How would you respond to people who think U2 is better than NO? Bono>>>Barney?

Miss Disco wrote:

Ironwill wrote: Bono should stop sticking his nose into world politics and stick to music.

At least he actually tries to do some good and make a difference in the world. I don't get this whole mindset that says "Celebrities shouldn't have an opinion on anything". Why shouldn't they?

He's a hypocrite - raking in millions from poncing around and then preaching to the masses about freeing global debt. I'd have thought someone who was concerned with poverty might not produce, say, a repackaged 'deluxe edition' album with DVD or special limited-edition iPod motivated by what appears to be sheer greed. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the general intentions of his statements and I've enjoyed the odd U2 song, but maybe if he spent less money on sunglasses and put it where his mouth is, I'd respect him more. Just an opinion CTB

Actually Zooropa is underrated. The Wanderer>>>>>all :)

U2 are a good band compared to most other bands - but I just don't like them.

What's the big deal? Some of their early songs I like but I have NO idea why they're so popular and so praised. They're bland and boring!

New order's WFTSC debuted at #11 in my city. That's good enough for a band that started in the mid-70s for fucks sake, not to mention 25 years after losing their lead singer. I couldn't give a toss if they're not as big as U2.

But I'm used to my tastes being out of sync with the public. In my world Velvet Underground, Kraftwerk, Ramones, Roxy Music, Sonic Youth and about a hundred other bands stand head and shoulders above U2 in terms of quality, but there's just no link at all between quality and popularity.

I bet that if New Order were as consistently good live as they are on records they would be much more popular, but let's face it: sometimes they're astoundingly awful live, just embarrassing. I love them but they really need to put some thought into improving their live sound. Bernard actually has a really appealing voice on record, but live...

U2 are a good band compared to most other bands - but I just don't like them.

What's the big deal? Some of their early songs I like but I have NO idea why they're so popular and so praised. They're bland and boring!

New order's WFTSC debuted at #11 in my city. That's good enough for a band that started in the mid-70s for fucks sake, not to mention 25 years after losing their lead singer. I couldn't give a toss if they're not as big as U2.

But I'm used to my tastes being out of sync with the public. In my world Velvet Underground, Kraftwerk, Ramones, Roxy Music, Sonic Youth and about a hundred other bands stand head and shoulders above U2 in terms of quality, but there's just no link at all between quality and popularity.

I bet that if New Order were as consistently good live as they are on records they would be much more popular, but let's face it: sometimes they're astoundingly awful live, just embarrassing. I love them but they really need to put some thought into improving their live sound. Bernard actually has a really appealing voice on record, but live...

I think New Order's "problem" over the years as far as chart success goes, is that they have been considered too alternative by the pop kids and too poppy by the indie kids, thus falling in a kind of middle ground.

shot bru wrote: I think New Order's "problem" over the years as far as chart success goes, is that they have been considered too alternative by the pop kids and too poppy by the indie kids, thus falling in a kind of middle ground.

This is known as XTC-syndrome.

i never even tried to compare the two bands because i always thought they were too different from each other. musically though the 80's, new order defined electronic rock wheras new order defined stadium rock for alternative rockers. the 90's saw new order disapear while U2 tried to be a bit more electronic.

as far as band members go and image, new order could have been as big as u2, but they never let their ego get the better of them and avoided the spotlight. bono, well you know, he seems like he loves attention though i will admit i do admire his charity work and using his fame to help those less fortunate.

i like u2, with or without you still makes me all fuzzy inside but i prefer new order cause they're simply more fun to listen to and can get a hold of your emotions without you realizing. u2 is either brilliant or boring and i feel they've been boring the last 15 years.

I'd rip their tongue out and fry it off with some garlic then stick it in a pitta bread and wash it back with a tin of Tennents super!

Tarbox23 wrote:

Bono has had a positive effect on our globe more than YOU will ever have.

Um, I'd like to think I've done some positive things for the globe in my time as well... maybe I've been wasting my time.

So, if I drive a box of clothes to the City Mission in an SUV I'm a resource-hogging bastard; but if I were to drag 10 tractor-trailers full of "Pop-Mart" tour bullshit across the country I'd be a hero.

I'd admire Bono's pushing more if I believed he were pushing in the right direction this time. For now, though, I'll continue donating privately to charities of my own choosing to the disdain of Tarboxes everywhere.

All hail Bono.

By the way, here's a fun interview with U2. "No, we're not hypocrites! It's our lawyers' fault!"

P.S. All of which is my way of saying, I don't blame Bono ... I blame the rest of us for putting him on a pedestal while so many others are worthy of the attention. "With or Without You" only buys so much good will.

Bod wrote: I'd rip their tongue out and fry it off with some garlic then stick it in a pitta bread and wash it back with a tin of Tennents super!

I love this guy, for some reason i think we have similiar taste.

CTB wrote:

Miss Disco wrote:

Ironwill wrote: Bono should stop sticking his nose into world politics and stick to music.

At least he actually tries to do some good and make a difference in the world. I don't get this whole mindset that says "Celebrities shouldn't have an opinion on anything". Why shouldn't they?

He's a hypocrite - raking in millions from poncing around and then preaching to the masses about freeing global debt. I'd have thought someone who was concerned with poverty might not produce, say, a repackaged 'deluxe edition' album with DVD or special limited-edition iPod motivated by what appears to be sheer greed. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the general intentions of his statements and I've enjoyed the odd U2 song, but maybe if he spent less money on sunglasses and put it where his mouth is, I'd respect him more. Just an opinion CTB

You must be a Collingwood supporter.......

U2, New Order and The Police are my 3 favourite artists.

YOu can't compare Bono to Barney. Same era yes but totally different musically. It's not like comparing Bush to Hitler.

Other than that, U2 live are better thany any of their records. New Order are the opposite.

Miss Disco wrote:

Ironwill wrote: Bono should stop sticking his nose into world politics and stick to music.

At least he actually tries to do some good and make a difference in the world. I don't get this whole mindset that says "Celebrities shouldn't have an opinion on anything". Why shouldn't they?

Hi from Greece! I agree with you Miss Disco that celebs must try for the difference in world BUT especially for Bono the one day is saying that US has to stop sticking their nose into everything and that Bill Clinton is a criminal or something -not sure sorry- and the other day is going to Bill Clinton's party!!!! (if i remember well that happened during ex-Yugoslavia's war) Anyway this is the only reason that i don't like U2 although that are great musicians. I prefer for their contribution for world peace and for Africa's children Lady D Annie Lenox Roger Moore Piere Luigi Collina and so many others who tried harder than Bono and they were more considerate than him anyway. no offence Miss Disco - take care

It's only from doing research on the Minus One that I correctly answered the Thessaloniki, Greece question on the EU's online geography quiz.

New Order Online - It's educational.

Gnu Odor wrote: It's only from doing research on the Minus One that I correctly answered the Thessaloniki, Greece question on the EU's online geography quiz.

New Order Online - It's educational.

Hi from Thessaloniki!!! well done!!!

By the way..

I'm still looking for that U2 live track that ends with Love will tear us apart..

where can I get it!

please help me!!!!

and...yes..U2 has a more prolific career than New order but they never had their depth...sense of emotion and freeness...sorry U2 fans!

Mofo Sapien wrote:

CTB wrote:

Miss Disco wrote:

Ironwill wrote: Bono should stop sticking his nose into world politics and stick to music.

At least he actually tries to do some good and make a difference in the world. I don't get this whole mindset that says "Celebrities shouldn't have an opinion on anything". Why shouldn't they?

He's a hypocrite - raking in millions from poncing around and then preaching to the masses about freeing global debt. I'd have thought someone who was concerned with poverty might not produce, say, a repackaged 'deluxe edition' album with DVD or special limited-edition iPod motivated by what appears to be sheer greed. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the general intentions of his statements and I've enjoyed the odd U2 song, but maybe if he spent less money on sunglasses and put it where his mouth is, I'd respect him more. Just an opinion CTB

You must be a Collingwood supporter.......

U2, New Order and The Police are my 3 favourite artists.

YOu can't compare Bono to Barney. Same era yes but totally different musically. It's not like comparing Bush to Hitler.

Other than that, U2 live are better thany any of their records. New Order are the opposite.

You must be a Bulldogs fan, going by the spelling

There's no accounting for taste or opinion, and for the record I wasn't comparing Barn to Bono, and I wouldn't think of trying to do so.

Your preference is for the slick, soul-less professionalism of a U2 gig over the inspired genius/unholy racket lottery draw of New Order gigs Each to their own.

BTW, St Kilda are my team of choice, so naturally the accusation of Collingwood fandom is deeply offensive - but it did at least guarantee a reply post; I can't leave a statement like that hanging for all to see!

CTB

CTB wrote:

Miss Disco wrote:

Ironwill wrote: Bono should stop sticking his nose into world politics and stick to music.

At least he actually tries to do some good and make a difference in the world. I don't get this whole mindset that says "Celebrities shouldn't have an opinion on anything". Why shouldn't they?

He's a hypocrite - raking in millions from poncing around and then preaching to the masses about freeing global debt. I'd have thought someone who was concerned with poverty might not produce, say, a repackaged 'deluxe edition' album with DVD or special limited-edition iPod motivated by what appears to be sheer greed. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the general intentions of his statements and I've enjoyed the odd U2 song, but maybe if he spent less money on sunglasses and put it where his mouth is, I'd respect him more. Just an opinion CTB

Here's a snippet from an article in the Chicago-Sun Times (Link Here)

The group scrolled the text of the first few articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, over its giant video screens and encouraged concertgoers not to flick their lighters but to hold up their cell phones, then text-message their contact info to the band's hunger-relief charity program. This assumed, of course, that people had money left to donate after spending as much as $168 plus service fees for U2 concert tickets.

Now who said Bono doesn't shove his views down your throat? If you're at his concert (I say his because he thinks he IS U2) what are you going to do? Stick your fingers in your ears and close your eyes? This article hits it on the head. I encourage others to read it.

I'd just tell them they are wrong and something horrible will probably happen to them. U2 is gizay

I did allow myself a little chuckle back in 1991 when U2 tried to go a bit "dancey" with some of the stuff on Achtung Baby.Ermm.. hate to tell you Bongo but New Order invented the "Rock band does dance music" thing back in 83 with Blue Monday and countless other tunes.I remember all the people i used to work with back then thinking it was really new and innovative.I just used to sit back and think how hip id been since 1984

And of course U2 will never have , as one journalist once put it, "the cheeky spunk" of New Order.Wouldn`t have quite put it in those words but i agreed entirely with what he meant.

i rather slit my wrist then listen to bono. I beleive he is a well-intentioned messanic figure, and it is interesting to read that he change jessie helm's mind about aids.

For you non- americans, jessie helm is a firebrand conservative. Prior to bono's intentervention, he thought of aids as a sinner's disease. However, he still speaks against the civil right movement of 60's. This is quite ironic considering he has illegimate child of a black women.

stellar man, huh?

And for all you Americans, that's Strom Thurmond with the illegitimate daughter, not Jesse Helms.

Like you give a flaming fork.

Your right!! i feel like an idiot. You can see why i would get the two confused. Helms is still a douchebag!!!

I would say: look, mate, you're a fan of U2, that's why you think they're better than New Order. I am a New Order fan (see? it's even my nick name on the net!), and that's why I think they're better than U2. It's so obvious. U2 were a decent band inspired by Joy Division in the early albums, but then they lost it a bit. I'd rather see them as losing their artistic potential, that's worse than New Order losing their commercial potential... they have some good songs, but they never get where New Order often get... I mean they NEVER made something like True Faith... their songs are more commercially designed, much safer, they're a bit like REM, bands who could have been great if they dared to go that little bit further, but chose huge success instead... I think other bands dared that little bit more, like The Smiths, Pixies or Depeche Mode... they did songs like Bigmouth Strikes Again, Monkey Gone To Heaven and Never Let Me Down Again... still not at the level of New Order, but damn closer than U2... New Year's Day, With Or Without You, well... fookin great songs, but still underachieving when compared to other bands, not to mention the most of the stuff which is just mildly pleasant, including the new album... But then of course I say this, while a U2 fan will disagree, it's really obvious.

Tell them that Liam Gallagher is on to something...

So wait a minute are you guys trying to tell me that albums like Achtung Baby, and songs like Stay, Gone, If You Feel Loved and Lemon are rubbish?

Come on now get a clue....

Isamu wrote: So wait a minute are you guys trying to tell me that albums like Achtung Baby, and songs like Stay, Gone, If You Feel Loved and Lemon are rubbish?

Not rubbish, just a bit dull. And when a band bills themself as the 'world's most important rock band' they sure as hell better not be dull.

I forgot about Lemon though, that is a great song.

Marc wrote: U2 blow

and this made me cringe - http://forum.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=messageboard.viewThread&entryID=340010&categoryID=58&IsSticky=0&Mytoken=20050608142354

After seeing there performance on Conan O'Brian, I'd have to disagree :)