I created this blog several weeks ago and never finished setting it all up. Things, as they always do, became too hectic. I lost time - or maybe time lost me. Who knows? I thought as I was creating this I would try to write a really profound statement in my very first blog ever, something that would influence lives, make people laugh, be spiritualistic, change the world!! Not gonna happen.Anyway, here goes...
I should start by saying that although all of my friends think I am the "biggest U2 fan in the history of the world," I by no means qualify for this title. I have only been to a handful of shows. Yes, I will travel (within reason) to see a show. Yes, I have almost everything they've ever done. Yes, I have too many U2 shirts to mention. Yes, I am a geeky member of U2.com. Yet all of these things are face value things - things people see me do and have. There are millions of others just like me out there. I don't think there is any such thing as the "biggest U2 fan in the history of the world."
I liked U2 when they first came out - LIKED, not went crazy over. It was not until I heard "Bad" that I was drawn in, and not until the Joshua Tree that I was hooked. I was LANDED after seeing "Rattle and Hum" and then my first live performance and how I felt afterwards. The sheer intensity of their performance seemed to fill a gap in my soul somewhere when I most needed it, and continues to do so now. I have a decent amount of music in my collection, and yet whenever I need to feel better or to celebrate life - I always turn to U2. My comfort zone. The Joshua Tree has gotten me through more bad times than I would bore you with - it forced me off the floor when I thought I couldn't get up (or breathe) from the sheer desperation of what I was facing. There is nothing like belting "Pride" in your car at the top of your lungs in the car with your friends (even though you know you can't quite hit that note) when you are feeling good (or "Elevation" or "Vertigo" for that matter). I wonder sometimes how I would have ever made it without them.
Some people don't understand this. That's ok. I don't understand death metal, but I appreciate others' appreciation. It's not my job to like what they like - only to accept that they like it. I get tired of people who U2-hate or Bono-hate, and right now, especially the latter. I've seen several comments in several places in the past few days continuing this bashing and frankly - it's just inappropriate. The man apparently has been injured fairly badly and kicking him while he is down is just wrong. Poison is not a band I'm particularly fond of, yet because I know what their music might mean to others (and out of simple human decency), I only wish Bret Michaels the best in recovering from his health issues.
Whether you love U2 or detest them doesn't matter to me. Their music has shaped me, helped me, saved me, and lifted me whenever I needed it. I'm sure other artists have done the same for someone else.
I think the only true gauge of musical "fan-ness" is far more personal than what you own and how many concerts you've seen. The true gauge of musical fan-ness exists only in how the music of a band or artist makes you FEEL, and also accepting that other bands and artists make other people feel the exact same way. The power I feel from U2 is no different than the power someone else feels from another band or artist - it just comes from a different place. We should accept this difference, yet celebrate its sameness.
Get well, Bono. Take your time, do it right, THEN let us in the sound again.
