The setup was great, so great that I ended up watching the show from the screen most of the time even though I have good seats.
The Bono the activist act is wearing thin on me. This is not the cold war 80s anymore so it's hard to see the relevance nowadays. I also don't see the relevance between the nowadays Middle East tension and Sunday Bloody Sunday, a song written specifically for the IRA and UK conflict.
Overall, it's a good party show but I don't recall too many touching moments. With this tour coming close to an end, the question will be what will U2 do next?
Overall, it's a good party show but I don't recall too many touching moments. With this tour coming close to an end, the question will be what will U2 do next?
Hopefully STFU.
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The setup was great, so great that I ended up watching the show from the screen most of the time even though I have good seats.
The Bono the activist act is wearing thin on me. This is not the cold war 80s anymore so it's hard to see the relevance nowadays. I also don't see the relevance between the nowadays Middle East tension and Sunday Bloody Sunday, a song written specifically for the IRA and UK conflict.
Overall, it's a good party show but I don't recall too many touching moments. With this tour coming close to an end, the question will be what will U2 do next?
They do seem to be at the zenith of their relevance (as far as any new music is concerned). When I think of recent and good U2 music I think of the albums 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' and 'How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb' and then I realize that the former was released over ten years ago and the later coming up on 7 years ago. It seems as though they are a younger version of the Rolling Stones, where their popularity is unmatched and can sell out super-large venues at premium prices in perpetuity but yet probably won't have another hit song.
They do seem to be at the zenith of their relevance (as far as any new music is concerned). When I think of recent and good U2 music I think of the albums 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' and 'How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb' and then I realize that the former was released over ten years ago and the later coming up on 7 years ago. It seems as though they are a younger version of the Rolling Stones, where their popularity is unmatched and can sell out super-large venues at premium prices in perpetuity but yet probably won't have another hit song.
Except that Jagger and Richards never got annoyingly preachy and self-righteous.
Or maybe he feels he has a duty to say things to the audience that he has access to because he has been blessed with a rock star life and is just trying to help those less fortunate than him?
Nah, he is a ###### bag (female sanitary product that smells like springtime and vinegar stupid auto censor) and should be quiet and just sing his songs.
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I understand what you're saying. But really, because he's made millions singing doesn't give Bono (or any celebrity) carte blance to force their opinions down my throat.
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Originally Posted by Locke
Thats why Flames fans make ideal Star Trek fans. We've really been taught to embrace the self-loathing and extreme criticism.
I was there, and thought it was great. I've never been a huge U2 fan, but I do enjoy some of the stuff that gets played on the radio. Despite the preachy political stuff that Bono gets into during the show, the band puts on a good performance. Commonwealth is an awesome facility to a show like this. The stage was huge, I was about halfway up the second deck, and the seats were fantastic. I'd go again. Too bad they aren't doing two shows. They almost should with the amount of effort and money the stage must cost. I bet it would sell out again.
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But living an honest life - for that you need the truth. That's the other thing I learned that day, that the truth, however shocking or uncomfortable, leads to liberation and dignity. -Ricky Gervais
I understand what you're saying. But really, because he's made millions singing doesn't give Bono (or any celebrity) carte blance to force their opinions down my throat.
He's got the mic. Don't want to hear it, don't go, its that simple. No one is forcing anything down your throat.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
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He's got the mic. Don't want to hear it, don't go, its that simple. No one is forcing anything down your throat.
That's kind of silly. People aren't paying to hear his political crap. They're there for the music. If Bono wants to preach then he should maybe do it somewhere he's not charging people hundreds of dollars to see him. It's not like it was a free concert. Just comes across as totally self-righteous and insincere.
Pearl Jam got the crowd to boo Dick Cheney or something like that last time they played the 'Dome. So contrived, and we don't live in the US, just play your songs please, I didn't pay $80 to listen to your opinions on US politics.
Pearl Jam got the crowd to boo Dick Cheney or something like that last time they played the 'Dome. So contrived, and we don't live in the US, just play your songs please, I didn't pay $80 to listen to your opinions on US politics.
Yeah Eddie can be a pain in the ass like that too. I saw them in Vancouver last time and he wasn't too bad, just spent a bit of time bitching about how much they hate Seattle now.
Pink Floyd and all their derivatives use their shows as a political backdrop, The Beatles got political and religious, there are simply hundreds of "celebrities<sic>" that use their stage as a pulpit. Pete Seeger was likely one of the first to really use the stage for that purpose, Jona Baez, Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan, CSNY, Bruce Springsteen, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and of course the Sex Pistols all come to mind as well.
Everyone knows going into these shows what they are all about and what they are in for. Ive got my tickets for the Toronto show, looking forward to it, preaching or not.
They do seem to be at the nadir of their relevance (as far as any new music is concerned). When I think of recent and good U2 music I think of the albums 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' and 'How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb' and then I realize that the former was released over ten years ago and the later coming up on 7 years ago. It seems as though they are a younger version of the Rolling Stones, where their popularity is unmatched and can sell out super-large venues at premium prices in perpetuity but yet probably won't have another hit song.
Fixed.
U2 will always be popular as their music was always incredibly catchy, anthem like music for two decades that really lacked that kind of a group. Musically they are still a great band but rehashing their old glory. At least Mick Jagger started coming out with new and different things in his solo career as the years went by, even into old age. I don't see Bono or U2 doing that.
It has been fun seeing them all deal with age in their different ways. The Edge putting on the silly hats in the late 80s when he was afflicted with the horrible disease of male pattern baldness...and Bono putting on the silly colored glasses when afflicted with the horrible disease of vanity and self-importance.
I make fun of them but they grew up in a still very sectarian Ireland and personally dealt with many conflicts and religious issues as well. IIRC, they met as a church group or something which has always influenced the religious undertones in their music and is a catalyst for Bono trying to be a force for good. I may not always agree with them but it's nice to have a band that tries to put out important messages and fight for certain causes rather than the many vapid two-dimensional bands that will always be in the majority.
U2 come out of an era of 80s activism, a sort of 80s hippie revival where musicians tried to fight for certain causes and principles. It's something you really don't see today in popular music. I'd recommend getting the 1985 Live Aid DVD set to check out some of that.
That's kind of silly. People aren't paying to hear his political crap. They're there for the music. If Bono wants to preach then he should maybe do it somewhere he's not charging people hundreds of dollars to see him. It's not like it was a free concert. Just comes across as totally self-righteous and insincere.
Its not like they didn't play the music. Also, the music itself is political. U2 always has been. If you aren't expecting a political message from U2 or Pearl Jam, or Radiohead, or anyone who expresses an opinion, you haven't been paying attention. They are preaching to you when you put the CD on and they will have their opinions when you see them live. If you don't jive with the message, fine, but these are people, not dancing monkeys that you can expect to supress their opinions.
I'm not going to Toby Keith concerts because I don't like his brash right wing pro USA songs or attitude. Not sure why you would want to go to see U2 if they are too political for you.
Perhaps an apolitical concert like Justin Bieber would be more entertaining for those offended by the likes of Bono or Eddie Vedder.
__________________
A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
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I go because while I don't necessarily subscribe to the message, I enjoy the music and the atmosphere.
__________________
But living an honest life - for that you need the truth. That's the other thing I learned that day, that the truth, however shocking or uncomfortable, leads to liberation and dignity. -Ricky Gervais
Pearl Jam got the crowd to boo Dick Cheney or something like that last time they played the 'Dome. So contrived, and we don't live in the US, just play your songs please, I didn't pay $80 to listen to your opinions on US politics.
I went to a Toby Keith concert in 2002 at the Dome. A big part of his show at the time was hating on the Dixie Chicks. I like both acts as musicians and singers. I couldn't care less about US politics. What I didn't understand was why he was bashing them for having the opposing political view as he did. He liked Bush, they didn't. He likes free speech because he's so patriotic, but he doesn't want someone to speak against him. When he started his spiel it was definitely time to get a beer and wait for it to be over.
When the Dixie Chicks came to town in 2006 I went there as well. They saw a sign about Bush and had it brought up on stage, talked for about 15 seconds that they like Canada and went on with the show. I'm not sure why any American musician talks about their politics with Canadians at concerts. It doesn't seem relevant.
Anyone At The U2 Concert Last Night?
which has always influenced the religious undertones in their music and is a catalyst for Bono trying to be a force for good. I may not always agree with them but it's nice to have a band that tries to put out important messages and fight for certain causes rather than the many vapid two-dimensional bands that will always be in the majority.
