Review written by UnhitchedWildhorsey for U2 Graffiti Wall - Favorite Songs: Mofo, If God Will Send His Angels, Staring At The Sun, Gone, Please, & Wake Up Dead Man
Pop would most likely pop up in the head of a good many U2 fan as the group's experimental turn; their venture into techno and hip-hop sounds. But, I think that would simply be a pop thought, or a first thought. It wouldn't be any true U2 fan's last thought.
Perhaps misunderstood in the mainstream; Pop is by far no slouch, trivial pursuit or in any way the dreaded "crap" album Bono always speaks of like a looming force. I think at the time the media needed that immediately recognizable U2. The sober black and white photo guys. The serious, unsmiling faces. They wanted U2 packaged and made, and delivered. But U2 wasn't going to be put into some neat box. If they had done that they would not be great today. They would be a product. One that never changed and never grew. One that was phony and plastic. One we would not respect nearly as much.
Instead U2 changed, and they changed bigtime in looks and sound; but not so much in content. Pop was meaningful and contained it's own glaring messages; and glaring they were. Everything about Pop and the corresponding tour was alive with color. I think that is one aspect standing out most in my mind. The graphics, video images; even the CD itself; all vivid with color. When I think of Pop I think in color. Literally. Color sets moods and it sets the tones on the songs contained here. Reds for anger (Mofo), Blues for sadness and loss (Please, Wake Up Dead Man), Yellow for the warmth from the sun and hope (Staring At The Sun, Miami) Purples and Pinks for love ( If You Wear That Velvet Dress, Do You Feel Loved). Pop was a kaleidoscope. It was brilliant in artistic vision.
The whole Pop concept was so fresh and yet so familiar. It was a total exploration into how and why things are popular. How poularity is made and then ultimately torn back down. U2 had become a Pop symbol in their own right by then. Perhaps they feared being a pop item? To one day fall from that pop icon status. To be the pop fizz that one day would fizzle out. Thankfully that has never happened. U2 is still working that artist gig successfully. Some cross between a painter and a preacher and a poet with voices and instruments.
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
