Achtung! More Bono

Have I pushed too many pixels about U2, Bono and religion? Henry VanderSpek does the job for us. Here are a couple interesting clips:

• U2... discovered that if you want to have an impact on a culture, you need only describe it.

  To describe it is to challenge it. Isn't that what artists are supposed to do? It's not their job to solve the problem. It's their job to describe the problem.

  Bono and the band were further influenced by fellow Irishman and poet Brendan Keneally, who said, 'If you want to serve the age — betray it.'




• The love that U2 talks about, however, is very different from "that lovey dovey stuff" (Discotheque) — the sugary, co-dependent love of so many pop songs. U2's songs give shape and dimensions to a love that is powerful, personal, and alive...

  Sometimes this drive for love takes the form of a yearning for justice. U2 albums contain information on how to get involved in Amnesty International and Greenpeace. ...Bono has also done extensive work with the Jubilee 2000 campaign to see crushing Third World debts forgiven. Under this plan the world's poorest nations may begin to channel their massive debt repayments into much needed social and infrastructure programs. This too is love. In fact, one writer has suggested that a concern for justice is simply love for the neighbour we have never met.

i think bono is not only out to save rock and roll, but to save the world. but i think he knows that he can't do it alone. the world certainly needs saving, and i'm just glad that there's someone out there who makes quality music speaking out for the ones who have yet to have their own voices heard... but with all that said, i take issue with the people bono chooses to bring on stage every show. i haven't heard of any instances of non-white girls being brought on stage with him... so much for equality, even if he does sing about mlk and the like. but it doesn't diminish his passion for social fiscal justice and his initiative. we just all have habits, and ways we buy into the things we hate that we don't realize.

Well, Daniel, I once thought as you did until I watched the Elevation Tour "Live in Boston" feature. During a very passionate croon of "With our Without You," Bono actually pulled a cute, ponytailed ASIAN GIRL up on stage!

(I would have thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me, but this Asian incident is actually confirmed by fellow U2 fan, our very own Cynthia Han.)

And might I add that some of us were insanely jealous.

why does she have to always be "cute" though? i guess it's because he can. *sigh* and y'know that whole asian fetish thing going on now, it's still not a step against the status quo.