SOE
Active topics
U2 - You're The Best Thing About Me
 Album:
Songs Of Experience (2017)
  1. Originally posted by kris_smith87:[..]
    I'm not a dad. I am actually offended by the term "dad rock" because to me it means "Sin these guys are trying to be cool" instead of "these guys are making cool music and are of s certain age".
    Have to agree with Kris here. What is dad rock anyway?!
  2. Dad Rock definition
    ' Music that appeals to that of an older, generation or that is heavily influenced by that of an earlier era'.

    I'd say u2 generally fit the bill here, I'd certainly say the vast majority of there fan base comes from an older generation, naturally as you'd need to be around 50 or older to have followed them since the beginning. I don't see that as a bad thing though, my dad who is slightly younger than that (mid 40's) influenced a lot of my music tastes as did my uncle who is now 40. I think they would both classify as the 'older generation' when it comes to the music industry.
  3. For me it's the kind of music that someone listened to in their youth; then they became parents of one or several kids, and if that band is still around (or maybe if it isn't), then they're most probably trying to get their sons into that band. That band is probably bound to be "dad rock".

    Some bands like Led Zeppelin, the Beatles or the Stones don't fit that bill since they trascended generations and styles and are equally liked by people in their 20s, 40s and 60s. But U2 entered the Dad Rock club with the turn of the last decade; ATYCLB found its way to the car stereo of many of those parents who probably tried to get their sons to listen to that band they used to like in their 20s and was (finally!) rocking again after the 90s stravaganza. You know what I mean?
  4. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    For me it's the kind of music that someone listened to in their youth; then they became parents of one or several kids, and if that band is still around (or maybe if it isn't), then they're most probably trying to get their sons into that band. That band is probably bound to be "dad rock".

    Some bands like Led Zeppelin, the Beatles or the Stones don't fit that bill since they trascended generations and styles and are equally liked by people in their 20s, 40s and 60s. But U2 entered the Dad Rock club with the turn of the last decade; ATYCLB found its way to the car stereo of many of those parents who probably tried to get their sons to listen to that band they used to like in their 20s and was (finally!) rocking again after the 90s stravaganza. You know what I mean?
    I don't know if I agree with that bottom segment, I'd say the Beatles, stones and led zeppelin are getting less popular all the time, i'd definitely say it's an older generation that prefers them more in general.
  5. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    For me it's the kind of music that someone listened to in their youth; then they became parents of one or several kids, and if that band is still around (or maybe if it isn't), then they're most probably trying to get their sons into that band. That band is probably bound to be "dad rock".

    Some bands like Led Zeppelin, the Beatles or the Stones don't fit that bill since they trascended generations and styles and are equally liked by people in their 20s, 40s and 60s. But U2 entered the Dad Rock club with the turn of the last decade; ATYCLB found its way to the car stereo of many of those parents who probably tried to get their sons to listen to that band they used to like in their 20s and was (finally!) rocking again after the 90s stravaganza. You know what I mean?
    Wouldn't you say U2 has transcended generations?
  6. exactly. Otherwise, I understand your argument but still would not like to label U2 'dad rock'
  7. I think a lot of people are so quick to label them that because so many people now only know post-2000 U2. U2 are one of those bands that a casual music listener will attend a concert of an realize how many songs they already knew were actually by U2 and be surprised.

    I remember when I was first getting into U2, for the longest time I only knew their 80s output and generally ignored their 2000s output because I was already very familiar with it and didn't love it much. Beautiful Day and Vertigo were radio regulars forever. It wasn't until I was listening to a U2 retrospective radio special when I was introduced to their 90s output and I went "hooooly shit what the hell? This is the same band I've been falling in love with over the past couple months?" Even besides that, when I was in high school no one really knew about U2's output pre-2000, including the 80s stuff. Sure maybe they'd heard the songs before, but they didn't knew they were all U2.

    Most people born in the late 80s/early 90s don't know or care that U2 was once incredibly alternative and transcendental. They say "Yeah U2 are the band with that arsehole lead singer who do the song Vertigo and put their album on everyone's phone. My parents went to see them in concert."

    That's why people tend to label them as dad rock, they don't really know any better - and since 2000 U2 pretty much have been dad rock in terms of their sound, minus a few tracks here and there that barely got any press anyway (stuff on NLOTH comes to mind).

    We're also living in a post-rock era (barely any mainstream rock bands left, guitar sales are at an all-time low, etc.) and U2 are in their 50s. Put two and two together.
  8. I don't think you should be bothered about the label, people that don't like u2 will label them a lot worse names than that. Just enjoy what you enjoy and see the band for how you want to see them.
  9. Originally posted by deanallison:[..]
    I don't think you should be bothered about the label, people that don't like u2 will label them a lot worse names than that. Just enjoy what you enjoy and see the band for how you want to see them.
    "I Am Dad Rock"

  12. Moving away from Dad Rock...

    It seems like this song is very well received by people outside of the U2 fanbase. It helps that they didn't force it to everyone's devices although I honestly wouldn't mind if they did...
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.