Exploring U2: Is This Rock 'n' Roll?
features new writing in the growing field of U2 studies. Edited by
Scott Calhoun, with a foreword by Anthony DeCurtis, Exploring U2
contains selections from the 2009 inaugural gathering of "The Hype and
The Feedback: A Conference Exploring The Music, Work and Influence of
U2." In keeping with U2's own efforts to remove barriers that have long
prevented dialogue for understanding and improving the human experience,
this collection of essays examines U2 from perspectives ranging from
the personal to the academic and is accessible to curious music fans,
students, teachers, and scholars alike.
Four
sections organize 16 essays from leading academics, music critics,
clergy, and fans. From the academic disciplines of literature, music,
philosophy, and theology, essays study U2's evolving use of source
material in live performances, the layering of vocal effects in
signature songs, the crafting of a spiritual community at live concerts,
U2's success as a business brand, Bono's rhetorical presentation of
Africa to the Western consumer, and readings of U2's work for irony,
personhood, hope, conservatism, and cosmic-time. Official band
biographer Neil McCormick considers U2 as a Dublin-shaped band, and
Danielle Rhéaume tells how discovering and returning Bono's lost
briefcase of lyrics for the album October propelled her along her own
artistic journey.
This
thoughtful and timely collection recognizes U2's music both as art and
commentary on personal journeys and cultural dialogues about
contemporary issues. It offers insights and critical assessments that
will appeal not only to scholars and students of popular music and
culture studies but to those in the fields of theology, philosophy, the
performing arts, literature, and all intellectually curious fans of U2.
U2 Conference back
The U2 Conference is an event where students and fans of popular music can discover, examine, learn, and share what U2 has created and what it means to its listeners and in all the contexts popular music is a part of. Our inaugural 2009 meeting brought together a multi-disciplinary group from seven countries and featured over 40 formal presentations, three films, and networking opportunities.
The theme for the 2013 U2 Conference is “U2:TRANS-,” indicating an interest in U2 going across, over, and beyond boundaries in rock and roll, and working toward making moments of passing through or crossing over possible for fans as well as for the band itself. “TRANS-” concepts such as transform, transgress, translate, and transcend, for starters, will be in focus for the program sessions. We will have parallel tracks open to all attendees with sessions designed for both academic and popular audiences
The U2 Conference will hold its second meeting for an international gathering of scholars, critics, teachers, and fans in collaboration with theRock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, April 26-27, 2013. Our keynote speaker is Ann Powers, popular music critic for National Public Radio. We continue to build our program and will announce more details in the months to come.
We Remember
Barack Obama's One
(RTTNews) - Mary J. Blige performed at Thursday night's Democratic national convention. She performed a cover of U2's classic track "One." She followed this up with her own hit "Family Affair," leading into the song by asking the crowd to "get it crunk for President Obama!" "One" is featured on U2's album Achtung Baby. "Family Affair" appears on Blige's fifth studio effort, No More Drama. Thursday was the final night of the Democratic convention. It closed with President Barack Obama accepting the nomination for another term in the White House. He will face off against Republican nominee Mitt Romney in November.
Who is Eric Shivers ?
Who is this guy Eric and how did U2 change the course of his life ?
Read MoreCan we define U2 fandom?
In my excitement of finding this pic, I posted the image on my Facebook page, dedicated to my U2 fandom. I clearly stated that I had never seen the photo, which is true. Within a few hours of the posting, someone made a comment that me not seeing a previously released image of Bono didn’t make me fan enough of U2.
Read MoreChristians Still Looking
The Best of: 1980-1990, that contains Christian connotations, is the song, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For ” While there are some Christians who maintain that Bono is renouncing his faith in this song, others maintain that Bono is simply expressing personal struggles with his faith and with temptation. Still others maintain that Bono is expressing his struggle with the current world.
Read MoreBono’s clothes firm sinks
Accounts show Edun Apparel, founded by the rock star and his wife Ali Hewson in 2005, suffered losses to the tune of €6.8million in 2011.
The company is also 49 per cent owned by the world’s largest luxury goods group LVMH which put €6.7million into Edun in 2009.
The Paris-headquartered group also owns some of the world’s top brands — including Louis Vuitton, Donna Karan, Moet Chandon and Veuve Clicquot champagne.