doctorwho
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ponkine said:"U2 has gone from the band that mattered most to arguably the most irrelevant".I totally agree with the line, I mean, U2 has become in another corporate product as Destiny´s Child, Madonna, Sting, Metallica, etc, etc. U2 were relevant in the 80´s and 90´s, but now they just are a nostalgia act
In YOUR opinion - and maybe that of this author. I, however, do not consider U2 "irrelevant" in any capacity. When I have people saying that the newest Coldplay or Killers or whatever song sounds like a new U2 song, it's clear U2 is not only highly relevant but highly influential.
When I listen to the recordings of the concerts held to date, I hear the audience sing along to the NEW songs just as much as the old. In fact, when U2 performed under the Brooklyn Bridge last November, fans were already singing along to the songs - and the album wasn't even officially released yet!! This to me says all you need to know about relevance. U2 are so relevant that TONS of fans downloaded the album before it was bought, learned the album well enough to sing along with songs, and then went out and bought the album - giving U2 their biggest first week sales ever! A non-relevant band wouldn't have this type of fan base... or sales... or mimicking by other bands. A non-relevant band wouldn't have the impact on society that U2 has.
If you're pissed about U2's more commercial aspects, then I have two things to say: (1) 2005 is not the 80's; (2) U2 did this in the 80's too.
U2 were on all sorts of talk shows, magazine covers, award shows and even did real commercials (non-music related ones too) in the 80's. Were you complaining then about U2's relevance? In 2005, a band needs a lot more than to just put out a good album and hope it sells. In the 80's, bands would get airplay - I'd hear obscure songs that would turn into hits thanks to daring DJ's. But in 2005, unless you do something sensational, radio doesn't play you. Unless you are part of ClearChannel's top artists, forget it. So please adjust to the fact that U2 advertising themselves does not deteriorate the quality of their music nor does it make them irrelevant!
I concur, a U2 doesn't have to enjoy everything U2 does - in fact, I've had more than my share of "complaints". But I see nothing wrong with a band promoting themselves. U2 have always felt this way - they said this in the 80's too.
It really seems like you have very selective memory - and I can't stand that! If U2 suddenly changed, I might understand your views. But they've been acting this way for over 20 years, but only now it annoys you.
