You've hit the nail on the head. For the last ten years, Bono's lyrics have been largely vacuous. A combination of being old, rich, fat and happy and unwilling to tread on anybody's toes.
vacuous: having or showing lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
Bono's lyric's may not be politically direct anymore for the most part, but to call them vacuous is untrue.
He's continued to write many thoughtful, beautiful, angsty lyrics. Some are dealing with other non-overtly political issues/matters.
You say that like no one finds him politically inspirational now.
Which is more politically inspirational - angry lyrics and speeches, or actual activism?
I think HE is more hands on now, but I suspect his speeches were more likely to inspire hands on action from others in days gone by.
Hmm, I don't know that I agree. But I don't know how either of us could prove it either way.
I don't know as cori says whether it could be proven but I do know that....
When he brings up people on stag in the different countries this past tour..... singers, poets, activists etc those have a political and/or cultural aspect. That can in or re-inspire people.
And remember "the personal is the political".
Also when he's at various lectures/panels across the USA and around the world.... that also keeps issues in a bigger light.
What about the video for The Saints Are comming? That was a risk I thought.
The Saints... video was/is sooo moving. It made me angry /upset all over again. I haven't totally forgotten about Katrina either.
Now the only other pointed song that I can think of was Silver and Gold, but it's about as vague as Crumbs.
Oh, I've been a fan since 88 btw
I love Crumbs.
As for S&G ...i dunno...it was put out around the time Anti-apartheid movement was happening. And South Africa was/is a country with a lot of precious metals and mineral assets.
In fact when I was a kid- (60's) I remember this Time & Life Books Science, and Nature Series. I think in the one on Rocks and Minerals or Geology had a photo of a black South African gold miner-- so So Africa was already a bit in my consciousness as well as Robert F Kennedy making this awesome speech there....
So I think S&G was quite related to South Africa.
I grew up and now have returned to live in the South, and yes racism still very much exists. BUT KKK kind of racism is very small, Pride is not going to step on anyone's toes because most of the racism that does exist is in people who don't believe they are racist.
You should be careful about such offensive blanket statements...
I'm sorry if you think my comment was offensive. Please don't pretend I said more than I did. There's A LOT of racism in the south.
But in order for Pride to be "stepping on toes" it would have to be institutional type of racism, KKK, neo-nazi, etc and that type of racism is very small.
I dunno BVS- I think it's in-between re: racism in the south issue. And don't get me wrong, there was, and still is a lot of racism
up here in Yankeeland. Including The Klan and Aryan Nation and other bigots like landlords and in corporate hiring.
I did visit Atlanta in the 70's and had a friend down there. I have a friend from Texas as well....Texas being a Western and Southern State.
I listen a lot to liberal (and a bit of right-wing) talk radio, and read a lot on the net. I hear a lot of stories from both white and black Southerners calling in for years and current. It seems to me that in the Southern big cities there is less racism, though far from gone. Both of the personal and some institutional.
But what I've ALSO heard that in smaller towns and rural areas it's more prevalent. I heard a story not more than 3 years or so back that in some small southern town there were still...
still!..... separate water fountains.
ANd there was that noose on a tree on a college or HS campus story last year.
Yes, especially when threads are open to discuss non-existent things such as bigfoot, the illuminati, or new U2 albums.
Looks out window.............
oh..... could that be Big Foot on Broadway !!!???!!!!
He might be ignored in NYC!
*cranes neck* Wait no...it's not Big Foot..... it's Chewbabca!!!
Hey...Chewie..... wait!!!!