Why people hate Bono so much.
Yes, the man has a large ego. Perhaps he is too pompous and full of himself. I'm sure he's high maintenance if you have to deal with him on a regular basis. And yes, you can argue that U2 is past their prime. I've listened to "No Line on the Horizon" and while I'm not prepared to pass judgement on it yet, I think early reviewers saying it's their best since "Achtung Baby" and possibly even better than that album are hitting the piss a bit too hard.
Here's what Bono does. Along with his band mates, he's released arguably two of the greatest rock records since 1955 - "The Joshua Tree" and "Achtung Baby". Even their non-classic records are still better than probably 95 per cent of the rock records released since 1980. Their failures, like "Zooaropa" and "Pop" they were at least trying something different.
And when he's not making music all Bono does his use his name and celebrity to meet world leaders and push an agenda to help poor countries. He raises money for charities. Karmicly, he's trying to do good in the world.
What does he not do? He doesn't beat his wife, get arrested for drunk driving, whore out to the tabloid media, create a reality TV show where you can be his new BFF, do stupid amount of drugs and cancel tours because of "exhaustion" or generally behave like a tool.
He and his band mates run a successful business that happens to occasionally produce works of genius and, in his spare time, he tries to make the world a better place.
And for that, you get reviled?
Last Five
1. Mind flood - Sam Roberts
2. White Hot (live) - Red Rider
3. Bang the duldrums - Fall Out Boy
4. Rain down on me - Blue Rodeo*
5. Soul singer in a session band - Bright Eyes
5 comments:
:)
While I don't actually hate Bono, I'll admit to really really really really really really not liking two Bono-associated-things:
1.) The frickin' sunglasses. They just drive me. You're not Corey Hart. It's lame.
2.) U2: I don't know how to justify it but I really really really don't like their music. I cringe when I hear it come on the radio. I turn the channel when they do guest spots on SNL. Same with Coldplay. There's just something ABOUT those two bands ... their sound just irritates me.
*on a somewhat unrelated note, I actually don't COMPLETELY hate Coldplay's latest CD but that's the exception that breaks the rule*
Good little post, Craig. I've been feelling the same...
The problem is there are too many people who just plain like watching stars be self-destructive selfish tools.
Watching someone who is talented and financially succesful also be a good person annoys these people in a "Polly Anna" kind of way. They want to see faults. At least Bono can take the piss out of himself.
I admire what he does and I like some of the tunes. Does his polital campaigning help people...honestly, there's no way it's giong to have the same impact on Africa that China (doing lots of big business there these days...looking like that will continue) and the Middle East (looking to the fertile countries like Sudan to produce their food) are having/going to have...for better or worse. Not enough interest in the West for what he has to say.
Imagine my shock that the man who favours the soothing and dulcet tones of Norwegian Death Metal might not like U2....;)
Oh man, don't get started about the Norwegian death metal bands....
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