U2

[Bushido216]

Yes, my preference of album sales as an objective standard is subjective... but no one has posited a better objective standard. I said that I'd accept a better one if it could be found.

 

[MoreInSorrow]

Record sales is the worst possible gauge for measuring the greatness of an artist. Period.

Pedro the Lion is phenomenal. But that band will never outsell any of the alternative tripe that permeates MTV and the radio.

Britney Spears sparked a new genre?? Wha? No, not quite, it's just a matter of 2 things:

1. Bubble gum pop has always had it's niche, and
2. As long as there are 13 year old girls, and pre-pubescent boys around, that garbage will continue to sell. That does not, by ANY stretch, make it 'great'. Quite simply, you are using a skewed viewpoint there.

And in as far as 'objective' versus 'subjective' goes, I still contend that in my mind, my taste in music is superior. I've been around music and into music for my whole life, and quite frankly, I have a good gauge on what is good music, and what should not be considered 'great'. Judging by your giving credence to Britney Spears creating a genre (even though you say yourself that you're not a fan), I'd say your musical discernment is flawed.

Aside from that, I'm afraid opinions like that offer little hope for a musical tomorrow. *sniff, sniff*

 

[Bushido216]

Do you understand how arrogant you sound right now?

 

[MoreInSorrow]

Do you understand how arrogant you sound right now?

No, not at all. It's only my opinion.




Man, people around here are WAY too easy. Listen, I do seriously think that record sales are not the best way to gauge what is good out there, per my points 1 and 2 in my last post, BUT, if you really think that I think my musical taste is superior to all others, to the point that I think no one else knows what 'good' really is, well, you've been had. The original post stating that was so tongue in cheek that it dripped sarcasm, but you pretty adamently dissented, so I rolled with it. It seems like people around here do that alot. Have a little humor in your life. If you see a post by me that seems so over the top that it couldn't possibly be normal, well, it isn't.

While I contend that just because Britney, Christina, and Justin make multi-millions on album sales, it does not mean what they make is by any stretch 'great'. I would gauge 'greatness' by the longevity of a band, the ability for that band to create something new and different, and their ability to be relevant to the generation to which they're speaking. THAT is what gauge one should use to measure a band or artist's greatness. I was a fan of U2 when I was 8 years old. I was a fan of U2 when I was 15, and I am a fan of U2 now (31). Why? Because they've continued to keep my attention, because they've continually made music that was, in one way or another, relevant to me. They have continued to do that, and are currently doing so with the new generation of teens and young adults, many of whom were not even born when October, War, or Unforgettable Fire were released. THAT is what makes them great today. And that is the type of gauge that I believe should be used when it comes to measuring the greatness of a band.

 

[ashes2beauty]

Wow, one person says he digs U2's new album... and it turns into a debate.

Going along with what the original poster said... I also love U2's new album. Might be my favorite album since Joshua Tree. (which is my favorite album since "October".)

 

[MoreInSorrow]

Wow, one person says he digs U2's new album... and it turns into a debate.

Going along with what the original poster said... I also love U2's new album. Might be my favorite album since Joshua Tree. (which is my favorite album since "October".)

Yeah, I agree ashes. I thought ATYCLB was pretty good, but they were still working the kinks out there, it seemed. This release has them back in top form, in my opinion. And after seeing them a few weeks ago, their live show is just as good as the Joshua Tree/R & H era as well. Not that their tours in the '90s weren't good, they were just......different.

 

[ashes2beauty]

Yeah, I agree ashes. I thought ATYCLB was pretty good, but they were still working the kinks out there, it seemed. This release has them back in top form, in my opinion. And after seeing them a few weeks ago, their live show is just as good as the Joshua Tree/R & H era as well. Not that their tours in the '90s weren't good, they were just......different.

actually, I saw them for the first time in 97, and they were phenomenal... the pouring rain added to the show too, I must admit. I missed them in 2001, but I'm looking forward to seeing them in November. I downloaded some shows from u2torrents.com and I am getting very excited

 

[Bushido216]

It seems like people around here do that alot. Have a little humor in your life. If you see a post by me that seems so over the top that it couldn't possibly be normal, well, it isn't.

Spend a day in any of the debate forums. You'll understand my reaction.

While I contend that you're right, that record sales is an awful way, it's the best way relative to any other that maintains the most objectivity. Objectivity is my only goal in this exercise.

 

[Neenie]

HTDAAB is a masterpiece. Most of the songs on this album are allot deeper and emotional than ATYCLB. Although HTDAAB has a few mediocre songs such as Vertigo, Miracle drug and All Because Of You, the rest of HTDAAB has magic that the previous album lacks. There's only one thing I’m disappointed about, that is "Yahweh" it's too over polished and doesn’t have the same character as the Chris Thomas version has. When I first heard that version, I was completely blown away of how better it is than the Yahweh on the album. I will go as far to say that this is my favourite U2 song right now (at the moment)

For those of you that have heard about "the Complete U2" it has outtakes from the Bomb and ATYCLB sessions including previously unreleased tracks such as "Beautiful Ghost" from the Joshua Tree. Also new material such as "Smile" "Levitate" "Xanax And Wine" and "Native Son" they all sound pretty average except for smile which I think is better than sometimes you can't make it on you're own. Smile should have made it to the album why they didn't is beyond me. Hopefully they work on it a bit more and put it on the next album.

As for the Tour. Great setlist and it's good to see them bringing in old songs back from Boy. But Elevation should be scrapped, it just doesn't fit in. And other songs such as Pride, with without you, New Years Day, Sunday bloody Sunday just don't have the same power as the Joshua Tree/Lovetown era. I'd rank Lovetown and Popmart as their best tours, it was great how they re-constructed the old songs on Popmart, and I love Popmart so much that I downloaded the "entire" Tour just before the Bloodredsky site went down in 2003. But some shows won't play and I can't find replacement MP3's anymore But I'm replacing all my concerts in lossless format anyway which doesn’t matter.

Just for a news update, if people read the interview I posted in the "U2 fan thread" Bono said they have been talking about going back to the studio and remaking POP. This has been blown a bit out of proportion by the media, but if they do it I hope they don't completely strip the old feeling of POP. It isn’t worth fixing it though...

 

[Br0k3n]

actually, I saw them for the first time in 97, and they were phenomenal... the pouring rain added to the show too, I must admit. I missed them in 2001, but I'm looking forward to seeing them in November. I downloaded some shows from u2torrents.com and I am getting very excited

Sweet...didn't know they had a torrent (I dind't look though, so it'd be hard to find if I didn't put any effort into it. HA!). I wanted to see if I could get some tickets to their concert, but they're sold out completely! WOW!!! I'll check ebay or some other places, but I'm not going to pay a ton of cash for a concert. CD's are awesome enough. Ashes, thanks for sticking up and trying to get the forum back on the right track! Blessings coming...

 

[MoreInSorrow]

HTDAAB is a masterpiece. Most of the songs on this album are allot deeper and emotional than ATYCLB. Although HTDAAB has a few mediocre songs such as Vertigo, Miracle drug and All Because Of You, the rest of HTDAAB has magic that the previous album lacks. There's only one thing I’m disappointed about, that is "Yahweh" it's too over polished and doesn’t have the same character as the Chris Thomas version has. When I first heard that version, I was completely blown away of how better it is than the Yahweh on the album. I will go as far to say that this is my favourite U2 song right now (at the moment)

For those of you that have heard about "the Complete U2" it has outtakes from the Bomb and ATYCLB sessions including previously unreleased tracks such as "Beautiful Ghost" from the Joshua Tree. Also new material such as "Smile" "Levitate" "Xanax And Wine" and "Native Son" they all sound pretty average except for smile which I think is better than sometimes you can't make it on you're own. Smile should have made it to the album why they didn't is beyond me. Hopefully they work on it a bit more and put it on the next album.

As for the Tour. Great setlist and it's good to see them bringing in old songs back from Boy. But Elevation should be scrapped, it just doesn't fit in. And other songs such as Pride, with without you, New Years Day, Sunday bloody Sunday just don't have the same power as the Joshua Tree/Lovetown era. I'd rank Lovetown and Popmart as their best tours, it was great how they re-constructed the old songs on Popmart, and I love Popmart so much that I downloaded the "entire" Tour just before the Bloodredsky site went down in 2003. But some shows won't play and I can't find replacement MP3's anymore But I'm replacing all my concerts in lossless format anyway which doesn’t matter.

Just for a news update, if people read the interview I posted in the "U2 fan thread" Bono said they have been talking about going back to the studio and remaking POP. This has been blown a bit out of proportion by the media, but if they do it I hope they don't completely strip the old feeling of POP. It isn’t worth fixing it though...

Good thoughts. Some of that unreleased stuff form the "Complete U2" collection is prime. I got all of it through a couple U2 fan download sites, and it is really some great stuff.

I agree, HTDAAB is much deeper than ATYCLB, with the exception of Miracle Drug. I'm sure you heard the story behind that one, Neenie, but after I heard it, it gave me a whole new appreciation for that song, from a parents perspective.

And the way they do Yahweh live is unbelievable. I think they should not have made that song so polished for the album as well.

Can't wait to see them again in September!!

 

[Br0k3n]

What's the story behind "Miracle Drug"?

 

[MoreInSorrow]

Basically, it was about a kid they knew back in their schooldays, who was confined to a wheelchair. When he was born, he didn't get enough oxygen, so he lost most of his motor skills. But, as it goes, the mother did not give up on her son, and she said she could see the hope and determination in his eyes. Doctors were able to give him a drug that allowed him minimal movement, but still very little. But with that progress, they were able to get him a typewriter, so that he could type things. What came out of him were beautiful poems, etc. The point of the song is how the mother of this child believed in him enough to not give up, and how that was part of what helped him not only survive, but thrive.

"the songs are in your eyes, i see it when you smile
I've had enough of romantic love, I'd give it up, yes
I'd give it up, for a Miracle Drug."

That's the basic gist of the story. I probably got some details wrong, but even knowing that, go back and listen to the song again, through that mother's eyes. Totally changes the perspective, IMO.

 

[Voice of Thunder]

So I take the latest album that I didn't purchase yet, is a keeper. You all have such good advice up in here, up in here!

 

[Neenie]

Basically, it was about a kid they knew back in their schooldays, who was confined to a wheelchair. When he was born, he didn't get enough oxygen, so he lost most of his motor skills. But, as it goes, the mother did not give up on her son, and she said she could see the hope and determination in his eyes. Doctors were able to give him a drug that allowed him minimal movement, but still very little. But with that progress, they were able to get him a typewriter, so that he could type things. What came out of him were beautiful poems, etc. The point of the song is how the mother of this child believed in him enough to not give up, and how that was part of what helped him not only survive, but thrive.

"the songs are in your eyes, i see it when you smile
I've had enough of romantic love, I'd give it up, yes
I'd give it up, for a Miracle Drug."

That's the basic gist of the story. I probably got some details wrong, but even knowing that, go back and listen to the song again, through that mother's eyes. Totally changes the perspective, IMO.

Great explanation MoreInSorrow. You've given me more insight into the song that I didn't know before. I hadn't looked into it deeply enough because I just didn't like the feel of Miracle when I listened to it. I've heard Bono's speech about Miracle Drug from the Dublin concert November last year. But didn't take enough notice and forgotten about it. Now that you've brought it up and I've actually gone back to listen to the song a few times again (the live version). Looking at it from Christopher’s mothers eyes, it really does change the perspective of the song. I was nearly crying after giving it a few listens then, I never picked it up on it before because I didn't take much notice. Thanks for bringing it up.

And you're going to see them again in September? Awesome! I'm not sure why they do a re-tour in America everytime, what about Australia? I missed Popmart because of financial issues, and they skipped us during Elevation. If they skip us again I'm going to despise you American fans They have a big fan base here in Melbourne, so these rumors about them coming down under better come true.

BTW, what was the Zoo Station/The Fly combo like? After seeing pics of that part of the show, it looks like it would feel give the same feel of Zootv with the words flashing and all. And what was the highlight of the show? (If you don't mind me asking)

 

[SparkyMaddie]

its been played until my little sisters even know the words,I luv U2.

 

[rainbowprism]

I haven't been on the forums here in several months. I HAD to come in and see this thread though! Last month, I had the most amazing three days of my life! I went to see U2 in Chicago on the 9th and 10th, and then in Philadelphia on the 14th! I was buzzed into the ellipse both nights in Chicago and got front row and center! It was mindblowing. And the huge icing on the cake--I met Bono twice. My personal hero held my hands and called me 'sweetheart'. *dies*


I have a few pics if anyone is interested....they were taken with a disposable so they aren't the best quality but exciting to have nonetheless.


Did anyone else from here go to those shows?

 

[MoreInSorrow]

I haven't been on the forums here in several months. I HAD to come in and see this thread though! Last month, I had the most amazing three days of my life! I went to see U2 in Chicago on the 9th and 10th, and then in Philadelphia on the 14th! I was buzzed into the ellipse both nights in Chicago and got front row and center! It was mindblowing. And the huge icing on the cake--I met Bono twice. My personal hero held my hands and called me 'sweetheart'. *dies*


I have a few pics if anyone is interested....they were taken with a disposable so they aren't the best quality but exciting to have nonetheless.


Did anyone else from here go to those shows?

Wow rainbow, that's pretty awesome. I was at the Chicago show on the 9th as well. It was an EXCELLENT show. I'd love to check out any pics you have, hit me up a PM.

Neenie, yes, I am seeing them again in September, but at a hefty price. I got a General Admission ticket, but I had to do so on eBay, so I paid a bit extra *checks empty pockets*.......

They are finished with this leg of the American tour, and will be heading out for the European leg before coming back to the states. IF they come down under, I'm supposing it will be sometime next year, as they will be out on the 3rd leg of the American tour into the fall. But I bet they will come there spring 2006, unless they go back into the studio.

 

[ashes2beauty]

I think the U2 threads need a little "bump".

I just got my tickets to see them in tampa, and I'm excited

 

[foo-oswald]

I think the U2 threads need a little "bump".

I just got my tickets to see them in tampa, and I'm excited

Yeah, that reminds me: Just a few more months 'til I'll be seeing them in Dallas!!