I have learned over the years that in life honesty really is the best policy, so maybe that will carry over into the blogosphere. I doubt it though, people tend to be more critical and harsh on the web because they dont have to confront you... but i digress.
Honestly, I have never been more tired. The last six days have been really crazy, starting with being a youth leader at YC, having my girlfriend come and visit for three days and finally caping it off with going to the U2 360 concert. Im sure that back in the days of camp there was weeks where i had less sleep but this week was very sleep deprived. YC is traditionally a weekend where sleep is a very scarce commodity. Also with Abigail visiting, time is very precious and therefore is not to be wasted on sleep, its much better spent with each other... watching Lost... Top it all off with standing on our feet for almost 8 hours to watch one of the greatest bands of all time and you get one unreal week.
My intention originally was to only blog about the concert but hey, things happen, I get distracted easily.
U2!!!
So Good. Unreal. Sick. If you know me you know that those words are deeply engrained in my vocabulary. Love it or hate it doesn't really bother me. I just enjoy living life and am not afraid to express it. However few things in life are worthy of the title Truly great. I would put U2 in that category. whether you are a fan or not, whether you like their music or not, you have to respect them. They may not be the greatest musicians on the planet but their love for what they do shines through every song and every show.
There are a lot of reasons why they deserve respect. First I will talk about the music. Longevity. When they release their newest CD later this year it will be the fourth decade in which they have been releasing music. Very few bands posses the ethic, talent, and passion it takes to have the kind of Career that U2 has had. They are one of the last remaining megabands in existence, a dying breed. A band that can claim global dominance of the industry. They belong in the same category as the Rolling Stones and The Beatles. The way the world of music has evolved I would go so far as to say that there will never be another band like U2. U2 has Generations of fans, parents who pass on their love to their children and grandchildren.
The concert was amazing. It really was larger than life, yet the stage presence of Bono captivated the audience and delivered and spectacular and even personal performance. The stage and tour are one if a kind. Its freakin huge! Earlier this year it became the highest grossing tour of all time. This was my second time seeing them in concert and it was great. The first time included a road trip to Vancouver and the show in BC Place. This time around it was a roaring 60 000 + Audience outdoors in my home city with my girlfriend Abigail. Definitely an experience I will never forget. It was like evening with my two favorite people, Abi and Bono. Or a date with my girlfriend with really good background music.
Bono has always been one of my heroes. Not just because of the music but because of who he is. I remember the day he gained my respect. The day he put on those pink Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses he has been known to sport. The endorsement deal was worth millions and when he agreed to it it was his reasoning that won me over. He turned down endorsements like that for years and one day something changed in his thinking and he realized that its not about selling out its about the good that he could do with the money and the spotlight. Bono has used his star-power to shine a light into places the world has turned its eye from. Whether it is the sex trade rampant in countries all over the world, the tragedies in Burma, or starvation in Africa. He has started global organizations to raise awareness and support for the destitute all over the world including the Red Campaign and ONE. He really does have a Heart of Gold.
So you can completely disagree with me if you like, but then you'd just be ignorant. However if you take nothing else away from what I've said please remember this. God has blessed all of us in many different ways, we should all take a page out of Bonos book and use what we have to make this world a better place. My hats off to U2 for delivering a spectacular performance and I pray that it wont be the last time I can be part of that experience.
As customary I will leave you with a song for the day. This has slowly become my favorite U2 song over the last two years and quite possibly one of my favorite songs of all time.
Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
Peace.
