Bono
- Thread starter nzshadow
- Start date
I dunno, U2 was originally a christian band, so I think alot of his humanitarian 'work' is kinda just going back to his roots. <b,121<b,121As for the whole (red) thing, your average american doesn't give a shit about actually contributing to worthwhile causes. So what better way than to tap into people's vain, shop-a-holic-gotta-have-the-newest-toy urges?<b,121<b,121and yeah, lanois and eno probably had a lot of input, but producing and engineering does not equal writing and performing.
i don't understand the bono/U2 hate. sure his outfits and persona are corny sometimes. but who else is using their celebrity clout for good causes on this scale? We love artists who are self indulgent, self destructive, jerks but let a mainstream rock singer talk about forgiving 3rd world debt and AIDS and we blast him for not doing enough or being insincere? how do you know? do you know what percentage of his income he gives away? if not...leave the man alone.<b,121<b,121And regarding the Red, someone already made the point but you are going to get a lot more money from americans if you appeal to their shallow self promotion ways than through traditional routes.<b,121<b,121dang, someone tries to do someting good and he is put on blast...<b,121<b,121also...dude is lead singer for one of the most successful rock bands...going on 25+ year career...and he is not a musician? only a bad poet at best? only on strut...
If he has actually achieved some good, that's great. Doing something instead of nothing is always good. But I find him totally distasteful and can't help but see a lot of what he's doing as condescending, a little warped and not really addressing the problem. Are we not beyond hand-outs yet? How about balancing some of that aid with fair and increased trade with Africa? His efforts would be better spent out of the camera lights and on the ground seeing what is really required and empowering local groups working everyday and every hour all over the continent - they're the ones who should be getting all the publicity, showing what is being done and what can be done - as opposed to dealing with leaders/politicians....most of whom may be willing to smile and make promises alongside a celebrity fighting to stay important but are not compelled in any way to keep these promises once the news segment is over and the RED launch party bar is closed.
Im just sick of seeing him in every goddamn music documentary made in the last 15 years...doesnt matter who the artist is, everybody thinks they gotta get his take on it...why? I dont give a F*ck what he thinks about certain genres...
Back in the '80s, I seem to remember that U2 was really big with aging-baby-boomer types who wanted to stay in tune with current rock. Because of their commitment to social causes (just like the artists back in the '60s and '70s), Bono and company gave the former hippies something to relate to. Ecccch. Even though they're still popular today, I was in college when they were really starting to hit their stride (mid-late '80s, <i1Joshua Tree</i1 era), and I still kinda identify them with that era. When they toured in the summer of '88, that fall there were U2 T-shirts all over Loyola University.<b,121<b,121And how many teenyboppers did YOU know back then who became interested in Amnesty Int'l just because Bono said it was cool? (Well, you gotta find out from SOMEwhere, so you can't fault 'em for that...)
i have a friend who's whole family is deep, deep into U2.<b,121so much its disturbing and annoying when we're bbq'ing and they have the Zoo TV Tour dvd on repeat in the background.
Nah, I'll ride for dude. He uses his celebrity, and while it can be annoying, he has certainly generated lots and lots of money for the Global Fund and helped make global health issues mainstream which, imo, only helps. Of course there are people on the ground doing really amazing things, implementing interventions that are saving lives, etc, but folks like Bono are making the issues more visible in places where people might otherwise not even know about them.<b,121<b,121Can't be mad at that.
i will follow, gloria, new years day, sunday bloody sunday its a beautiful day... i likes them jams.
Quote:<b,121<b,121and while his whole persona is indeed questionable, I know that he was there in Sarajevo shortly after the war when alot of people needed someone like him to just put them back into mainstream or at least get some kind of recognition. I respect him for that.I do find him annoying most of the times though, still. Hating on them/him is very easy because of all the aforementioned reasons.
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