mikal
Blue Crack Addict
Right. I think part of it is that it’s U2 as well. U2 kind of became the poster boys for the indie kids to hate. So their fucks ups made even more noise with a specific population.
Have U2's 21st century releases done irreparable damage to their legacy?
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Right. I think part of it is that it’s U2 as well. U2 kind of became the poster boys for the indie kids to hate. So their fucks ups made even more noise with a specific population.
So the magic phrase that pays isn't "u2 itunes.". My bad on that
It's "U2 album"
A search of "U2 album" from just now. All of these tweets are from today.
https://twitter.com/mitu10mudhar/status/1407459635817336836?s=19
https://twitter.com/lamashtu_ebooks/status/1407450913481150467?s=19
https://twitter.com/onfolkss/status/1407427865088495621?s=19
https://twitter.com/pissesonkids69/status/1407418245502717955?s=19
https://twitter.com/_solnic_/status/1407405400673107968?s=19
https://twitter.com/ZezeMillz/status/1407404427645014028?s=19
https://twitter.com/_tomash/status/1407403374031642626?s=19
https://twitter.com/Enjolraw/status/1407402065937133568?s=19
https://twitter.com/radz2002/status/1407353025476370435?s=19
https://twitter.com/omershapira/status/1407352677978099713?s=19
https://twitter.com/DJClark62/status/1407334157081010186?s=19
https://twitter.com/SchmidtStFleur/status/1407325358555381761?s=19
https://twitter.com/runliftmom/status/1407325128472543244?s=19
https://twitter.com/beyonceisavirgo/status/1407316504362852353?s=19
https://twitter.com/Ziggy_Str/status/1407230629243092993?s=19
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mikal
Blue Crack Addict
Again, not defending the whole debacle at all but man, reading couple of those. I don’t know that U2’s legacy hinges on some really fucked up people like the folks tweeting this stuff.
Not the point. It's still discussed, often, and negatively, seven years on.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
Oh I get that. But I do think it equally represents what’s wrong with our society. Like there has to be something seriously wrong with someone if they woke up this morning thinking “I’m going to tweet about a U2 that came out in 2014”, especially after all the things that have gone on in the world since then.
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
Special edition released straight to the microchip everyone who was vaccinated now has implanted in their brains
Yea I mean I don't think anyone woke up and said that, but it's still a train of thought kinda thing. It's also a thing that, you know, randomly pops up on people's phones when on shuffle - which probably leads to the majority of people's comments.
But it's also in news articles, late night TV, whatever. It's a cultural touch point, and not a good one.
You never want your worst moments to constantly pop up to remind people. But with this one - yea, that's exactly what it does. It's the bad joke that keeps on giving.
Like the tax thing still pops up, but it's not pervasive. Largely due to the fact that there isn't a daily reminder on millions of mobile devices to remind people of it.
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lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Seems pretty exclusive; you need to be an Apple Music subscriber and have AirPods or Beats headphones.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
The worst part of all of this is that this is truly Apple’s fuck up. Having used Apple products for years, I know well that it takes a lot to pass their quality control on the software side. Can’t believe they let this happen.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
It is pretty great. You can definitely tell the difference using AirPod Pros.
Well I don't necessarily believe it was all Apple's fault.
They released Invisible for free that same year, but you needed to actively search it out and download it. Apple has done free releases before. The pushing to everyone's library must have been an intentional move - and if it was Apple's idea? U2 could have (and should have) said no.
cobl04
45:33
I think you're being too defensive and reading too much into it. I hear it very often in real life as well, and it's always light-hearted. Suggesting there's something "seriously wrong" with someone who would have just had a thought pop into their head, chuckled and then tweeted it out is pretty silly.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
It’s been 7 years…
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
It’s definitely shared responsibility, but there’s no way Tim Cook would have been on board for iPhone users to not have the option to remove it from their library. That was definitely a software mistake that caused U2 so much bad press. If people could have just deleted it, then it may have gotten some jabs but nothing too bad.
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phanan
Blue Crack Addict
Indirectly related to the iPhone fiasco, they should have had SOI planned out better so that Invisible was the actual first single (and therefore on the album) using the momentum from the Super Bowl ad, but they had to go and fuck it up.
Do it the right way there, and there's no doubt in my mind Invisible is their biggest hit since Vertigo.
Do it the right way there, and there's no doubt in my mind Invisible is their biggest hit since Vertigo.
ChargedVT
Refugee
Problem is, immediately after releasing Invisible and having Bono shout they were "back" they got cold feet, as with every album, and let the likes of Tedder commercialise Danger Mouse's years of work. So they probably DID intend for Invisible to be the lead single at some point.
pacemaker
Refugee
Just Apple Music . Spatial Audio works on most, if not all headphones, there's just a setting that doesn't default to "Always On" for some reason. I believe AirPod/Beats users are not able to listen to Lossless audio while using BT headsets, which makes sense because bluetooth audio is the aural equivalent of a scented trash bag filled with Axe body spray.
I'm waiting for a larger selection of releases in Spatial Audio to really dive in as I'm mostly interested to see how it might re-contextualize music that I am already deeply familiar with. The one song I have listened to so far - When Doves Cry - had some really cool shit going on in it.
The Panther
Refugee
Most casual U2 fans had already checked out long before the 2014 release-strategy backfire. I highly doubt a bunch of 15-year-olds, born just before ATYCLB came out, were looking at their phones and saying, "Wow! These old Irish guys from my parents' day might be cool and I would like them, but now that they put a free album on my phone I HATE THEM!"
The 2009 No Line album did a lot of damage. People were just getting tired of them, there had been A LOT of over-exposure between Atomic Bomb and the latest album, the new singles all tanked, and the album was a boring snooze-fest. Their Indian Summer-of-Grace-period, circa 2000 to 2005, was officially over.
The 2009 No Line album did a lot of damage. People were just getting tired of them, there had been A LOT of over-exposure between Atomic Bomb and the latest album, the new singles all tanked, and the album was a boring snooze-fest. Their Indian Summer-of-Grace-period, circa 2000 to 2005, was officially over.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
This does bring up a good point. I really think it was after "Vertigo" where there was a shift. U2 was everywhere and kind of forced down the throats of the MTV TRL crowd to the point where there was a generation that had had enough. Post 2005 they stopped gaining new fans at a high volume.
With that said though, to answer the question of this thread, their legacy has been in tact throughout that backlash and the Apple thing considering they continue to sell out stadiums.
Even though U2 is taking an extended break, even if they were to announce a tour tomorrow, it would sell out.
I'm baffled by this take. What are you basing it on?
The album which did "a lot of damage" that turned people off to the over exposed band, ending their 2000-2005 grace period was only accompanied by THE LARGEST, MOST ATTENDED CONCERT TOUR IN THE HISTORY OF CONCERT TOURS.
No Line may not have broken through, but, uh, yea - it didn't damage their popularity. There's rather convincing statistics to prove that out.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
Yeah I think it's less of NLOTH, but more the fact that people were starting to get sick of them post 2005. And by people, I mean more of a loud, vocal group of Indie fans and younger folks. Publications like Pitchfork were taking pot shots at U2. Or go on an Atease message board and it was filled with hate towards U2. They were just find with the older generation at least.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
This. No Line may have been "boring" to casual fans who got off the train but it wasn't outwardly offensive in a way that would make people turn on them so viciously.
Shoving an album into people's private accounts, especially one that starts with The Miracle? Big difference there.
I can't believe this is even debatable. I'll say it again, it seems like a very insular perspective to dismiss what can easily be demonstrated with receipts, as Headache has done with both 360's numbers and Tweets about the iTunes debacle that are still happening on a daily basis.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
Well, the actual debate is the affect on their legacy, not what actually occurred. I agree that the iTunes thing sucked, it was bad and a true "WTF" moment. But 10 years or so from now when the band retires, and a documentary is made, maybe the iTunes thing will be mentioned, but highly unlikely. And if it is, it'll be a very minor blip.
That's my argument. U2 was cemented as an all time great already, mostly for what they did between 84-93 and again from 00-05. The iTunes debacle doesn't even put a small dent in that legacy, even if there are some random people that decide to tweet "OMG like I still can't get over that whole U2 album on my iPhone".
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Right but people making a documentary have a bias, so of course it's going to be a blip to them.
"Legacy" isn't something you're able to control the narrative of yourself, so it's hard to say how much SOI will be remembered when people are considering the band in the future. I don't think it's a case of it completely ruining their status as a pantheon act, but it's a big stain nonetheless.
"Legacy" isn't something you're able to control the narrative of yourself, so it's hard to say how much SOI will be remembered when people are considering the band in the future. I don't think it's a case of it completely ruining their status as a pantheon act, but it's a big stain nonetheless.
A few thoughts:
1. Their *legacy* will be fine. JT30 offered very recent proof of how fondly they’re regarded by the general listening audience.
2. Their mainstream run was effectively ended by NLOTH/Boots.
3. Their *reputation* was butchered by the SOI release method.
4. The noted similarities between PopMart and 360 are apt. They’re never playing US stadiums again for a new album unless it’s billed as the final tour. (Which it wouldn’t be. Because HIT$)
5. They can sell tickets without a new album. A deep cuts tour would allow them to avoid the image of yet another “old record” revival, avoid ALL HIT$ (til it’s time to retire), play to their core audience and take the pressure off forcing out something that’s not going to have a major impact anyway. Yes they’d really have to rehearse a lot but the concept lends itself to a looser atmosphere, who cares if it’s a little sloppy? Bono fucks up the lyrics to their biggest songs already.
1. Their *legacy* will be fine. JT30 offered very recent proof of how fondly they’re regarded by the general listening audience.
2. Their mainstream run was effectively ended by NLOTH/Boots.
3. Their *reputation* was butchered by the SOI release method.
4. The noted similarities between PopMart and 360 are apt. They’re never playing US stadiums again for a new album unless it’s billed as the final tour. (Which it wouldn’t be. Because HIT$)
5. They can sell tickets without a new album. A deep cuts tour would allow them to avoid the image of yet another “old record” revival, avoid ALL HIT$ (til it’s time to retire), play to their core audience and take the pressure off forcing out something that’s not going to have a major impact anyway. Yes they’d really have to rehearse a lot but the concept lends itself to a looser atmosphere, who cares if it’s a little sloppy? Bono fucks up the lyrics to their biggest songs already.
Legacy by definition needs to be long lasting and generational.
U2's standing with the 40 and over crowd is cemented.
With younger generations? Ehhhh...
And I don't mean "oh no, the kids won't listen to the new album or go to a show." That isn't happening regardless. But more of a respect for the aging rock gods kind of thing, vs. being seen as a punch line and warning about privacy and spam.
Their constant chase to stay currently relevant has robbed them of the opportunity to really age into their spot in the rock pantheon. The Family Feud Test, if you will. "Top seven answers on the board, name a popular rock band."
Of course none of this actually matters in the grand scheme of things. The olds have the money to spend on concert tickets and U2 are locked down with The Olds.
U2's standing with the 40 and over crowd is cemented.
With younger generations? Ehhhh...
And I don't mean "oh no, the kids won't listen to the new album or go to a show." That isn't happening regardless. But more of a respect for the aging rock gods kind of thing, vs. being seen as a punch line and warning about privacy and spam.
Their constant chase to stay currently relevant has robbed them of the opportunity to really age into their spot in the rock pantheon. The Family Feud Test, if you will. "Top seven answers on the board, name a popular rock band."
Of course none of this actually matters in the grand scheme of things. The olds have the money to spend on concert tickets and U2 are locked down with The Olds.
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mikal
Blue Crack Addict
"Legacy" is controlled by many factors, but I really don't see the iTunes debacle being that big of a stain, if one at all. I said this earlier, but Michael Jackson is still revered as an all time great, and he literally raped children.
Different topic for different day but Jackson's legacy and reputation is absolutely forever stained by the accusations. As it should be.
They’re in their early 60s. It’s the perfect time to choose to age gracefully in the Stones/Neil/Bob/Bruce tradition. Ignore trends, play to strengths and feel free to be weird. 30 years from now the big songs will still be classic rock radio staples.
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