Album cover - Fanning - SoE

[Diemen]

Ugh. It's unfortunate in this day and age that a photo of a bare-chested father hugging his bare-chested son is somehow controversial. And even worse, that a father hugging his son is mistaken for pedophilia.

It's extremely unfortunate that people continue to make casual links between homosexuality and pedophilia without realizing how completely offensive and dehumanizing that is. I have little sympathy for people who complain about the intolerance shown towards them when they're making a direct link between homosexuality and those who prey on little children. Not all viewpoints deserve tolerance.

It's also unfortunate that people here take offensive statements as a sign that they can be as insulting in response as they want to be.

 

[Nick66]

The larry cover is on the Barnes and Nobles website as the cover today..

Barnes and Noble Best Sellers Rank: U2 Songs of Innocence > #1 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #1 in Music (CD) > Dinosaur Act > Dinosaur Porn > Dinosaur Gay Porn

 

[anitram]

I am neither a homophobe nor do I think it's pedophilic or anything like that, but I don't like it because at the end of the day it strikes me as creepy. And I've been thinking about why I feel that way and I think it's that the son's face is cut off in a very (to me) weird and unnatural way.

 

[rennowba]

Barnes and Noble Best Sellers Rank: U2 Songs of Innocence > #1 in Music (See Top 100 in Music) #1 in Music (CD) > Dinosaur Act > Dinosaur Porn > Dinosaur Gay Porn

Dinosaur gay porn ??

Weres that from??

 

[U2NativeSon]

I could see how some people may see that image as a bit creepy. But, really it is a nice picture.

For most fans, they will have already seen the photo before the physical release is available. Many fans now know that it is Larry's son.

As a father, I think it is a beautiful image. We try so hard to make our boys into young men, the time passes quickly. I wish it was possible to hold on to them as kids for as long as possible.

The image is perfect. A young man being held on to by his father. The father wanting to protect him and keep him young and innocent. And it is Larry, I imagine he feels a little bit like he lost some youth and innocence at that age.

I honestly don't see the "homosexuality" in it at all. I remember when Boy was released and the weirdness that followed with claims of paedophilia with the withdrawn cover, the Boy image was and is a piece of art. Again, going back to innocence.

Brave choice by the band, great image to reflect the songs on the album. I guess true beauty can't be seen by all, some see only what they want to see.

 

[BoMac]

Love the cover. Fits thematically with the album, I think, because it portrays how a father views his son, as still an innocent child no matter how old they are.

Not sure that makes any sense.

 

[loudreamer]

I love that image for the cover, I think it's very powerful.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Sadly option 2 is much much much much much more plausible.

Yup

 

[Earnie Shavers]

Unless they're now committed in some way - wider Apple agreement.

 

[Reggie Thee Dog]

Unless they're now committed in some way - wider Apple agreement.

Agreed...I see the tendency to want to blow off SOE as all Bono-talk, but I think it's definitely tied into the Apple deal. SOE is much more probable than SOA ever was...and probably at a more complete state than SOA was.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Maybe. We'll see.

 

[david]

Here are other pictures of the booklet:

Credits: Marcelo Simões - U2BR.COM

Yeah, looking at it now, if printed the right side image of Larry would be the CD booklet cover, and the image of the band would be the last page, with the song lyrics being inbetween.

 

[Reggie Thee Dog]

Maybe. We'll see.

Yeah, we will...it's still a year or so away...I'd think...

 

[Registered Dude]

wonder if it's a Corbijn image, that cover

 

[Max_theHitman]

Good points of view about the new album cover, guys and gals.
It´s always great to talk to a U2 fan. They are always honest and some of the best
people in the world to talk to.

No matter what you may like, or may not like, all it really matters is the MUSIC.
The songs by themselves and lyrics.
This is an exceptional good album and its well recorded.

I am a long time fan of U2, but I have only listened to this new album a few times
since it came out on the web. . All I needed was a second listen to know this was a
great album. The melodies linger in the mind for a long time after you stop listening to
the song, so its a great thing.

Whatever album cover they come out with , it does not really matter.
What matters is the MUSIC !

I do not know if the photos are by Corbijn but it its very good.

 

[Niceman]

Ugh. It's unfortunate in this day and age that a photo of a bare-chested father hugging his bare-chested son is somehow controversial. And even worse, that a father hugging his son is mistaken for pedophilia.

It's extremely unfortunate that people continue to make casual links between homosexuality and pedophilia without realizing how completely offensive and dehumanizing that is. I have little sympathy for people who complain about the intolerance show towards them when they're making a direct link between homosexuality and those who prey on little children. Not all viewpoints deserve tolerance.

I agree very strongly with these two points.

 

[david]

Ugh. It's unfortunate in this day and age that a photo of a bare-chested father hugging his bare-chested son is somehow controversial. And even worse, that a father hugging his son is mistaken for pedophilia.

It's extremely unfortunate that people continue to make casual links between homosexuality and pedophilia without realizing how completely offensive and dehumanizing that is. I have little sympathy for people who complain about the intolerance show towards them when they're making a direct link between homosexuality and those who prey on little children. Not all viewpoints deserve tolerance.

It's also unfortunate that people here take offensive statements as a sign that they can be as insulting in response as they want to be.

Well said. I shared the image on a popular audiophile message board I post at and the first response was "yuck."

 

[gvox]

Well said. I shared the image on a popular audiophile message board I post at and the first response was "yuck."

Can you imagine if they were audiomanic?




Sent from my ass crack

 

[Nick66]

Ugh. It's unfortunate in this day and age that a photo of a bare-chested father hugging his bare-chested son is somehow controversial. And even worse, that a father hugging his son is mistaken for pedophilia.

It's extremely unfortunate that people continue to make casual links between homosexuality and pedophilia without realizing how completely offensive and dehumanizing that is. I have little sympathy for people who complain about the intolerance show towards them when they're making a direct link between homosexuality and those who prey on little children. Not all viewpoints deserve tolerance.

It's also unfortunate that people here take offensive statements as a sign that they can be as insulting in response as they want to be.

I agree very strongly with these three points.

 

[chrissybaby]

Love the cover. One of their best IMO. Certainly their best in 14 years.

 

[Aygo]

There's room if you make room if for those that think differently than you...

I should be "allowed" to not like the album cover because I think it's gross...will you permit me to have my own opinion?

I am a father and I have a son, and I can think of a THOUSAND images that would do a better job of conveying "innocence".

Nice. Gives some examples that could be as strong as this one.

 

[corianderstem]

Bono is already talking about Songs of Experience not being here for 12 to 18 months,

Crap, really? Was this in one of the recent interviews? I know the Apple thing was supposed to be 18 months away, and people were speculating they'd hold back on SOE until then, but was there something more concrete that I missed?

Edit: never mind, I saw it in another thread. Damn!

In Time's forthcoming cover story, Bono hints that the band's next record is "about 18 months away" and will be released under the new file format.

 

[anticipation33]

As a 17 year child abuse professional, the image is disturbing mainly because the young son's face is not shown in the photo particulary given the location of Larry head on the pose. This is a technique that child abuse monsters usually use.. which is obsure the face of their victims. If Larry was standing the issue would be negated. If The face was shown the issue would be negated. However the combination is where the problem is. I do not think that U2 is aware of most unfortunate coincidence and connection with the most vilaneous underbelly of society. I love the album and songs so much and am a super fan of U2 for the last 24 years but I think that these disturbing connections may really harm the public's perception of the album. I suspect that many people may be turned off from buying it becasue of it. And not because of any homophobic reason but for the reasons I cited above. I for example will buy a copy of all versions of the album of course but will not be buying extra copies to give to my family as Christmas presents like I normally have done due to this issue.

I really pray that I am wrong and it won't be an issue as I believe I understand what they're trying to do with the photo but I don't know and am really worried about it as someone who really loves U2..

Please someone help me feel better and prove me wrong..

 

[God Part III]

I'm genuinely curious: What does it mean to be a 'child abuse professional'?


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

 

[anticipation33]

I'm genuinely curious: What does it mean to be a 'child abuse professional'?


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

Investigating case of child abuse and neglect as a government worker the last 17 years in conjunction with law enforcement.

 

[rennowba]

As a 17 year child abuse professional, the image is disturbing mainly because the young son's face is not shown in the photo particulary given the location of Larry head on the pose. This is a technique that child abuse monsters usually use.. which is obsure the face of their victims. If Larry was standing the issue would be negated. If The face was shown the issue would be negated. However the combination is where the problem is. I do not think that U2 is aware of most unfortunate coincidence and connection with the most vilaneous underbelly of society. I love the album and songs so much and am a super fan of U2 for the last 24 years but I think that these disturbing connections may really harm the public's perception of the album. I suspect that many people may be turned off from buying it becasue of it. And not because of any homophobic reason but for the reasons I cited above. I for example will buy a copy of all versions of the album of course but will not be buying extra copies to give to my family as Christmas presents like I normally have done due to this issue.

I really pray that I am wrong and it won't be an issue as I believe I understand what they're trying to do with the photo but I don't know and am really worried about it as someone who really loves U2..

Please someone help me feel better and prove me wrong..

It looks like two men to me,it isnt really larry hugging a child is it. Its two shirtless men hugging in a really weird position.

 

[anticipation33]

I am also concerned for Larry's son as well as Larry. He seems like a great guy who is protective of his family's privacy. I don't know if they realize what can of worms they may be opening up internationallly and at home with a photo such as this. I am surprised that Larry would allow his son to possibly to be set up for problems because of this. I wonder if its still not too late for them to change it. If not I hope that it turns out ok..

 

[Moser]

This quite possibly the queerest overreaction I've ever seen...

 

[Reggie Thee Dog]

This quite possibly the queerest overreaction I've ever seen...

LOL...that's funny, in so many wrong ways...but I have to agree. I would always advocate for 'victims', but this picture is not any sort of product of or for, child abuse.

 

[Nick66]

What I find fascinating is the contrast between the initial reaction, almost all negative, to this cover in the first hours that it broke, vs. now that people have had the chance to read the views of others and process the imagery.

And almost all the negative comments, many from long time members here, were negative because people didn't like the use of a "child" in this kind of suggestive imagery. One of us suggested that it looked like it could be Michael Jackson cover. Again, most of the negative reactions were over the perceived sexualisation of a child...the bigoted comments from the homophobes came later.

The thing is, we're all U2 fans, most of us are pretty smart, and we know U2's use of this imagery, are inclined to give the band the benefit of the doubt and can reconcile all of this intellectually. But given that the first, initial reaction was pretty visceral in a negative way, it does make me wonder about the kind of power this image has built into it, and how the general public is going to react.