One big reason I got into U2's music is because it was great to find a band out there that put into words exactly the kinds of thoughts I had about things, like religion, war, love, and so on and so forth. I can relate so well to what they say in their songs. The religion factor was particularly big, because it was nice to not be preached at, I could be of any faith, or no faith, and find a song that would relate to me. It's great to know they have the same questions I do. And the more spiritual songs...I'm not one who's been in a church for quite some time, but when I hear these songs, I get that same feeling that a lot of people who do go to church feel, so that's nice, too. It's just really funny to me that guys who are 23, 24 years older than me can write about things that I can relate to so well, and guys who are much closer to my age that are in some of the bands out today can't. I think that says something. It's also great to have their reassuring songs out there, too, 'cause there's days when I just feel like crap and am in a bad mood and everything, and I hear these songs and immediately feel better. I've always said it's like their version of a comforting hug, it's like they're sitting right next to me telling me everything'll be fine. They just know how to make you feel better, they're very inspiring, optimistic people (and refuse to let go of that optimism, just like me, so...
). I like that.
Another reason I love this band is because they've helped me figure out what I'd like to do with my life. I'd like to combine my two loves-writing and music, and not necessarily be in a band (although should that opportunity present itself to me someday, I might give it a shot), but have a job where I can tell the stories of musicians and whatnot.
I'm also into this band because I'm amazed at the sheer creativity they've expressed before, like the whole ZooTV concept and the crazy things that happened within that tour-it takes quite an imaginative mind to come up with some of the things they did, and being someone who loves to use her imagination and likes to be creative, that's inspiring to me. I was even inspired to use the whole ZooTV screen bit in a creative writing story I did in school once.
As someone else pointed out, they're one of the few bands out there in which I have tons of stuff from, a band that I will collect anything possible from and tape anything possible from and whatnot. I'm fascinated by these four guys, and I want to learn more about them. There's not many celebrities out there I can say that with, so these guys obviously have something special about them that endears me to them and makes me so curious about them.
I also love the fact that they don't act like your typical rock band. You won't see them on some "Behind The Music" show talking about groupies and humongous drug/drinking problems (yes, the guys like to drink, but it's not to the point other rock stars have gotten to, and Adam dabbled in drugs, but he took it upon himself to get it taken care of quickly, he didn't make a big fuss about it, didn't go to a zillion rehab centers for years on end and all that. He owned up to his mistakes, and got over it himself. My respect for him increased significantly when I read about that) and breaking up over something dumb. They seem like generally nice guys, they managed to get to the point where they're at now without all the baggage that comes with other bands, they've been close-knit with a lot of the same people from their childhoods-their wives/girlfriends, their manager (seriously, Paul McGuinness is a true gem-I have yet to hear a horror story about him screwing people over, unlike a lot of other band managers. I think that's pretty damn cool
.), their families, their friends, each other. It's just amazing, and refreshing.
And I also love that they're smart people. It's incredible, the knowledge of various things they have, from history to music to business to all sorts of other things. Intelligence is a major plus with me for anyone, so to see these four extremely smart men running around out there is a great thing. I've learned a thing or two from them myself
.
So yeah, it's been over two years since I became the big fan I am now, and those are some of the big reasons that I got into them and have stuck with them these past couple of years. And they'll always mean something to me, they'll always hold an important place in my life.
Oooookay, so yeah, long-winded post over, Angela's gonna shut her yap now and let someone else talk
.
Angela