I am far from the most optimistic person in the world. Who the hell can be these days? LMAO! Whether it's my personal life or the state of the world- I find plenty to worry about. As for U2, I find more than enough to be critical of. I'm not one of those "everything they've done is gold" fan boys.
That being said, I have a really hard time reading so much of the ridiculous, predictable takes of anything U2 these days. Here and elsewhere. I remember saying to myself this time last week that I'd see a headline just like the "worst song of the year" bullshit that was written in Pitchfork. The predictability is what kills me! Not to mention, this idiot likely did not hear the song before writing that review. So much of it is motivated by personal animosity toward Bono, which I'll never understand. Do I shed any tears for him? Of course not, I think he's just fine in life. But I don't think there's a more misunderstood person the last 15 years than Bono. If this man just cared about his ego, he'd have some restaurants or a TV show or some other shit- he would not be doing all this political work (like or agree with it or not) on his own time and with his own money.
As for the song itself..... it's nothing great, but I wasn't expecting it to be. It's also nowhere near as bad as people are saying here or elsewhere! I actually think it's bordering on good. A few people have pointed out there's a little more space here than we've seen in a while- not so much jamming lyrics into every inch of the song. It also has a mature, reflective, lounge type vibe to it. Others here have also alluded to this and mentioned how easy it would've been to make a full play at the kid/pop sound. The first verse even reminds me of "Stay" or "Ground beneath..." even though the song is obviously nowhere near as good as either of those.
It is a FINE song for what it is. And to the Pitchfork asshole and anyone else saying this is somehow conceited or insincere or implying that U2 (Bono) has saved all these lives, I'd ask for a simple google search of what Bono has been up to since the pandemic. He's been writing all about songs FROM OTHER ARTISTS, NOT HIMSELF, that have " saved his life. " So to say that this isn't sincere or whatever is ridiculous and can be debunked by the most minimal research effort. It's absolutely inexcusable for a music writer at a publication with editors to be writing that utter bullshit unless the goal is just a personal hit piece for clicks. Let's see it for what it is......
And I've had enough of people saying that material they don't like means it's insincere or a cynical play for the charts in general. Yeah, like most people here, I have no idea what they ever saw in Get out of your own way. However, I realize that it fits with what Bono had been saying, thinking, etc in that time in his life. I'm still flabbergasted that the band who put out anything 1987-1993 couldn't find a better lyrical or musical way to express it, but I'd never say the thought behind it is insincere.
Do I have any idea why Boots or SUC ever saw the light of day, never mind an album? No. Would either wind up anywhere near TUF, War, Boy or even Pop? Of course not. Notice I didn't mention JT or AB because I'm not holding them to the standard of 2 of the best albums ever released by any musical act, period. Nor would I claim that post-2000 beats 1980-2000- because again, you're talking one of the best runs of any artists ever! But to claim that "everything since sucks and this is just the latest low point" flies in the face of any reasonable examination of the material.
To each their own, but I don't see how a U2 fan from the beginning could really think Invisible, Crystal Ballroom, Raised by wolves, Cedarwood rd, The Troubles, Little Things, Red Flag Day, etc are so out of whack quality wise that they can't hold a candle to what came before. I could do the same thing with ATYCLB, BOMB and NLOTH but you all get the idea.
For what it's worth, I actually liked "We are the people" a lot. On its face and for what it was. We just came out of the worst year plus of our collective lives!! What is wrong with a blatant attempt at joy and celebration?! The DJ collobaration?? They're going for the kidzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!????? Save it!! I often wonder what the reaction would've been if this place existed when they started working with Oakenfeld on the AB remixes!
Along those same lines, what is wrong with telling people that "saved" or seriously impacted our lives as much?! The idea behind that? It's insincere and "Hallmark?" Or is it maybe a 60 year old man with wisdom and life experience (including two recent brushes with death) is pleading with us to 1) slow down and recognize the people who keep you going and 2) maybe let them know because life is short?
Will I listen to it in 5 years? No. Listen to it on purpose again? Maybe 2 or 3 times. Hell, to me it isn't even "Love is bigger" level good and is nowhere near as good as "Ordinary Love" which I thought was an excellent one-off that showed signs of good things to come! I just wish the criticisms were fairer and better thought out.
Maybe I'm in a different place than most in my thinking, but I really do feel that if you've experienced difficulty in life- especially loss/grief and/or mental health issues, you get what the hell Bono has been saying since SOI (California, Little Things, Showman, Blackout, Love is bigger most especially). If you haven't, you're less likely to.
Hell, my Mom just lost her boss who was very close to her today. He saved her job and with it, our house and pretty much my life as I know it by going to bat for her in 2011. I was too wrapped up in my own issues to know it at the time, but today, when he's gone, is the first time I've truly reflected on and appreciated him.
Well, I can't write a song that winds up in a movie and gets slammed all over Pitchfork and elsewhere (maybe for good reason in some places, who the hell knows?) but maybe it would be nice if we could be aware of the fact that people "save" our lives in many ways throughout them and be lucky enough to be able to tell them as much in time!
I'm at the point where I'm viewing everything we get from U2 as a bonus. They don't need to prove shit to me or anyone else anymore. The live shows still blow away everyone I know that sees them for the first time. And they're U2's shows that they headline in the biggest venues in the world. I'd take that over being on a quadruple bill with 3 other washed up 80s acts at your half-full local ampitheatre.
They step in it more than they used to and more than the acts that just lean on the past, but I'll take the trade off any day to keep them around at this level.
