Okay, I can acknowledge that U2 are one of the biggest and most influential bands in the world but then I also agree with the statement that they're a bit like Marmite: you either love them or hate them.
Hate is a strong word - I couldn't exactly say that about them. I think I fall somewhere in between. There are one or two songs that I quite like but then I wouldn't go out and buy one of their albums. So I guess I can just about tolerate them.
Still, this tolerance is being pushed to the limits. Soon I will be pushed into the "hate" camp through simple over-exposure. The BBC seem hell-bent on placing them on every show they possibly can (radio and TV, no medium is safe from the onslaught) and it makes you think: why? Surely they don't need this kind of exposure to promote their album. Bono could simply stand up one day and say that they were releasing a new album and millions of die-hard fans would burst with anticipation until the magical day came.
But no, they have decided to cast themselves out and, I suppose, try and gain some new fans by talking about their "new" sound. Q Magazine even went as far as to say that "No Line On The Horizon" was their best album. I don't know. I've only heard two songs. Now it seems that I can't avoid them for love nor money - I am pushed to the point where I want to scream "nooooo" theatrically whenever "Get On Your Boots" or an interview comes on.
Please, give it a rest guys!
U2 slightly annoy me. when ever some one mentions them i immediatly think of that episode of southpark where bono is a giant poo!
ReplyDeleteJamJarsuperstar,
ReplyDeleteMany, many years ago I was a fan of U2. But then everything after The Joshua Tree thier albums became self indulging and most of the fans saw through what was being sold off as art. I do not want to take anything away from Bono as far as his philanthropy as he accomplishes more in a week helping others as most people in this world do in a life time including yours truly.
Over exposure? Try living in Seattle for a while! We have two stations I typically listen to; 107.7 "The End" (Alternative) and 99.9 "The Rock". On either station, you can bet your life that every third song will be one of the following groups;
1. Nirvana
2. Pearl Jam
3. Soundgarden/Audioslave/Chris Cornell
4. Alice in Chains - oddly enough this group only gets better each time I hear them but they still fall in this catagory.
5. Guns-n-Roses (only on 99.9)This may seem odd as this is a well known L.A. band but Duff McKagan also of Velvet Revolver is from Seattle.
It's not that I hate any of these groups it is just that the overexposure tends to wear you down. As the old cliche' goes, "variety is the spice of life."
Great post btw.
oh noooooo i feel bad....I love U2 soooo much. But I have to agree with you that at a certain point in a musician career, advertisement of that kind is not necessary. I remain a faithful U2 fan.
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