U2 LiveJournal

In Vancouver on April 27, U2 filmed the video for "City of Blinding Lights" at GM Place. As I was standing in line to get in, there was an employee walking around and asking if any U2.com members were there. I said I was a member and he asked for my card, which I don't carry with me (augh!) and he said sorry, then moved on. Anyone know why he would have been asking for membership cards?

Okay I am a huge Alarm fan a band that came through the ranks at the same time as U2 starting off as a band called 17 and then becoming The Alarm in 1980/1. They toured many times with U2 in America and the UK in 1982-84 including the 1st night of Red Rocks, and then an amazing night at Cardiff Arms Park in 1987, Mike Peters and Bono have been good friends ever since and Mike was invited to one of the recent European shows by Bono ...

Anyway on the Alarm website/forum there is an article about the Alarm vs U2 from earlier this year, 2 bands often compared but also very seperate ... thought this article may be of interest to U2 fans as well ..

http://www.thealarm.com/newsdisp.asp?id=1081

Today's Selection is...

"Acrobat" from Achtung Baby

I'm amazed at how this song didn't grab me right off the bat. It's one of my favorite tracks off of my favorite album ever now, and rightly so.
I can't even decide whether Edge or Bono get the award. Edge pours his heart into the guitar during the intro. It's not even musical notes, it's a voice talking. The guitar has it's own set of lyrics.
Bono's lyrics are beyond amazing. They are so quotable. Bono makes me cry in particular when he says, "and I can love, and I can love" with such vigor. It's everything everyone ever feels put out on paper. It's like the perfect "shrink" song for everyone. Anyone can grab something out of this song and apply it to themselves. For example, in reference to bonoffee's last post:
Yeah I'd break bread and wine
If there was a church I could receive in
I often feel this way. I'd like to think I'm still a Catholic, but all the literature I've ever read says that if you believe this and that (stuff that I believe in) you aren't a real Catholic. What a way to welcome your neighbor.
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The entire "Acrobat" thing for me is totally about hypocrisy. And everyone is a hypocrite.
I'd like to point a finger at everyone right now, including myself, and quote Hotel Rwanda:
I think if people see this footage, they'll say Oh, my God, that's horrible. And then they'll go on eating their dinners.
In that case: The American Red Cross
Those who left pets on rooftops (it is beyond heartbreaking): The Humane Society of the United States
Don't forget: The One Campaign, for good measure.

...but Bono is beginning to annoy me. I mean, don't get me wrong i'm a huge U2 fan, but recently i can't stand Bono and all of his political jabberings.


A week or so ago a friend and i were talking about celebrities and their need to speak on behalf of impovershished countries. And of course Bono came up. In the heat of the conversation i started to think of things like "Bono is preaching about how poor other countries are, but he is wearing Dolce Gabana"..."The sunglasses Bono wears are 300+"...And i started to think "What a hypocrite".

Before you decide to load you guns and track me down, i will let you know i acknowledge what Bono has down for impoverished countries. I realize how much better things are because of all the attention he brings to these countiries. I know he is the reason thousands of dollars are raised each year. I am aware of the clothing line Edun, and of D.A.T.A .


But right now, Bono is under my skin.

I replied this to zoostation's post, but I think it would make a good discussion topic too!

I'm totally not religious, I don't believe in a God or anything, and I wouldn't call myself spiritual either. But U2's music lifts me, spiritually, and I feel connected with... something. It's not a religious thing but it's... I can't explain. Something I don't feel at other times. Like listening to WOWY when Bono does the 'we shine like stars...' bit at 3am when it's raining outside and you feel shit. Suddenly you feel full of some kind of joy. It's weird but amazing.

Does anyone else get this? Anyone who's not religious, like me, feel the same? Sometimes I think maybe I'm missing something by not appreciating the religious references in some of U2's songs, but then today I read Bono saying this:

"It's [their faith] there for people who are interested. It shouldn't be there for people who aren't."

and that made me feel a whole lot better! Thanks Bono, ah what a legend. Even if John Lydon thinks his trousers are too tight. *frowns and thinks Bono's trousers need close examination to really form a proper opinion...*