In Which Our Hero Becomes a U2 Fan
I spent the better part of two decades despising U2. I thought the music was crap and the personality of band was pretentious. I don’t know if I can possibly convey just how much I didn’t like them. Small cracks began to develop in my hatred for them over those two decades. It started with “One.” How can you not be moved by that song? “Desire,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “New Year’s Day,” and “Mysterious Ways” followed. I bought Best of 1980-1990 when it was released and later bought a copy of Achtung Baby. That gave me every song I liked by them and plenty of surplus.
Fast forward to October 2000. 11 was so convinced I’d like All That You Can’t Leave Behind he pledged to refund my money if I didn’t. I took a gamble on it, didn’t much like it. “Beautiful Day” was all right. I didn’t like “Stuck in a Moment.” “Elevation” was painful with Bono’s straining “woooo’s.” I started hinting around about wanting to collect on my cash. Either I was too subtle – something I’m never accused of — or 11 forgot about our deal. He’s a good friend, so I let it go and let ATYCLB gather dust on my CD tower.
A few months later, 11 upped the ante when he asked me to attend a U2 show with him. He wanted to go see them at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY and didn’t want to go alone. He said he’d pay for the ticket, drive, and cover all the expenses if I would just go with him. The catch, if you can call it that, is that he wanted to be able to get inside the heart (this was the Elevation Tour) so we’d have to leave at the asscrack of dawn to get there in time. I took him up on the offer. He is nothing if not stubborn.
The drive to Lexington saw my defenses against the power of U2 further weakened. To our mutual surprise Zooropa added a few more cracks to my armor, leaving me vulnerable. Bono must have been able to smell my fear, a fear based on my realization that years of energy poured in to hating U2 was about to eradicated. That night in Lexington, U2 smote its enemy in the presence of thousands. I could no longer resist. I became a U2 fan. I offered my apologies for having been so wrong by going out and buying the U2 albums I didn’t already own, beginning with Zooropa.
It was all a bit strange, but with each purchase I found my love for the music growing. I thought I was going to break out in spots or be struck down by some equally hideous plague. The only refuge I could find was in the fact that I had a new band to love and that I hated Pop. At least the Kool-Aid had limits.
I got to thinking about all of this because 11 and I have had many conversations about U2’s Pop. He likes it, I don’t. I got to thinking about all of this because “Last Night On Earth” got stuck in my head the other night. This post began as a discussion of Pop and its flaws. I think I’ll save that conversation for another night.
If you’re keeping score at home, that free ticket and trip to Lexington wound up costing me dearly financially and in my own warped world view. I still feel like I came out ahead.
Filed under: Fanboy Manifesto, U2
I love, LOVED U2 for many years. They were a staple in my car for the drive to school (it was about a 20 minute jaunt) all through high school. For me they started to falter at Zooropa (though I gave the something of a pass as that was kind of a toss-off album) and they totally lost it at Pop. Can’t stand that album. ATYCLB had its moments but it wasn’t nearly the return to form everyone said it was. Atomic Bomb sucks. Sucks bad. Sucks so bad it leaves a stench on all their previous work.
funny, i was around when U2 first broke (college radio play only) and have seen their many changes over the years….and still really like both ATYCLB and Atomic Bomb, the latter in particular.
i STILL haven’t listened to Pop.
I like ATYCLB. A lot. I like Atomic Bomb, but not as much. I loved it when it first came out but it didn’t stay with me as long. I think it’s a little shorter on songs than ATYCLB, but its high points are spectacular.
Wow… look at me agreeing more with Saleski than Brewster. Shocking.
A sign of the apocalypse for sure. I’ll admit now that I don’t own either ATYCLB or Atomic Bomb, and thus have only heard them a handful of times. ATYCLB I borrowed from my sister and though it wasn’t awful it never made me want to buy it.
When I did my bus tour of Ireland the driver played Atomic Bomb a couple of times and it was all I could do to not jump off the cliffs of Moher to save myself from it.
Maybe it needs a more subtle listen than blaring from crappy bus speakers.
I’ve got a similar story - always liked the band, but didn’t share the undying love many have. When ATYCLB came out, it just didn’t do anything for me and I basically hated it. And then my friend asked me to go to the LA show with him because his pregnant wife couldn’t. That show really turned me around - not only did I similarly find a much greater appreciation for their music in general, I feel madly in love with ATYCLB. I now consider it to be a high water moment like Achtung Baby.
Bomb has it’s moments, but I’m still cold to it despite having seen the tour on opening night in San Diego. You win some, you lose some. I lost, actually - after something like 10 hours spent mostly STANDING in line, then several more hours standing inside, (let’s not forget I have very bad, very, very flat feet,) I’ve spent the past couple of years dealing with recurring foot pain from that one concert! I’m actually kind of amazed at that, now that I put it in perspective.