What's it like for U2?

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MadelynIris

MadelynIris

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To release a new album?

Can you imagine the stress? Everything that is riding on it? Watching the reviews unflold? The excitement and utter sickness that you must go through unveiling your very personal, artwork to the world?

And the expectations of all of your fans? Critics? Business partners?

And, knowing that public sentiment could turn on you, if you really screw it up?

I'm sure that the band, having done this so many times is past most of the stress. You have to get to that point, and just enjoy what you do.

But, it must still be trying.

Imagine how we, the fans feel when we see a trite, mindless rejection of the album for no good reason...in some lame review. What if it was your work?

I guess it's like everything in life, you have to be happy with it, or else don't do it.
 
he said in an interview he gets just as worried as their first release.. I can imagine him and the rest of the band except maybe adam being stressed, the perfectionists they are....
 
Nah, they have a secret camera in Chris Martin's house. They send him an advanced copy every time. His reaction usually is enough for them.
Don't ask me how they dealt with this before Coldplay though... :wink:

*Feels sorry for the Coldplay bashing*
I :heart: Coldplay
 
Well, to be honest, I think they are used to it.

And I don't think they read the reviews. Maybe the "important" ones, like Rolling Stone and so on. But I don't think U2 are anxiously collecting every little piece that's written in the newspapers about them. Only we fans are so paranoid. They have different things to worry about, like getting their promo stuff together, organising the tour and so on.

Yes, I believe it's stressful and they are not getting younger, but they've been doing this for so many years now, I wouldn't worry.
 
.:MrMacPhisto:. said:
Nah, they have a secret camera in Chris Martin's house. They send him an advanced copy every time. His reaction usually is enough for them.
Don't ask me how they dealt with this before Coldplay though... :wink:

*Feels sorry for the Coldplay bashing*
I :heart: Coldplay
Click to expand...

"Guys...this...this album...is the most glorious hour of music I've ever heard. *sobs* I...I don't know what to say.... I....I wish I could make music like this...I wish I were as soulful as Bono...Why....Why..Why...I concede....I concede the next three years to you, you win. We can't beat it.....and...well...

....can I have your autograph?"


For the record, I do enjoy Coldplay's music.
 
I DO sometimes feel bad for Bono because he has to take so much flack. Not only critisism, some of which is surely justified, but mostly spiteful bashing from stupid haters. I'm sure it doesn't affect him as much as it affects many of us, still makes me feel a little sad sometimes.
 
last unicorn said:
I DO sometimes feel bad for Bono because he has to take so much flack. Not only critisism, some of which is surely justified, but mostly spiteful bashing from stupid haters. I'm sure it doesn't affect him as much as it affects many of us, still makes me feel a little sad sometimes.
Click to expand...
:up:
 
Rosebud said:
I feel for them, big time. We all talk a lot of shit, but I think we all have a genuine affection for those guys. :hug::heart:
Click to expand...

:up:

Just cos they are milionaires that can live their life in luxury, it is no different to us taking pride in our own work. :shrug: Only difference between us & them, is we are not considerably well off and we don't have the eyes of the world on us about to pounce at any moment.

I remember seeing Bono said he still gets nauseus when he is about to step on stage even now :cute: They put their heart and soul into their music, always have.
 
Anji said:
:up:

Just cos they are milionaires that can live their life in luxury, it is no different to us taking pride in our own work. :shrug: Only difference between us & them, is we are not considerably well off and we don't have the eyes of the world on us about to pounce at any moment.

I remember seeing Bono said he still gets nauseus when he is about to step on stage even now :cute: They put their heart and soul into their music, always have.
Click to expand...

I am sorry and I dont want to offend anyone but this is getting a bit ridicoulous. We are not talking about people who are working their ass off 11 hours a day in a hospital or a factory trying to make a living for their families with small wages. We are talking about guys in their 40's who have earned over 500 million euro making music and touring the world and who are adored by millions of people who are generally speaking happy to see them.

When you think abot it: If anyone needs sympathy it should be politicans who get blamed for anything (most of the times rightfully so), have almost no private life and make 200k a year. Not that I pitty them but if you want to be consitant. Bono and co are grown man, with great families and cash for the rest of the millenium. the pressure is something that they create themselves.

If it is getting too much for them they should quit but off course they don't. You know why? Because they have the best "jobs" in the world. Think about that when your alarm goes of at 7 in the morning and you hear get on your boots.

Yeahhh.
 
Come on dude, get down from your high horse, they are human after all.

I don't work my ass off in a hospital or factory, I'm paid pretty well for the job I'm doing, I still think I put my heart and soul into my work and am emotionally attached to it, yes, I'm an artist as well. It doesn't matter how much money you earn, if you have a passion for the things you do and you give your heart and soul, your work becomes part of you.

U2 have never complained about the pressure, even though I could imagine that it can be hard sometimes. But on the other hand they are not so much in the public eye like other celebs, having paps follow them everywhere and journalists making up crazy stories. Still I think there is a lot of pressure on them and that kind of lifestyle, while I am sure they love it and need it, is not exactly the healthiest one, to be honest.
 
last unicorn said:
Come on dude, get down from your high horse, they are human after all.

I don't work my ass off in a hospital or factory, I'm paid pretty well for the job I'm doing, I still think I put my heart and soul into my work and am emotionally attached to it, yes, I'm an artist as well. It doesn't matter how much money you earn, if you have a passion for the things you do and you give your heart and soul, your work becomes part of you.

U2 have never complained about the pressure, even though I could imagine that it can be hard sometimes. But on the other hand they are not so much in the public eye like other celebs, having paps follow them everywhere and journalists making up crazy stories. Still I think there is a lot of pressure on them and that kind of lifestyle, while I am sure they love it and need it, is not exactly the healthiest one, to be honest.
Click to expand...

I didnt say they complained did I?

All I said is that it is competely ridicoulous to state that you feel for millionaire rockstars who DO have a private life.
 
last unicorn said:
Come on dude, get down from your high horse, they are human after all.

I don't work my ass off in a hospital or factory, I'm paid pretty well for the job I'm doing, I still think I put my heart and soul into my work and am emotionally attached to it, yes, I'm an artist as well. It doesn't matter how much money you earn, if you have a passion for the things you do and you give your heart and soul, your work becomes part of you.
Click to expand...

I really do not see what this has to do with my post and the subject but that doesnt come as a surprise anymore. I am an artist as well and my work is a part of my life.

=
 
Well that:

If it is getting too much for them they should quit but off course they don't. You know why? Because they have the best "jobs" in the world. Think about that when your alarm goes of at 7 in the morning and you hear get on your boots.
Click to expand...

does sound a bit like they're complaining.

They're not.

And Bono gets up at half past six.

Lucky you if you can sleep until 7, that's almost midday for most working people out there. :)
 
They've got a lot riding on each album, if you think about it. They employ hundreds of people, their message and causes are important. Their families, and soon to be grandchildren, and their children -- not just financially, but their legacy, forever.

When the stakes are about your place in history, it's always a big deal, and the pressure is on.
 
I'm sure they go through what every artists who creates goes through when they're preparing something for unveiling to the general public of people who will judge and critique your work.
 
There's that corny line in "Spider-Man" stating, "with great power comes great responsibility". As :rolleyes: as that line is, there's truth to it - as well as truth to variations of that line.

For example, with great risk there comes the possibility of great failure or great reward.

U2 set themselves up for both with each album they release - especially when the venture into "new territory" or decide to "mix things up". After finally starting to break through with "War", they shook it up with TUF. But that led to JT - the risk paid off big. AB was another big risk, and again, it paid off. U2 stumbled with other albums, and while those still sold well overall and the tours paid off well, U2 had to endure the critical backlash and some lamenting from fans.

NLOTH is another risk. New fans that were used to the more rock-pop sound of ATYCLB and HTDAAB might not know what to make of NLOTH. Some people here wrote how their friends feel it's U2's worst album. And I'm betting those people weren't used to TUF or OS1 or "Zooropa". The U2 they know made hits like "Mysterious Ways" and "Beautiful Day" - not something more abstract like "The Unforgettable Fire", "Miss Sarajevo", "Your Blue Room", "A Sort of a Homecoming", "Mothers of the Disappeared", "Exit", "Dirty Days" or "The Wanderer". Those people aren't familiar with that U2. NLOTH reminds them of that side - a side some "fans" forget to explore.

But that "reminder" is a risk. With great risk comes great failure or reward. So far, U2 have received their share of accolades from critics. Fans here are thrilled. But will the overall public love it? This is not an accessible album. It's a gamble - and U2 might see some very soft sales as a result.

But it seems that this time U2 made an album not for hits, not to prove something, not to explore something brand new or re-explore their past. They made an album that is inherently U2, yet still fresh and different. They made the music for them and for their die-hard fans. And that freedom, if nothing else, is already rewarding and refreshing.

So yes, there is pressure. I recall Edge one time commenting about the enormous pressure put on Bono during the JT era. But U2 have had lots of experience with this. And with the liberating feeling of NLOTH, I almost get the feeling that they don't care. Sure, they'll promote and they are proud of their album, but if sales are a little slower this time, so be it. They made something fantastic that may take a while to really win people over. I just hope that U2 realize that and don't view slower sales as a "failure".

U2 were taken aback with "Pop". The slower sales stunned them. The backlash stunned them. But at this point, I think U2 have little to prove. They have the sales, the tours, the awards - now it's time to enjoy. I hope they do.
 
I don't care how much money you have
if you put 1 1/2 years into a project an then have to wait for the 1 1/2 weeks of people judging you and your work it can't be a picnic
 
Salome said:
I don't care how much money you have
if you put 1 1/2 years into a project an then have to wait for the 1 1/2 weeks of people judging you and your work it can't be a picnic
Click to expand...

Oh come on. It is exiting not some traumatic endavour. THEY LOVE THIS STUFF! :wink:
 
I don't think of it as traumatic, no
but I also don't think anyone could truly love it
too much is riding on it
it's not as if they fail they can just say "oh well, let's try again then" like I do when I fuck up at work
they'll have to tour it and then hear all about it again when they work on and release the next album
 
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