dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
So anyway, back on topic. What do you feel U2 should say to the unemployed?
So anyway, back on topic. What do you feel U2 should say to the unemployed?
Thankfully, they do have those songs already in the catalogue. Maybe they feel like they have spoken on this subject as well as they are able and do not feel like revisiting that again? Or maybe they feel the best way to approach it this time is to entertain people with escapism instead of reminding them of something they already know? It is hard to escape the news of hardship in the media already and if U2 were to write a song about it now, it could seem a bit predictable and not as effective as say, when they were writing these songs (in the '80's) during better economic times. Maybe they will play one of these older songs in concert that they have not played in a while (I wish) and then an older tune becomes relevant once again.
It is not for me to dictate what U2 should or should not say about anything.
However, if I met Bono, the one thing I would say to him is that charity begins at home. He knew that in the 80s, but has since forgotten it, in my opinion.
(and, let's face it, better)
I can’t see U2 taking their private jets to the South of France to put the finishing touches on their new album, Songs for the Unemployed (Fuck Capitalism), going down too well. I can maybe see it being reflected in some more of their 00s penchant for general touchy feely Beautiful Day type stuff (along the lines of whatever pains you, there’s hope, walk on, blah, blah, oh so emotive etc), but nothing explicit or punchy. They’d get torn apart for it, and it would make them look stupid in a way that would effect every other issue they try to raise or defend.
I would go so far as to say that Bono is <this> close to tipping over into majority annoyance and it would take far less than something like this for the general opinion and reaction to him and them to completely swing. Bono railing against the man now would just look utterly ridiculous. I’m surprised you think this is something they could go anywhere near at all. He runs a venture capital company, owns a share in Forbes for fucks sake.
However, if I met Bono, the one thing I would say to him is that charity begins at home. He knew that in the 80s, but has since forgotten it, in my opinion.
I think it's a reasonable question, with unemployment rates trending upwards and set to burst through the 10% mark in many countries.
Much of U2's earlier (and, let's face it, better) material - songs like Bad, Running to Stand Still, Silver and Gold, Red Hill Mining Town - and many more - spoke to the dispossessed and marginalized.
But U2 have changed, and it's hard to see what a gang of multimillionaires and property developers can possibly have to say to the dispossessed and marginalised.
Back in the mid '80's, U2 were heavily involved in the organisation of a concert called 'Self-Aid' in Ireland, aimed at generating awareness of the plight of the unemployed and Bono even sat briefly in a committee put together by the then Irish Prime Minister Garret Fitzgerald. While the project was, arguably, misconceived, I think most people viewed it as a genuine and well intentioned gesture.
I doubt if they'd try to do the same thing now, but if they did, I reckon it would be treated as a rather tasteless joke.
How can fat Bono possibly think he's relevant any more?
It is not for me to dictate what U2 should or should not say about anything.
However, if I met Bono, the one thing I would say to him is that charity begins at home. He knew that in the 80s, but has since forgotten it, in my opinion.
So anyway, back on topic. What do you feel U2 should say to the unemployed?
I think it's a reasonable question, with unemployment rates trending upwards and set to burst through the 10% mark in many countries.
Much of U2's earlier (and, let's face it, better) material - songs like Bad, Running to Stand Still, Silver and Gold, Red Hill Mining Town - and many more - spoke to the dispossessed and marginalized.
But U2 have changed, and it's hard to see what a gang of multimillionaires and property developers can possibly have to say to the dispossessed and marginalised.
Back in the mid '80's, U2 were heavily involved in the organisation of a concert called 'Self-Aid' in Ireland, aimed at generating awareness of the plight of the unemployed and Bono even sat briefly in a committee put together by the then Irish Prime Minister Garret Fitzgerald. While the project was, arguably, misconceived, I think most people viewed it as a genuine and well intentioned gesture.
I doubt if they'd try to do the same thing now, but if they did, I reckon it would be treated as a rather tasteless joke.
How can fat Bono possibly think he's relevant any more?
War correspondents are relatively well paid, and a good war correspondent, if he or she decides to move on from that specific employment, has many opportunities potentially open to them in the media industry. If all else fails, there is a good market for books written by war correspondents.
Also, the song was written at a time when the recession had not got properly started, so a war correspondent who decided to chuck in the media profession would probably have been able to pick up alternative suitable employment. Note, I am not saying war correspondents do not encounter hardships, so please don't retort, once again, by alleging that I am.
you know, i just had a thought. maybe shut some people up, U2 should do a show like Nancy Grace, except for social issues like poverty and unemployment.
"Tonight, on Bono, more auto workers get laid off, and guess who's pissed! Tonight, 9ET/8CT"
ah, I was wondering what the point of this idiotic thread was until I stumbled upon thisHowever, if I met Bono, the one thing I would say to him is that charity begins at home.
They have tickets on the next tour for $35; I think that's saying a lot.