U2 this weekend in jhb and NOT an excited word on the forum ???

Keira-WitherKay · 2011-02-10T10:43:25+00:00

wow i'm surprised that with U2 being here in jhb this weekend and there's no excited posts re going to see them , or are they just not flavour of the month for this forum ? damn they prob the biggest act and live show to hit these shores since the stones ......... just the spectacular of the live show should be enough to get performers excited even if it's not the edge's guitar style ........ i have seen them live at just a normal /less spectacular show but even tho i was not a huge fan they blew me away live , they really put everything into a performance .......... so anyway unfortunately i have to do gigs on sunday at sun city but i would love to have seen this concert .....

Mr-M

To answer the original question Kiera, read the rest of the replies barring just a few positive remarks. The majority of the more active forumites here aren't all that fond of U2... I suspect it might be a deterrent to many of those who are going owning up to it.

Personally, I'll be there and I'm going to love it from the Red Zone. Am I interested in the event and the show? Yes, but not nearly as much as I am in the music. Many have expressed their (mostly overwhelmingly negative) opinion on U2, which is all of course subjective, and therefore I'll offer my own subjective opinion. I like their music, past and present. Of course I only started on the latest album and worked my way back, which is possibly why I appreciate the whole catalog more than those who started at the beginning. My favourite album is Achtung Baby.

I was aware of their big hits, but I used to ignore their music for the most part until reading a special edition of Uncut Magazine about them when the latest album came out. It went a long way to changing most of the opinions and perceptions I had of them, which were at the time along the lines of most of the posters here who don't like them. Now I understand them and their music more, and in my case at least, to gain new understanding was to find new appreciation for them. Now I'm a fan. I suspect if I had given them a chance in the past, I might have enjoyed their music as much as I do now. I'm not implying it would be the same for anyone else.

Still, I do admit that their 360 DVD was a bit underwhelming for the first few songs, so I am hoping they will deliver the goods for the JHB 360 concert.

domhatch

Tonedef wrote Did anybody catch The Mission UK at The Doors a few years back?

Now THAT was my kind of concert. My best mate got Wayne Hussey's pick, passed down by the man himself on stage. He keeps it in a little jewel box, it's like The One Ring in his household ?

One Ring to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them.

I think we've solved an age-old mystery here - where all our missing plectra go!

Reinhard

I'm not really a U2 fan, but I'm going to the CT show. I figure if I get loaded enough the SHOW could blow my mind. I'd pay double what U2 are charging to see AC/DC live though.

BMU

kayDUB wrote Dear haters

Go argue about Gibson vs Tokai. ?

Seriously though, U2 are one of my all time favourite bands. They've stayed together for YEARS and managed to move with the times and still sell albums 30 years later. IMO they are a great example of ... wait a second here, I'm falling into the trap.

I can totally see that point of view. *I* just don't like them. I apologise, I sometimes forget that expressing my asshole opinion in an asshole way like I did there can be hurtful to people who actually love the thing I'm criticizing. Nothing like that intended, sorry again.

@Squonk: BFFFFRRRRTTTTTT to YOU buddy. ?

Tonedef

We're all assholes in our own unique way. It's what makes people interesting.

ETA That said, Bono is a major asshole and he isnt interesting, lol. ?

Riaan-Combrink

Tonedef wrote ETA That said, Bono is a major asshole and he isnt interesting, lol. ?

That said, you may want to watch the entire U2 set in 1985's Live Aid concert to see an example of how Bono - through song selection, performance, skilful crowd manipulation, sheer passion and cynical front man tricks crafted a performance that not only left dozens of the then top acts in the world look pedestrian by comparison - but catapulted his band into mega stardom -all in the space of 30 minutes of the best stagecraft you're ever likely to see.

I'm not against you expressing an opinion - music is subjective as many have said above. And GFSA is in fact all about diversity of opinionm - which is cool. But tossing around words like 'uninteresting' and 'major asshole' so glibly when referring to a frontman (and band) that has achieved so much (musically and socially) is perhaps - and of course only IMHO - stretching fair comment a bit.

Edge's style may not be cutting-edge (sorry) anymore - but was it influential and did it influence many? Sure. Einstein once spoke of standing on the shoulders of giants to contextualise his own contribution. Not calling Bono or U2 giants here, just saying that there are a number of artists (Jimi, Beck, EVH, etc etc) who all (collectively) built this thing we call rock - one brick at a time and adding and tweaking, adding colour and texture until it became what it is. I challenge you to seriously assert that U2 was not / is not part of that process that shaped rock.

They're not even my favourite band - but fair is fair?

Tonedef

Oh, no argument whatsoever, he is a brilliant artist and he has an amazing voice. I personally only rate one male vocalist above him in that regard. Its the political showboating that annoys me. For me its all about the tunes, and where their music has become one-dimensional and uninspiring over the years, their soapboxing has increased in order to compensate and stay relevant.

I have a very simple but effective test of personal relevancy when it comes to music- can it give me goosebumps? Liquid Tension Experiment can... and they dont even sing or gooi moerse world tours.

Renesongs

As I have mentioned before I have hear the Spanish Inquisition may be back in town and I wouldn't want to miss it again 8)

Bob-Dubery

Tonedef wrote Oh, no argument whatsoever, he is a brilliant artist and he has an amazing voice. I personally only rate one male vocalist above him in that regard. Its the political showboating that annoys me. For me its all about the tunes, and where their music has become one-dimensional and uninspiring over the years, their soapboxing has increased in order to compensate and stay relevant

I don't think that's the case. Bono has gone soapboxing because he can, because he's famous enough to do that.

He has quite unashamedly used his high profile as a platform for his extra-musical concerns. U2 always had a streak of the protest, the political concern in them so I'm not surprised that Bono espouses the causes that he does. I just don't think he's doing it as a career move - indeed he's taken major criticism for it.

The "problem" with Bono, at least as regards his the fund raising and the speech making, is that he's so earnest.

Keira-WitherKay

personally i back Bono 100% for his activism ............ too many famous people and also people who are middle class and upwards that are "doing well".... don't or won't give back to the people on this planet who are suffering ..and if some famous or non famous persons activism can feed just one person or get medical service to a commumity or helps any oppressed soul to shake off the oppression it's worth it ......... so please bear with Bono's speech's and maybe just listen to what he's saying since even you can make a difference ..........

it really touch's a nerve with me when people bitch about someone who is actually helping the underprivaliged or oppressed in some way ..i can't understand how if someone is donating their own time and money and effort to humanitarian projects that people can slate them for it ....... lets face it if you and your family were starving or living under oppression like we were in this country and some rock star jumped on this "soapbox" to drum up support for your needs or cause would you still be so cynical , i'd be nothing but greatful

we all can save this planet even if it's only by touching just one life in some way ,

Bob-Dubery

Keira WitherKay wrote personally i back Bono 100% for his activism ............ too many famous people and also people who are middle class and upwards that are "doing well".... don't or won't give back to the people on this planet who are suffering

I'm always careful of that judgement as well. Round about the time of the Mandela concert and Band Aid David Bowie came under fire from some quarters for NOT being pious and supporting charity and climbing on the fashionable platforms. OK.... Bowie was an easy target given his supposed right-wing leanings and the Nazi salute mess he'd got himself into not so long previously. He replied that he preferred to keep his art and his charitable endeavours separate, that if you wanted to wear your socio-political heart on your sleeve in your songs then that was your right but we shouldn't assume that artists who don't do that just plain don't care. He added that he supported various charities by donating money and liked to do so without any publicity.

..and if some famous or non famous persons activism can feed just one person or get medical service to a commumity or helps any oppressed soul to shake off the oppression it's worth it ......... so please bear with Bono's speech's and maybe just listen to what he's saying since even you can make a difference ..........

Bono isn't stupid. He knows that he is being used by politicians who want to show how hip they are by schmoozing with pop stars. He also knows that some of his initiatives don't go down well with trendy liberal types who think that if you sit around a table with John Major and/or Bill Gates and/or any President of the USA and/or the Pope then you're a bit dodgy. He knows that he's going to cop it from another direction for being a "do gooder". I've heard him talk about this in interviews - he knows it, but he doesn't care. I remember seeing him on TV saying something like "They said I was being used by politicians. They were right. I was being used. But billions of dollars of third world debt were written off and that's more important than my reputation."

If you don't want to agree with the sort of intitiatives that Bono gets himself involved in, at least understand that he is for real. It's not a career move on his part.

Bob-Dubery

Renesongs wrote As I have mentioned before I have hear the Spanish Inquisition may be back in town and I wouldn't want to miss it again 8)

Oh? I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition.

StephenG

X-rated Bob wrote
If you don't want to agree with the sort of intitiatives that Bono gets himself involved in, at least understand that he is for real. It's not a career move on his part.

admittedly, thats an opinion or conclusion that you , personally, have come too, and not a fact?? or do you know Bono well enough to know his true motivations?

where was U2's "save the world, group hug, everyone" sentiments when TheEdge wanted to rip into the ecologically sensitive Malibu coast line to build 5 big houses??
I see he has postponed that idea now - wonder if Bono told him to back offf??

AlanRatcliffe

X-rated Bob wrote Oh? I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition.

No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Bob-Dubery

StephenG wrote
X-rated Bob wrote
If you don't want to agree with the sort of intitiatives that Bono gets himself involved in, at least understand that he is for real. It's not a career move on his part.

admittedly, thats an opinion or conclusion that you , personally, have come too, and not a fact?? or do you know Bono well enough to know his true motivations?

OK... so neither of us can read his mind. I'm going on the best evidence that I can come up with from what I've seen on TV and read in books. If you have something better or that shows another aspect of him then we can consider that and form a fuller picture.

Over to you.

where was U2's "save the world, group hug, everyone" sentiments when TheEdge wanted to rip into the ecologically sensitive Malibu coast line to build 5 big houses??
I see he has postponed that idea now - wonder if Bono told him to back offf??

Who knows. I do know that Bono is not Edge. It's not impossible that the members of U2, or any other band, differ in their beliefs (political, spiritual, whatever). For example, there was some tension within the band at one time when Bono, Edge and Larry Mullen, but not Adam Clayton, joined a particular church.

[edit]Are you confusing Bono with Sting? Looking at biographical information on the members of U2 there is little in the way of environmental activitism to be found. The band has performed in support of Amnesty International and Band Aid. Bono's main areas of philanthropic activity would seem to be AIDS, third world debt and promoting industry in Africa. The Edge has got himself involved in post-Katrina relief programs for the New Orleans area and in medical research. It seems unfair to berate any of them for doing something contrary to a stand they seem not to have taken in the first place.

Tonedef

X-rated Bob wrote Bono has gone soapboxing because he can, because he's famous enough to do that.

Yes, but that's like Miss Aguilera raping the US anthem, because she can and because she's famous enough to do it.

Quod erat demonstrandum? ?

It's got an touch of vulgarity to it.

The "problem" with Bono, at least as regards his the fund raising and the speech making, is that he's so earnest.

I wish they'd put the same sort of effort and sincerity into their music. Then all would be forgiven.

singemonkey

X-rated Bob wrote
StephenG wrote
X-rated Bob wrote
If you don't want to agree with the sort of intitiatives that Bono gets himself involved in, at least understand that he is for real. It's not a career move on his part.

admittedly, thats an opinion or conclusion that you , personally, have come too, and not a fact?? or do you know Bono well enough to know his true motivations?
OK... so neither of us can read his mind. I'm going on the best evidence that I can come up with from what I've seen on TV and read in books. If you have something better or that shows another aspect of him then we can consider that and form a fuller picture.

Over to you.

where was U2's "save the world, group hug, everyone" sentiments when TheEdge wanted to rip into the ecologically sensitive Malibu coast line to build 5 big houses??
I see he has postponed that idea now - wonder if Bono told him to back offf??
Who knows. I do know that Bono is not Edge. It's not impossible that the members of U2, or any other band, differ in their beliefs (political, spiritual, whatever). For example, there was some tension within the band at one time when Bono, Edge and Larry Mullen, but not Adam Clayton, joined a particular church.

Exactly. I seriously question Bono's approach - reinforcing the third world as victims and appealing to the feelings of gracious superiority of the wealthy - but I've seen no reason whatever to question his sincerity. It's always tempting to read stuff into people and go beyond the evidence. I've certainly been guilty of this. But it's always good when a friend steers me back and says, "you can't read his mind, so you have to go with what they say and do." And that's entirely correct.

Tonedef

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
X-rated Bob wrote Oh? I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition.
No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Damn, I need to do something befo...

Squonk

First off, all their Music was labeled SH1T and banished to the bin , and now Bono and Edge are having their Integrity questioned! What next?

Starting to look like the Parlotones thread ?

I mean Tonedef " I wish they'd put the same sort of effort and sincerity into their music. Then all would be forgiven.", this is an extremely strong statement and quite undeserved.

singemonkey

And just to clarify, I wasn't just pushing Bob's point. I've actually done this kind of thing. A recent example was where I questioned Obama's religious sincerity. A friend simply said, "He goes to church, claims to be christian, there's virtually no evidence to the contrary, so what do you have to assume? Are you saying you can read his mind?" And he was spot on.

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