Are U2 Dad Rock?

Well?

I voted yes, since ATYCLB. They were still critically acclaimed and respected at that time, but the unironic leather, the Elevation video, etc, make it pretty obvious (to me).

Yes, since SOI.  I probably should have voted NLOTH though, since the disgrace called Boots is what started it.

I will grant that Elevation or Vertigo may have been the real origin story but I think those 2 songs worked.  They sound authentic.  Whether you liked them or not... they work as an organic U2 sound of that moment in time.

Boots however was a forced thing... they even talked back then about how the pace (BPM) made it the fastest song they had ever done, or something ridiculous.  As if that was something to be proud of.  And then they kept making Dad Rock after that, hoping to land the next Vertigo.

Yes, since SOI.  I probably should have voted NLOTH though, since the disgrace called Boots is what started it.

I will grant that Elevation or Vertigo may have been the real origin story but I think those 2 songs worked.  They sound authentic.  Whether you liked them or not... they work as an organic U2 sound of that moment in time.

Boots however was a forced thing... they even talked back then about how the pace (BPM) made it the fastest song they had ever done, or something ridiculous.  As if that was something to be proud of.  And then they kept making Dad Rock after that, hoping to land the next Vertigo.

Yeah you make a good point about Boots, I'd forgotten about that BPM thing (which I agree was so stupid, as if "the kidz" would be all, "Oh snap, look how fast this song by a guy my grandpa's age is!").

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

Shite > dad rock

 

Quote from: an tha on January 08, 2024, 06:43:32 PM

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

Shite > dad rock

 

Yeah but old-man shits are like fat-people farts. They're just way worse for some reason. 

Well?

U2 are still a rock band like they were when they first started. This term "Dad Rock" is meaningless because it has multiple definitions many of which contradict each other. If you don't fit into the narrow box of what some perceive as indie'/alternative rock, then you could be tagged with the label.

Of course they are.

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

Nice save 

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

If one of the definitions of "Dad Rock" is who listens to it and enjoys the song, then Vertigo wouldn't qualify as it was a hit on many different radio formats and with a very wide demographic of people. It made the album it came from, HTDAAB, U2's fastest selling album ever.

Quote from: an tha on January 08, 2024, 06:43:32 PM

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

If one of the definitions of "Dad Rock" is who listens to it and enjoys the song, then Vertigo wouldn't qualify as it was a hit on many different radio formats and with a very wide demographic of people. It made the album it came from, HTDAAB, U2's fastest selling album ever.

For me who listens to it and likes it is totally irrelevant.

Quote from: wons on January 08, 2024, 07:27:04 PM

Quote from: an tha on January 08, 2024, 06:43:32 PM

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

If one of the definitions of "Dad Rock" is who listens to it and enjoys the song, then Vertigo wouldn't qualify as it was a hit on many different radio formats and with a very wide demographic of people. It made the album it came from, HTDAAB, U2's fastest selling album ever.

For me who listens to it and likes it is totally irrelevant.

Same. Some stupid 14 year-old might call Nirvana or Smashing Pumpkins "dad rock" and they'd just be wrong.

Quote from: wons on January 08, 2024, 07:27:04 PM

Quote from: an tha on January 08, 2024, 06:43:32 PM

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

If one of the definitions of "Dad Rock" is who listens to it and enjoys the song, then Vertigo wouldn't qualify as it was a hit on many different radio formats and with a very wide demographic of people. It made the album it came from, HTDAAB, U2's fastest selling album ever.

For me who listens to it and likes it is totally irrelevant.

To narrowly classify a song as "Dad Rock" or another particular style or type would suggest it would not be possible to be a popular song with so many different groups of people.

Quote from: an tha on January 08, 2024, 07:34:30 PM

Quote from: wons on January 08, 2024, 07:27:04 PM

Quote from: an tha on January 08, 2024, 06:43:32 PM

For me Boots as bad a song as they somehow fumbled it into being actually isn't the awful dad rock that vertigo, all because of you et al is....

It is more sophisticated and actually has more ambition beyond the ham fisted, lumpen turgid rawk like the other offenders.

The 'let me in the sound' part is actually ok and could have been a key building block in a decent song.....sadly they badly fumbled the whole thing - but solely because it has more ambition, and is a bit more sophisticated - it for me avoids the dad rock tag.

It is shite however.

If one of the definitions of "Dad Rock" is who listens to it and enjoys the song, then Vertigo wouldn't qualify as it was a hit on many different radio formats and with a very wide demographic of people. It made the album it came from, HTDAAB, U2's fastest selling album ever.

For me who listens to it and likes it is totally irrelevant.

Same. Some stupid 14 year-old might call Nirvana or Smashing Pumpkins "dad rock" and they'd just be wrong.

It depends on the definition of "Dad Rock".