al gore would have been rendered irrelevant, making the world a happier place?
al gore would have been rendered irrelevant, making the world a happier place?
al gore would have been rendered irrelevant, making the world a happier place?
great analysis. gives me a headache thoughIn 1989 or so, Bono talked about "killing the myth of U2" in a SPIN magazine article.
This "myth" was of U2's image that was created in the 80's. Bono preached - as did many other artists - but some how it was U2 that became "messianic". Perhaps it was U2's songs combined with Bono's long late 80's hair and U2's image of "only being about the music" that gave people this view. U2 could be political. U2 could be religious. U2 could save music.
Of course, some people hated U2 for those very reasons.
But had there been easy access to the 'net, like there is today, I don't think there would have been the "myth" at all. U2 fans would have known all there is about U2 and, given the nature of this website, most likely complained about all of it. LOL!
I'm positive that after "War", some fans would have hated TUF. It would be analogous to arguments we have now about "Pop" vs. ATYCLB. There would have been a surge of new fans due to JT, which I'm sure would have also caused problems. Some might have at first appreciated U2 having a bit hit, but then would have hated that U2 were now too popular.
Come R&H, I'm sure we would have heard fans complain either about not enough change or too much change. I recall hearing two comments about R&H from people - that U2 "changed" and that R&H was "too dark". How dominant would these thoughts have been on the 'net? Would fans agree with the critics about R&H or would they tear apart the critics (as they have done before)?
By AB, this place would have lit up regarding "The Fly". If fans thought "Desire" was a change, what would they think of "The Fly"? And what would the old school "Boy" through "War" era fans think? I'm sure some would have lashed out as "One" being a WOWY copy and MW and "Even Better Than..." as being throw-away pop tunes. Some would have complained about Bono's scratchy voice on "One" and how he's lost his vocal prowess.
The last album before the big internet boom was "Zooropa". Some JT era fans that tolerated and eventually enjoyed AB abhorred "Zooropa". I'm sure "Pop" was completely lost on those fans (who most likely returned with ATYCLB). But with songs like "Numb" and "Lemon", even I had to wonder if the U2 I loved in the 80's was gone. While I grew to really enjoy the album, I know many who did not.
In other words, all the adoration and vitriol for every release that we see now would have been the same back then. Fans would have torn apart songs based on Bono's lyrics and vocals, Edge's guitar work and Larry and Adam's beat. Some would love it, some hate it. Some would complain about the pudgy Bono of 1985. Some would have loved the thin Bono of 1987. But the mystique that U2 had back then would have been gone.
The upshot is that fans could have shared music far earlier. We could have seen and heard far more shows. We could have had access to rare tracks and rare performances. We could hear about release dates for upcoming projects. We would have had more photos. And by sharing, we create our own "myth" of U2, just as we've done now. It's just a different "myth".
Those that checked out when U2 turned to Achtung or Zooropa or Pop are, well, dead to us in here. .
To state the obvious, what we have in here are only recent/current U2 fans. Those that were either still fans with Pop, or came on board then or with later albums. Those that checked out when U2 turned to Achtung or Zooropa or Pop are, well, dead to us in here. It’s funny when you meet those long-gone U2 fans.
Some who turned off in the 90s returned in the 00s. My old manager was like that. We used to argue quite a bit. He used to trash Pop and said that HTDAAB was their best ever album. He also loved Matchbox 20 and the last time I saw him we were sharing a ride in a cab and he asked the driver to turn up the Frays “How to Save a Life”, so, enough said.
The funniest though are those you meet who checked out after War. They are far more militant than those who spit the dummy at the Fly. Far more annoying than those who think everything in the 90s was just some silly joke. They think U2 lost it when they went all soft and experimental with the Unforgettable Fire. That Eno killed U2. That they were just trying to be cool and trend-chase. You meet one every now and then “U2 – haven’t put a foot right since War”.
It all would have been hilarious if the net/this site were around then.
To state the obvious, what we have in here are only recent/current U2 fans. Those that were either still fans with Pop, or came on board then or with later albums. Those that checked out when U2 turned to Achtung or Zooropa or Pop are, well, dead to us in here. It’s funny when you meet those long-gone U2 fans.
I am dead? I checked out when U2 did a few turkeys for sure, but the next album I came back and checked back out again if I thought it was crap I LOVE U2, but I don't love ALL their music
Having that CD in your hands, looking at the pictures and notes while listening to it is a joy. Those days might be disappearing.
I would say the internet has killed the magic that used to surround a new u2 release back in the day. There used to be a lot more excitement surrounding the release of the likes of JT, R&H and AB on radio. Used to get u2 day when they released stuff....and would have mega competitions etc. And was exciting tuning in to hear the first plays of the new songs. Used to have to wait most of the day to hear them all, as the stations would play maybe 2-3 song on each DJs shows. The internet has taken the shine away.
It has and it has not. Thanks to the internet and through fan sites like this, I have been exposed to bands that I would not have been if I just had the radio to rely on. When I first joined this website, I was all about getting my hands on every single thing about U2. I think my obsessiveness and the ease of obtaining music and information about bands such as U2 may have killed my desire to know everything about U2. I no longer have the same interest that I did when I joined this site back in 2001. I have know idea when the new U2 album will be released.
Yeah, well, the internet has killed a lot of magic.
I'm 15 now... I don't know how I maintain decent grades with the time I spend on here.
If that's true, then that means we probably would have had G. Bush #1 win in '92, G. Bush #2 W win in '96 and we'd now have Jeb Bush as the U.S. President.
I came on board with Pop, but I'm sure there are fans who were around in the 80s and loved the 90s albums. My high school History teacher was one - when ATYCLB came out, he was saying that it's amazing that U2 were still around, and continuously putting out great albums.
I'm not saying that a lot of fans didn't jump ship with Zooropa, but there should still be a lot of older fans on here who love it all.
I think that the internet killed lots of things.
The days looking in the pictures and cd booklet where killed by CD!! I have all U2 singles and albums on LP / Vinyl. It looks wayysss better than a stupid booklet in a jewel case.
Allthought this is not as fun as it was when I bought the LPs.
the 80';s board would have killed the TUF transformation.
Internet porn has nearly killed the peeping tom business too. I remember back in the day you used to hear a lot about peeping tom's looking in windows to get a view. Now they just look at voyer cams and stuff. Its really not the same, or so i would imagine, because where is the danger in that?
Back in the '80s when I was first becoming a U2 fan, seeing an article in a magazine about them was something to be savored because it was my only real source of information about the band. Now I feel like I know entirely too much about U2. Some of the mystique is gone.
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Have to agree with you on this strongly. I remember clipping out newspaper and magazine articles on U2. It was a treat to listen to the radio on weekly countdowns and shows to hear news on the band. Nowadays you can google and find more information than you need.
I'm glad there wasn't internet in the 80s. Records were released, there were no leaks, you waited until a certain date to hear the new single on the radio then you waited till a certain day till the record was in the shop. The only discussion about the new song/record was with your friends...
I would say the internet has killed the magic that used to surround a new u2 release back in the day. There used to be a lot more excitement surrounding the release of the likes of JT, R&H and AB on radio. Used to get u2 day when they released stuff....and would have mega competitions etc. And was exciting tuning in to hear the first plays of the new songs. Used to have to wait most of the day to hear them all, as the stations would play maybe 2-3 song on each DJs shows. The internet has taken the shine away.
I remember marking down dates on the calendar when new singles and albums were coming out. The radio station would have a U2 day. It was like a holiday...a U2 holiday!!!
Yep...sitting at my grandmother's house watching videos all day until I get kicked out of the house to play outside. Those were the good ol' days... Not to get off track but do you recall the day they played all U2 videos prior to the release of Discotheque (or was it Pop)? I believe I still have that VHS tape somewhere...And there were actually music videos played on MTV. Oh the good old times
I was 13 when I became a serious U2 fan. I was known as the "U2 lover" with my peers and friends because no one else was obsessed as much as I was then. The internet would have been a way for me to chat with other people about the band during that time because no one else was interested in the band...however, I do not regret becoming a fan in the late 80s. It was a magical time! Sometimes I wish our society could go back to those days...