Clayton RS interview

[LightMyWay92]

I really love the intro to California, but I have to agree on the dumb Santa Barbara line.

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

Popmart was a social commentary on commercialism and consumerism, the costumes were meant to be over-the-top and ridiculous. The wntire tour was meant to be taken that way. It really was an ingenious tour.

But that's not what I want from U2.  That's just my personal preference though, but I know I'm not alone in feeling that way.

[LightMyWay92]

I think this has been taken a little too literally, when it seemed a hypothetical question.

The response Clayton gave in any case was reasonable. The song did sound a little different to everything else at the time, but it does inevitably sound dated 30 years on when comparing to modern day production sounds...

Yep.

On the other hand, you have crap like California (U2-ism: the atmospheric and sonically interesting intro), EBW (U2-ism: Chimey guitar)... you get the idea.

For the criticism that 'chimey' guitar riffs gets in these parts, a lot of people sure liked Iris off the last album.

I don't understand how chiming guitar sounds can get criticism on a U2 fan forum.  That would be like going on a prog-rock forum and complaining about songs by Yes, Genesis, etc being too long.

[SlyDanner]

I really love the intro to California, but I have to agree on the dumb Santa Barbara line.

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

Popmart was a social commentary on commercialism and consumerism, the costumes were meant to be over-the-top and ridiculous. The wntire tour was meant to be taken that way. It really was an ingenious tour.

to really understand that tour and moment in time, it helps significantly to have been alive at the time... 

[SlyDanner]

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

uh-oh... get ready to be accused of 'not getting it' (the irony) and/or simply being an uncool American (the Euros 'got' Pop so there...!)

[LightMyWay92]

I really love the intro to California, but I have to agree on the dumb Santa Barbara line.

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

Popmart was a social commentary on commercialism and consumerism, the costumes were meant to be over-the-top and ridiculous. The wntire tour was meant to be taken that way. It really was an ingenious tour.

to really understand that tour and moment in time, it helps significantly to have been alive at the time... 

Yep, I was 27 then, and I remember it all too well...

[John Galt]

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

uh-oh... get ready to be accused of 'not getting it' (the irony) and/or simply being an uncool American (the Euros 'got' Pop so there...!)

Germans didn't.  Don't mention the Pop album.

[LightMyWay92]

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

uh-oh... get ready to be accused of 'not getting it' (the irony) and/or simply being an uncool American (the Euros 'got' Pop so there...!)

The thing is, I've always understood the Pop/Popmart concept, and could have appreciated it from another band, but it's not what I want when I listen to U2 or see them live.  That's not what they do best or what makes them unique, in my opinion.

[an tha]

I really love the intro to California, but I have to agree on the dumb Santa Barbara line.

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

Popmart was a social commentary on commercialism and consumerism, the costumes were meant to be over-the-top and ridiculous. The wntire tour was meant to be taken that way. It really was an ingenious tour.

But that's not what I want from U2.  That's just my personal preference though, but I know I'm not alone in feeling that way.

we all connect differently don't we....

[an tha]

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

uh-oh... get ready to be accused of 'not getting it' (the irony) and/or simply being an uncool American (the Euros 'got' Pop so there...!)

careful, sly..... i may take offence at that humour and consider you to be being a 'd**k'....

[MattD]

Oh seriously?

People prefer the bed wetting Ryan Tedder influenced sh**e over the ironic Pop? Get real people! Discotheque is sonically much more interesting than anything they've done since 2000. The rhythmic structure, the loops, the industrial sounds - it's very layered and textured. Inventive, nothing like the current incarnation of U2.

[SlyDanner]

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

uh-oh... get ready to be accused of 'not getting it' (the irony) and/or simply being an uncool American (the Euros 'got' Pop so there...!)

careful, sly..... i may take offence at that humour and consider you to be being a 'd**k'....

now now... let's not get ourselves thrown in the 'banned' jail together... no matter how much some folks might enjoy that 

[John Galt]

Oh seriously?

People prefer the bed wetting Ryan Tedder influenced sh**e over the ironic Pop? Get real people! Discotheque is sonically much more interesting than anything they've done since 2000. The rhythmic structure, the loops, the industrial sounds - it's very layered and textured. Inventive, nothing like the current incarnation of U2.

It needs remastering.  It sounds muddy to me.

[an tha]

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!  I

uh-oh... get ready to be accused of 'not getting it' (the irony) and/or simply being an uncool American (the Euros 'got' Pop so there...!)

careful, sly..... i may take offence at that humour and consider you to be being a 'd**k'....

now now... let's not get ourselves thrown in the 'banned' jail together... no matter how much some folks might enjoy that 

i am working in the library by the way....done a deal with the daddy!

joking aside it is exactly your comment that i replied to with a crack that some people wouldn't see the funny side of and that leads to problems...my reply then gets interpreted as me having a pop when i am not - just interacting with a forum 'pal' on a level we both 'get'....i hope we don't lose that on here

[sulphur76]

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!

I understand the Beach Boy homage, that doesn't equate to it being good.

[acrobat62]

I don't mind California overall, but that beginning "Bah-bah-Barbara. Santa Barbara" is one of the worst things they have ever done. Unbelievably bad and cheesy, and I'm amazed it got out of the early stages of the song without being laughed at by someone in the recording room.

BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE
BOOM CHA
BOOM CHA
DISCOTHEQUE

'There's a fine line between clever and stupid' -Spinal Tap

California's opening was a over-the-top homage to the Beach Boys, and nothing more.

Worse than going out on stage (in a stadium no less) dressed in costumes?  Costumes for the love of God!  U2, the same band that played Red Rocks in '83 and recorded the Joshua Tree, dressed up in costumes on stage!

Guess you missed "The Fly" and MacPhisto" from the previous tour.