I never "got" U2 - one way or the other. I don't hate them, I don't love them...I nothing them. Most people seem to have strong feelings about them one way or the other. Meh. If they're on the radio, fine...if not, also fine. Few such seemingly mediocre entities have generated so much strife...

MEGA meh...

Lionel Mandrake: MEGA meh...

I agree. They're like the UK's version of Aerosmith. How does such mind-numbingly boring music become so popular?

Lionel Mandrake: I never "got" U2 - one way or the other.

Huh? What's to "get" about freaking U2? It's not like they're a high-concept band with deeply thought-provoking lyrics.

Or is that a requirement for 'proper' music in your little world? Maybe it's the high popularity they enjoy. That kills their cred right off the bat with some musically superior pud-pullers.

Go on, tell us about the five hundred obscure indie bands you like that blow U2 off the stage.

Norad: Lionel Mandrake: I never "got" U2 - one way or the other.

Huh? What's to "get" about freaking U2? It's not like they're a high-concept band with deeply thought-provoking lyrics.

Or is that a requirement for 'proper' music in your little world? Maybe it's the high popularity they enjoy. That kills their cred right off the bat with some musically superior pud-pullers.

Go on, tell us about the five hundred obscure indie bands you like that blow U2 off the stage.

Well, now, see...you just proved my point. So many people have such strong feelings about U2 one way or the other for some reason. I'm just saying I don't get the hyper-love OR the hyper-hatred generated by U2.

There's nothing "improper" about U2 or their fans, I was merely expressing that I am one of those people who neither sees the greatness, nor feels the hatred.

My question to you is why did you feel the need to express your own love so forcefully?

As for bands/musicians I prefer to U2, some are obscure, most are quite famous.

Larry Mullien's 1983 drum fills were go.

In fact they inspired me to buy tickets to a groupd that was billed as "A band from Ireland".

I stood in a parking lot, underaged, just wanting to hear "I Will Follow" and drink more. I got punched by a bouncer for my efforts and as I remember was out $10 U.S.

But it was kinda worth it because I got a U2 story out of it.

brap: Larry Mullien's 1983 drum fills were go.

In fact they inspired me to buy tickets to a groupd that was billed as "A band from Ireland".

I stood in a parking lot, underaged, just wanting to hear "I Will Follow" and drink more. I got punched by a bouncer for my efforts and as I remember was out $10 U.S.

But it was kinda worth it because I got a U2 story out of it.

You were one of those idiots in Heavy Metal Parking Lot, weren't you.

Norad: Go on, tell us about the five hundred obscure indie bands you like that blow U2 off the stage.

F*CK U2.

I know that was meant to be scathing, highbrow, and better than thou - but I WISH!

U2 songs are just Dave Matthews Band songs played with more reverb.

you know, i just don't get it.

I just don't get the hate of U2 around here.
I've always thought they've made some awesome music. Pride (In the name of Love), always gets me.
And the whole Achtung Baby album is great, start to finish.

Guess I'm just not plugged into the hive mind on that one.

SilentStrider: you know, i just don't get it.

I just don't get the hate of U2 around here.
I've always thought they've made some awesome music. Pride (In the name of Love), always gets me.
And the whole Achtung Baby album is great, start to finish.

Guess I'm just not plugged into the hive mind on that one.

That, or you have no taste for music whatsoever. It's the same problem I have with Nickelback. Please stop writing the same song over and over.

SilentStrider: you know, i just don't get it.

I just don't get the hate of U2 around here.
I've always thought they've made some awesome music. Pride (In the name of Love), always gets me.
And the whole Achtung Baby album is great, start to finish.

Guess I'm just not plugged into the hive mind on that one.

I agree with you on Achtung Baby. Brillant album, it's just that Bono's an egotistical moralizing ass and they have done much of note musically SINCE Achtung.

I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well, yes, I'm still running

Yeah that stuff is deep as whale poop.

But it's only "thoughtful" if you're like 13 or something.

shivashakti: they have

Er, they haven't.

It's the same problem I have with Nickelback

Ding! ding!
This thread has officially been Nicklejacked!

I guess they still haven't found the songs they're looking for.

SilentStrider: you know, i just don't get it.

I just don't get the hate of U2 around here.
I've always thought they've made some awesome music. Pride (In the name of Love), always gets me.
And the whole Achtung Baby album is great, start to finish.

Guess I'm just not plugged into the hive mind on that one.

Same here.

I'm not plugged into the "U2 is good" hive mind, either.

I think that much (if not most) of their music was inspired by this (new window) classic theme.

I love U2. Seen 'em in concert about a dozen times. Fark if people don't like them, to each their own. Doesn't mean I don't have taste or something, just means we like different things.


I get a kick out of threads like this devolving into pissing matches over who has better taste, when really......this shiat is subjective.

I'm wearing a Popmart tour shirt in my mugshot.

Cubansaltyballs: Norad: Go on, tell us about the five hundred obscure indie bands you like that blow U2 off the stage.

F*CK U2.

And I feel this way, too. Bono is the root cause. F*ck Bono, may he have all his awards crammed in his ass.

IT IS WRONG TO ENJOY ANYTHING AND I AM NOT WRONG

Wow. Never realized "we" hated U2.

Who do "we" like?

/I'm with Mandake. Though, I did see them live once which was cool, but I don't think I would again (unless it's free, I'll pretty much see anything for free).

Norad: Huh?

Wow, nice 'instant jackhole'. Well done!

I think I've got 2 or 3 U2 tracks in a mix-and-match mp3 folder somewhere. That more than covers my need for U2. The same goes for quite a few other bands.

Of course, U2 has been mocked by both Simpsons and South Park, so that must mean that we're all supposed to point at them and laugh, without really knowing why or being able to formulate why we're supposed to hate them.

If somebody gave me tickets to a U2 concert, I would probably go. For the same reason I went to a Bryan farking Adams concert after being given a free ticket. If an artist has managed to survive for 30 years in music, there's quite a good chance of the artist being able to give a decent performance and a good show.

Coco LaFemme: I love U2. Seen 'em in concert about a dozen times. Fark if people don't like them, to each their own. Doesn't mean I don't have taste or something, just means we like different things.


I get a kick out of threads like this devolving into pissing matches over who has better taste, when really......this shiat is subjective.

Beatles and Led Zeppelin threads get the same treatment.

"This band is not to my particular taste, therefor, THEY ARE THE CRAPPIEST BAND IN THE WORLD!"

Danielsan: "This band is not to my particular taste, therefor, THEY ARE THE CRAPPIEST BAND IN THE WORLD!"

I'm trying to think of a band that's almost universally reviled, and I can't. The first place I was thinking was solo projects by band members, bands made after one band broke up, or a bad incarnation of a band (see: Badfinger)^, and the only thing I can come up with is...

YOKO ONO. And that's a can of worms all by herself.

Can anyone else think of a band that was well known but completely blew it as far as record sales or general success and/or is generally hated? I mean seriously, not just, duurrrrrr Creed.

I never "got" U2 - one way or the other. I don't hate them, I don't love them.

I find U2 annoying due to overexposure. They had one good song. One.

ZAZ: I never "got" U2 - one way or the other. I don't hate them, I don't love them.

I find U2 annoying due to overexposure. They had one good song. One.

Yes, but which one was it?

Seriously, I find Johnny Cash's cover of One far superior to the original. It doesn't mean that the original is inferior, just not as perfectly executed as Johnny did it.

Sunday Bloody Sunday is a damn good track too, from back when U2 actually had a bit of style going for them.

The only U2 albums that anybody needs, ever, are Boy and War.

Cornwell: I think I've got 2 or 3 U2 tracks in a mix-and-match mp3 folder somewhere. That more than covers my need for U2. The same goes for quite a few other bands.

This. I have "Pride (In The Name of Love)" and "I Will Follow" and that's it. One of my sisters LOVES U2 and has since they came out (she has an original vinyl copy of Boy signed by all four members after a show at the Ritz in NYC in 1980, FSM knows how much that's worth) but ... I don't know. They don't suck but they've never struck me as mega-awesome either. To each their own.

For some reason, Farkers will gather like pack animals and unite in distaste for one particular band. It's the cool thing to do. Jesus, it's like high school all over again.

Whatever. I'm a U2 fan, though their later output is a little irritating. But Achtung is a farking masterpiece, and it was also one of the best concerts I've ever seen from a production standpoint.

We all have different tastes in music. But it's not as though U2 is Nickelback. Also, I can confidently guarantee that were U2 just some modestly successful band with an even more modest American following, some (not all) Farkers would be circle-jerking their praises.

Just sayin'

Well it's great to see the totalfarkers with their important, rich and fulfilling lives pile on in another "bash what's mainstream"-fest.

Taste is obviously individual, but U2 is arguably a very important band when it comes to their genre. Albums as The Joshua Tree and Actung Baby are still masterpieces that many contemporary bands copy, none mentioned, none forgotten.

Joshua Tree was fantastic.

There was some decent stuff after that, but it's got worse as time went on. Now they kind of suck.

But that's coming from someone who is going to see Twisted Sister (in a non-ironic manner) in Times Square in a couple weeks.

I like '80s & early '90s U2. Their recent stuff, not so much.

DarthBrooks: U2 songs are just Dave Matthews Band songs played with more reverb.

Except, you know, U2 can actually write songs, have put out at least 2 records that will be remembered as classics decades from now, and are, well, kinda good.
/the last two records were a bit lame, though

Norad: Lionel Mandrake: I never "got" U2 - one way or the other.

Huh? What's to "get" about freaking U2? It's not like they're a high-concept band with deeply thought-provoking lyrics.

Or is that a requirement for 'proper' music in your little world? Maybe it's the high popularity they enjoy. That kills their cred right off the bat with some musically superior pud-pullers.

Go on, tell us about the five hundred obscure indie bands you like that blow U2 off the stage.

My favorite band is so obscure, they only existed for 12 days in 1989. Their only recording is a tape-cassette bootleg of their only known live performance from my neighbors garage that was taped on a hand held dictation tape recorder. Only 7 copies were made, and I have 3 of them (including one that the bass player sneezed on & still has his permanently hardened snot on it). Their were so hip, they didn't even bother to name their band. In fact, they were so cool, it's nearly a class A felony to openly discuss their existence.


/ok, I like U2

Next thing you know someone will be bashing the Beatles about their 3 chord simplicity.

Coco LaFemme: ...
I get a kick out of threads like this devolving into pissing matches over who has better taste, when really......this shiat is subjective.

pissing match? lol watch this...

rush is demonstrably a gazillion times better than u2. they are subtle geniuses with lyrics and it is obvious to anyone who isnt stupid that all of rush are virtuosos. everyone who doesnt think so should be torn apart by wild dogs.
conversely, the entirety of metallica isnt collectively qualified to wipe the sweat from 'the edges' buttcrack. people who think otherwise deserve to be mashed from the extremities inwards with large metal hammers in a large stadium while an orchestra of aging hair metal guitarists solo on v-shaped guitars.

Maybe subby is still mad that they didn't ask him to produce their album opting for relative unknown Daniel Lanois (yes, that was sarcasm, thank you). That said, I used to be a big fan, not pretty indifferent. In general I think the bigger the stage production the lower the quality of music. Same reason I tuned out on Jimmy Buffet, he USED to be a hell of a songwriter.

For the record THIS is my favorite group from Ireland:

Link (new window)

And not just because they went to school with my sisters.

This is good news for everyone who hates U2. Like me.

U2 was great up through Achtung Baby. The Joshua Tree and War are my two favorite albums, but pretty much everything from Zooropa on, well, I can kind of understand where some of you are coming from.

I'm not a big U2 fan.

I brought my wife to the U2 - 3D Imax tbing (she was actually at one of the featured concerts) and I thought they put on a very good show.

Cornwell:
Seriously, I find Johnny Cash's cover of One far superior to the original. It doesn't mean that the original is inferior, just not as perfectly executed as Johnny did it.


This. And I don't even like Johnny Cash...

/U2 puts one hell of a live show, I'll say
//but I get bored with them if I put them on the ipod.
///plus I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one of Clayton's Lakland basses...

Lionel Mandrake: Well, now, see...you just proved my point. So many people have such strong feelings about U2 one way or the other for some reason. I'm just saying I don't get the hyper-love OR the hyper-hatred generated by U2.

This.


I don't quite get the absolute adoration of them now as they're pretty much stuck in a creative rut. But the absolute hatred of them is a bit astounding too. I can understand disliking Bono's humongous ego, but I can't say that even U2's worst stuff has really received anything less than a "meh" reaction from me.


And, sorry, but considering U2 was a college-rock staple for their first few albums, you can't really go the whole "LOL, is this where you name 5 better obscure acts, indie hipsters!" route.

Musical genius is finite. See Paul McCartney, Elton John, U2, etc. Just because they made great music doesn't mean they will continue to do so. I sometimes wonder if I would be as big a Gram Parsons fan if he had stuck around long enough to crank out crap.

But if anyone is arguing that a cover can't be better than the original i submit this for your approval:

Link (new window)

Hello hello, I'm in a place called Birmingham! (Donde esta?)

cameroncrazy1984:
That, or you have no taste for music whatsoever. It's the same problem I have with Nickelback. Please stop writing the same song over and over.

You know it burns my ass when people say shiat like that. Saying someone has no taste because they dont like what you do shows that you are just a narrow minded douche bag. Taste is SUBJECTIVE. Look it up, Einstein.

/not a U2 fan.

Your favorite band sucks.

/Loooooooves U2

FeedTheCollapse:
And, sorry, but considering U2 was a college-rock staple for their first few albums, you can't really go the whole "LOL, is this where you name 5 better obscure acts, indie hipsters!" route.

Yep. That's just the knee-jerk reaction from people who are afraid to go beyond their FM dial.

As for U2, they have some great songs, and some not so great ones. Next time they come around on tour, i'll probably go, just to say I've seen them.

Link (new window)

Done, thread over.