ShipOfFools
War Child
Pop is a great U2 album.
Well, I sort of explained already below:
I'll elaborate if you like:
First of all the title and concept of "The Playboy Mansion" while I understand is a comparison to Heaven and while I think it's an awesome idea, it is a Western 20th century concept.
Some of the lines below are what really date the song:
If coke is a mystery
Michael Jackson, history
If beauty is truth
And surgery the fountain of youth...
What am I to do?
Have I got the gifts to get me through
The gates of that mansion
If O.J. is more than a drink
And a Big Mac bigger than you think
And perfume is an obsession
And talk shows confession
People and things like OJ, Coke, Obsession, Big Macs and even Michael Jackson are not really universal themes. Like I said in my quote above, if someone were to listen to this song 500 years in the future would they understand what Bono is talking about?
One thing that seldom gets said about Pop is that it is really dark. I would say it is by far U2's angriest and more despairing set of songs.
Those lines are not really dated, MJ is still in the news and so is OJ, who was just sentenced to that jail term.
What I love about the Michael Jackson name dropping in The Playboy Mansion is that it has a double meaning. It could mean that Michael Jackson's career was over, or it could mean the album HIStory (which MJ had just released around the time that Pop was written.)
It's a clever pop culture reference and play on words.
Lyrically, POP is incredible. The fact that it takes so much inspiration from European dance music makes it kind of a weird album, in that nothing on here feels celebratory. Instead, it's kind of flirting close to the edge of nihilism, and only seems to beg for some kind of meaning at the very end ("Please" and "Wake Up, Dead Man").
The album reminds me of what Noam Chomsky said in "Manufacturing Descent." I don't remember the exact quote, but it had something to do with having 30 seconds to two minutes in making a point for the TV medium. Even if you wanted to challenge long-standing ideas, in that amount of time, you'd end up sounding crazy, at best.
It's like U2 knew that they were making a pop-art statement, and Bono chose the words so wisely... everything seemed to be the perfect balance of decadent reverie and soul-searching. I can't help but feeling that some of the melodies were under-developed, and the album as a whole felt a bit unfinished, but so what? From the artwork to the intent to the delivery, it's a badass record... very ambitious. I can't think of anyone even attempting to make such a big statement about propoganda and popular culture. On the one hand, calling it "POP" assured that some people would never see how much they were ridiculing the idea of pop. The title alone provided fodder for people to think it was lightweight, when in fact, POP is probably the heaviest U2 album they ever made.
Listened to the album in full (for the first time in ages) whilst driving today. Lovely stuff
On the one hand, calling it "POP" assured that some people would never see how much they were ridiculing the idea of pop. The title alone provided fodder for people to think it was lightweight, when in fact, POP is probably the heaviest U2 album they ever made.
...everything seemed to be the perfect balance of decadent reverie and soul-searching. I can't help but feeling that some of the melodies were under-developed, and the album as a whole felt a bit unfinished, but so what? From the artwork to the intent to the delivery, it's a badass record... very ambitious...
Thats how Alan Partridge would describe it!
QUOTE]
Indeed. Or, as in the episode where he's reading out the comments of his autobiography: "Lovely stuff - not my words, the words of Shakin Stevens"
I was reading the Radiohead forum yesterday (atease.com) and there were a few mentions about how Pop is sooooo underrated. Seems like some Radiohead fans can see how good it is. Have to say they kinda hate HTDAAB and ATYCLB. Not bad judges in my opinion.
Can't forget the Passengers.
I really like what you say there. I was thinking of Pop earlier today, and how it's really the last U2 album that I truly believed in. Its 'flaws' are actually its beauty. For all of the blips and bleeps, and heavy use of technology, it doesn't sound contrived, in the least.
I'll also echo Ardy's remarks.
Playboy mansions RULES x342564
it has the best lyrics Bono has ever written.
If OJ is more than a drink. Everytime I hear a smile appears on my face.