Timothy McIntyre ([email protected])
Sat, 26 Dec 1998 10:51:49 -0800 (PST)
First off, did anyone watch the VH-1 countdown of all-time top 100 rock n'
roll performers last night? It was actually pretty good; I flipped on the
TV at about number 80, and watched it up to number 29, which was when our
guys checked in. I was honestly surprised that U2 didn't crack the top
ten, but it was still nice to see U2 in the top 29 percent ;)
Oftentimes, those MTV-VH1 lists are really arbitrary, but this one
actually seemed on-target: it was built upon the votes of 600 rock
performers (with no critics voting), so it seemed like a good barometer of
the rock community's opinion of U2's work. I can't remember the exact
order, but other artists on the list were Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton, Al
Green, the Temptations, the Jackson Five, B.B. King, Janis Joplin, Kurt
Cobain, Crosby Stills & Nash, Creedence, The Clash, Little Richard, Van
Halen, Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, The
Who, Madonna, etc.
Also, I just wanted to say that even though I'm sure that there is a
myriad of a political opinions represented by all the people on this list,
and that any political discussion tends to turn vehement, I still think
it's a good thing if people post stuff like "Clinton is getting unfairly
railroaded" as well as "Clinton is an embarassment"--I think I'd be more
disturbed by U2 fans' political apathy if they *didn't* post these kinds
of messages. Let's face it, no matter what our individual views are, the
band that we all love has been urging young people to get politically
involved, and to be politically aware, since its inception. So if the
leader of the free world is embroiled in controversial impeachment
proceedings, why shouldn't people post? I admit, it gets tricky because
every post should have U2 content--that's only fair--but are political
posts inherently U2-related? Hmmm... that's a tough question that I
haven't been able to figure out. On the one hand, we all like a band that
is arguably one of the most political bands in rock history, but on the
other hand, it would be a shame if WIRE degenerated into "partisan
bickering," to sample a recent popular term, and people just posted random
political rantings.
Personally, I'm a politics-junkie, and I always like to see political
posts, whether they be about El Salvador, Sarajevo, Belfast, Chernobyl,
Enniskillen, Omagh, Clinton, Blair, Rushdie, The Gulf War, or whatever.
It makes me glad I listen to a band that asks its fans to consider these
things.... I mean, it gets you thinking: what do they talk about on the
Hanson mailing list, y'know?
I hope everyone had a fun Christmas and happy new year
cheers
Tim
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Timothy McIntyre
Boston University School of Law
[email protected]
http://www.csua.berkeley.edu/~timothym
"The writer never seeks admiration.
He wants to be believed."
--Jean LeCocteau
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