Analysis of November 28, 1991 Rolling Stone Cover
I can admit that there are bands that I don't like but I can understand their popularity. The Rolling Stones are not my favorite band. I like them but they aren't in my top 10. However, I can see why a lot of people love them. The same goes for Aerosmith. There are also the bands that I don't even listen to but I can acknowledge their great talent. Led Zeppelin and the Beatles fit this bill. But what is so great about U2?
I compare this band to others in the entertainment industry who rely solely on their name. They can put anything out and people will flock to it simply because it's U2. It doesn't have to be great, even good. Stephen King is similar. He could write the worst book ever and there would still be people waiting anxiously to buy it.
A lot of what is considered good depends on name and popularity. It happens everywhere. A basketball player doesn't become so much better overnight. They just get focused on more and people will say that they improved to a great extent. True sports fanatics know that this doesn't happen. The media has a great effect on what is deemed good.
The same is true everywhere in life. The music business is one of the greatest examples of this. With hits considered so important but hard to accomplish, a great deal of value is placed on a band with a name that sells. Does this mean their music is great? No, it means that they can sell out a stadium. U2 can do that. They deserve credit for that but why are people so eager to pay good money to see them?
Some bands, and I think U2 falls into this group, only attempt to produce hits. This means that they make songs that they think will catch on with the mainstream and air on numerous commercials or get on the montages of sports shows or similar popular events. This means more cash for them and less work at the same time.
On top of not liking their music or understanding their popularity, I have to say that I find the band extremely annoying. They give a feeling that they are better than everybody else. Again, they are extremely liked by a huge part of the population so they can do whatever they please. However, most other rock bands don't try to be holier-than-thou. This goes for even the most famous bands like the Rolling Stones. They play their music and that is good enough.
Maybe the problem is that U2 performs pop music that is guaranteed to generate enormous admiration and money while other bands produce from the creative side and care about their art. That is why I never consider U2 a true rock band. They will never get that classification from me no matter how well-liked they are by the average citizen.
Published by Darren Rueb
Darren Rueb is very interested in fitness, music, and sports. Also, being a member of the media since he graduated college has led him to be very informed with the behind the scenes happenings of how the med... View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentThanks a lot Nancy. Yeah the Rolling Stone covers are very interesting to look at. I actually have a book with all their covers through their history. I've been a subscriber since about 2007. I've also bought some old issues of the magazine. The reporting that they do in there is fantastic. The magazine is very entertaining as well. Looking at the covers is fun because you see what was going on in the world at the time. I'm doing articles on all the covers of the magazine if you're interested. I already have a few articles out. A lot more on the way.
this was interesting, thanks! I think I have a few old Rolling Stones myself... may have to check them out to see who's on the cover. Can you take a photo of the cover and use it as your photo here? It is a collectors item, right? If you say credit: photo of the cover taken by you, and copyright belongs to Rolling Stone? Just wondering how that would work.
Thanks for the comment. I don't like most of their songs because I don't like their overall sound. That is why I have a tough time understanding why people love them so much. There are a lot of bands that I don't like but I can see why people love them. A few of their songs are bearable but I wouldn't consider them to be worthy of great praise or love. On the point of the charity work, I agree with you. It's good that Bono gets involved with causes and charity. He's got a large voice and he should use it for positive causes. I do wonder though, how much of it is done for publicity? That will never be known but the band, in general, seems to do stuff just for praise and good publicity. Along with that, I don't think he should get extra credit for doing it. It should be expected from a guy like him.
I'm not a HUGE fan, but i do like some of their songs. At least Bono does get involved with causes and charities and they do seem to "give back". Few bands do that, whether you care for them or not.