Bono and Live Aid

Neapolitan · 08-18-2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffryan45

bono is ... and u2 was a mediocre band at first.

They are far from being mediocre on their first album.
I thought U2 first album Boy ('80) was a pretty good debut, I rank it high with other debut albums from bands from that time (circa '77 -> '83) like REM's The Church, Television, The Talking Heads, Gang of Four. I thought guitar bands from the post-punk era had a influence that can be heard even today - including U2.

IHuman · 08-19-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffryan45

bono is completely full of himself, and untill he changes that, nobody will care what he does. r

what do you mean by nobdody?

Guybrush · 08-20-2009, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

^ I disagree to an extent. The thing that bugs me about Bono is the fact that he wants, or seems to want credit for his good deeds. He's really arrogant and goes out of his way to say, "Look at me, look how much good stuff I'm doing for the world, aren't I great?!"

No he doesn't. That's you putting those words in ol' Bono's mouth. I think he's been quite consistent with his do-good attitude from the start which is perhaps an achievement when you think of everything he and the band has been through from the start. I rate Bono's influence on the world as much more positive than many, many other famous people out there and that's gotta be worth something.

In my opinion the only bad thing with U2 is perhaps their music if you don't like it and the fact that they've been too popular for their own good. What comes up must come down and nowadays they've become rather uncool. That doesn't matter to me, but it's a trend that's easy to spot with others.

Astronomer · 08-20-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

No he doesn't. That's you putting those words in ol' Bono's mouth. I think he's been quite consistent with his do-good attitude from the start which is perhaps an achievement when you think of everything he and the band has been through from the start. I rate Bono's influence on the world as much more positive than many, many other famous people out there and that's gotta be worth something.

In my opinion the only bad thing with U2 is perhaps their music if you don't like it and the fact that they've been too popular for their own good. What comes up must come down and nowadays they've become rather uncool. That doesn't matter to me, but it's a trend that's easy to spot with others.

It's just a vibe I get from him, and a transformation I've seen within him over the years. If you watch interviews from early U2 days, he talks about his disgust with things like materialism and capitalism and whatnot, stating that people don't need big houses and fancy cars when other people in the world are starving. Yet now, decades later, he has a lavish property portfolio and heaps of luxury cars. I doubt he needs all those properties and fancy cars. It just seems really hypocritical of him to lead a lifestyle like this when in his early days it was something he detested.

Also, his push for the AIDS campaign where certain companies made designer clothes where a SLICE of the profit went to funding AIDS treatment in underdeveloped countries actually consisted of sweatshop workers making the clothes in GAP's factory in Lesotho where they were paid slave labour rates - another thing Bono apparently doesn't believe in yet let it happen in his campaign. The U2 limited edition iPod was also made in a Chinese sweatshop.

I'm not saying that he hasn't done any positive acts in the world because he has, he has done a lot. But when it comes down to it he honestly comes across as a publicity whore rather than a social change agent. I just find him really hypocritical and arrogant, and as the years go by he seems to be gradually slipping into the world of money, finance and capitalism: a world he once detested.

scottsy · 08-20-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

It's just a vibe I get from him, and a transformation I've seen within him over the years. If you watch interviews from early U2 days, he talks about his disgust with things like materialism and capitalism and whatnot, stating that people don't need big houses and fancy cars when other people in the world are starving. Yet now, decades later, he has a lavish property portfolio and heaps of luxury cars. I doubt he needs all those properties and fancy cars. It just seems really hypocritical of him to lead a lifestyle like this when in his early days it was something he detested.

Also, his push for the AIDS campaign where certain companies made designer clothes where a SLICE of the profit went to funding AIDS treatment in underdeveloped countries actually consisted of sweatshop workers making the clothes in GAP's factory in Lesotho where they were paid slave labour rates - another thing Bono apparently doesn't believe in yet let it happen in his campaign. The U2 limited edition iPod was also made in a Chinese sweatshop.

I'm not saying that he hasn't done any positive acts in the world because he has, he has done a lot. But when it comes down to it he honestly comes across as a publicity whore rather than a social change agent. I just find him really hypocritical and arrogant, and as the years go by he seems to be gradually slipping into the world of money, finance and capitalism: a world he once detested.

Well, I guess like all of us, as we get older, we change... sometimes not for the better... I used to loathe and detest things when I was in my twenties that I now am completely comfortable with... I swore I would never marry a person who already had kids... I married a person who had one of the greatest stepsons a guy could ask for... I never even dreamed of living in the United States, and I actually loathed it for a while... but now i am living here and I love it. It's a great place.

I never thought I'd sound anything like my parents but I am reminded of it every day and I now I actually admire them a whole lot more for putting up with me...

And I used to hate capitalism, but now I would be quite happy to have a boatload of cash and to spend it freely...

:-)

If I were Bono, I'd take the house and the cars, too... and keep up with the activism.... the world is too full of contrasts and contradictions to fix everything, but you gotta try. And unless you are Christ, Buddha, The Dalai Llama or whatever, you can't live in a vacuum...

Lu_Galasso · 10-19-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

^ I disagree to an extent. The thing that bugs me about Bono is the fact that he wants, or seems to want credit for his good deeds. He's really arrogant and goes out of his way to say, "Look at me, look how much good stuff I'm doing for the world, aren't I great?!" There are so many more musicians/ famous people who have done a great deal for the underprivileged but they don't make a huge thing out of it; they do it because they generally care. Bono is also one of the biggest hyporcites in the media I have ever come across. One example I can think of is the fact that he moved U2's publishing company from Ireland to the Netherlands to avoid tax, shortly after claiming that Irish taxes should be increased so that more of it could be donated to charity. If he does generally care about what he says he cares about then he certainly isn't portraying that attitude.

I couldn't agree more. There are plenty of fantastic musicians out there (who haven't been reusing the same guitar licks over and over for thirty years to boot) who have done tons for charity, without making a big deal out of rubbing shoulders with Kofi Annan. One of these days this guy is going to win a Nobel Prize or something, and then the moon will be dragged into the earth by the gravitational force of his ego.

08-16-2009, 10:53 PM

Using the event to promote U2? WTF?
Performing in a charity event in front of thousands of people and millions more who are watching on television IS promotion, but I can't really find anything wrong with it.
Really, that is the dumbest accusation that a person could throw at him...

NumberNineDream · 08-16-2009, 10:57 PM

anyone seen the South Park episode about Bono ... i think they really got the point there.

08-16-2009, 11:02 PM

I've seen it....nice avatar.

scottsy · 08-19-2009, 09:41 PM

I dunno, I think we all know Bono is arrogant and showy, but at least he's doing something... I mean we may not always like the way in which he does things, but I think the end result is more important than the medium by which it is acheived...

And in all of his showing off, I do believe Bono believes in what he is doing...

08-16-2009, 10:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
NumberNineDream Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The land of the largest wine glass (aka Lebanon) Posts: 2,200	anyone seen the South Park episode about Bono ... i think they really got the point there. __________________ Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Welcome to the Black Lodge

08-19-2009, 09:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
scottsy Untalented Drummer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sussex, Wisconsin Posts: 2,900	I dunno, I think we all know Bono is arrogant and showy, but at least he's doing something... I mean we may not always like the way in which he does things, but I think the end result is more important than the medium by which it is acheived... And in all of his showing off, I do believe Bono believes in what he is doing... __________________ "If you're like me, then it's possible you're a clone generated from my stolen DNA. I suggest you turn yourself in for destruction immediately" - Shaun Micallef.

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08-16-2009, 10:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
TumorAttitude Guest Posts: n/a	Using the event to promote U2? WTF? Performing in a charity event in front of thousands of people and millions more who are watching on television IS promotion, but I can't really find anything wrong with it. Really, that is the dumbest accusation that a person could throw at him...

08-16-2009, 11:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
TumorAttitude Guest Posts: n/a	I've seen it....nice avatar.