I loved me some U2 and Bono...and then it all went horribly wrong.
Cuz I'm a slacker baby my "Spring Cleaning" usually gets underway later in the hottie hot months. So just yesterday, I'm cleaning my drawers (the ones with handles, and not the ones for wearing) and I find an old ticket stub for seeing "Rattle and Hum" in the movie theatre. Hot damn, why do I insist on keeping such things? Of course, I have managed to fuckin' lose stuff of true value, items I would kill to have once again (whoever ended up with my "Ghost in the Machine" 3/4 sleeve and my "Synchronicity" sleeveless tour t-shirts, Eff you and don't have a nice day.)
Man, I saw "R&H" three times on da big screen. Jesus, I think that was the first time I saw the whole "group walking side by side in slo-mo" money shot. You know the kind of shot I mean. The kind of technique that when applied, renders the subjects deep and poignant because it's all done in artsy slow motion. Shit, I think the savvy bastard who filmed the opening credits of "Melrose Place" pulled this action, because suddenly all those airhead/fuckwit characters looked heavy, man. I swear to Goddess, you could film The Pussycat Dolls walking side by side in slo-mo, add some Pachelbel's Canon in D for music and you could almost believe the skags discuss Sartre and Camus in between pole rides.
Mr. Bono Vox peaked in '88, with "Rattle and Hum". The hum then seemed to mutate into an annoying buzz that seemed most appropriate, as he donned the dark bug glasses and "The Fly" persona. Not to mention tacky PVC.
Aw... fuck the Fly. Shoo fly don't bother me. I swatted my copy of "Achtung Baby" in the direction of the second hand CD store and didn't look back. Actually, I did look back. To Bono and the boys' back catalogue pre-Achtung, which to this day, I treasure most deeply, and admire most fervently.
So as it stands now, if Bono were to say yet again, "Am I buggin' you? I don't mean to bug ya", I would have to answer with a qualified "Yes you are, and because you DO mean to bug us all again and again, I'm outta here!" I would like to leave on a positive note however.
Bye Bono. Thanks for "The Unforgettable Fire" and for U2's stage stealing coming out like a beautiful debutante performance at the original Live Aid.
This time I'm waving the white flag, Bono. No harm no foul. Peace out.
currently listening to: Ryan Adams, Easy Tiger
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5 comments:
Nicely said. Though for me the party stops even earlier, just because the omnipresence of The Joshua Tree irritated me so much when I was a kid. Everything before, I'm cool with. After that, just the occasional single. I like the way you did this one, E.
I've always given the benefit of the doubt to Mr. Boner. But I've been particularly annoyed as of late. It's bad enough to act like Jesus, but U2's recent cover of Instant Karma, probably my all time favorite song, is enough to put him back on my s__t list for a while. You are no John Lennon Mr. B!
I've haven't liked them since they sued Negativeland over the 'U2' LP cover. U2 sure did need that money...then Negativeland's studio burned down, taking their master tapes with it...hmmmm. Hmmm. Hmmm.
Hey all!
Thanks, A.! The Joshua Tree is a fine fine album, but ya just knew they were gonna become over exposed...sort of like GREEN, for R.E.M.
Hey GW! LOL!!!! Too true, Mr. B is no JWOL!!! Noting your all time fave song here, GW...INSTANT KARMA! Superb choice.
Hey Allan! Didn't know that! Wow, interesting, I remember all that mess...wow, definitely makes ya go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!
I feel a bit sorry for Bono sometimes. He went from taking himself too seriously (R&H is the apotheosis of that) to taking the whole 'not taking self too seriously' thing too seriously ... meta-silliness. Now he's trying too hard to prove that it's all about the songs again, and falling short.
I have a bit of a soft spot for Zooropa because it sounds like they were messing around like no one was listening, and in fact almost no one did.
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