I was in a band that recorded a fairly scathing song towards U2. It was mostly unanswered questions aimed at the band, but I've never doubted who the band was or ever really wavered in my appreciation for the band and my admiration for their music. It was a band thing. Stanley wrote the words, Gene sang them. Good thing we never recorded "Gonna Miss You, Steve," which was the same for artist Steve Taylor. What was Stanley thinking? What a lot of believers with certain presuppositions about music and the label "Christian music."
Anyway, I thought I'd blog a tad about the new U2 album. I listened to it in its entirety on their MySpace page a week or so ago. I was apprehensive, because I heard so many sharp and negative reactions to the three or so songs people were hearing. After half of a full listen, I was like, 'Where is the Pop or Achtung Baby or Zooropa?' I was still hearing ...Behind and ...Atomic Bomb. I love it.
Buying and listening to a new U2 album is like a defining moment or a landmark in many people's lives. It is often that way with me. Buying the new U2 album is a special event. I'll never forget hearing that girl from the third floor telling us about this new band called U2 that played at Austin's Clubfoot club on what must've been their October tour. Man, I wish I would have ventured out for that. Then I was away for the summer when U2 and The Alarm played at Southpark Meadows on the War tour. Oh my.
I remember seeing the videos for "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day" over and over again on MTV, as well as watching the Under A Blood Red Sky concert video. Then there was that trip to Russia, where our group was booked at a huge five-star hotel, with tv monitors in the lobby, cranking MTV Europe 24/7, and hearing "Mysterious Ways" over and over again. I have a Russian imprint on my memory of that great (Achtung Baby) album.
I wonder what your U2 story is?
I wonder if there really are many lasting memories based upon acquring the new U2 album. They are like the Beatles, Stones, or Zeppelin of our generation. You know, there hasn't really been a band to carry a mantle like that after the 70s ended ... until U2. And they are the only one, really.
So, what's your U2 story? How has your "special time" with their new album been?
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at March 3, 2009 05:54 PMI have been a huge U2 fan since war. I was known as the U2 guy in high school, and have had to struggle with idolotry a bit!
My first memory was the "War" album and a friend mentioning that they were singing about Jesus. I honestly didn't really follow them that close until "Joshua Tree" though. I remember my mom actually bought the tape and I can honestly say it is the soundtrack to my life. I feel so deeply connected to those songs.
I remember I was in bootcamp when Achtung Baby came out. I remember going to the store on the base and seeing it. But because we were there for some official reason I wasn't allowed to look at it or pick it up.
I really love this album though. It is growing on me every time I hear it. I think it will be one of my faves. In particular I like "unknown caller" and "White as snow".
Great record...
Posted by: Jason_73 at March 3, 2009 06:31 PMI never really got into them. But I had tickets to go see them during the Joshua Tree tour. Right before I was to leave with some friends to go see them, I had a panic attack, and opted out.
Posted by: Robert at March 4, 2009 06:51 AM