Hey, I really enjoyed reading everyone's story on how they became a U2 fan! I love reading that stuff
Anyway, here's *my* story...
Okay, so compared to every kid I knew in middle school, I was never really big on music. There weren't any bands or artists that could really hold my attention (my first two cd's were the "Mortal Kombat" and "Batman Forever" soundtracks (bought the "BF" st for "Kiss From a Rose"...hush-up)).
Alright, so while everyone else in my middle school classes were listening to the likes of No Doubt and whoever else was popular at the time, I just kinda swayed along and didn't pay much attention until the next big music thing reared it's ugly head around the corner...
TEH POP-CRAZE!!1
eck. Sadly, I bought into this. I'm not going to say which cd's I actually bought, but I did buy somestuff (I can't believe I'm telling you all this). Yes, I liked the music. Yes, I watched a few specials on some of these artists. Yes, I regret every minute of it
SO OKAY, the year is 2000 (I think...maybe early 2001). Alright, so I'm watching the VH1 countdown and what do I see? "Beautiful Day!"
Alright!! Now I think to myself "wow, great song! I want that album!!!1!1one"
...actually no
What I was really thinking was "THAT is their first single?? Geez, that's kind of sad."
Yeah, I know. I...was a moron. Okay, okay, but things get better (trust me. i'm posting on the interference boards after all, right?)
SO after months and months of listening to all my popstuff I finally start thinking to myself "you know...this stuff really isn't that great." I decided I was in need of a change (rightfully so)!! I start thinking of what kind of music I'd like to get involved in and soon enough start humming and singing to myself "Beautiful Day." I was thinking that *maybe* U2 could offer up the goods I've been looking for...none of the pop crap that was surfacing on the radio or the poor attempts at rock music that was being made.
Alright now, it's March of that year and we're getting ready to go on a family vacation. My brother and I are talking about the grammy's (I didn't watch them, so was curious what the "song of the year" was). As much as I can remember, I was VERY happy for U2 that they won with "Beautiful Day." I decided I was going to buy "All That You Can't Leave Behind!"
So while we're on our vacation (Disney World...had a blast!), I bought "ATYCLB," but did NOT play it until we got back from the trip (had no cd player...plus I always had a thing about putting the sticky label on my cd-player (I'm a weird boy))
OKAY, so I get home (this is the moment you've all been waiting for), AND I PLAY "ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND!!!!!!" And, MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, I didn't like it so much
Yes, sadly, I wasn't too big on that album aside from "Beautiful Day" (of course), "Walk On," and "Kite." The others...eh, not so much, really. I had read reviews on the album prior to listening to it (especially the "Rolling Stone" review), so considering the amount of praise "Stuck in a Moment..." had received, I remember being fairly disappointed in that particular track.
Okay, so for some reason or another, I still wanted to listen to these guys. I kept reading about them and wanted to know what the FANS generally thought was their best album. So what do I do next? I buy "Achtung Baby!"
Oh yeah, I had read SO much goodstuff on this CD that I had to have it...and I did. About a week or so later I purchased "AB" AND...it didn't live up to the hype, in my opinion
HOWEVER, I had recognized one song off the cd and it really kept my interested in the band..."One." I really liked this tune (not so much as "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" at the time, but equivalent to "Mysterious Ways").
SO, while my interest in the band was still there, I decided to buy "THE JOSHUA TREE." This was the album that everybody knew and had their only #1 singles. I just knew I had to give it a shot, so if atleast I didn't like the album, I'd have the three masterpieces of U2 (according to "Rolling Stone").
I buy "The Joshua Tree," pop the sucker in my cd-player, listen, and GUESS WHAT?!! I was disappointed yet again
For some reason or another, none of the hits off the album really did anything for me. However, I did grow an unusual strong liking towards "Red Hill Mining Town."
Okay, so after purchasing 3 of their supposed greatest albums and not seeing the great musicianship in either one of them, why did I continue to pursue the band? HONESTLY, I don't know, but I did anyway. I continued listening to each of the albums (moreso "Achtung Baby"...I found that to be the most interesting of the material I had of their's). So gradually, I came to really like that album...I really, really liked it...then I REALLY REALLY liked it.
I'm not sure why, but I grew an odd obession with that one album. I blared it over my cd-player, forced my brother to listen to it, had it in the car ALL the time...it was f'n great material!! I LOVED "Achtung Baby!" Soon, "All That You Can't Leave Behind" was my 2nd favorite cd! "The Joshua Tree" took a wee bit longer to warm up to (now that's my 2nd favorite, though)
I really really really really liked those albums. They really did something for me (not sure what exactly, but it was definately something). Later on, before purchasing ALL the other albums ("War," then "Rattle & Hum," then "The Unforgettable Fire," then "Zooropa," then "POP," then "Boy," then "October"), I was checking through all my album and came across my first 2 cd's - the "Mortal Kombat" and "Batman Forever" soundtracks. I was checking through the tracklisting of each and much to my surprise I saw that U2 had made a song for the "BF" movie. I found that a tad amusing and decided to play and see what song it was (had to refresh my memory on a few of the songs), and MUCH TO MY SURPRISE...it was one of practically the only two songs I liked on the cd when I first purchased it! I remembered dancing around the cd-player to the tune and singing along to "Kiss From a Rose" during my younger years. I was REALLY happy to know that U2 recording that song.
SO, time passes, I go to one of their concerts (11/5/01 - GREAT SHOW!!!!), buy ALL their albums (except the "Best Of 1980-1990" and their live albums...oh, and the "Passengers" thing), and I'm loving every second of every minute of every song of every album from the band! They've really changed me (I know that sounds like an odd thing to say, but 'tis true)! I get involved in local community services, I find myself discussing and informing my peers about the seriousness of Third World Debt, and due to my extreme craze over the band, most of my friends and family tend to call me Bono from time to time (though some people, no matter how many times you tell them, still tend to pronounce it "Boh-no")
Well that's all for now. I'm done, stick a fork in me. For those of you who actually read this whole thing, thanks! And for those of you who didn't, I don't blame ya', I wouldn't have either
So long!