BRIAN MURRAY ([email protected])
Thu, 10 Dec 1998 22:51:24 EST
when I've posted stuff I usually get replies (like most of you) and
after writing privately to these people I've discovered that everybody
has a different U2 story to tell and also that U2 means something
different to everybody depending on; who they are, where they come from,
what there tastes are, what albums they have (yes not everybody can
afford to buy EVERY single u2 item), concerts they've been to etc. etc.
So what I've been thinking is wouldn't it be cool if people started
sharing these stories, get something positive going for a change. I was
a bit reluctant to post this at first but I figure if anybody thinks
this is just a bunch of wishy-washy cods wallup you can just skip on
down to the next post.
Anyway for what it's worth I'll share my story. It's pretty tame
compared with some that people have told me but I hope this will get the
ball rolling.
I first became a fan when I saw the video for "Numb" early one
morning. I can remember thinking "I gotta remember the the song name and
it's by U2". I'd heard other U2 songs on the radio before but when it's
all jumbled up among all the other crap on the radio I guess I just
never noticed it. After having it stuck in my head for about a week I
decided that I'd go buy the single. I almost didn't get it when I was
told that it was only out on video but the guy at the shop told me it
had a really good remix on it as well plus a great 3rd song.
Later I was listening to the radio again when I heard the DJ say
something like "this songs one of my fav' of all time and I know there
are a heap of U2 fans out there so this one goes out to all of you" He
played "Who's gunna ride your wild horses" which is one of my Fav' songs
(have they ever done this one live??? I think it would sound really cool
done live). I'd heard it before but I'd never really listened to it nor
did I realise that it was by U2.
A few weeks later I was in my local music store with my first ever
pay check from my first ever job (I was about 16 at the time). I wanted
to buy a CD 'cos I'd played all the ones I had to death. Nothing in the
new release section look very good though. I was after some music that
was really moving. I think I was pretty big into R&B at the time and it
was only 'cos I couldn't find anything else that I got Zooropa. I didn't
expect it to be much but as soon as I heard to into to the first song I
new I'd got the right CD. the songs that really got me hooked on this
album we're Zooropa (particularly the intro), Numb, Lemon, Stay, The
first time (which I think is one of the deepest songs ever written) and
The Wanderer. I thought that they sounded so complicated (for lack of a
better word), deep and VERY modern but most of all so original! I can't
think of to many bands that didn't just sing songs with themes like "she
so damn hot" or "I love her so" or something like that.
Anyway, moving on. After letting a friend from church know that I was
so insanely in love with Zooropa she suggested I listen to Actung. When
I finally got around to buying it I was so shocked. It sounded so
different. I couldn't compare one to the other 'cos they're both
completely different themes, type of music but most important I noticed
that it had a different feel to it. The depth and the mood of the album
is so... I dunno. It's like everything has a happy aim but a twist of
bitterness or wickedness in it. I think this is really easy to hear in
"Love is Blindness" (which is one of my all time fav' songs... it
changes every day).
So I kept buying U2 CD's when I had spare money and I kept being so
surprised that it was the same band the whole way though. As I went I
also found that most of my friends were huge U2 fans as well. I don't
call somebody a fan 'cos they have every CD and single and poster ever
produced or 'cos they know every detail of Bono's life or something
ridiculous like that. I think a fan is somebody who gets a gleam in
there eye and a smile on there face every time they hear a U2 song...
After all not all fans are able to follow the band as much as they'd
like to and CD's cost a lot when your only a teen.
When my dad told me one day that U2 were gunna be in sydney for a
concert I immediately called up about 50 people and asked them all to
come. It wasn't hard to find people who wanted to go but most of them
couldn't afford it. I ended up going with about 3 friends and it was the
best night of my life! Since then I've become a bit obsessive. I used to
watch fanatical band supporters on TV and thing, what nutcases, but now
I find myself searching for every bit of new info on the band and trying
to find all the songs that I haven't heard before. I guess that's why
I'm so defensive of them on wire. They just mean so much to me that I
immediately jump on the defensive whenever somebody say something like
"they're selling out" or other such rubbish.
To conclude I'd like to say that the thing I like most about U2 is
they are always changing and they never do anything plain or boring or
normal. The concerts are so mystical and everything from their hair to
their motives change radically from album to album. that's why I think
the Best of was such a good idea, 'cos it wasn't like any other Greatest
Hits CD. Everything from the booklet to the B-side was different and
again U2 freeks seem to be everywhere!
anyway like I said my story is pretty tame. I'm sure you have a
better one so post it! Lets try and get something positive happening
here!
P.S. sorry for the spelling. It's late 'ere and I couldn't be bother
trying to spell correctly
Brian
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Tue Dec 22 1998 - 11:32:40 PST