Category Archives: Music

Technology, U2

U2 and Apple?

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So U2 and Green Day welcomed the New Orleans Saints back to the Superdome in style with a mesmerizing 10-minute performance that rivals U2’s 2002 SuperBowl appearance. And you can watch it on YouTube. The highlight of the show was the groups performing “The Saints are Coming”, an old Skids song (Andrew Careaga’s got the history). The song and performance were a benefit for Music Rising, an organization the Edge started to help replace the instruments of Gulf Coast musicians.

Now here’s where it gets weird. U2, Green Day and Music Rising partnered with Rhapsody to offer downloads of the performance to benefit Music Rising. Rhapsody, which is incompatible with Mac and less than compatible with iPods? The song is going out to radio, and a commercial CD release is planned for November 7.

So if you’ve got a U2 iPod you may have a hard time getting the latest U2 song on it, at least for now. So what gives? Did U2 and Apple have a falling out? Was Apple not willing to give the benefits to Music Rising (doubt it, seems like Apple has done charity downloads before)? Or is music so last year and Apple is too focused on video? Weird.

U2

The Vertigo Tour: U2 in Minneapolis

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On Friday night I sat behind the stage, which isn’t quite as good as back stage, for the U2 show in Minneapolis. I first saw U2 in 2001 during the Elevation Tour when I was just becoming a fan. This time around I think I can say I’m more than a fan.

U2 has become far and away my favorite band. And I didn’t realize it until Friday night, but many of their songs have become worship music for me. I found myself pumping my fist along to “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” but also looking past the rafters and raising my hands to God during “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The concert was more of a spiritual experience than a musical one. I think Tim said it better than I can.

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Music

Audio Adrenaline T-Shirt Brings in Cash at Missions Dinner

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I’ve had a busy few days. Last night my youth group held their annual missions dinner, and the night before I went to the Audio Adrenaline/Toby Mac/Kutless/Hawk Nelson show. Whew.

But the fun part is the odd combination of the two. Since I scored some “meet & greet” passes we decided to buy an Audio Adrenaline T-shirt and have it autographed to auction at the Missions Dinner. Every year we auction the leftovers, as well as a few more desirable items, usually artwork.

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U2

Bono in Conversation

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Just received a copy of Bono: In conversation with Michka Assayas. It’s basically a big long Q&A with the lead singer of U2 and most iconic rocker in a long time. Looks like it’s going to be fun.

Who the hell are you, then?

I’m a scribbling, cigar-smoking, wine-drinking, Bible-reading band man. A show-off [laughs] … who loves to paint pictures of what I can’t see. A husband, father, friend of the poor and sometimes the rich. An activist traveling salesman of ideas. Chess player, part-time rock star, opera singer, in the loudest folk group in the world. How’s that? (43)

It also reveals that Bono’s favorite religious song is “Amazing Grace,” (I’m sure that was probably common knowledge among U2 fans, but it’s fun to know that my dad and Bono love the same song) and when asked about his favorite U2 song says, “We haven’t written it yet.” When pressed he mentions “Stay (Faraway, So Close)” and “Please” among his favorites (129-130).

Yeah, I’m just pulling from the press materials that came with the book, but how can you resist the 12 pages of utterly quotable Bono they provide? Unfortunately my book pile is growing higher, so it might be a while before I can get deeper into the book.