Spring Break
Column: How could they?
Brad York/Senior Verge Reporter
Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: The Verge
With the release of "No Line on the Horizon" it could be assumed that a fair share of U2 fanatics rushed to their local record shops and Wal-Marts to pick up the album that was released Feb. 27.
My question to them is, why?
"No Line on the Horizon" is the band's 13 album ever released.
Of the remaining 12, only one of which was recorded from a live performance.
It could be assumed that everyone has heard or knows at least one of U2's songs, even if it is inadvertently, but just because they have been in the music industry for so long does not mean we are obliged to like them.
With front man Paul Hewson, a.k.a, Bono, leading the way, the band has formed one of the largest worldwide fan bases.
Through Bono's various activist groups and volunteering he has become a leading figure in philanthropy and an ideal world citizen.
What I fail to see in Bono and U2 is a musical talent that so many others value until death.
I'm not here to aggravate the die-hard U2 lovers by any means.
I instead am opening the doors for someone to please show me why U2 is placed on such a pedestal.
U2 has certainly developed a sound that is very much their own since they first began in 1976, but what many see as great sounding U2 music, I see as simply another whiny song by a band that has over stayed its welcome.
U2 is unique in another factor.
It seems that very few people sit borderline with their feelings towards U2. It is either you love 'em or hate 'em.
With this in mind, on Feb. 27 I spread the word throughout campus about the release of "No Line on the Horizon."
I must have told at least 25 to 35 people, all of which hadn't heard anything about it, hadn't heard a single off it or simply didn't care.
Yet, with all this said, the band still made it on the cover of Rolling Stone and Spin magazines, and the album peaked at number one on the Billboard Top 100.
Maybe it is my ignorance or bad judgment, but I have never found a band or artist with success similar to U2's that so many people simply don't care about.
Maybe I just need a lesson by master Bono to witness the miracle that is U2.
My question to them is, why?
"No Line on the Horizon" is the band's 13 album ever released.
Of the remaining 12, only one of which was recorded from a live performance.
It could be assumed that everyone has heard or knows at least one of U2's songs, even if it is inadvertently, but just because they have been in the music industry for so long does not mean we are obliged to like them.
With front man Paul Hewson, a.k.a, Bono, leading the way, the band has formed one of the largest worldwide fan bases.
Through Bono's various activist groups and volunteering he has become a leading figure in philanthropy and an ideal world citizen.
What I fail to see in Bono and U2 is a musical talent that so many others value until death.
I'm not here to aggravate the die-hard U2 lovers by any means.
I instead am opening the doors for someone to please show me why U2 is placed on such a pedestal.
U2 has certainly developed a sound that is very much their own since they first began in 1976, but what many see as great sounding U2 music, I see as simply another whiny song by a band that has over stayed its welcome.
U2 is unique in another factor.
It seems that very few people sit borderline with their feelings towards U2. It is either you love 'em or hate 'em.
With this in mind, on Feb. 27 I spread the word throughout campus about the release of "No Line on the Horizon."
I must have told at least 25 to 35 people, all of which hadn't heard anything about it, hadn't heard a single off it or simply didn't care.
Yet, with all this said, the band still made it on the cover of Rolling Stone and Spin magazines, and the album peaked at number one on the Billboard Top 100.
Maybe it is my ignorance or bad judgment, but I have never found a band or artist with success similar to U2's that so many people simply don't care about.
Maybe I just need a lesson by master Bono to witness the miracle that is U2.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Justin Burke
posted 4/10/09 @ 1:01 PM CST
The reason why U2 is popular is pretty obvious - people like them. They like the music. I don't think there's much mystery there.
Given the scope of their career in terms of length and breadth, the fact that they top sales charts shouldn't be a shock. (Continued…)
Post a Comment