Bono says we don't need the pop kids...

[dwaltman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry42AY3efqw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Go all the way to the end for the quote. Of course it's 1992 and Bono has no way of knowing that in 5 years they would name their record Pop and in 20 years Bono back tracks and needs the pop kids.

[Kurukira]

I remember that VERY clearly, and thinking of what he said recently...well times have changed certainly, but what he has said recently about pop.... total about-face of the quote that made me start to like the guys in the first  place. Pop the album was more a tongue in cheek thing, I  knew that right away when I first heard about it.  But as you said, Bono's recent quote about pop and needing the pop audience...  it's more fickle than ever before so I would REALLY not try to kiss their ass, if I were him.

[Dali]

Well, their label Universal Records surely needs the pop kids to become the monopoly player they strive to be. And U2 are contractually obliged to help their label to achieve that monopoly on the recorded music market. These days, it feels like Bono just publicly says what his marketing team says is good for sales. Back then, he could not care less. But back then, he did not have a 360° deal with Live Nation either.

Here's hoping U2 can come up with a next album of good or very good songs in spite of these adversities.

[imaginary friend]

back then, he did not have a 360° deal with Live Nation.

They don't have one now, either.

[Allie79]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry42AY3efqw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Go all the way to the end for the quote. Of course it's 1992 and Bono has no way of knowing that in 5 years they would name their record Pop and in 20 years Bono back tracks and needs the pop kids.

A quote from the days when U2 ruled the planet..
U2 needs to light their fire again and show some balls, after the "failure" of Pop they started to lose their edge. NLOTH is a step in the right direction though. Hope the new album will be great but my expectations are low.

[hrsan]

These days, the pop kids come with their parents.

[xy]

Ah. The most misinterpreted Bono quote.

[Tumbling Dice]

These days, the pop kids come with their parents.

Whether they want to or not.

[StickOnTattoos]

A quote from the days when U2 ruled the planet..
U2 needs to light their fire again and show some balls, after the "failure" of Pop they started to lose their edge. NLOTH is a step in the right direction though. Hope the new album will be great but my expectations are low.

Whoa, Pop had massive balls, arguably their biggest. I have such mixed feelings about NLOTH: I loove it and I can't explain why, but I'm embarrassed by it.
On the success level NLOTH and Pop are twins: Popularity = zero; yet they break world records for ticket sales: interesting reaction, but what does it meant?? anyway I have faith

[StickOnTattoos]

You hit the nail on the head Kurukira

[Pocket Merlin]

I think Bono was just being sarcastic/ironic anyway. It's all a part of The Fly's persona. Wasn't it more accurate that the pop kids were the ones going crazy about Achtung Baby rather than the people who wanted the 80's stuff? It was almost like Bono was trying to make fun of artists who pretend like they don't care about their waning popularity as they stick to their guns.

[Allie79]

A quote from the days when U2 ruled the planet..
U2 needs to light their fire again and show some balls, after the "failure" of Pop they started to lose their edge. NLOTH is a step in the right direction though. Hope the new album will be great but my expectations are low.

Whoa, Pop had massive balls, arguably their biggest. I have such mixed feelings about NLOTH: I loove it and I can't explain why, but I'm embarrassed by it.
On the success level NLOTH and Pop are twins: Popularity = zero; yet they break world records for ticket sales: interesting reaction, but what does it meant?? anyway I have faith

Yeah I absolutely love Pop!
I don't understand why it's perceived as such a failure?
Ok, the album didn't do so well as previous ones, and in the usa the tour wasn't sold out.
But it isn't such a big failure they claim it to be, the only part in the world where it didn't go down so well, was in parts of the USA, the rest of the world liked the whole POPMART experience.
It's a shame they got so insecure after that. Well, I hope they can find those huge balls again for the next album :-)

[Dali]

back then, he did not have a 360° deal with Live Nation.

They don't have one now, either.

Really? This contract has already run out?

[hrsan]

A quote from the days when U2 ruled the planet..
U2 needs to light their fire again and show some balls, after the "failure" of Pop they started to lose their edge. NLOTH is a step in the right direction though. Hope the new album will be great but my expectations are low.

Whoa, Pop had massive balls, arguably their biggest. I have such mixed feelings about NLOTH: I loove it and I can't explain why, but I'm embarrassed by it.
On the success level NLOTH and Pop are twins: Popularity = zero; yet they break world records for ticket sales: interesting reaction, but what does it meant?? anyway I have faith

Yeah I absolutely love Pop!
I don't understand why it's perceived as such a failure?
Ok, the album didn't do so well as previous ones, and in the usa the tour wasn't sold out.
But it isn't such a big failure they claim it to be, the only part in the world where it didn't go down so well, was in parts of the USA, the rest of the world liked the whole POPMART experience.
It's a shame they got so insecure after that. Well, I hope they can find those huge balls again for the next album :-)

IMO, the reason it wasn't a success is that U2 were perceived as trying to be something they were not.  They were becoming an electronic band instead of being a rock band.   I hated Pop when it came out, but over the years, I now realize that it is indeed a true U2 album.