I would be interested to have a discussion about how popular U2 are/have been in the Republic of Ireland. Obviously, they broke out of Ireland in the first place, and, just as obvious, they are huge there. Still, I'm curious to hear some perspectives, particularly from Irish people who might have followed them for years, on how their popular currency has fared on the emerald island.
In particular, any of these Qs would be interesting to discuss:
1) When did U2 get "big" in Ireland? For example, how popular was Boy? (I remember reading an Irish book once which referred to the "masterly October album".) At what point did they become the biggest band in Ireland?
2) How was Rattle & Hum received there?
3) Did U2 suffer any loss of relevance/popularity at the time of Pop?
4) Do Irish fans ever feel that U2 have 'sold out' or forsaken their roots for international and/or American success?
It's interesting that the following songs have all been #1 on the Irish singles chart (based entirely on sales):
1) The Unforgettable Fire
2) With Or Without You
3) I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
4) Where The Streets Have No Name
5) Desire
6) When Love Comes To Town
7) All I Want Is You
8) The Fly
9) Mysterious Ways
10) One
11) Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
12) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
13) Discotheque
14) Sweetest Thing
15) Beautiful Day
16) Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
17) Elevation
18) Vertigo
19) The Saints Are Coming
(This amounts to 6 more #1 hits than any other artist!)
In particular, any of these Qs would be interesting to discuss:
1) When did U2 get "big" in Ireland? For example, how popular was Boy? (I remember reading an Irish book once which referred to the "masterly October album".) At what point did they become the biggest band in Ireland?
2) How was Rattle & Hum received there?
3) Did U2 suffer any loss of relevance/popularity at the time of Pop?
4) Do Irish fans ever feel that U2 have 'sold out' or forsaken their roots for international and/or American success?
It's interesting that the following songs have all been #1 on the Irish singles chart (based entirely on sales):
1) The Unforgettable Fire
2) With Or Without You
3) I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
4) Where The Streets Have No Name
5) Desire
6) When Love Comes To Town
7) All I Want Is You
8) The Fly
9) Mysterious Ways
10) One
11) Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
12) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
13) Discotheque
14) Sweetest Thing
15) Beautiful Day
16) Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
17) Elevation
18) Vertigo
19) The Saints Are Coming
(This amounts to 6 more #1 hits than any other artist!)