Bruce Springsteen vs Bono

Nolanger

Irish Times
The sad ballad of Bruce and Bono
PRESENT TENSE: YOU MUST HAVE heard Bono’s words at this week’s pre-inauguration concert. “What a thrill for four Irish boys from the northside of Dublin to honour you sir, Barack Obama, to be the next president of the United States.” writes SHANE HEGARTY .

And what a thrill it must have been. Even if only one of U2 actually lives on the northside now. Or that Bono must have lived as much of his life on the southside. Or that two of the band were born in England, before moving to the north Co Dublin town of Malahide. Roddy Doyle, you’ll have noticed, never sets his novels in Malahide.

Why be so picky? Because even in a moment when he was trying to express the personal pride he and the band were feeling, Bono sounded a false note. In throwing in the reference to the northside, he was grabbing some of the “impossible journey” narrative for himself and the band.

In many ways, U2’s journey from school band to global megastardom has been improbable, but it’s not because they came from Dublin’s northside. It’s not as if most of Bono’s friends are either dead or in jail. Last time I looked, they were making soundtracks and bowls. When not being a citizen of Dublin, Bono is a citizen of the world.

During the band’s performance of In The Name of Love, he described Martin Luther King’s dream as “Not just an American dream – also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream, an Israeli dream . . .” And then, following a long pause reminiscent of a man who’d just realised he’d left the gas on, he added, “. . . and also a Palestinian dream.” This was his big shout out to the Palestinians. You know, it’s easy – and not original – to have a pop at Bono’s bombast, but sometimes it’s necessary to point it out and impossible to resist.

He serves it up on a platter, writing newspaper columns and giving TV interviews. And for all his undoubted sincerity and effort on the issue of world poverty, you can’t help but marvel at this latest expression of Bono’s Sesame Street view of the world. Hey Middle East, we just have to have a dream to get along.

Just ignore the sound of those loud explosions and concentrate on Bono’s voice.

U2 debuted a new single this week. Get On Your Boots is actually pretty good, a reminder that the band still writes decent tunes, which is no mean feat given how many legendary acts continue to rely on ancient material. (The Rolling Stones have written almost nothing memorable during the entire time that U2 have been around). But not for the first time in U2’s career, Get On Your Boots sounds like the work of a band trying to find their voice in other people’s sounds. And, also not for the first time, it’s lyrically vacuous. That shouldn’t be a big deal – it’s only rock’n’roll after all – but it reminds us that it’s been some time since Bono and U2 have been musically relevant.

Also on the stage at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday was Bruce Springsteen. Like U2, he released new music this week. In early listens, the album Working On A Dream is very strong in parts, if unlikely to be remembered as one of his more substantial albums. It lacks the grief and resilience that fuelled his post-9/11 album The Rising ; the honesty of Devils and Dust ; and the anger that infused his Bush-era America album Magic . Working On A Dream is a romantic album, a contented album, an album that sounds as if it marks the end of a cycle in his songwriting.

It is, though, part of the continuing evolution of his music. He has been singing about the same characters and themes through his entire career, making his an epic, decades-long exercise in storytelling that shows no sign of coming to an end. Springsteen has also been arguably the most effective and popular protest songwriter of recent years. It means that he remains essential in a way that few artists do. In a way that U2, and Bono, are not.

Compared to Bono, Springsteen has always been on another plane as a lyricist, but 40 years into his career he’s writing songs that are not just catchy, but actually say something intelligent about the world, his country, his people. Like Bono, he’s made enough money to remove himself from the multitudes who pack his stadium shows, and yet he still seems genuinely one of them.

Most importantly, he’s politically brave in a way that Bono will not be. He takes sides. He’s not afraid to make enemies. Unlike Bono, pal of all presidents, he will not sup with the devil, partly because he knows what it’s like when his political enemies misread and misappropriate his music. And unlike Bono, who has a fascination with America that displays itself as a cloying neediness, Springsteen understands that country intimately. It means that Springsteen is authentic and authoritative in a way that Bono can never hope to be, no matter how much he mentions that he’s from the northside.

ManFromAtlantis

i think bono is great. musically and for wht hes done to help the plight of the poor.

Xavi6

Both have made some average at best music but Bono's a wanker so Bruce wins.

ManFromAtlantis

typical jealousy and whodoeshethinkheis attidude.

Xavi6

ManFromAtlantis wrote: »

typical jealousy and whodoeshethinkheis attidude.

Call it what you like. He's still an arrogant wanker.

And his band haven't released anything decent since 1991.

JP Liz

I prefer the Boss Bruce to Bono

Mars Bar

Xavi6 wrote: »

Both have made some average at best music but Bono's a wanker so Bruce wins.

You put Bruce and the word average into the same sentence, it's an insult to the man. He is well above average. The only time you use average in a sentence with the Boss is when you are comparing how far removed from average he is! I'm not a big gan of Bono's or U2 but music has to be credited where it is due and that was for The Joshua Tree album which was brilliant. But that's the best they have done for me. Boss on the other hand, wow!

tony 2 tone

Right so it's the Ballad of Ronnie Drew vs. The Ghost of Tom Joad, no contest. Bono's singing and lyrics have gone to crap in the past few years.

thermo66

What do people have against Bono in this country!!! Never mind the tax issue before that even lots of people slating him. U2 continue to put Ireland on the map, are generally considered to be the best band in the world and are always proud to be irish. So Bono gets involved in political issues, thats his business. He's creating awareness at the end of the day, and i'm sure all the politicians wouldn't have entertained him if he didn't know what he was talking about. If you don't like what he has to say turn him off!!! I 'm not saying he doesn't go on a bit but its almost uncool to say you like Bono in this country. Typical irish begrudgery perhaps???

The boss is a legend!! Roll on July. Hoping U2 will announce dates soon too.

Xavi6

thermo66 wrote: »

U2 continue to put Ireland on the map, are generally considered to be the best band in the world and are always proud to be irish.

Lol what a ridiculous statement.

brendansmith

Xavi6 wrote: »

Lol what a ridiculous statement.

+1, HAHAHA :D:D:D:pac::pac::pac:

af_thefragile

But Bono is a piece of crap...
The biggest crap ever crapped... Over 80 Courics in weight!

thermo66

Xavi6 wrote: »

Lol what a ridiculous statement.

Hardly 'ridiculous'.... You may not agree with it but its far from a ridiculous statement. Don't exaggerate.

Nailz

af_thefragile wrote: »

But Bono is a piece of crap...
The biggest crap ever crapped... Over 80 Courics in weight!

Hahaha, I was about to say that up until I seen that post!

ManFromAtlantis

lads im not going to argue whether you should like his music or not. thats subjective. i'll let the millions of cd sales speak fro itself.
some of the comments here knocking bono...............its sad that a man that has done a bit to highlight the plight of the real poor is abused here. i'm taking a flyer here, but i bet theres a tiny chance that that some people here have not done as much. and no imo bonos not looking for credit. he just deserves it.
comments like ' hes the biggest crap ever crapped or whatever........real classy, just showing ignorance and u hardly learned that in trinity.

Xavi6

thermo66 wrote: »

Hardly 'ridiculous'.... You may not agree with it but its far from a ridiculous statement. Don't exaggerate.

Quint

“What a thrill for four Irish boys from the northside of Dublin to honour you sir, Barack Obama, to be the next president of the United States.”

Did bono actually say that? Oh god, how cringeworthy! At least he can probably see the northside from dalky (or where ever he lives now)! He could have at least of moved to Howth.

ShawnRaven

Why not just rename the Music forum to the "Bash Bono forever" forum, because quite frankly, that's all thats been happening here in the last month or so, it's kinda boring to be honest.

He's done more in a lifetime than most of the posters here could do in ten lifetimes. Get over it, yeah?

Quint

ShawnRaven wrote: »

Why not just rename the Music forum to the "Bash Bono forever" forum, because quite frankly, that's all thats been happening here in the last month or so, it's kinda boring to be honest.

He's done more in a lifetime than most of the posters here could do in ten lifetimes. Get over it, yeah?

No one disagrees with that. But he's still a tosser

thermo66

Xavi6 wrote: »

why are you saying i exaggerated?? Cos i said U2 are generally considered the best band in the world?? They are!!!

Xavi6

thermo66 wrote: »

why are you saying i exaggerated?? Cos i said U2 are generally considered the best band in the world?? They are!!!

Says who? You?

You say it as if it's some sort of 'fact' when, because music is subjective, there are most likely the same amount of people who they're not even close to being the best band in the world EVAR! as who think they are.

Red Sleeping Beauty

Xavi6 wrote: »

Lol what a ridiculous statement.

Maybe he means best Oirish band ?

thermo66

HA HA . Did i say best band 'EVER' ....No !!! So do not misquote me.

I am not proclaiming them to have be the best, i said they are generally considered to be. Don't say you've never heard it before.... whether you believe it or not is your own business and i really don't care. .

Have a nice day.:rolleyes:

ManFromAtlantis

good girl thermo, totally agree with ya.

Springsteen is'nt afraid to take sides where as Bono sucks up to whomever is in power. That and the fact that Springsteen makes great music whereas Bono and U2 contribute nothing but drivel which when marketed as music is surely against trade description laws.

thermo66

thermo66 wrote: »

why are you saying i exaggerated?? Cos i said U2 are generally considered the best band in the world?? They are!!!

I'm fairly certrain that following last years reunion gig a certain 70s group featuring Jimmy Page and Robert Plant would be catagorised as the worlds biggest band. In fact they are in the Guiness Book of Records for just that.

thermo66

ManFromAtlantis wrote: »

good girl thermo, totally agree with ya.

Thank you

Red Sleeping Beauty

ShawnRaven wrote: »

Why not just rename the Music forum to the "Bash Bono forever" forum, because quite frankly, that's all thats been happening here in the last month or so, it's kinda boring to be honest.

A Bash Bono forum could work for me , I'd like to see that one
Someone can have all of my Thanks forever if they request a forum in the Forums Request forum for a Bash Bono Forum .

thermo66 wrote: »

HA HA . Did i say best band 'EVER' ....No !!! So do not misquote me.

Sorry Sir/Mam, my mistake. I think however, that this is where the confussion lay....

thermo66 wrote: »

U2 ........... are generally considered to be the best band in the world

Traditional

he sure knows how to sell records , supposed to be worth 900mil

Red Sleeping Beauty

Who ? Springsteen ?

---

I think David Bowie is worth close to that figure as well but that had something to do with him licensing out his songs.

Chinafoot

Bono V Springsteen

No comparison really.

Come back to me when Bono is still going strong after a 40 year career of knock out, ever-changing music and amazing performances. U2 don't even compete when compared to the Boss for live shows. U2's sound has remained the same, and tbh I find it monotonous and boring. They haven't been good since the 80's.

As for his charity work....this is the music forum, yeah?

thermo66 wrote:

i said they are generally considered to be.

Generally considered by who exactly? U2 fans? I'm sure all the Led Zep/Thin Lizzy/Coldplay/*insert favourite band/artist here* fans generally consider them to be the best in the world. It is a ridiculous statement to make, whether it's your opinion or not.

thermo66

Chinafoot wrote: »

Bono V Springsteen

No comparison really.

Come back to me when Bono is still going strong after a 40 year career of knock out, ever-changing music and amazing performances. U2 don't even compete when compared to the Boss for live shows. U2's sound has remained the same, and tbh I find it monotonous and boring. They haven't been good since the 80's.

As for his charity work....this is the music forum, yeah?



Generally considered by who exactly? U2 fans? I'm sure all the Led Zep/Thin Lizzy/Coldplay/*insert favourite band/artist here* fans generally consider them to be the best in the world. It is a ridiculous statement to make, whether it's your opinion or not.

I disagree that its a ridiculous statement to make!!

Red Sleeping Beauty

thermo66 wrote: »

I disagree that its a ridiculous statement to make!!

That kind of post/statement in generally considered a ridiculous statement to make

thermo66

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

That kind of post/statement in generally considered a ridiculous statement to make

i disagree that is generally considered a ridiculous statement to make EVER !!!

Traditional

bono is only liked by his fans , and thats a fact .

Glassheart

Chinafoot wrote: »

Come back to me when Bono is still going strong after a 40 year career of knock out, ever-changing music and amazing performances. U2 don't even compete when compared to the Boss for live shows. U2's sound has remained the same, and tbh I find it monotonous and boring. They haven't been good since the 80's.

That is absurd.:pac:

Take a listen to The Joshua Tree.
Now take a listen to Zooropa.

If you can still stand by your statement then you are either deaf or a liar!

giddybootz

Chinafoot wrote: »

U2's sound has remained the same, and tbh I find it monotonous and boring. They haven't been good since the 80's.

now that is ridiculous!!:rolleyes:

so the 80s ended and we got Achtung Baby (1991)...a total departure form U2 of the 80s
skip on a bit and we get Pop (1997)....totally different again (and imo one of the best albums of the 90s...disagree all you want it's just my opinion)
Go forward again and you get All that You cant Leave Behind (2000)...again a total departure from the last album.

love them or hate them there are 2 things you cant take away from them
1) they have had many changes in sound throughout their career
2) they are good people who do more than most of us to promote peace & equality in the world.

niallon

How pointless is Bono bashing? All it does is piss off U2 fans! Does anyone really think that Bono could give a crap what people who are, mostly, not fans of his music to begin with think about him? I'll gladly say I've been listening to U2 since I was about 12 and am a big fan of the music, as a band however I just never went there becuase since the start I've heard but nothing but criticism towards Bono and the rest. Facts remains, U2 and many other bands that seem to be widely loathed sell truck loads of records and have a huge fan base. Simple as that, all the Bono bashing in the world is not gonna change that. People listen to music on the most personal level imaginable and you are NOT going to change their opinion by saying some playground worthy remarks about their favourite musician or band.

Anyways, onto the topic at hand, I'm also a huge Springsteen fan and would of course say hands down that in the general scope of things Boss over Bono anyday. He's a better singer, lyricist and he understands music far more. But on another note he's completely different. U2 do what they do better than anyone else (as Coldplay have shown us all) and The Boss will never be matched. Problem solved.

But...as regards what the article is saying, Bono's comment at the inaugaration was just ridiculous, Boss rules.

jossnjuice

Deleted User wrote: »

Springsteen is'nt afraid to take sides where as Bono sucks up to whomever is in power. That and the fact that Springsteen makes great music whereas Bono and U2 contribute nothing but drivel which when marketed as music is surely against trade description laws.

superbly put.......springsteen absolutley sh1tes on bono imo.

ManFromAtlantis

aragh, whats so good about Loose Windscreen these days.
early on born usa etc great. these days a bit of a whingerdylan effort and if anyone is expecting to hear the olg good stuff at concert forget it and prepare to be disappointed.

EyesClosed

I just want to say that bono is a nice guy. Sure he has his opinions but who doesnt (this is why we post on boards), he always has time for his fans, i met him in dublin airport and he was very friendly and kept talking until his flight. I have met a few famous people in that airport and it is hard to find one that would give you his time.

niallon

ManFromAtlantis wrote: »

... if anyone is expecting to hear the olg good stuff at concert forget it and prepare to be disappointed.

I must have gone through some sort of time warp last year then when I heard:
Night
No Surrender
The Promised Land
Trapped
Murder Incorporated
Darlington County
Prove It All Night
She's The One
Badlands
Jungleland
Born To Run
Glory Days
Dancing In The Dark

In the RDS last May....

thermo66

ManFromAtlantis wrote: »

aragh, whats so good about Loose Windscreen these days.
early on born usa etc great. these days a bit of a whingerdylan effort and if anyone is expecting to hear the olg good stuff at concert forget it and prepare to be disappointed.

What a RIDICULOUS thing to say!!!

thermo66

niallon wrote: »

I must have gone through some sort of time warp last year then when I heard:
Night
No Surrender
The Promised Land
Trapped
Murder Incorporated
Darlington County
Prove It All Night
She's The One
Badlands
Jungleland
Born To Run
Glory Days
Dancing In The Dark

In the RDS last May....

+ 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Mars Bar

I back that up too coz I was there also!

Red Sleeping Beauty

I hate how U2's last half a dozen albums have been hailed by sheep as a "return to form". Music journalists need to grow some balls

Glassheart

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

I hate how U2's last half a dozen albums have been hailed by sheep as a "return to form". Music journalists need to grow some balls

Yeah i agree.They certainly didn't lose any quality during the 90's.

I love Bruce.I really do.But does anyone else think he's a little overrated?

Red Sleeping Beauty

Glassheart wrote: »

Yeah i agree.They certainly didn't lose any quality during the 90's.

I love Bruce.I really do.But does anyone else think he's a little overrated?

Overrated's a heavy word but he's certainly been pushed to the moon since The Rising came out. I think some people forget the late early 90s when he "tried to write happy songs" and no one was interested

It slightly pisses me off when people refer to him as The Boss in some sort of sarcastic ironic jab. He was the boss of the E-Street band as in the main guy running the show - or at least that's my understanding of it
He's hardly the boss of music or any other sort of higher power

thermo66

Glassheart wrote: »

Yeah i agree.They certainly didn't lose any quality during the 90's.

I love Bruce.I really do.But does anyone else think he's a little overrated?

NO! The mans a legend. He can do no wrong! Especially after seeing him last year.

To be fair i think Bruce refers to the title 'the boss' in a sarcastic, ironic manner also.
Have you listened to the Seegar Sessions? Excellent. Its what got me into his music.

Red Sleeping Beauty

Seeger session are fantastic - they tackled a problem he had with his "other band" and proved that he can do more than just play stadium rock anthems a la Born in the USA,Dancing in the Dark, can do more than just depessive desperate, disparate acoustic tunes (Nebraska, Devils and Dust?).

I used to think Springsteen was just a greatest hits/best of CD album that you'd buy your father,husband,uncle for birthday/xmas/father's day. He's got so much more scope.

Bono doesn't anymore. He's a rich selfish egotistical cnnt. If the question was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band vs U2 I'd perhaps have more favourable things to say.

---

Legend status is thrown around to much, especially to people who are still actively making music.

thermo66

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

Seeger session are fantastic - they tackled a problem he had with his "other band" and proved that he can do more than just play stadium rock anthems a la Born in the USA,Dancing in the Dark, can do more than just depessive desperate, disparate acoustic tunes (Nebraska, Devils and Dust?).

I used to think Springsteen was just a greatest hits/best of CD album that you'd buy your father,husband,uncle for birthday/xmas/father's day. He's got so much more scope.

Bono doesn't anymore. He's a rich selfish egotistical cnnt. If the question was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band vs U2 I'd perhaps have more favourable things to say.

---

Legend status is thrown around to much, especially to people who are still actively making music.

Not in this case. He is a legend. End of !!