Limited Editions, Numbers, Selfishness.

Dana S White ([email protected])
Fri, 06 Nov 1998 09:48:50 -0600

U2 (and/or PLG, Island, High Priestess Lubbadubba, whoever) chose to make
this a "limited edition" first because it seemed like a good idea at the
time. I'm sure that Bono and Adam weren't sitting up giggling demonically
one night, thinking of ways to screw over the "freak demographic" - "Let's
tell them it's a limited edition and charge fifty bucks more - then pull
the old bait and switch! Heheheheehee!"

No.

Now, it seems to them like a good idea to continue to release the b-sides.
Which I support. It's incredibly selfish, I think, to complain that now
"regular" people (the pop kids?) are going to be able to get this. It isn't
a Propaganda insert, folks. It's a commercial worldwide release. U2 never
said they were only doing this for the diehards. And even if they did, so
what? They can change their minds, and decide that their music is good
enough for the person who didn't go to extreme lengths to buy it still
smelling of the delivery truck.

Since now even "regular" fans are able to get the double-CD set almost
anytime, people have a chance to get to know more of U2 than one decade's
"best of." I know I own a couple Greatest Hits albums, and I've never
wanted anything more than what was on the album - I knew the songs, I liked
them, but I had no reason to think I would like more of what that band or
artist had created. Adding another CD at minimal cost gives those who have
an interest in U2 to learn more about the music than what is played on the
radio. I think that the b-sides are just as, if not in some cases more,
enjoyable as the regular tracks. A buyer could think, "hey, I like these
songs already - but I like this new stuff, too. Maybe I'll buy one of the
old albums." And, in the end, it saves all the potential "real fans" money,
anyway - what if someone who is a nominal fan now becomes a "freak fan"
later? They'll have to pay ebay or private seller prices for a "no longer
in print" CD. With Polygram, it's obviously all about the Benjamins -
fans, even hardcore "freak" collectors, might want to think twice before
they follow suit.

But then, this is me, the girl who doesn't even want an autograph - so
maybe I just don't understand what it's like to be a collector and have
your whole mood rest upon a few numbers on a case.

Sittin', thinkin',
Dana

. . .many lost who seek to find themselves in me. . .

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Fri Nov 06 1998 - 07:44:46 PST