U2: Zooropa Album Review - Pitchfork

[dk42]

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/u2-zooropa/

Well, here it is. What do you think?

Overall, it's pretty balanced and a solid review I think. This album has held up well IMO, and still sounds great in 2020. I wish U2 would revisit more often. Yes, Stay is lovely but there are other incredible songs here.

 

[cobl04]

Very well-written and contextualises the record really well. Just wish it had a bit more to say about the music, which is why I love the record!

 

[Hollow Island]

They could have chopped the 100 words devoted to slamming the band and used that space to discus the music.

 

[MattD]

They could have chopped the 100 words devoted to slamming the band and used that space to discus the music.

Hmm, I think its good in highlighting how their activism was once more subversive and poignant, whereas nowadays it’s commercialised and egocentric, both in and out of the music. An understanding perhaps of how U2’s credibility has fallen amongst critics.

 

[Diemen]

Hmm, I think its good in highlighting how their activism was once more subversive and poignant, whereas nowadays it’s commercialised and egocentric, both in and out of the music. An understanding perhaps of how U2’s credibility has fallen amongst critics.

Commercialized and egocentric? I’d say being willing to look totally uncool and compromise in order to get results isn’t very egocentric at all. This focus on how cool your activism looks is silly considering the point of activism should be to get results.

 

[Hollow Island]

Hmm, I think its good in highlighting how their activism was once more subversive and poignant, whereas nowadays it’s commercialised and egocentric, both in and out of the music. An understanding perhaps of how U2’s credibility has fallen amongst critics.

It's good at highlighting how the left would rather look cool while making a point than get things done. It's good at
ignoring that their activism, while not subversive and poignant, has fantastic tangible results in the form of lives saved.

There is room in their art for subversive activism though. I don't see why they can't be the Sarajevo link up band and the (Red) band. It's also worth noting that there was significant disagreement in the band about the Sarajevo ZOO TV stuff, and that it was criticized at the time.

 

[Irvine511]

This is pretty good. Expected, but good.

The critique about Bono-centric activism is fair, but it’s also how it was done 15-20 years ago when the celebrity face was needed to draw eyeballs to an issue. You’ll notice how a lot of, say, cooking and travel shows (Bourdain) started out being host centric and very much their POV — very much “I’m a white man in Africa here to tell you about my experiences amongst these surprisingly ingenious folks” — and evolved over the past decade to getting the host out of the way and centering folks who aren’t usually central to the narrative. It’s an evolution, and a positive one, and I’m sure it would be done differently today. In the way that Bono’s early ‘00s work was a big progression from the patronizing 80s “Bono, do you suppose starving Africans know it’s Christmas? No one should starve in Christmas.”

Bono was also a bigger cultural presence by 2002 than he was in 1993.

But yeah, the album is fucking great. 1992/3 remains their peak, and Zoo TV their best and longest lasting artistic statement.

 

[Fangorn]

I usually hate Pitchfork, but this was surprisingly a really good read! Zooropa is by far one of my favourite albums of all time.

 

[david]

Yeah, that was a great read.

 

[ascender_RS]

That's a good read, thanks for sharing.

I was 18 when Zooropa came out and its hard to describe the excitement I felt when reading the NME that U2 were planning to record an EP following Zoo TV. For a start, remember when we'd get our news about bands by weekly publications like that, or monthly magazines like Q.

Then news came that the EP had become an album... they were jetting back to Dublin between shows to finish it... and then Zooropa dropped.

Zooropa and Pop might not be their objectively best albums, but they're two of my favourite U2 albums.

 

[An Cat Gav]

But yeah, the album is fucking great. 1992/3 remains their peak, and Zoo TV their best and longest lasting artistic statement.[/QUOTE]

Amen.

 

[U2387]

This is pretty good. Expected, but good.

The critique about Bono-centric activism is fair, but it’s also how it was done 15-20 years ago when the celebrity face was needed to draw eyeballs to an issue. You’ll notice how a lot of, say, cooking and travel shows (Bourdain) started out being host centric and very much their POV — very much “I’m a white man in Africa here to tell you about my experiences amongst these surprisingly ingenious folks” — and evolved over the past decade to getting the host out of the way and centering folks who aren’t usually central to the narrative. It’s an evolution, and a positive one, and I’m sure it would be done differently today. In the way that Bono’s early ‘00s work was a big progression from the patronizing 80s “Bono, do you suppose starving Africans know it’s Christmas? No one should starve in Christmas.”

Bono was also a bigger cultural presence by 2002 than he was in 1993.

But yeah, the album is fucking great. 1992/3 remains their peak, and Zoo TV their best and longest lasting artistic statement.

EXCELLENT post!! Always enjoy reading your thoughts.

That is perfect insight on the evolution of activism. I'd noticed and digested the change in Bono from the 1980s to the early/mid 2000s but hadn't given any thought to the changes since then. Looking back, assisted by your examples, you really couldn't be any more spot on! That's how it was done, indeed.

I think there's a tendency in society to look at 2000/the new century as some huge, defining turning point. To lump post 2000 together. Consequently, we tend not to focus as much on the tremendous changes that have occurred within the last 20 years. However, when you reflect on it, things really were different in how issues were approached and how celebrities interacted with those issues.

I , too, never saw it as an ego thing with Bono. Hell, we all know he doesn't have to do any of this to make the band successful. He's been set for life for many, many years, immune to financial ruin even if he were a gambling fiend (or had any other vice imaginable besides eating and drinking ) and spends a lot of time and money on these causes. Not to mention, subjecting himself to endless criticism for who he works with, how he approaches things, etc, etc.

If he were an ego maniac, he'd have some Kardashians style show, or a chain of mediocre restaurants with his name and face on it or whatever else stupid that celebrities come up with on the regular.

 

[Muldfeld]

Excellent review and I loved the fair criticism, too! (Bono's still pumping up the George W. "Let's campaign to put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court" Bush brand and endorsing corporatists; he recently attacked the fact that not enough conservative universities were popular in some talk with Chris Rock for U2.com, where they attacked progressives using straw men. Today's Bono didn't endorse Bernie, where '80s Bono might have.

Read "Bono: In the Name of Power". Disgraceful!)

This was the first album I ever bought and it made me realize things about the meanings of the songs I hadn't even considered, especially "Babyface"; I had no idea that it was about lonely voyeurism. Can't endorse this review enough.

I wish this person had reviewed U2's rereleases instead of some other Pitchfork reviewers, particularly that horrible Ryan Dombal, who hates on The Cure, but loves The Killers and Katy Perry; he can screw off. How can you hate U2, but love The Killers, who've never created even great music to start with?

 

[Muldfeld]

Hmm, I think its good in highlighting how their activism was once more subversive and poignant, whereas nowadays it’s commercialised and egocentric, both in and out of the music. An understanding perhaps of how U2’s credibility has fallen amongst critics.

Exactly. I drank the Kool-Aid at the time, but Bono doesn't care any more than do sell-outs like the Clintons and the Obamas (and Trudeaus here in Canada), who's sole desire this primary was to stop Bernie by rigging the primary. These are the people that got us Trump by prioritizing making millions and pursuing their status ahead of the well-being of the public; Bono's on this gravy train, too, along with his anti-wealth tax/anti-Warren/anti-Bernie buddy Bill Monsanto Gates.

 

[Irvine511]

Excellent review and I loved the fair criticism, too! (Bono's still pumping up the George W. "Let's campaign to put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court" Bush brand and endorsing corporatists; he recently attacked the fact that not enough conservative universities were popular in some talk with Chris Rock for U2.com, where they attacked progressives using straw men. Today's Bono didn't endorse Bernie, where '80s Bono might have.

Read "Bono: In the Name of Power". Disgraceful!)

?

Bono doesn’t endorse presidential candidates, ever.

This also reads like you think Bush nominated Kavanaugh for SCOTUS, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.

 

[pacemaker]

How can you hate U2, but love The Killers, who've never created even great music to start with?

I don't particularly care for The Killers, but this is such a bad take. I know there's no accounting for taste/opinions are like assholes/etc., but Mr. Brightside has been charting for almost two decades. Whether you like them or not, writing a song that becomes part of the fabric of culture transcends greatness.

 

[Hollow Island]

Exactly. I drank the Kool-Aid at the time, but Bono doesn't care any more than do sell-outs like the Clintons and the Obamas (and Trudeaus here in Canada), who's sole desire this primary was to stop Bernie by rigging the primary. These are the people that got us Trump by prioritizing making millions and pursuing their status ahead of the well-being of the public; Bono's on this gravy train, too, along with his anti-wealth tax/anti-Warren/anti-Bernie buddy Bill Monsanto Gates.

Yes, Bono doesn't care. That's why he devotes time and his reputation to work that has resulted in millions of lives being saved.

Blaming Trump on the Clintons etc is such a stupid leftist talking point that ignores the agency of conservatives , the resurgence of the far right under a black Democratic president, 25 years of far right propaganda on tv and even more of it on the internet, inherent American conservatism...half the country thought fucking OBAMACARE was communism ffs. Giving them real socialism...haha, good luck with that. And don't forget that more people voted against Trump in 2016 and that he got fucking destroyed by "those people" in 2020. It's also pretty obvious that Biden cares about the people, as does Trudeau.

 

[Aygo]

Bono doesn’t endorse presidential candidates, ever.

Are you sure?
https://www.democracy-international.org/rockstar-bono-stands-out-epp-congress

 

[Irvine511]

Are you sure?

https://www.democracy-international.org/rockstar-bono-stands-out-epp-congress

Yes. I’m sure.

 

[Aygo]

Yes. I’m sure.

For me, making an appearance on a party congress 5-6 weeks before the election, and making a speech like the one he did here, is endorsing it without a doubt.

 

[Irvine511]

For me, making an appearance on a party congress 5-6 weeks before the election, and making a speech like the one he did here, is endorsing it without a doubt.

U2 singer Bono will address centre-right leaders including German chancellor Angela Merkel at today’s summit in Dublin of the European People’s Party, Fine Gael’s European affiliate.

Bono will attend the event on foot of an invitation from Taoiseach Enda Kenny and speak on Europe’s role in the world. He will stress that his engagement with EPP leaders is non-partisan politically and part of his ongoing dialogue with global leaders.

“For all this progress, for all these achievements, nearly 60 years after the Treaty of Rome, Europe is an economic entity that still needs to become a social entity,” he will say. “Europe is a thought that needs to become a feeling.”

Bono will attend as a representative of the One campaign against extreme poverty, a group which argues that it is crucial for European leaders to introduce measures to make it more difficult to move money secretly around the world.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/wor...pp-summit-on-europe-s-role-in-world-1.1715662

Yes, I’m sure.

 

[Aygo]

I don't care if he claims having attended only as "One Campagn spokesperson / I only came to promote my philantropy, nothing else".

Appearing and speaking in the congress of a pan-european party during the campaign or in context of pre-campaign of an election for the European Parliament is standing up for it, is highlighting that (electoral) option, is endorsing it.

 

[Irvine511]

I don't care if he claims having attended only as "One Campagn spokesperson / I only came to promote my philantropy, nothing else".

Appearing and speaking in the congress of a pan-european party during the campaign or in context of pre-campaign of an election for the European Parliament is standing up for it, is highlighting that (electoral) option, is endorsing it.

That’s fine. My point still stands.

They don’t endorse individuals, especially not in the US/UK. And it’s preposterous for someone to say that 80s Bono would be a Bernie Bro because Bono has never done such a thing and never will. Your example doesn’t come close to contradicting my point.

 

[dk42]

Yes, Bono doesn't care. That's why he devotes time and his reputation to work that has resulted in millions of lives being saved.

Blaming Trump on the Clintons etc is such a stupid leftist talking point that ignores the agency of conservatives , the resurgence of the far right under a black Democratic president, 25 years of far right propaganda on tv and even more of it on the internet, inherent American conservatism...half the country thought fucking OBAMACARE was communism ffs. Giving them real socialism...haha, good luck with that. And don't forget that more people voted against Trump in 2016 and that he got fucking destroyed by "those people" in 2020. It's also pretty obvious that Biden cares about the people, as does Trudeau.

Bono is very good friends with the Clintons, he performed with Edge at a concert for their foundation in 2011 and he was very sympathetic to Clinton's campaign in 2016. He may have not explicitly said it, but you have to be incredibly naive to not think he supported her. He also was very supportive of Bill Clinton in 1992, again I don't believe he explicitly said it, but read the room. I take some comfort in knowing this even bothers Larry to some degree, as they certainly have their disagreements regarding Bono's activism and his palling around with war criminals like Bush, Blair and Clinton.

I am curious as to what his relationship with them is now, especially with all the Jeffrey Epstein stuff and Bill Clinton.

Also, it was Bill Clinton who largely moved the Democratic Party to the right with the omnibus crime bill, NAFTA, the Telecommunications Act of 96, ending welfare as we know it, repealing Glass Steagall and deregulating the banks, I mean, his agenda was basically the wet dream of a Republican in the 90s and a lot of that set the stage for George W. Bush and of course, Trump.

Bono's brand of activism is very neoliberal, it threatens no one. It's not like he was outspoken against the Iraq War or actively campaigns to have his taxes raised, hell he avoids paying them in his own country. Bono admires MLK, but MLK actually sacrificed, he enraged people in power, Bono simply coddles them. There are certainly legitimate questions regarding how effective the ONE campaign has even been. I'm not saying he hasn't done any good, but he's not actually trying to rearrange economic power or combat inequality by threatening his own wealth.

I remember during the performance of One during the TJT Tour 2017, he talked about the work the campaign was doing in Africa and how the audience is essentially helping out through their taxes, calling it "activism." So apparently paying taxes is activism according to Bono, except it's really not and he should probably do more of it himself then. If anything this is a very deafening kind of answer, it stifles actual activism. Donating to a campaign is not activism, sure it can be helpful, but it's about the smallest (not to mention laziest) thing one can conceivably do.

 

[pacemaker]

Lemon is my favorite song of all time

 

[Irvine511]

Bono is very good friends with the Clintons, he performed with Edge at a concert for their foundation in 2011 and he was very sympathetic to Clinton's campaign in 2016. He may have not explicitly said it, but you have to be incredibly naive to not think he supported her. He also was very supportive of Bill Clinton in 1992, again I don't believe he explicitly said it, but read the room. I take some comfort in knowing this even bothers Larry to some degree, as they certainly have their disagreements regarding Bono's activism and his palling around with war criminals like Bush, Blair and Clinton.

I am curious as to what his relationship with them is now, especially with all the Jeffrey Epstein stuff and Bill Clinton.

Also, it was Bill Clinton who largely moved the Democratic Party to the right with the omnibus crime bill, NAFTA, the Telecommunications Act of 96, ending welfare as we know it, repealing Glass Steagall and deregulating the banks, I mean, his agenda was basically the wet dream of a Republican in the 90s and a lot of that set the stage for George W. Bush and of course, Trump.

Bono's brand of activism is very neoliberal, it threatens no one. It's not like he was outspoken against the Iraq War or actively campaigns to have his taxes raised, hell he avoids paying them in his own country. Bono admires MLK, but MLK actually sacrificed, he enraged people in power, Bono simply coddles them. There are certainly legitimate questions regarding how effective the ONE campaign has even been. I'm not saying he hasn't done any good, but he's not actually trying to rearrange economic power or combat inequality by threatening his own wealth.

I remember during the performance of One during the TJT Tour 2017, he talked about the work the campaign was doing in Africa and how the audience is essentially helping out through their taxes, calling it "activism." So apparently paying taxes is activism according to Bono, except it's really not and he should probably do more of it himself then. If anything this is a very deafening kind of answer, it stifles actual activism. Donating to a campaign is not activism, sure it can be helpful, but it's about the smallest (not to mention laziest) thing one can conceivably do.

This is worlds away from *endorsing* a candidate. It would be stupid and tacky for Bono to do it ... because he doesn’t vote in the US. Or the UK.

I’m sure all of U2 personally supported Clinton over Trump, Obama over whoever. We know how they would vote if they were Americans. But they have never endorsed anyone. Especially not in a primary.

Breaking news: Bono is not a leftist who reads Jacobin and speaks in generalities and thinks “neoliberal” is an insult that has any meaning or that the bands refusal to shout one-dimensional slogans is somehow a shortcoming. It’s pretty clear those folks who wish they would weren’t paying attention during TJT17 or e/i, which were much more comprehensive political statements than “Trump Bad!” or whatever. We just saw the two most political tours of their careers. I think policy specifically would undermine the power of the show. And being in DC, and seeing a ton of shows here, along with, like, Condi Rice and Ted Cruz, it’s better for Bono to cite their attendance rather than say “We refused to sell a ticket to Ted Cruz! Take that, neoliberals!”

Also: Bono believes well-regulated capitalism and access to markets is the most effective way to help the global poor.

Please don’t pretend that mainstream Democrats are indistinguishable from Republicans

 

[Hollow Island]

Bono is very good friends with the Clintons, he performed with Edge at a concert for their foundation in 2011 and he was very sympathetic to Clinton's campaign in 2016. He may have not explicitly said it, but you have to be incredibly naive to not think he supported her. He also was very supportive of Bill Clinton in 1992, again I don't believe he explicitly said it, but read the room. I take some comfort in knowing this even bothers Larry to some degree, as they certainly have their disagreements regarding Bono's activism and his palling around with war criminals like Bush, Blair and Clinton.

I am curious as to what his relationship with them is now, especially with all the Jeffrey Epstein stuff and Bill Clinton.

Also, it was Bill Clinton who largely moved the Democratic Party to the right with the omnibus crime bill, NAFTA, the Telecommunications Act of 96, ending welfare as we know it, repealing Glass Steagall and deregulating the banks, I mean, his agenda was basically the wet dream of a Republican in the 90s and a lot of that set the stage for George W. Bush and of course, Trump.

Bono's brand of activism is very neoliberal, it threatens no one. It's not like he was outspoken against the Iraq War or actively campaigns to have his taxes raised, hell he avoids paying them in his own country. Bono admires MLK, but MLK actually sacrificed, he enraged people in power, Bono simply coddles them. There are certainly legitimate questions regarding how effective the ONE campaign has even been. I'm not saying he hasn't done any good, but he's not actually trying to rearrange economic power or combat inequality by threatening his own wealth.

I remember during the performance of One during the TJT Tour 2017, he talked about the work the campaign was doing in Africa and how the audience is essentially helping out through their taxes, calling it "activism." So apparently paying taxes is activism according to Bono, except it's really not and he should probably do more of it himself then. If anything this is a very deafening kind of answer, it stifles actual activism. Donating to a campaign is not activism, sure it can be helpful, but it's about the smallest (not to mention laziest) thing one can conceivably do.

I don't know why you quoted be because this has nothing to do with anything I said.

When he says that the audience is helping out through tacea he's referring to foreign aid, which *is* activism, and he calls on nations to honour their foreign aid commitments and increase them. As for his tax payments, you have no idea how much he pays.

Your other complaints about him not fighting inequality or whatever are immaterial because that's not his stated goal. It's like saying that Zooropa is a bad hard rock album. His aims are in poverty reduction, supplying AIDS meds, and fighting malaria, and he's been successful in achieving those goals.

Bono admires MLK. That doesn't mean he needs to "enrage those in power," especially when enraging those in power would be harmful to achieving the goals that he's been successful in achieving. That's why he didn't oppose the Iraq war: it would have imperiled his AIDS activism, activism which saved tens of millions of lives. I know that pales in comparison to servicing the self righteousness of a good leftist such as yourself, but it's still valuable.

p.s. This "Clinton was basically a Republican" stuff from the current left is fucking ridiculous. Nobody who was there could believe that. Sure, Clinton's agenda was a Republican wishlist...which is why the GOP spent years trying to fucking DESTROY him. Jesus Christ.

 

[U2387]

I don't know why you quoted be because this has nothing to do with anything I said.

When he says that the audience is helping out through tacea he's referring to foreign aid, which *is* activism, and he calls on nations to honour their foreign aid commitments and increase them. As for his tax payments, you have no idea how much he pays.

Your other complaints about him not fighting inequality or whatever are immaterial because that's not his stated goal. It's like saying that Zooropa is a bad hard rock album. His aims are in poverty reduction, supplying AIDS meds, and fighting malaria, and he's been successful in achieving those goals.

Bono admires MLK. That doesn't mean he needs to "enrage those in power," especially when enraging those in power would be harmful to achieving the goals that he's been successful in achieving. That's why he didn't oppose the Iraq war: it would have imperiled his AIDS activism, activism which saved tens of millions of lives. I know that pales in comparison to servicing the self righteousness of a good leftist such as yourself, but it's still valuable.

p.s. This "Clinton was basically a Republican" stuff from the current left is fucking ridiculous. Nobody who was there could believe that. Sure, Clinton's agenda was a Republican wishlist...which is why the GOP spent years trying to fucking DESTROY him. Jesus Christ.

Excellent posts in here!

I'm one of those mainstream or whatever you want to call it American liberals. Just to provide some context. I was elated when Biden won- the general election of course, but also the earlier primary.

You hit on 2 of my biggest pet peeves of far leftist types when it comes to Bono:

1) They project views and values on to him that he NEVER has stated he holds. Nor has he indicated through his actions that he held them. Ever.

I'm reminded of a thread here a few years back about a Bernie type columnist, a young man down in Florida, who was reviewing JT 2017 and saying how U2 had somehow moved away from their original, "anti capitalist, anti system" values.

I was absolutely floored! People on the extremes of lots of issues have often gone after Bono over the years, but I hadn't seen anything made up out of thin air like that in a mainstream release that actually had to get by editors and executives, etc.

2) 15 years on, they love to bring up the "tax evasion" issue, even though it's been settled to any reasonable person since about 2 days after the story broke. I love how it became "U2 don't pay taxes."

Common sense would tell you that's not even close to true by any measure, but you really hit on what I've always said to these people: "you have NO IDEA how much they pay!" Bono or any of them! People act like their tax returns are public record.

It will always amaze me. In about 1/10 of the time it takes for people to write a post here accusing Bono of not paying taxes, they could do a simple google search of the royalties tax in Switzerland, income and value added taxes in Ireland, property taxes where his residences are, etc and find out there's no way their accusation could be true.

Also, your comments on Clinton are spot on!! He called Gingrich into the oval office and told him he didn't care what he did, if he wanted his budget passed, he was going to have to get someone else to sit in that chair. He did that, followed by a brutal government shutdown that forced Gingrich into capitulation, because he was a Republican. He also vetoed Bush style tax cuts, estate tax repeal, etc, and refused to invade Iraq when pushed to do so, because he was a Republican. Then the GOP was so happy to have him rubber stamping their agenda that they tried to impeach him for a blowjob!

It's incredible how often I hear this. I was a very young man when Clinton was President, but I do NOT remember him having anything but difficulty, increasingly so throughout his terms, in dealing with the Republicans.

People just do not play with facts. If they want to criticize him for not being Bernie or AOC, FINE! Make that argument, then. Have that discussion! Just like the right wing U2 fans need to stop saying "it's too political, Bono needs to shut up" and engage in a discussion of how they disagree with Bono's politics. Because we all know it ain't the band that's changed over the years. But to state Clinton was Republican or Republican lite is absurd!

 

[Hollow Island]