A must read article: An Open Letter To U2: What Happened To Your Relevance?

[The_acrobat]

It's true, the Apple/SOI backlash was the single most damaging thing this band has ever done to their image. Pop was just kind of a flop; people either liked it or left it alone. Rattle and Hum was definitely panned by critics and kind of annoyed people, but it still sold a crapload of copies. In the minds of millennials, there will always be an asterisk next to U2's name, that says *U2 are assholes that forced their album onto millions of iTunes users*. The negative effects of this move can't be underestimated.

U2 were never going to have another "Vertigo" sized hit at their advanced age, and with the current music scene. But the SOI "scandal" really sealed their fate.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

to be fair, Vertigo was huge. Has any band had a single that big since then? Maybe.... I don't follow the charts and I am sure that the good citizens of Interference will show me a list of a million songs that have outperformed Vertigo. But it seems that the era of mega hits (in Rock at least) has been over for some time and so it's not just U2 that are no longer able to pull them off anymore.

But as I said elsewhere or maybe in this thread, when they write shite, cringe-worthy lyrics set to electro pop crap synths as in TBT, well what would they expect. Leave that nonsense to Maroon 5 and the rest of the pop garbage peddlers out there.

 

[cobl04]

to be fair, Vertigo was huge. Has any band had a single that big since then? Maybe.... I don't follow the charts and I am sure that the good citizens of Interference will show me a list of a million songs that have outperformed Vertigo. But it seems that the era of mega hits (in Rock at least) has been over for some time and so it's not just U2 that are no longer able to pull them off anymore.

But as I said elsewhere or maybe in this thread, when they write shite, cringe-worthy lyrics set to electro pop crap synths as in TBT, well what would they expect. Leave that nonsense to Maroon 5 and the rest of the pop garbage peddlers out there.

This is one of the dumbest posts I’ve read in some time wow

 

[MrPryck2U]

It's all a matter of degrees. I know nobody here likes RHCP, but their singles "Dark Necessities" and "Go Robot" saw some chart action in 2016. They weren't huge, but they did better than any of U2's SOE singles, and RHCP has only been around a few years less than U2.

I love the RHCP! Those were 2 great tracks with Go Robot being one of my all time favorites from them.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

It's all a matter of degrees. I know nobody here likes RHCP, but their singles "Dark Necessities" and "Go Robot" saw some chart action in 2016. They weren't huge, but they did better than any of U2's SOE singles, and RHCP has only been around a few years less than U2.

Chili Peppers haven't embarrassed themselves on a global scale.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

This is one of the dumbest posts I’ve read in some time wow

I see you are still the bitter angry little thing you have always been. Keep it up, it's comforting to know some things don't change.

Or maybe you have something constructive to offer? Nah , didn't think so.

 

[Mac_Fly]

Oh god, not one of these Inception conspiracy theory people. You hear the top wobble before the film cuts to black, the sound is NOT uniform as it would be if it failed the reality test. Dom escaped and is legitimately back with his children, Nolan was just being cheeky to fuck with people.

The fuck you talking about? Conspiracy? That's my take on the film (for now). It IS just a film you know.

With Inception, one interpretation is about as good as another and THAT was what Nolan was really up to. He left it ambiguous for everyone to decide for themselves.

Anyway . . . I think the only chance U2 has for any real chart action at this point is to release RFD and it'll chart well on Adult Rock/Alternative charts for a few weeks.

 

[lazarus]

I almost understand where Iggy is going with this; it's hard to come up with recent actual "rock" songs from a band that were as ubiquitous as Vertigo was in 2004. Obviously the Apple ad was a huge part of that.

Having said that, it was 14 years ago. And it just reads like an idiotic statement because of the hyperbolic nature of the question. But at least Iggy was asking and not proclaiming "NO BAND HAS HAD A BIGGER SONG SINCE VERTIGO".

If we want to parse it further, Vertigo didn't even finish in the Billboard Top 100 songs chart for 2004. What rock songs did? Not many. Maroon 5 isn't rock so we can disqualify them. I don't know if I ever even heard Hoobastank's "The Reason" (#6), is this something people still know or talk about? Linkin Park's "Numb", Evanescence's "My Immortal", Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl", and that's it. Not a whole lot of legit rock in that list.

So the point is a legitimate one. Has Coldplay had some comparable hit in the intervening years? I certainly wouldn't call Viva La Vida's title track bigger than Vertigo.

 

[LuckyNumber7]

Viva la Vida was bigger than Vertigo.

So was Paradise.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

Viva la Vida was bigger than Vertigo.

So was Paradise.

Neither were true rock songs.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

I almost understand where Iggy is going with this; it's hard to come up with recent actual "rock" songs from a band that were as ubiquitous as Vertigo was in 2004. Obviously the Apple ad was a huge part of that.

Having said that, it was 14 years ago. And it just reads like an idiotic statement because of the hyperbolic nature of the question. But at least Iggy was asking and not proclaiming "NO BAND HAS HAD A BIGGER SONG SINCE VERTIGO".

If we want to parse it further, Vertigo didn't even finish in the Billboard Top 100 songs chart for 2004. What rock songs did? Not many. Maroon 5 isn't rock so we can disqualify them. I don't know if I ever even heard Hoobastank's "The Reason" (#6), is this something people still know or talk about? Linkin Park's "Numb", Evanescence's "My Immortal", Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl", and that's it. Not a whole lot of legit rock in that list.

So the point is a legitimate one. Has Coldplay had some comparable hit in the intervening years? I certainly wouldn't call Viva La Vida's title track bigger than Vertigo.

I didn't think I was being hyperbolic. But thank you for not being a dick, maybe others can take a lesson from you.

 

[LuckyNumber7]

Neither were true rock songs.

Well if we are going to go there, both Vertigo and those Coldplay songs are pop rock songs.

 

[Axver]

Viva la Vida was bigger than Vertigo.

So was Paradise.

I'd say Paradise was about equal with Vertigo. Both were fucking everywhere. Even if you didn't know the band or listen to radio stations that played them, the song still somehow entered your consciousness.

I only know what Viva La Vida sounds like because people suggested its resemblance to Winter. Would never have heard it otherwise.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

Well if we are going to go there, both Vertigo and those Coldplay songs are pop rock songs.

it's not where I am going, it's where I have always been. Point of my initial post was specific to Rock songs... I probably could have been more clear about that...

and Vertigo was a true rock tune, unlike the 2 CP songs you mention...

 

[LuckyNumber7]

I'd say Paradise was about equal with Vertigo. Both were fucking everywhere. Even if you didn't know the band or listen to radio stations that played them, the song still somehow entered your consciousness.

I only know what Viva La Vida sounds like because people suggested its resemblance to Winter. Would never have heard it otherwise.

Over in the states, Viva la Vida was the same way. Went #1 etc. - comparable success to Paradise. Perhaps even bigger. Perhaps not.

it's not where I am going, it's where I have always been. Point of my initial post was specific to Rock songs... I probably could have been more clear about that...

and Vertigo was a true rock tune, unlike the 2 CP songs you mention...

Sure, but you're just arguing semantics of what is and isn't a rock song. By classification, they're both subsets of pop rock. Unless you're defining a "true rock tune" as something that, I dunno, features distortion and has guitar solos... I'm not sure what a "true rock tune" is other than your opinion. I certainly don't know how Vertigo qualifies, either.

 

[lazarus]

Viva la Vida was bigger than Vertigo.

So was Paradise.

I wasn't aware that VLV was a #1 single on Billboard, which is impressive. It finished at #13 for the year,

But it should be noted that digital sales weren't counted back in 2004, so we can't accurately say where Vertigo would have placed. And Vertigo did reach #1 in the UK just like VLV did.

For what it's worth, Vertigo also hit #1 in Italy, Spain, Ireland, Denmark, Ireland as well. VLV was #1 in the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia in addition to the US and UK.

 

[kabigon]

It was also played heavily on top 40-styled radio stations, something U2 could only dream of now or since.

 

[Axver]

And, well, it's pretty much because of Vertigo that the change to include digital sales was made. Everybody knew it was #1, the charts just hadn't caught up to reflect that.

(I apologise if this post turns out to be the bat signal for Sting2's next alter.)

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I had five copies of Vertigo on cassette. Maybe if you guys did you're part instead of stealing the song from iTunes it would have hit number one.

Not if you'll excuse me I'm going to go wait at the box office in Boise for e/i tickets.

 

[Hewson]

Chili Peppers haven't embarrassed themselves on a global scale.

And they've performed nekkid, imagine the embarrassment if Bongo did that.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

Sure, but you're just arguing semantics of what is and isn't a rock song. By classification, they're both subsets of pop rock. Unless you're defining a "true rock tune" as something that, I dunno, features distortion and has guitar solos... I'm not sure what a "true rock tune" is other than your opinion. I certainly don't know how Vertigo qualifies, either.

me neither. Rock is like they say about porn - maybe I can't define it but I know it when I see (hear) it.

 

[lazarus]

And they've performed nekkid, imagine the embarrassment if Bongo did that.

The preview certainly isn't promising.

Put it away, put it away, put it away now...

 

[DaveC]

sometimes you get naked on your own

 

[womanfish]

Bowie too. REM were also better for longer. U2 never had a sustained stretch of greatness. War, TUF and TJT were all great, as were Achtung and Zooropa...but then there's Rattle and Hum, a lump of shit sitting right in the middle of the plate. The Stones, Beatles, Dylan, Kinks, Floyd, Rush, Zep, Bowie, REM, Byrds, Beatles (and others) all had runs of 5+ great albums (and, in the case of the 60s artists, a bunch of singles and b-sides).

Gotta chime in here. First, I am a HUGE REM fan. But of the bands listed above, i have to disagree on them having a better run than U2.
Lets be clear, U2's run started with Boy, a classic debut. And while October was a bit weaker, it is in no way a bad album. Rattle and Hum, while a bit janky with live versions and some odd tidbits thrown in, is an amazing album. Van Deiman's, Desire, Hawkmoon, Silver and Gold, Angel, Love Rescue Me, Heartland , God Part II , All I Want...
Hard to argue that it is a lump of shit...

I would also say that ATYCLB is considered one of the bands classics. My fave? nah, but very good album nonetheless. Bomb, while near the bottom of my list for them, is a favorite of many casual fans and was HUGE, along with multiple Grammys, including album of the year.

So all said, U2 really had a run from 1980 to 2004.
REM on the other hand, had a run from 1983 to 1994 if you want to include Monster (which i would) I would even say 1996 cause i love a lot of New Adventures, but half of that album could be chopped and I wouldn't miss it much.
The Beatles only existed from 1963 to 1970. Zep from 69 to 82. So that is just nonsense.
I don't think anyone matches U2 in as long of run of quality material.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Lol u2 never had an extended run of greatness.

This guy.

 

[corianderstem]

sometimes you get naked on your own

Ha ha haaaaa

 

[Iggy Fizz]

that pic of Bono was completely unnecessary.

 

[The_acrobat]

I'm a huge R.E.M. fan as well. Unfortunately as the years go by I find myself listening to them less, because it's all in the past now. I'll rectify that tonight.

They pretty much had a perfect run from 1982-1996, the Bill Berry years. Green does have Stand, but it's still a decent record. But IMO, Out of Time is a steaming pile of shit! Other than LMR and Country Feedback, I find very little of value there. That, to me, is a blemish on an otherwise amazing run. Monster is a challenging listen, much in the same way Pop is to some. But I love it. As previously stated, New Adventures in Hifi would benefit from being cut down a little, but it's still decent.

But OOT... ugh... give me Around the Sun any day over that.

Back on topic, I agree that U2 had a pretty perfect run from 1980-2004, 2006 if you wanna count the Vertigo Tour. There were of course a few misfires, but overall they did pretty good.

 

[namkcuR]

I'm a huge R.E.M. fan as well. Unfortunately as the years go by I find myself listening to them less, because it's all in the past now. I'll rectify that tonight.

They pretty much had a perfect run from 1982-1996, the Bill Berry years. Green does have Stand, but it's still a decent record. But IMO, Out of Time is a steaming pile of shit! Other than LMR and Country Feedback, I find very little of value there. That, to me, is a blemish on an otherwise amazing run. Monster is a challenging listen, much in the same way Pop is to some. But I love it. As previously stated, New Adventures in Hifi would benefit from being cut down a little, but it's still decent.

But OOT... ugh... give me Around the Sun any day over that.

Back on topic, I agree that U2 had a pretty perfect run from 1980-2004, 2006 if you wanna count the Vertigo Tour. There were of course a few misfires, but overall they did pretty good.

I couldn't disagree any more with this. For me, OOT is R.E.M.'s masterpiece. They were trying to go against the grain of what was expected of them, and it worked to perfection...the two songs you mentioned, Texarkana, Endgame, New Wild Heaven, Low, Belong, Half A World Away...it's a hauntingly beautiful record imo.

 

[lazarus]

Any R.E.M. “great run” that doesn’t include Up can get stuffed, Bill Berry or no Bill Berry.