U2. Do you think they have sold out or evolved with the times?

Question

Soundwise... if you go from Boy to HTDAAB, they've been all over the musical map.

Answer 1

Wow. I feel like I'm going to cheap out here, but....what GK Dub said.

He literally typed my answer out from underneath me. Selling out, to me, is doing what the label wants, not what the artist wants. Or it's doing what you think is going to make money, and isn't necessarily what you feel. Or worst of all, allowing your song to be altered in some way to sell a product in a TV commercial.

I do think that they've evolved. They kind of came full circle - they started with rock anthems, went to that whole techno-y concept album and then returned back to their rock & roll roots - changed and a little wiser for the experience. I don't think they're in it make money. OK, let me rewind and alter. They're not SOLEY in it for the money - I honestly believe they love making the music they do - and that's NOT selling out.

Are they a little full of themselves? Maybe. But I will say this: the flak Bono gets irks me....at least he's doing SOMETHING socially responsible. How many rock & rollers are doing that? Maybe he does yell "look at meeee!" a bit louder than the rest, but he IS effective in raising awareness for his cause, and at the end of the day, I'm willing to forgive the ego because he's using his voice for something good.

Answer 2

Evolved obviously.
It just kills Me how a band's music evolves or changes a little bit and half the world starts screaming sell out.
Every Led Zeppelin album ever released was stylistically different one from the other, did they sell out?
Yes, they sold out Stadiums the World over. Just like U2.
A band, especially a hugely successful band like U2 has go to be expected to try different sounds later in their career.
It's to be expected.
I have been a fan since their debut and I have at least one song from every album they have ever put out in My favorites list, in fact I think Vertigo is the strongest effort they have put forth in awhile.
And anybody who says The Joshua Tree is a sellout album is an idiot, pure and simple.
And Love&Rockets might be top dog around here, but He couldn't be more wrong about U2..no offence to Him, just a difference of opinion.
U2 definitely have evolved, and of story

Answer 3

I think they've evolved to try to meet the changing mainstream music - however, they just don't have the popularity that they once did. Kinda like Def Leppard. They keep surviving, but they just won't have the same sort of fanbase as they did back in the 'good old days.' I love U2.

Answer 4

I'd lean more towards evolution. I say that because with albums like "Achtung Baby", "Zooropa" and "Pop", they not only changed with the times but seemed to stay just a couple years ahead of the times. Their last 2 albums have been very melodic and sorta pop-oriented, but I think that's because those guys are in their late 40's now and you tend to mellow out as you get older. To sell-out, you have to do something that you wouldn't want to for the sake of getting money. I really get the impression that U2 is not only proud of all their work, but also has a lot of creative control. At best, they might just be a little full of themselves.

Answer 5

I think they are constantly exploring different sounds. They are trying to grow as a band to a different level. No one wants to hear a band play the same style all of the time. That's why Garbage flopped when they came back. Their sound was new when they first came out, but they failed to evolve with the times and their next album sounded like a rehash of their old music. Bands and groups have to keep changing their sound or they don't last long these days.

Answer 6

They have completely evolved, which is the sign of a truly great artist or band. Their sound and performances have gotten better over the years but they are still the same U2.

Answer 7

I think they sing what they feel, and you either like it or you don't, whats the problem? I'm a U2 fan and I love most of their songs, but not all as with any artist. Why is it a "Sell out" because a singer changes format? Get over it, huh!!

Answer 8

I think they have sold out while trying to evolve..if that makes any sense.

I haven't liked anything they have come out with since the 80's

Answer 9

I think they sold out.....that's just my opinion. They are only a tiny shadow of what they once were (and at one point, they were great). When bands evolve with the times, the core of the band's music usually remains. Bono just seems to be singing to hear his own voice.

Answer 10

I think they've simply evolved. However, in the process, they seemed to have forgotten how to write songs of actual substance and value (in my opinion).