Tuesday, October 06, 2009
the moon came up, and not over one tree hill: “magical” u2 raleigh concert review
So here is an extended review that I submitted to Ticketmaster in regard to the U2 concert at Raleigh. Didn’t have much else to do on the 24 hour return flight!
The idea can only have come from outer space. Putting a short man (Bono) under a large stage, forlorn in a outdoor stadium. It demands a show as big, if not bigger, than the 164 foot high “Claw”. Which is certainly what U2 delivered at Raleigh on Saturday 3 October, 2009. (more…)
Monday, October 05, 2009
u2 conference: keynote Neil McCormick
One of UK’s best known music critics and author of Killing Bono: I Was Bono’s Doppelganger
I went to school with Bono. It’s an accident but it brought me here. You chose U2. I did not choose U2. I love them like you love your family. So who were U2 growing up in the 70s? (more…)
u2 conference: Rachel Seiler Impact of U2’s music on listener
Exploring the marriage of critical reflection and action for change. Uses qualitative study ie narrative methods and content analysis.
The story is a basic meaning-making device. Presents a composite story (a trailer for the film). Overwhelming “composite” evidence that U2’s music does change listener’s consciousness and activism. Eg: If you see the world, you then ask: Why? What am I doing?
For other posts on U2 conference go here.
u2 conference: creative life of Bono and implications for talent development
Full paper here, plus 3 more.
We’ve lost idealism, that anything is possible.
Bono the rock star. Bono the humanitarian. Insight gained through Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas
Joseph Renzulli. Understanding giftedness, if we create conditions, can help society. Need to focus on gifted behaviours, by creating environments for people to show these. Giftedness is about the interaction of ability and creativity and drive. It is interaction of nature and nurture.
Operation Houndstooth. Optimism. Courage. Romance with a topic/discipline. Sensitivity to human concerns. Physical and mental energy. Vision/sense of destiny.
How to develop social capital? What causes some people to want to mobilise themselves to solve world’s problems? Bono: ideas are melodies that need to be heart.
Joseph Renzulli’s enrichment triad model. General exploratory activities (videos, speakers); group training (The Kid’s Guide to Social Action: How to Solve the Social Problems You Choose-And Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action
For other posts on U2 conference go here.
u2 conference: GA queue and fan self-organizing culture at U2 concerts
Participant observation of GA queues. Observing their culture. Surveyed fans. Awarded fan “status.” Studied line intrusion scenarios.
Stanley Milgram fans form a self-organising culture. Pretty much replicated city to city.
Based on procedural justice (first come first served) and fair investment (of time). At Chicago, fans generated their own wrist bans to organise. Goal is “rail.” Every fan is “30, white, educated.”
At Dublin, of 780 fans, only 20 were Irish.
Berlin fan queue was chaos.
Spanish fan queue was beautifully organised.
Correlation: the more committed the fan, the more they believed you needed to “suffer.” The closer you are, the more focused you are.
Contrary to prior research, it did not make any difference if the intrusion occurred ahead or behind the person in the line. At U2 shows, people care because if fans patrol the line, then you will ensure better order. U2 fans DO not have a higher care for social justice when it applies to their queue, cos the more you give, the more you care.
For other posts on U2 conference go here.
u2 conference: keynote Agnes Nyamayarwo
“Bono. The Good Samaritan.” Because the journey of freedom goes on. And on. And on.
Agnes Nyamayarwo is an international Aids activist. Bono did the introduction! Yep. On video, speaking for about 5 mins, asking us to welcome, give a standing ovation and listen to Agnes Nyamayarwo. (more…)
u2 conference: keynote Matt McGee @ u2.com
U2 online: “They could be doing better” says Matt McGee. (more…)
u2 concert: raleigh review
was fantastic. (and not just me – see this review “Amazing. Brilliant. Electric” – here).
apart from the over officious security man who demanded to see my ticket, turning a “beautiful day” into a “stuck in a moment.”
the size of the claw is breathaking
the vision that can make an iron stage a thing of aching beauty stunning
American football stadiums are much more intimate than Kiwi/Australian football grounds, allowing a whole new level of crowd singing/engagement.
should U2 go down in history not as a great band, but as rock visionaries who reinvented (a number of times) the live concert going performances?
Oh, the U2 conference got a mention at the concert, and the “organisation” (band) apparently are very impressed with the calibre of the conference and did shape the concert last night in dialogue with some of the conference themes!!
The songs were as follows (more…)
Sunday, October 04, 2009
wordle: u2 bullet blue sky evolving performance
Hat tip Tim Neufeld. Here’s my U2 conference paper visually.
U2 conference: keynote Jim Henke Rock n Roll Hall of fame
I was trying to get them on the cover of Rolling Stone – Jim Henke.
This is a video produced especially for the conference, reflecting with Jim Henke, from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, on U2’s 30 years and why they are still with us: genuine, continued to grow musically and were addressing real issues. (more…)
U2 conference: Whither the spiritual? Reviews of NLOTH
Faith plays a role in U2’s music. So what do mainstream reviewers think of NLOTH? Do they see spiritual? (more…)
u2 conference: Until end of world, finding Jesus in music of U2
Easy to find Jesus in U2’s music. But what is the nuance?
U2’s Jesus does not promote dark apocalytpicism, but hopeful optimism for encountering heaven on earth. This eschatological Jesus propels them into social action. With three strands:
– New life extended to human king thru death
– New life is a hopeful vision of future
– New life is real earthly vision of Kingdom of God following Jesus example. (more…)
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