Coming clean*
To whom it may concern. There are people on earth who believe that U2 is just a band. So stop saturating the whole universe with the latest album two days after it has been released. Yes, a successful band, a band that has had some catchy tunes, but also one of the candidates for the most overhyped, overplayed band in the history of the universe.
And even though I have zero inclination to listen to the new CD, my rights will doubtless be violated by the endless playing in every store I enter, on every hold music and radio station I am forced to listen to, as well as the musical background to a thousand of those little edited montages at the end of news programs to help viewers reflect on some tragedy or feel uplifted by some heroic child who is able to walk again after having a plane tragically crash into him or her.
When did it happen that any U2 album is by definition a hit before it even is released? Has this gone back as far as Joshua Tree? Earlier? The band has like been playing in musak in the background of my life forEVA. I have a soundtrack to my life that I didn’t choose!!
And you know what U2’s problem is? They are so bloody “something for everyone”. Indie people like them, mainstream people like them, they market box sets as ideal father’s day gifts or 21st presents. They’re bloody ubiquitous!! We might be annoyed by Delta’s single for the next little while, but I can just turn off MIXFM and I will be sweet. There is nowhere to escape from U2.
Just to be clear, I am not suggesting that the band is not an important musical contributor (although that jangly background guitar might be distinctive, but it is just as repetitive and annoying as bloody mark knopfler stylings, but don’t get me started on Dire Straits), but then, so was the Beatles. If I am going to try and be some Australian idol contestant, then I would have to learn to get on board with U2, if only to try and do them justice at the imposed U2 themed night when I am wowing the audiences as part of the final 12. But I am (sadly) not an Australian Idol contestant, and have no aspirations to become one. And so I don’t have to care whether someone is musically important.
Leave me alone. I don’t want to get songs that I don’t even like in my head so that I find myself singing them making people point and laugh and say “I thought you didn’t like U2″.
* I originally posted this in another forum to avoid marital difficulty, but Phil encouraged me to come clean and post it here
November 25th, 2004 at 10:11 am
Only, so signposts readers can see the enormity of my task in trying to infuse some musical taste on you.
November 25th, 2004 at 10:14 am
I’d hardly even listened to U2 before YOU started using it in small group reflections and during the Christmas service. Now I have ‘Peace on Earth’ on repeat in my head.
November 25th, 2004 at 10:16 am
And Phil, you can’t make that call about “musical taste” because you only listen to about 3 different bands.
November 25th, 2004 at 2:17 pm
How dare you compare U2’s greatness with the bordom that is Dire Straits!!! The Bible has got to have something to say about that.
Forget loving gay people, oposing anti-Muslims bigotry or letting women express their ministry gifts. Lets start following the Word of God on the issues that really matter. After all, wasn’t it Jesus who said: “All I have is a red guitar, three chords and the truth.” … err or was that Bono?
November 25th, 2004 at 8:25 pm
And I’m pretty sure the Bible also says, “Thou shalt love U2 with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.”
November 26th, 2004 at 3:37 pm
Heretic.
November 28th, 2004 at 7:51 am
I heard a guy on TV today saying, “The problem with U2 is that they need to back off a little, you know, just bring it down one notch…what I really need is just U1, not U2!”
November 29th, 2004 at 12:18 pm
Actually, Bono stole that line about three chords and the truth. But I’m in agreement with Dan on this one. I think it’s because so many people *want* U2 to be Christian that they seize upon their every word. But they lost me when they started that Zooropa stuff. (probably before that, actually, when they started acting like the new wave equivalent of Aerosmith).
November 29th, 2004 at 6:38 pm
I just really like their music - and would even if they weren’t Christian.
June 10th, 2005 at 12:35 am
Coming clean*
Coming clean*
December 12th, 2005 at 10:12 am
[…] as you may know, I am seemingly alone in the christian internet community in thinking that this band is overrated. And now, unless Phil finds a new concert buddy, […]
December 12th, 2005 at 12:03 pm
I agree Dan they are overrated.
They lost me after Pop. There albums since have been reflections of there very early stuff, which in my opinion is a poorer reflection. Though if the rumour is true that bono is doing a gosple album, It may ignite my interest in them again.
Concert wise, Zooropa tour was a real let down, after rattle n hum, at the Rod Laver. It was one of my all time favourite contcerts. The MCG with Zooropa was a let down, the sound was bouncing all over the place. I think the only place to be was the on the ground.