U2: BEST ROCK BAND EVER
BY ALEX MILLER
Let's clear the air right up front; this is not a review of U2. This is not an argument consisting of pros and cons as to why people like U2. This isn't even me going on about how much I love U2. This is me saying that U2 is the best rock band ever-- not as an opinion, but as a fact. And just to be honest, U2 isn't even my favorite band, they're just the best band ever.
To begin, let's talk about the word "best." Like I stated a few sentences ago, there is a difference between what might be favorited by someone and what is considered to be objectively the best. With that in mind, let me elaborate.
Imagine the world consisted of three people and two bands. If two people agree Band A is best and the other person thinks Band B is the best it would be safe to say that, objectively, Band A is best. Subjectively speaking, Band A would also be considered best. However, based on how in this proof we derive what it means to be best, Band A can be said to be objectively best -- let's be real, what is objectivity (i.e. fact) but a mass subjective opinion on what is objective!
Now that we have a base understanding on what makes something best, let's be more specific on how this term applies to the rock band U2. The most obvious factor to consider are the amount of Grammys U2 has won. At 22 Grammys, U2 holds the record for most Grammys won by a rock band. To better relate how this makes U2 best, let's look at how a Grammy is awarded.
To begin, let's talk about the word "best." Like I stated a few sentences ago, there is a difference between what might be favorited by someone and what is considered to be objectively the best. With that in mind, let me elaborate.
Imagine the world consisted of three people and two bands. If two people agree Band A is best and the other person thinks Band B is the best it would be safe to say that, objectively, Band A is best. Subjectively speaking, Band A would also be considered best. However, based on how in this proof we derive what it means to be best, Band A can be said to be objectively best -- let's be real, what is objectivity (i.e. fact) but a mass subjective opinion on what is objective!
Now that we have a base understanding on what makes something best, let's be more specific on how this term applies to the rock band U2. The most obvious factor to consider are the amount of Grammys U2 has won. At 22 Grammys, U2 holds the record for most Grammys won by a rock band. To better relate how this makes U2 best, let's look at how a Grammy is awarded.
The panel of critics that come together consist of members that each have a subjective opinion on which band should win a Grammy. Their individual subjective opinions form an objective fact as to the Grammy winner. We can say, based on this process, that the best band won the Grammy.
U2 also holds the record for highest grossing tour. Their 360° World Tour ran from June 30, 2009 to July 30, 2011. For this record to be set, there had to be more ticket sales and more merchandise sales than ever before by any band. This can reasonably only happen if the tour had more fans attending than any tour ever before. Going back to our initial proof of "best", the most fans coming into agreement make for a best band. The fact that U2 was able to tour for two years on one album is a testament to this.
In conclusion, it's my belief that a band's primary goal is to connect with people; to take the highs and lows of life, the emotion, the struggle, everything, and let people know they're not alone. Not alone in having these human emotions and human thoughts. Not alone in the wanting of being accepted and being loved, Say what you will about Bono, but he, along with Edge, Adam, and Larry do a damn fine job at reminding us what it is to feel human.
U2 also holds the record for highest grossing tour. Their 360° World Tour ran from June 30, 2009 to July 30, 2011. For this record to be set, there had to be more ticket sales and more merchandise sales than ever before by any band. This can reasonably only happen if the tour had more fans attending than any tour ever before. Going back to our initial proof of "best", the most fans coming into agreement make for a best band. The fact that U2 was able to tour for two years on one album is a testament to this.
In conclusion, it's my belief that a band's primary goal is to connect with people; to take the highs and lows of life, the emotion, the struggle, everything, and let people know they're not alone. Not alone in having these human emotions and human thoughts. Not alone in the wanting of being accepted and being loved, Say what you will about Bono, but he, along with Edge, Adam, and Larry do a damn fine job at reminding us what it is to feel human.