ZooMacPhisto800
War Child
Mods - see Disclaimer at bottom
Those of us who critique the setlist are often met with the "casual fan" excuse. That is that U2 has to play certain songs because they have to please the "casual fans". This approach is grounded in the notion that U2 want to please as many in attendance as possible and, indirectly, maintain their status as the greatest band in the known universe.
I'd argue that U2 can play to these casual fans (amongst others) without constantly playing their greatest, greatest hits...
"Casual fans" know more songs that we're giving them credit for. They don't know only the "greatest, greatest hits", they also know the greatest hits. The fans currently termed "casual" ones, who seem to know only WOWY, Streets, SBS... would more aptly be called "people who own a radio" In other words, everybody knows those greatest, greatest hits. Casual fans, au contraire, bothering to buy a ticket, know a whole lot of U2...
IMHO (in my humble opinion...)...
Boy - A number
October - Not so much
War - A number
TUF - Lots of
TJT - Lots of
Rattle - Lots of
Achtung - Entire album
Zooropa - Most
Pop - Most
ATYCLB - Lots of
HTDAAB - Chunk of
NLOTH - U2 can play this, without justification anyway...
U2 doesn't have to vary their setlist every night - That's not what's being asked for... they just need to know that there is a greater number of songs from which to draw than they seem to realize... Even U2's "Casual fans" know a whole lot of U2... they are the biggest band in the known universe.
I think U2 would like to know this...
Disclaimer:
Mods, please feel free to merge this if you deem it appropriate. I think I'm coming from a different angle, and addressing an important issue, but if you feel this entire thing is redundant, please merge.
Those of us who critique the setlist are often met with the "casual fan" excuse. That is that U2 has to play certain songs because they have to please the "casual fans". This approach is grounded in the notion that U2 want to please as many in attendance as possible and, indirectly, maintain their status as the greatest band in the known universe.
I'd argue that U2 can play to these casual fans (amongst others) without constantly playing their greatest, greatest hits...
"Casual fans" know more songs that we're giving them credit for. They don't know only the "greatest, greatest hits", they also know the greatest hits. The fans currently termed "casual" ones, who seem to know only WOWY, Streets, SBS... would more aptly be called "people who own a radio" In other words, everybody knows those greatest, greatest hits. Casual fans, au contraire, bothering to buy a ticket, know a whole lot of U2...
IMHO (in my humble opinion...)...
Boy - A number
October - Not so much
War - A number
TUF - Lots of
TJT - Lots of
Rattle - Lots of
Achtung - Entire album
Zooropa - Most
Pop - Most
ATYCLB - Lots of
HTDAAB - Chunk of
NLOTH - U2 can play this, without justification anyway...
U2 doesn't have to vary their setlist every night - That's not what's being asked for... they just need to know that there is a greater number of songs from which to draw than they seem to realize... Even U2's "Casual fans" know a whole lot of U2... they are the biggest band in the known universe.
I think U2 would like to know this...
Disclaimer:
Mods, please feel free to merge this if you deem it appropriate. I think I'm coming from a different angle, and addressing an important issue, but if you feel this entire thing is redundant, please merge.