How big are U2?

[Sir Vlado]

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, the same 4 people, for 30+ years, and the key for them being together for so long is that they are all great friends.

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.

Likewise Bernie, I have a good feeling about the new album too, waiting 5 years for it, it's almost here.

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!

A lot of U2s 2000s stuff is of high quality in my opinion, although probably not at their best, they put out plenty of wonderful tracks, and i'm sure we'll have more with the next album.

 

[SunKing]

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!

Lost it artistically not in terms of popularity which has never waned. The vast majority of their classics were recorded from 1980 - 1992.

And the stones have been releasing crap for decades and are still huge.

 

[SunKing]

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

I'm not a fan of U2s experimental stuff but at their best they were an awesome band.

And The Smiths,Radiohead,Blur etc aren't great bands

 

[anti.]

new kids on the block are huge too.

so i guess being big is not that great a deal.

i guess if you're content with listening to pop music then they're one of the best ever.

they should've gave it up a long time ago though. same as metallica, after and justice...

 

[krisholio14]

new kids on the block are huge too.

so i guess being big is not that great a deal.

i guess if you're content with listening to pop music then they're one of the best ever.

they should've gave it up a long time ago though. same as metallica, after and justice...

Being able to sustain it for 25 years is a big deal.

While i'm not a fan of anything much that they've done since 'The Unforgettable Fire', they still have a stronger body of work since that time than 95% of bands getting around.

I'm not sure Metallica could say the same since 'Justice'

 

[krisholio14]

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

Ween

 

[Sir Vlado]

Pfft- U2, bland? It's impossible to put the same two words in a sentence.

 

[anti.]

U2 are bland.

 

[Sir Vlado]

 

[geelong_boy]

In terms of longevity they're up there.

I think they decided to play it safe after Pop, which is too bad. Back to the mainstream with All That You Can't Leave Behind. Had some okay songs on it but some that didn't do it for me or match any of the their earlier material which both sounded good and pushed the boundaries.

Edge's guitar playing is a key part of the band. Ever since their greatest hits was released in the late '90s he's gone back to ringing guitar sound (eg. Sweetest Thing, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug), although their last album had some better and more inventive moments on it.

I guess I miss the band that didn't care what anyone else thought and simply tried to make great music that didn't sound like everything else.

 

[anti.]

what can i say? i make the impossible, possible.

 

[Suspense]

being big is not that great a deal.

Probably the worst measure of a band. It's just so utterly meaningless, and yet, probably the most frequently used...

 

[Sir Vlado]

In terms of longevity they're up there.

I think they decided to play it safe after Pop, which is too bad. Back to the mainstream with All That You Can't Leave Behind. Had some okay songs on it but some that didn't do it for me or match any of the their earlier material which both sounded good and pushed the boundaries.

Edge's guitar playing is a key part of the band. Ever since their greatest hits was released in the late '90s he's gone back to ringing guitar sound (eg. Sweetest Thing, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug), although their last album had some better and more inventive moments on it.

I guess I miss the band that didn't care what anyone else thought and simply tried to make great music that didn't sound like everything else.

I'm pretty sure on the next record they'll go back to trying something new and different, the producers of the album have been saying it'll re-invent rock n roll, so sounds like there is a new direction. So don't lose hope in them just yet.

 

[omit]

I'm pretty sure on the next record they'll go back to trying something new and different, the producers of the album have been saying it'll re-invent rock n roll, so sounds like there is a new direction. So don't lose hope in them just yet.

but axl rose just re-invented rock n roll about a month ago...i don't think i can take another re-invention

 

[anti.]

dont get your hopes up too high though.

im sure you'll love it whatever happens, sir vlado.

 

[The_Eagles]

the beatles
stones
led zep
queen
acdc/u2/metallica/the eagles/beach boys etc

 

[Sir Vlado]

dont get your hopes up too high though.

im sure you'll love it whatever happens, sir vlado.

Just have to wait and see.

 

[anti.]

we shall.

im expecting something better than the beatles ever produced according to those articles that have been released, it should revolutionise rock n roll for the billionth time as well.

so if its not better than the beatles at their peak...i'll be really let down.

 

[Sir Vlado]

The articles could be exaggerating anyway, you never know although i'm not sure things like this were said in articles for the past two albums.

 

[legitimatic]

Agree with you anti, U2 are massive....massively overrated.

 

[Arcadion]

we shall.

im expecting something better than the beatles ever produced according to those articles that have been released, it should revolutionise rock n roll for the billionth time as well.

so if its not better than the beatles at their peak...i'll be really let down.

Let's be honest anti, you've already made up your mind about it.

 

[Arcadion]

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

There is no bigger band than U2 over that time.

Must be doing something right.

 

[Poptart]

U2 are bland.

If they are so bland, how do explain them being so big for so long?

 

[Sir Vlado]

If they are so bland, how do explain them being so big for so long?

Exactly.

 

[hawk for 37]

the beatles
stones
led zep
queen
acdc/u2/metallica/the eagles/beach boys etc

Apart from a couple of hits in USA, Queen never had a massive impact in there so I wouldn't have them at 4. U2 easily fills that spot ahead of the other names.