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Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life

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The Exile

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Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« on: December 27, 2023, 03:06:11 PM »
Some years back I read a book by Fr. Richard Rohr about spirituality "for the second half of life," and it got me thinking. Most of us (I assume) are in the second half of our own lives, and I'm curious where our fandom of U2 falls when it comes to this division.

For my part, I can finally say with confidence that U2 are the most important band for the first half of my life. I was born in 1973, heard NYD and bought War when I was 10, and have been a fan ever since. That said, though, U2's '80 & '90s material will always mean more to me than anything after, despite how much I enjoy some of their post-Pop output.

And when it comes to the second half of my life, the band that has become my favorite and most significant is, without a doubt, Radiohead. This doesn't mean I pit the two against one another or allow my love of one to eclipse my love of the other (as though this is some zero-sum game). I just recognize that what U2 was for me in my teens and twenties, Radiohead has become from then onward.

So given this rubric, where does U2 fall for you, and who, if anyone, has replaced them?
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So Cruel

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2023, 03:11:21 PM »
Have you become more depressed in the 2nd half of your life?
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So Cruel

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2023, 03:12:02 PM »
1st half - U2
2nd half - Bruce Springsteen
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The Exile

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2023, 03:22:31 PM »
Quote from: So Cruel on December 27, 2023, 03:11:21 PM
Have you become more depressed in the 2nd half of your life?

Haha, I'm assuming this is some shot at Radiohead! But of course I have. Who hasn't experienced more grief after being alive for 50 years than after 20? ;)

PS - You forgot to actually vote in the poll.
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MPare1966

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2023, 03:29:50 PM »
Similar to you, Exile.

Except I was 16 when WAR entered my life.

For the second half, I can’t say I have one favourite artist above all others. It’s been a journey through many musical genres, TBH.
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an tha

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2023, 03:58:10 PM »
I used to work off what songs/albums i liked and what resonated with me the most.

But I have learned that i was wrong, and what really matters is how many records and tickets an artist has sold and I am now a fan of those artists who have sold the most like someone would be of a football or other sports team.....and what is really great about this is that as a result i can be 100% sure that my bands/singers are better than any of your favourites as a result.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2023, 05:13:13 PM by an tha »
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Alphane

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2023, 04:35:19 PM »
From 16 until my early 30's, U2 was my favorite. It was around 2016-2017 that I could fell my interest waning, as the band's antics and output began to turn me off. SOE was the first U2 album to leave me a bit cold, coupled with nostalgia tours, a scarce amount of new material, and my musical tastes expanding to so many genres with unique and hungry artists that U2 just began to look tired by comparison.

Radiohead was always a close second in my book, which changed after seeing them live back in 2017. They were everything I'd hoped and more: a great setlist with plenty of surprises and variety, a minimal amount of theatrics and speeches, and an energy and spontaneity that kept me enthralled the entire time. When we got back to the hotel I told my wife that Radiohead had become my new number one, a place they've pretty much held since.

I'm still a huge U2 fan, and they will always be an important band to me, but it's not a marriage or a contract. I'm free to change my mind and at this stage I just enjoy whatever music pleases my ears. U2 had a great run, only to succumb to easy money and a tired chasing of relevancy that makes them look desperate. I always hope for a renaissance but remain skeptical on that front.

The Joshua Tree still remains my favorite album of all time, so that hasn't changed. As for the current incarnation of the band...I think they're past their sell date. Again, I'd love to be proven wrong.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2023, 04:42:13 PM by Alphane »
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wons

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2023, 04:40:06 PM »
Quote from: an tha on December 27, 2023, 03:58:10 PM
I used to work off what songs/albums i liked and what resonated with me the most.

But I have learned that i was wrong, and what really matters is how many records and tickets an artist has sold and I am now a fan of those artists who have sold the most like someone would be of a football or other sports team.....and what is really great about this is that as a result i can be 100% sure that my bands/singers are better than any of your favourites as a result.


Album Sales In The United States

U2 - 52 million

Radiohead - 7 million
« Last Edit: December 27, 2023, 05:13:34 PM by an tha »
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imaginary friend

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2023, 05:07:00 PM »
Interesting (well, mostly) comments so far...

U2 was never my fave band/artist, so I can't vote on this. They've been in my Top 3 for at least 30 years now, so that has to count for something, I guess.   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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an tha

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2023, 05:09:14 PM »
Quote from: wons on December 27, 2023, 04:40:06 PM
Quote from: an tha on December 27, 2023, 03:58:10 PM
I used to work off what songs/albums i liked and what resonated with me the most.

But I have learned that i was wrong, and what really matters is how many records and tickets an artist has sold and I am now a fan of those artists like someone would be of a football or other sports team.....and what is really great about this is that as a result i can be 100% sure that my bands/singers are better than any of your favourites as a result.


Album Sales In The United States

U2 - 52 million

Radiohead - 7 million

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Amor fati

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2023, 05:14:12 PM »
Easily u2 was my favorite band from 1993 up until probably 5 or 6 years ago.  Since then Radiohead has given it a go,  Chili Peppers even,  and of course DM.  The recent Blur album has me exploring some of their earlier catalog i previously had not heard.  I would say that currently DM is pretty high up there and i was a fan of DM before U2 - kind of funny if i am going full circle.

Sadly new music does not inspire me in the way that it used to.  Probably because im getting a bit older and the excitement for new sounds isn't what it used to be for whatever reason.  Either the music is shit or perhaps the new sounds aren't so new anymore.  Would love to discover something to blow my head up again.  But its unlikely that i ever find another u2 that takes over my life the way the original did. 
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an tha

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2023, 05:48:11 PM »
Quote from: Phoenix Rising on December 27, 2023, 05:14:12 PM
Easily u2 was my favorite band from 1993 up until probably 5 or 6 years ago.  Since then Radiohead has given it a go,  Chili Peppers even,  and of course DM.  The recent Blur album has me exploring some of their earlier catalog i previously had not heard.  I would say that currently DM is pretty high up there and i was a fan of DM before U2 - kind of funny if i am going full circle.

Sadly new music does not inspire me in the way that it used to.  Probably because im getting a bit older and the excitement for new sounds isn't what it used to be for whatever reason.  Either the music is shit or perhaps the new sounds aren't so new anymore.  Would love to discover something to blow my head up again.  But its unlikely that i ever find another u2 that takes over my life the way the original did.

Speaking of DM....

This is boss.

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SlyDanner

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2023, 05:58:55 PM »
I can barely listen to U2 anymore, that's how much I have soured on them. 

As for the poll question.... it's worded such that none of the responses apply to me.  U2 were not the most important band in either the first or second half of my life.  But there were periods where they loomed large.  Joshue Tree era of course, then AB and Zoo.  I did not come around to Pop until much later... and that did not really last.  Behind and Bomb got me re-engaged.  NLOTH disappointed but the Tour was a fun spectacle. 

Ever since it's been a shitshow and I actively avoid them, save for the occasional live track (Bad, Streets) I have in my running playlist.
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Amor fati

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2023, 06:48:50 PM »
Quote from: an tha on December 27, 2023, 05:48:11 PM
Quote from: Phoenix Rising on December 27, 2023, 05:14:12 PM
Easily u2 was my favorite band from 1993 up until probably 5 or 6 years ago.  Since then Radiohead has given it a go,  Chili Peppers even,  and of course DM.  The recent Blur album has me exploring some of their earlier catalog i previously had not heard.  I would say that currently DM is pretty high up there and i was a fan of DM before U2 - kind of funny if i am going full circle.

Sadly new music does not inspire me in the way that it used to.  Probably because im getting a bit older and the excitement for new sounds isn't what it used to be for whatever reason.  Either the music is shit or perhaps the new sounds aren't so new anymore.  Would love to discover something to blow my head up again.  But its unlikely that i ever find another u2 that takes over my life the way the original did.

Speaking of DM....

This is boss.


Who the hell gets into a fight at a DM concert?  That was pretty cool the way he stopped the song and called for them to chill.
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The Exile

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Re: Music Fandom for the Second Half of Life
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2023, 06:58:20 PM »
Quote from: an tha on December 27, 2023, 03:58:10 PM
I used to work off what songs/albums i liked and what resonated with me the most.

But I have learned that i was wrong, and what really matters is how many records and tickets an artist has sold and I am now a fan of those artists who have sold the most like someone would be of a football or other sports team.....and what is really great about this is that as a result i can be 100% sure that my bands/singers are better than any of your favourites as a result.

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« Last Edit: December 27, 2023, 07:02:27 PM by The Exile »
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