When The Fly came out I had been a U2 fan for over seven years already and had seen them five times in concert.
In other words, I was already bitten by the U2 bug in the way that it has infected me, which to sum it up..."I like anythign they do". I tried to hide from that reality but very recently I realized it must be true. I would have cringed at Bono embracing the American flag but I think it is great when I see that now.
OK! This was about THE FLY wasnt it.
When I heard it, I instantly loved it. It was different, but still very very U2 sounding to my U2 discerning ear. I loved the guitar in it. I didnt like what was done to Bono's vocal, but I loved the song over all as a soaring U2 song like any other. You know what was weird is that I didnt feel that it was all that different. Also, I think their treatment of Night & Day on the Red, Hot, and Blue tribute to Cole Porter made me prepared for anything.
I will admit, the thing that really freaked me out was Numb and then Lemon. I was like, what the Hell!!! I liked them both ultimately, but it was quite a shock for me to see The Edge's solos almost disappear. POP was a warm smile for me because there was more of the four band members on that album than there was on Zooropa to me. Pop to me is the progression after AB.
Obviously I have never stopped loving the music they create, some of the experimental stuff (Pasengers, MDH) I am not as excited about, but still like it of course, because its Bono, The Edge, Adam, and Larry.