Todd: But considering how that interview turns out, I understand why they decided it might be best to stay quiet. In fact, I think there's only one interview where a member says more than a sentence or two. He's clearly not thinking anything other than, "yep, that's a thing all right. Todd (VO): It's pretty clear throughout Rattle and Hum that U2 don't want to talk to you, and so their exploration of America mostly consists of The Edge looking at various American things with a completely vacant look on his face. Interviewer: What has happened between the Joshua Tree album.recording the Joshua Tree album and the new songs? For a band that has a reputation as notorious windbags, most of U2 keep their mouths tight shut when they're offstage in this movie. Todd: Spoiler: U2 are not going to get over themselves. Todd (VO): Seriously, I'm not even sure this would rank in my top 5 covers of "Helter Skelter." "Stealing it back." Get over yourself, U2. Todd: Way to go, you guys, Manson still owns the copyright on "Helter Skelter." Don't make the claim that you're stealing it back if you can't back it up, Bono. It's not a daring interpretation, it's not noteworthy, it's just there. Todd (VO): I mean, it's not bad by any means, but what is there to say about it? It sounds exactly the way you'd imagine U2 covering "Helter Skelter" to sound like. Todd: It's just not a particularly amazing cover of "Helter Skelter." And that would be fine except for one thing. Now, if I'm being charitable, I can say that U2 was hoping to use their legendary positive energy to erase the negative vibes that came with the song's association with Manson. Todd (VO): I know it's unfortunate that "Helter Skelter" is still associated with the Manson killings, but it's still an awesome song, and it is damn insulting to the Beatles' legacy to say that Charles Manson ever owned it. Todd: I don't know what about those two lines is more offensive to me-the idea that Charles Manson owned "Helter Skelter," or the idea that U2 now owns "Helter Skelter." The song they're singing is "Helter Skelter" by the Beatles, and what he's talking about is Charles Manson's famous claim that there was a hidden message in it telling him to kill people. Todd (VO): Those two sentences set the tone of overreaching, self-serious pretension for the entire film. Bono: This song, Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. Todd (VO): The first two seconds of the movie. Audience: No more! Bono: No more! Audience: No more! #5 the Top Five Awful Moments in U2's Rattle and Hum. Todd: So what could be so bad about Rattle and Hum that even the famously un-self-conscious Bono was forced to admit that he was embarrassed by it? Well, put on your South African t-shirts and start knocking back the Guinness while we take a look at.Ĭlip from movie's performance of "Sunday Bloody Sunday," which serves as the interlude through the countdown Bono: No more! Sing. Most people who've watched it can think of a good thing to say about it, but I've never seen anyone call it a complete success, least of all the director or the band, neither of whom like how pretentious the final product turned out. Every one of U2's most negative traits is magnified to a thousand, and every scene seems to be designed to make them look as ridiculous as possible. But even still, Rattle and Hum is a painful chore to watch. And to be fair, as a U2 fan, I think most of the music in this is actually pretty good. Todd (VO): For at least one year after their mega-platinum masterwork The Joshua Tree, 1988's Rattle and Hum was to be an ambitious followup-both a filmed documentary of their live Joshua Tree tour, and a soundtrack album consisting of new material, cover songs and live cuts following U2 as they cross the country exploring their fascination with American music. Todd: Then I watched Rattle and Hum.and I got it. Besides, I tend to like my rock stars on the bombastic side. It's a better brand of egotism than the kind we usually get from famous people, at least he's trying to do something positive. So he wants to get up on his soapbox and act like he can change the world. You know, it's not like I don't think Bono can be all those things-I have eyes-it's just never bothered me. There's a significant chunk of U2 haters in the world who think Bono is the most intolerable, self-righteous, overblown, pumped-up dilettante who ever lived. You know, I never really understood why Bono gets on some people's nerves so much.
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