona's main arena) was reportedly in conversations for some U2 shows in April-May as well, although that was some months ago (mid September I think).

  12. Am still hoping they have the tunes...heard Ordinary Love, and wasn't an extraordinary song in my opinion. In the U2 songlist, pretty middle of the road.
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.