Day 12

[cpratt]

Day 12. A song from a band you hate

These guys are from England and who gives a shit?

The day U2 was released, I bought a copy at Amoeba Records in Berkeley. The clerk warned me that I was not in fact buying a U2 record; my first instinct was to tell her "well, why the fuck else would I be buying this record

Comments

[cpratt]

Given that I hadn't heard anything from U2 in years, I can only assume that their product relaunch / brand extension / whatever you call this song was in fact quite the success!

[cpratt]

Did it come with a coupon for 10% off at CPK too? Wow. That is awesome.

[itchwoot]

I liked the Passengers thing with Eno.

[gorkabear]

Did you know that people actually don't understand the lyrics here when songs are sung in English? Latin Americans do much better in this.

I also belong to the legion of U2 haters. They're one of the reasons why I never became a good music listener. You see, as a teenager I was supposed to like one of the commercial bands of the era. In the late 80s, those guys were supposed to be a type of "true" band from Ireland, when they're just some kind of marketing product. The fact that I've seen 90% of music produced as marketing disposable stuff made me just look for music that makes me laugh.

As said, U2 is quite a symbol of this

[cpratt]

The best English lyrics are always from bands who don't actually speak English.

Here's a fun example from Germany:

Cheri Cheri Lady
Goin' through emotion
Love is where you find it
Listen to your heart
Cheri Cheri Lady
Livin' in devotion
Always like the first time
Let me take a part

No wonder they like David Hasselhoff so much.

[mister_grimbart]

No wonder they like David Hasselhoff so much.

I resent that.

[cpratt]

I think you meant to write "resemble."

:P

[fba]

The problem with U2 is that they are pompous beyond belief and Bono is probably the most self-righteous irritating twat in existence. That said - I do like a few of their albums. Everything prior to The Joshua Tree is good post-punk (albeit with an overly religious slant) and Achtung Baby has some amazing songs (notably 'One' which was done so much better by Johnny Cash).

[cpratt]

You forgot the whole part about ripping off already-established cultural traditions to sell more T-shirts. "Hey! American! Yeah! Rock and roll! We love the blues!!!"

[fba]

Heheh - even Bono hates Rattle & Hum era U2 :D

[muckefuck]

Everything prior to The Joshua Tree is good post-punk

"Back when they were a first-rate Irish band instead of a third-rate American one," as my buddy princeofcairo would say.

I actually liked the religiosity. It was a refreshing change from the sometimes snotty cynicism of so many other post-punk bands at the time.

[mister_grimbart]

I must admit to liking the "War" album, mostly because of Sunday Bloody Sunday. Other than that, I don't particularly care for their music, but I cannot say I hate them.
Music aside, Bono's in-your-face charity ego trip is rather irritating.

[cpratt]

Better a charity ego trip than the alternatives, at least...