How big are U2?

[driver 8]

A question for music fans...

I recently had a very interesting music debate with a mate who's a huge U2 fan. It started by him talking about how he's disappointed with the way Coldplay have turned out. He was expecting them to make a huge change in sound and image. 'like The Beatles, or Radiohead with Kid A, or U2'.

Now I'm just a general music fan, I dont love or hate U2, I still have all their albums on my ipod and listen to a couple of them a fair bit.
In my opinion, U2's change from Joshua Tree to Achtung baby and subsequent imagine change does not compare to The Beatles and their colossal changes over such a short amount of time. Nor does their musical change (Joshua Tree ---> Achtung Baby) even come close to Ok Computer -> Kid A. In fact, I think it's outrageous that he even made the comparison.

Let me be clear, I'm not slagging off U2 one bit, or saying their music/image didnt change. I know they happened. And they were big. But from a general music fan's point of view... its not the same status as Ok Computer ----> Kid A or The Beatles.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Papa G]

U2 are probably the 4th or 5th biggest band of all time.

Radiohead aren't in the top 10.

 

[driver 8]

please note: I'm not saying Radiohead are one of the biggest bands in the world. I'm saying U2s change of sound is not as dramatic as OK Computer---> Kid A

 

[rocker_oz33]

U2 are a big band,big brand that fill huge stadiums but l don't rate them in my top 10 bands

 

[SunKing]

No I agree and the change in sound ruined them for me. Give me the earthy rock of the 80's over rubbish like Lemon. I think they were trying for a beatles like change though but it fell flat. Radiohead Ok Computer > Kid A also blows them out of the water both in terms of change and the resulting quality.

 

[Sir Vlado]

The thread title says "how big are U2" so i'll say, still big although they haven't released a studio album for 5 years. I have a gut feeling this thread will turn into some sort of warzone.

 

[Sir Vlado]

No I agree and the change in sound ruined them for me. Give me the earthy rock of the 80's over rubbish like Lemon. I think they were trying for a beatles like change though but it fell flat. Radiohead Ok Computer > Kid A also blows them out of the water both in terms of change and the resulting quality.

Whats funny is, Lemon is in my top 5 U2 songs.

imo U2s change in sound in the 90's was amazing, you got 3 good albums from the decade, Achtung Baby which I thought was a masterpiece, and Zooropa and Pop, both experimental and underrated to my ears. U2s 90s music is my favourite decade of theirs.

Anyways, I think I should stop talking now.

 

[JimDocker]

Boy, War and October were amazing albums as they burst onto the scene. They than polished their sound with Under a Blood Red Sky and moved onto their masterpiece The Joshua Tree. Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop were all original pieces of work.

They have been the most popular band in the world while being one of the most innovative and not many bands achieve that. The Beatles are the only one that come to mind.

I would not have U2 in my top ten favourite bands but, they are a truly great band.

How big ?

Huge !

 

[xamol]

U2 are monsterous.

From Boy to War to Unforgettable Fire was amazing. Then from THe Joshua Tree to Achtung Baby was sensational. Since the early 80's they have had hit after hit.

One of the biggest of all time.

 

[Sir Vlado]

Boy, War and October were amazing albums as they burst onto the scene. They than polished their sound with Under a Blood Red Sky and moved onto their masterpiece The Joshua Tree. Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop were all original pieces of work.

They have been the most popular band in the world while being one of the most innovative and not many bands achieve that. The Beatles are the only one that come to mind.

I would not have U2 in my top ten favourite bands but, they are a truly great band.

How big ?

Huge !

I think you mean Unforgettable Fire, Under A Blood Red Sky was a live album.

Plus I agree with basically all of what you said, but I think there are a few more bands that are just as innovative.

 

[TigerCleavage]

I think the drummer is about 5'10

 

[hawk for 37]

In terms of bigness. (Bands only)

Beatles - Goes without saying
Led Zeppelin - Reunion concert demand for tickets example of hugeness
Rolling Stones- Keep on selling out arenas. Each tour bigger than the last.
U2 - Only band that can match the Stones when touring.

after that you can talk AC/DC, Eagles etc


The Coldplays and Radioheads are minnows and need to do it for another 15 years to enter calculations.

Not talking music quality, purely size.

 

[Skeppersap]

I would say up there with the Beatles as the biggest 2 bands of all time.

Their old music has aged so well too. 60s Beatles and 80s U2 is still brilliant music. Most other 60s and 80s music belong in the 60s and 80s.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

U2 seems to be a little underrated on here I feel. Top band, music that generates a lot of discussion and they nail most concerts that are open to the public.

 

[SunKing]

They have been the most popular band in the world while being one of the most innovative and not many bands achieve that. The Beatles are the only one that come to mind.

The Beatles yes ,U2 though were hardly innovative..it was innovative when Bowie mixed electronica with rock in the 70's..in the 90's it's meh. A new direction for U2 yes but not groundbreaking in the way that Revolver or Heroes or Ok Computer was.

And it's not like I don't like them, I do,just find them to be a little overrated. Love the 80's stuff and even a few from the 90's such as the batman theme and the glorious Beautiful Day.

 

[crownie]

not really a fan of U2 but i would say they are in the top bands off all time behind the beatles, stones and zeppelin.

and ok computer was not ground breaking......

 

[Carlos]

I think theres a very big difference between how "big" a band is over how important or influential they might be.

U2 are arguably the biggest band on the planet these days. Red Hot Chili Peppers wouldnt be far away either. They sell lots of records and lots of concert tickets and when they tour its undeniably an event.

But that doesnt necessarily make them important. U2 do execute their ideas well and are as big as they are for a reason. And it'd be wrong to say they haven't helped shape the sound of some bands who have come after them (Coldplay, Killers). And any band who have been around for as long as they have will have a legacy of some description.

But i dont think they invented or re-invented anything and in terms of influence and importance compared to the all time greats, i think theres a pretty big gap between them and U2.

 

[Arcadion]

U2 are huge, and they're just going to get bigger with the new album/tour. People don't seem to realise how long these same 4 guys have been going for.

 

[xamol]

U2 are huge, and they're just going to get bigger with the new album/tour. People don't seem to realise how long these same 4 guys have been going for.

Spot on Arcadion. All the lads are nearing 50 and have been together since they were in their mid teens. Not many bands have done that. And in that time, hit after hit has been released.
I'm hanging for the new album. Just got a real good feeling about this one.

 

[krisholio14]

The Beatles yes ,U2 though were hardly innovative..it was innovative when Bowie mixed electronica with rock in the 70's..in the 90's it's meh. A new direction for U2 yes but not groundbreaking in the way that Revolver or Heroes or Ok Computer was.

And it's not like I don't like them, I do,just find them to be a little overrated. Love the 80's stuff and even a few from the 90's such as the batman theme and the glorious Beautiful Day.

I dispute this. Their sound was unique in the beginning, with The Edge in particular bringing a style of playing and sound that bands have now been copying for decades.

U2 also have the ability to meld brilliant songs with a real sense of atmosphere and grandiose. It was better on their first four albums because Bono hadn't morphed completely into the pompous git he is now, but even today, U2 bring a certain dynamic to their records that is unique to them, and as I said, bands have been attempting to copy for years.

U2 are really the last bastion of a bygone era in music. We just don't have 'Event' bands like them any more.

 

[Madtiger2006]

I rate bands by quality, not popularity. U2 are average at best with half a dozen fairly good songs. The other 200 songs are just blande. Then again has there been a great band to form after 1980? I haven 't found one and I know i won't either. What band forming after 1980 has at least 10 very good songs. I mean very good as in melody, ideas, originality, excitement, beauty, quality vocalist, quality sounds, quality recording, busy bass lines, plenty of keys. Songs that are great from start to end. Songs that were exciting the first listen and still excite after the 20th listen. Give me names

 

[crownie]

I dispute this. Their sound was unique in the beginning, with The Edge in particular bringing a style of playing and sound that bands have now been copying for decades.

U2 also have the ability to meld brilliant songs with a real sense of atmosphere and grandiose. It was better on their first four albums because Bono hadn't morphed completely into the pompous git he is now, but even today, U2 bring a certain dynamic to their records that is unique to them, and as I said, bands have been attempting to copy for years.

U2 are really the last bastion of a bygone era in music. We just don't have 'Event' bands like them any more.

spot on.

 

[Arcadion]

Spot on Arcadion. All the lads are nearing 50 and have been together since they were in their mid teens. Not many bands have done that. And in that time, hit after hit has been released.
I'm hanging for the new album. Just got a real good feeling about this one.

I'm struggling to think of any that have. Surely there is one...?

 

[DIG]

I rate bands by quality, not popularity. U2 are average at best with half a dozen fairly good songs. The other 200 songs are just blande. Then again has there been a great band to form after 1980? I haven 't found one and I know i won't either. What band forming after 1980 has at least 10 very good songs. I mean very good as in melody, ideas, originality, excitement, beauty, quality vocalist, quality sounds, quality recording, busy bass lines, plenty of keys. Songs that are great from start to end. Songs that were exciting the first listen and still excite after the 20th listen. Give me names

Still "Living in the 70s" are we?

Each to their own.

 

[Poptart]

Not bany bands last 4 decades, sell out concerts for over 30 years...

There is no bigger band than U2 over that time.

Some people say, they lost it after the 80's, but in reality, they have only grown bigger since the 80's, and if a band releases crap songs, crap albums, they simply won't last - THATS the bottom line!

As a longtime fan, i rate Vertigo, Crumbs, Miracle Drug, Walk On, Beautiful Day, Kite, One, Ultra Violet as good as, if not better than New Years Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bad, Streets, With Or Without You, Pride etc!