Are U2 Dad Rock?

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Larry Lovebucket

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #30 on: January 09, 2024, 02:50:22 PM »
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.

When you think about it, any definition of anything is subjective, relative and culturally situated. Additionally, definitions vary over time. A band like Radiohead, for example, could neatly fall under the definition of ‘rock’ up to, and including, The Bends. OK Computer could usefully be considered ‘art rock’.  On the other hand, an album like Kid A falls more neatly into the category of ‘electronica’.

U2, since POP could, depending on the song, accurately be defined as ‘rock’, ‘pop rock’, ‘soft rock’, ‘dad rock’ or simply, ‘shite’.

While most people would tend to agree, to a certain extent, on what terms like Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Rock, Pop, mean, with "Dad Rock" it is far less clear with nearly everyone having a different definition.

If "Dad Rock" is music one does not like, then U2 are definitely not Dad Rock, because everyone here likes U2.

You can do better than this, wons. For example, ‘most people’ cannot agree on what heavy metal is. Are black sabbath ‘heavy metal’? For me, like Led Zeppelin, they are a blues based heavy rock band. Are van haylan ‘metal’, ‘hair metal’, ‘hard rock’, ‘puerile idiots’ or simply shite? Each definition divides itself up into multiple sub categories.

The Oxford dictionary defines ‘Dad rock’ as ‘music that appeals to the older generation’. Which, let’s face it, is exactly what U2 do now.

So, if Oxford University can come up with a clear definition, that’s good enough for me.
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So Cruel

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #31 on: January 09, 2024, 03:04:53 PM »
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Soloyan

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #32 on: January 09, 2024, 04:48:15 PM »
I think HTDAAB qualifies as U2’s attempt at dad rock. I don’t hate it but to me it always lacked the U2 DNA. It’s when they got obsessed with being considered as songwriters.

I think Steve Lillywhite helped them in that sense, building a sound that was good for airplay, i/e compressed to the max radio stations.

I’m fairly sure the success of « Beautiful Day Â» brought them there.

That’s also the first time U2 became a kinda boring live act.

The Grammy feast that followed is to blame for misleading the band into believing they were any good at dad rock and that was where the future was.

In their quest for relevance, U2 aren’t aiming at Achtung Baby or Joshua Tree. They’re aiming at HTDAAB. Sad but true. That’s as far off the mark as they are.
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Amor fati

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #33 on: January 09, 2024, 05:06:40 PM »
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" John 15:5

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wons

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #34 on: January 09, 2024, 07:42:41 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".

Just embrace not knowing about this. You're determined to not understand what everyone is saying anyway.  ;)

I know enough about this term "Dad Rock" to conclude it is a meaningless term. There is simply no clear definition for it. It can mean AC/DC and Neil Diamond. Air Supply and Metallica.

You have already been offered several definitions of how most people here think of Dad Rock, all of which have broad consensus.  Go back and read those prior posts.


Again, almost everyone's definition is different in some way. It's a meaningless term.

Quote
As for these 4 artists you point out - not one of them would fall into that category.

According to you, not according to many other people. Another example of why "Dad Rock" is a meaningless term.


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wons

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #35 on: January 09, 2024, 07:47:52 PM »
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.

When you think about it, any definition of anything is subjective, relative and culturally situated. Additionally, definitions vary over time. A band like Radiohead, for example, could neatly fall under the definition of ‘rock’ up to, and including, The Bends. OK Computer could usefully be considered ‘art rock’.  On the other hand, an album like Kid A falls more neatly into the category of ‘electronica’.

U2, since POP could, depending on the song, accurately be defined as ‘rock’, ‘pop rock’, ‘soft rock’, ‘dad rock’ or simply, ‘shite’.

While most people would tend to agree, to a certain extent, on what terms like Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Rock, Pop, mean, with "Dad Rock" it is far less clear with nearly everyone having a different definition.

If "Dad Rock" is music one does not like, then U2 are definitely not Dad Rock, because everyone here likes U2.

You can do better than this, wons. For example, ‘most people’ cannot agree on what heavy metal is. Are black sabbath ‘heavy metal’? For me, like Led Zeppelin, they are a blues based heavy rock band. Are van haylan ‘metal’, ‘hair metal’, ‘hard rock’, ‘puerile idiots’ or simply shite? Each definition divides itself up into multiple sub categories.

The Oxford dictionary defines ‘Dad rock’ as ‘music that appeals to the older generation’. Which, let’s face it, is exactly what U2 do now.

So, if Oxford University can come up with a clear definition, that’s good enough for me.

The Oxford dictionary will have to get in line with all the other definitions out there.

We also have several in here who object to music being defined by the type of people who listen to it.

Dad Rock is meaningless.

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wons

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #36 on: January 09, 2024, 07:55:01 PM »
I think HTDAAB qualifies as U2’s attempt at dad rock. I don’t hate it but to me it always lacked the U2 DNA. It’s when they got obsessed with being considered as songwriters.


I don't believe the term "Dad Rock" existed in 2002-2004.

Quote
That’s also the first time U2 became a kinda boring live act.

Not so, best concert I ever went to was U2's Elevation show in Columbus Ohio back in 2001.

Quote
The Grammy feast that followed is to blame for misleading the band into believing they were any good at dad rock and that was where the future was.

They got their last Grammy in 2006 before the term Dad Rock was invented.

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a29419783/what-is-dad-rock/

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laoghaire

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #37 on: January 09, 2024, 08:29:01 PM »
It was ATYCLB, not HTDAAB, when Bono started yarking about “songwriting.”
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The Exile

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #38 on: January 09, 2024, 09:06:59 PM »

Dad Rock is meaningless.


Again, if it's "meaningless" to YOU, then feel free to scroll past this thread. As you can see, this topic is generating discussion among some of us. But if it's not to your liking, maybe STFU and find a thread that does interest you?
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So Cruel

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #39 on: January 09, 2024, 09:23:50 PM »

Dad Rock is meaningless.


Again, if it's "meaningless" to YOU, then feel free to scroll past this thread. As you can see, this topic is generating discussion among some of us. But if it's not to your liking, maybe STFU and find a thread that does interest you?

“STFU and Find A thread that Interests You”

New dad rock title of U2’s next single?
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The Exile

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #40 on: January 09, 2024, 09:41:55 PM »

Dad Rock is meaningless.


Again, if it's "meaningless" to YOU, then feel free to scroll past this thread. As you can see, this topic is generating discussion among some of us. But if it's not to your liking, maybe STFU and find a thread that does interest you?

“STFU and Find A thread that Interests You”

New dad rock title of U2’s next single?

I'm already excited for the 20th anniversary deluxe edition of STFUAFATTIY!
Listen as Hope and Peace try to rhyme,
Listen over marching bands playing out their time.

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SlyDanner

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #41 on: January 09, 2024, 10:07:57 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".

Just embrace not knowing about this. You're determined to not understand what everyone is saying anyway.  ;)

I know enough about this term "Dad Rock" to conclude it is a meaningless term. There is simply no clear definition for it. It can mean AC/DC and Neil Diamond. Air Supply and Metallica.

You have already been offered several definitions of how most people here think of Dad Rock, all of which have broad consensus.  Go back and read those prior posts.


Again, almost everyone's definition is different in some way. It's a meaningless term.

Quote
As for these 4 artists you point out - not one of them would fall into that category.

According to you, not according to many other people. Another example of why "Dad Rock" is a meaningless term.

Not meaningless at all, it’s a specific pejorative widely used to describe the kinds of songs and/or artists that fit the type.  You just argue it because it offends you that the band you blindly defend, against all logic in many cases, has been tagged with this insult. 

Pretty simple.

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SlyDanner

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #42 on: January 09, 2024, 10:12:01 PM »

Dad Rock is meaningless.


Again, if it's "meaningless" to YOU, then feel free to scroll past this thread. As you can see, this topic is generating discussion among some of us. But if it's not to your liking, maybe STFU and find a thread that does interest you?

“STFU and Find A thread that Interests You”

New dad rock title of U2’s next single?

I'm already excited for the 20th anniversary deluxe edition of STFUAFATTIY!

I can already hear Edge’s crunchy rocking guitar.

It’s gonna be so dirty.


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So Cruel

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #43 on: January 09, 2024, 10:52:14 PM »

Dad Rock is meaningless.


Again, if it's "meaningless" to YOU, then feel free to scroll past this thread. As you can see, this topic is generating discussion among some of us. But if it's not to your liking, maybe STFU and find a thread that does interest you?

“STFU and Find A thread that Interests You”

New dad rock title of U2’s next single?

I'm already excited for the 20th anniversary deluxe edition of STFUAFATTIY!

I can already hear Edge’s crunchy rocking guitar.

It’s gonna be so dirty.

Best described as “Dad rock from Saturn”
Talk U2 2023 Awards

WINNER - THE ADAM CLAYTON WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO ON A BENDER WITH AWARD

WINNER - THE DAVID LEE ROTH BEST USE OF A MEME/GIF AWARD

WINNER - GOLD MEDAL 2024 OLYMPIC POST. MPARE SILVER.

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SlyDanner

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Re: Are U2 Dad Rock?
« Reply #44 on: January 10, 2024, 01:56:10 AM »

Dad Rock is meaningless.


Again, if it's "meaningless" to YOU, then feel free to scroll past this thread. As you can see, this topic is generating discussion among some of us. But if it's not to your liking, maybe STFU and find a thread that does interest you?

“STFU and Find A thread that Interests You”

New dad rock title of U2’s next single?

I'm already excited for the 20th anniversary deluxe edition of STFUAFATTIY!

I can already hear Edge’s crunchy rocking guitar.

It’s gonna be so dirty.

Best described as “Dad rock from Saturn”

another great song title right there