OPINION: Write as if you're dead

http://talku2.com/opinion-write-youre-dead/

Thoughts? Agree? Disagree?

I'm almost the same age as the band, and I say fuck that noise.  Being in your late 50's doesn't mean you have one foot in the grave.   Bono and the band can go on writing and dreaming it up as long as they see fit.  It's way too early to be sounding the death knell.

I'm almost the same age as the band, and I say fuck that noise.

 

Great, well written piece.

No arguments.

I enjoyed reading that, Codeguy.

It deserves more than a pissed up an tha late on a friday commenting on it so i'll leave it for now but as Arnie said.....

I'm almost the same age as the band, and I say fuck that noise.  Being in your late 50's doesn't mean you have one foot in the grave.   Bono and the band can go on writing and dreaming it up as long as they see fit.  It's way too early to be sounding the death knell.

I’m not too far behind myself, Shine - and I certainly hope they go on another 20 years!

Really enjoyed reading that. I think we expect too much from them because they've shown so often how good they can be. Age, motivation, life circumstances , new influences (not always good) are all factors In what they now produce. For a band that's been going for over forty years then we've all got our favourite period during that time and look for a 2nd Achtung or War or JT. Maybe we need to move with the band rather than expect the band to come round to our fixed view of them. Maybe some fans are hanging on to the halcyon days more than the band. I loved when they had hits and were more visible but the game has changed markedly since then. I believe that they still have a lot left in them. The Blackout and American Soul give me great hope for SOE. I like TBT too...was extremely underwhelmed when I heard GOOYOW but as always it's ended up growing on me.The road is long and the views are still good...keep on keeping on is what I hope they do.

I enjoyed reading that, Codeguy.

It deserves more than a pissed up an tha late on a friday commenting on it so i'll leave it for now but as Arnie said.....

Oh, are we out and about, an tha? Enjoy...

Well written, but I think one should argue that to "write as if you're dead" is more relevant as a tool of losing the trappings of ego, like vanity and fears to deliver a more honest, more concise and to the point piece of work.

Good op-ed IMO. U2 have a record of sustained sucess that no band can match, no doubt. They've attracted a lot of haters along the way, but even the most strident critics would have to concede that U2 has managed to outlast most of the legendary rock acts, and produced good music along the way. I do think that U2 has been trading on a legacy for at least the last 8 years. I like SOI - it's a solid album, but I don't think it has any run beyond U2's core fanbase. The band ducked any real sales measurement by giving the thing away - and attracted the ire of annoying hipsters the world over.

I am anticipating the release of SOE, but I am curious about what it will portend for the band. If sales are discouraging, or it fades quickly from the public attention span...how does the band respond? As for the companion tour - will it stand based on the merits of the underlying album, or is it simply more trading on past glories? I saw two Joshua Tree shows in 2017: the first was exciting but even as a hardcore fan I had to admit that Bono's energy was fading a bit. The second show was fun as an event but rather dull as a concert - largely because of the static setlist and predictible arrangement of the entire production.

Honestly, I am ready for a winding-down over the next few years. First, at some point we have to deal with simple entropy of the matter; every going concern faces the eventuality of ever diminishing returns. Second, the longer this thing goes on the greater the chance it tarnishes before our eyes. Do we want to see this devolve into a crappy product (meanwhile trying to convince ourselves that nothing has changed)? Do we want to see U2 become the Rolling Stones? It's better to go out gracefully...always leaving the fans wanting more. That doesn't mean it has to be the end of music for Bono and the boys - a solo album here or there, a compilation, some studio work...etc, would be great. But at some time we have to consider the choice between a soft landing a hard thud.

I can't offer much in the way of criticism. Fantastic work.

Samurai poetry from Kennelly! He's obviously read up on Bushido and Japanese philosophy. Live each day as if you will die, and when you enter battle, you will have no fear. It's about letting go of the ego, and living in honesty, truth, and heart. That's what Kennelly was getting at to Bono -- let it go. I'm sure he played him Disney's Frozen as well.

The Way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either/or, there is only the quick choice of death. It is not particularly difficult. Be determined and advance. To say that dying without reaching one's aim is to die a dog's death is the frivolous way of sophisticates. When pressed with the choice of life or death, it is not necessary to gain one's aim.

We all want to live. And in large part we make our logic according to what we like. But not having attained our aim and continuing to live is cowardice. This is a thin dangerous line. To die without gaining one's aim is a dog's death and fanaticism. But there is no shame in this. This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai. If by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling. ~ Yamamoto Tsunetomo from Hagakure (18th century).

The Edge's Zen is finally rubbing off on B.

You're a good writer. It showcases a lot of my 'concerns'. I had only one question: Magnificent was a hit single, too, right? But that is already 8 years ago

I really enjoyed reading that piece. I didn't take 'write as if you're dead' to mean anything more than an imperative to say the most important things.

As other users have pointed out people have different concerns and motivations at different stages and that is perfectly fine. The frustration clearly comes from the huge potential the band still have and us as fans wanting to see them make the most of that. I do think there is some consensus about the type of direction the core fanbase would like to see them go.

I am sure many of us would love to sit down with the band and suggest things to them about setlist, musical direction and so on but it's their band. Four mates from Dublin rightly doing what they want to do. It's a measure of the love people have for their art that so much is  written on here about their music.

The end is coming for a whole host of reasons. Even if they did make another truly great record would it be recognised as such by the mainstream music press? Do they look at U2 with different eyes than 30 years ago?

What I want mostly for U2 is for them, wherever they are, to be able to sit down and look at their own work and feel fulfilled by it, irrespective of relevance or outside approval. If that coincides with music I like then that's great.

I was really sad when REM called it a day but I liked the way they did it. Dignified and with integrity. No going back.

I'm almost the same age as the band, and I say fuck that noise.  Being in your late 50's doesn't mean you have one foot in the grave.   Bono and the band can go on writing and dreaming it up as long as they see fit.  It's way too early to be sounding the death knell.

Hallelujah!


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