U2 is only popular because of their politics and charity, agree?

Question

I mean come on, they're OK... To me it's like they're popular because they're popular. People act like they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. I find them very homogenious and bland, lowest common denominator. I think the Rolling Stones are better and they've sucked for like 30 years. Not to mention the fact that Bono is an uglier version of Robin Williams. Those glasses? Boo. Also, what's with "The Edge?" Please. As if he's particularly talented, especially relative to other rock and roll guitarists. I think one of the big reasons that people like them so much is because they give to charity. That's certainly nice of them, but that doesn't make them any good. They have like 3 or 4 really good songs, (One of which was written by John Lennon, so it only half counts.) with that many good songs I put them at the level of say, Supertramp or the Classics IV maybe Joe Cocker, but that's generous. You know who's better then U2? ELO, how do you like that? ELO has 11 solid songs.

Answer 1

i guess so. their music sucks.

Answer 2

Well being that I have never heard of Supertramp or the Classics IV and cannot name a song by ELO, and can only name one song by Joe Cocker, I would have to say U2 are bigger and better. They've been around for about 30 years and sold millions of records, so statistically they're one of the biggest bands that have ever existed with worldwide recognition. So what if they use a political platform? At least they recognise the fact they can use their status for good.

Answer 3

I love ELO, but I gotta disagree with your analysis. Ben & Jerry's does a lot of charitable outreach and donation, as does Bill Gates and Vitali Klitchko. Doesn't make it bad ice cream, bad software (ok maybe) or a bad boxer. In this day and age where every hollywood loudmouth thinks they're a qualified political analyst (Barbara Streissand, Dixie Chicks, Sean Penn, etc), the only thing that makes U2 unique is that Bono actually accomplishes something with his efforts.

Answer 4

Maybe they are just not your cup of tea. But they are very talented and Bono is gorgeous!
They have soooooo many other great songs that are not as popular as the one's you hear on the radio. I have most of their cd's and i think they have a very original sound. Also, i liked them before i really knew much about their political views and charitable contributions. And now that makes me like them even more! I like ELO also. But unlike U2, sadly, they are no longer producing music.

Answer 5

U2? They suck. I wouldn't rank them anywhere near Supertramp.
Hell, even The 1910 Fruitgum Company (Simon Says) was better than U2 could ever dream about being, musically speaking.
U2 is all hype and self promotion. Elo was very good as was Klaatu (Calling Occupants), a long forgotten Canadian band.

Answer 6

No, U2 plays very accessible, very listenable music. I doubt most of their fans really care about the politics. They have several songs that I like. I wouldn't say they are my favorite band by any means, but their music has a very broad appeal. It's rock, but it's not hard rock. The have love ballads, but they are not sentimental, overdone or just cheesy.
And they work very hard.
They are not the most talent musicians in the world, but the style they play can be appreciated by most people.
And they also play huge venues, which only makes them even bigger.
And.... they've been around for over 25 years!

Answer 7

when i started liking u2 they didnt really sing much about politics. what i liked about them was their sound, which, at the time, was very unique. edge's guitar was the biggest part of that uniqueness, which now just sounds mainstream. you can argue that there were others before him with that sound,like gang of four, but he was the one to popularize it. i havent bought a new u2 album since zooropa (is that what it was called?) but ill still take everything u2 did up to joshua tree over elo any day. although elo is okay too, i guess. in the end, its just pop music, anyway.

Answer 8

I disagree with you; I think U2 is one of the most creative and unique bands in history. I am a conservative American; I enjoy their music but often find myself on the other side of them politically.

I still admire Bono, I believe he does what he does to benefit mankind and he lacks the hysterical meanness that liberals so often spew.

When he starts he political stuff during a show it is a just a good time for me to grab a hot dog

Answer 9

"great" songs by U2

One
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Lookin' For
With or Without You
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Beautiful Day
Stuck in a Moment
Elevation
Vertigo
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
City of Blinding Lights
Mysterious Ways
Miss Sarajevo
All Because of You

I haven't even began to scratch the surface.
The Edge is one of the top 25 guitarists of all-time
U2 is probably one of the top 5 bands of all-time
Your argument doesn't really present any real points.

Answer 10

ever heard of the joshua tree.. probably the best album of the 80s... at least top 10... they've had about 20 top 10 singles...

why do people talk about things they don't know anything about?

ELO has like 3 top 10 songs ever... come on... and they don't have ONE CD that's even close to as complete of an album as joshua tree...

tell you what... go look at the album sales "pre-charity"... like joshua tree and before... and you will see how much they destroy ELO as far as sales... and that's just like pre-1990... they've probably sold twice as many albums since then...

now just because you don't like them.. .it doesn't make them a bad band.. we could talk all day about our "personal favs"... but that doesn't mean that everyone likes them..

Answer 11

I hate U2, they hav`nt made a decent record since The JoshuaTree, and as for their hypocritical political stance, they are better off concentrating on what they do moderatly well. when i see Bono on TV spouting his mouth off, i turn the f*cker off. Sting is the same. ******* all of them.