a few thoughts / need help - FAN ART

amanda butler ([email protected])
Sat, 12 Sep 1998 20:15:26 -0400

Ok, so after being sick for two days, and therefore stuck inside, and
consequently watching my entire U2 video library, I have a few thoughts.

First of all, this whole Greatest Hits / Best Of thing. It's been said
before (and much more eloquently) by other Wirelings, but WHATEVER U2
do, we, the fans, are bound to complain about it. Some of us on the
list are excited about the GH album, happy about the prospect of gaining
new fans. But suppose new fans ARE gained, quite a few of them, and U2
again attains the position of The Biggest Band In The World. I know
that many of us are then going to complain about their "going
mainstream", "selling out"--- and we'll be unhappy because U2 aren't
OURS alone anymore. They belong to the millions of fans around the
globe. We'll be bitter, because WE were the ones who stuck with them
through the "POP flop" thing, we were the ones who spent every penny on
tickets, t-shirts, gas money, etc.
I have news for the complainers: U2 are big superstars who have the
right to make whatever artistic choices they desire. And this includes
signing a $50 million contract for Best Of albums. We all know that
they didn't make as much money as they had hoped to on the Popmart
tour. With a greatest hits album, they can earn back what they had
hoped to make on the tour, as well as pick up some new fans who will
support their future material and tours. IMHO, this is a good decision
for them, as much as I usually hate greatest hits albums. And another
thing.. they don't owe us, the hardcore fans, a damn thing. And yet
they are releasing a B-sides album probably meant for us, the fans. So
can we just shut up about the whole thing and buy it when it comes out?
Me included, heehee. Subsequently shutting up.

And after watching all those U2 videos (namely Rattle & Hum and then all
the ZOOtv/AB and POPmart videos I had), I had to wonder... when are
they going to get rid of the silly costumes and the kitsch? It's
unnecessary. (I think Larry hated it from the very beginning. And I
have doubts about Adam's contentment in an orange jumpsuit...)

This post is getting long (and cranky, sorry), but one more thing: I'm
still working on the U2 fan art site.. if you have any work you'd like
to submit for my site, please email me at [email protected]. It can be
anything relating to U2. Right now I have several sections: computer
art, fine art (drawings/paintings), short stories, and poetry. Of
course you will get full credit and a link to your site, if you have
one, or to your email address, if you so desire.

Wait wait, ONE more thing: does anyone else LOVE the live version of
Lemon that's on the ZOOtv Live From Sydney video/radio broadcast?
Especially the part where Bono sings "Mid-niiiiiiiight,
mid-niiiiiiiiiight, midnight is where the day begins". Ok. Just
curious.

Leaving now.

Dream out loud,
amanda

Visit the U2 fan art site, Baby Light My Way, at
http://pratt.edu/~abutler/U2.html
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http://pratt.edu/~abutler * [email protected] * ICQ 5490296
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