back to article Bono apologises for iTunes album dump

Bono has apologised for sending U2's latest album into every iTunes library in the world. The singer's apology came, ironically, in a video to promote the album to those who didn't get it for free in iTunes. That video, posted to Facebook features a Q&A session in which a fan asked U2 never to release an auto-downloading album …

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  1. Khaptain Silver badge

    Vote

    I would suggest that in a vote for the world's most disliked, cheesiest, unbelievable, most pretentious music person, Bono would fill in the top 10 positions.

    1. LarsG

      Apologise

      For the awful album

      1. gnasher729 Silver badge

        Re: Apologise

        There's nothing wrong with that album. If you don't like it, don't download it for free. Or don't buy it, if you don't have an iTunes account. It's worth more than I paid for it.

    2. BongoJoe

      Re: Vote

      You're making me waste most of this glofious morning trying to figure who these other nine could be.

      Well, after hearing Bryan Adams interviewed on Radio 2 the other week that's perhaps one slot filled and perhaps another with that bloke from the Manics who turned up stoned to the station.

      And now it's getting difficult.

      So come on, suggestions. I think we have a new game...

      1. Mattjimf

        Re: Vote

        William (still refuse to put the dots in), James Blunt, Cheryl Cole, Bob Geldolf makes 7 of the top ten, although the original poster did state Bono would take all ten spots.

        1. BongoJoe

          Re: Vote

          Good point.

          That's the second mistake I have made this morning. I suspect that the wife has put something soft and organic in the coffee machine this morning as my brain synapses aren't firing right.

          1. Fungus Bob
            Joke

            Re: something soft and organic in the coffee machine

            A kitten, perhaps...

            1. veeguy

              Re: something soft and organic in the coffee machine

              I just *love* hot wet pussy.

        2. Obitim

          Re: Vote

          Got to disagree on the James Blunt Card since this happened:

          http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/james-blunt-has-a-black-belt-in-shutting-down-twitter-trolls/

          Although one of my favourites was:

          'pretentious twitter arsehole':

          Oh my god, they;re playing James Blunt again, could things get any worse????'

          James Blunt:

          'James Blunt could start following you and tweeting at you as well?'

          (the above may be paraphrased)

          Well, I quite liked the idea of it

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Vote

        that bloke, what's his name, encamped in the Peruvian (Bolivian?) embassy or consulate in London, clearly. Yes, he's not as widely known a musical genius as Bono, but still ticks all other boxes, and then some.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Vote

          that bloke, what's his name, encamped in the Peruvian (Bolivian?) embassy or consulate in London, clearly. Yes, he's not as widely known a musical genius as Bono, but still ticks all other boxes, and then some.

          If you're going that route I would hope a certain T Blair plays some sort of instrument too so I can include him. Air guitar, I think - can't see this man touch anything with real substance..

          1. This post has been deleted by its author

          2. BongoJoe

            Re: Vote

            If you're going that route I would hope a certain T Blair plays some sort of instrument too so I can include him. Air guitar, I think - can't see this man touch anything with real substance..

            He has let a few pictures of himself with a Stratocaster be released. No doubt to show that he's cool and one of the people.

            No dobut he'll soon claim that he played along with Jimi Hendrix in much the same way he used to watch Milburn play.

            Oh, I have thought of another name: Lars Ulrich.

            1. Shasta McNasty

              Re: Vote

              I'd be surprised if Bono has heard any negative feedback about this song or this album seeing as his head is firmly up his own arse.

              1. This post has been deleted by its author

          3. Mattjimf

            Re: Vote

            T Blair was in a band in the 70's - http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/apr/27/labour2001to2005.tonyblair2

            1. Darryl

              Re: Vote

              Jack White and Dave Grohl have to make the list.

    3. dogged

      Re: Vote

      Sting, surely?

    4. Wade Burchette

      Re: Vote

      Morrissey would have to be any list. I saw a concert of his in New York and every other song he would say "look at my beautiful body", even taking his shirt off one time.

    5. Sarah Balfour

      Re: Vote

      Aren't we forgetting someone…? As much as I loathe Bono, I don't believe he's ever declared that "People who eat meat are worse than those who rape children" or "if Jamie Oliver loves meat so much, why doesn't he roast his kids…?!"

      I don't think I need name names for the reason that even typing his initials makes me want to commit acts of extreme violence against inanimate objects. As far as I'm concerned, he's been an irrelevance since at least 1984 (if not earlier).

      He's threatening another album this year - he needs to be stopped! Beginning to think the cancer was just a rouse to get the world to feel sorry for him (though he's Veganist. Jobs was Veganist. I believe that disease only occurs when you fuck around with your genetic dietary blueprint (the fact the UK is world's second fattest nation should be testament to that). Jobs had pancreatic cancer, the spread of which was likely aided and abetted by his 100% carb diet. Vegans have lowered immunity, and a compromised immune system, due to the lack of distinct lack of nutrition ins vegan diet (humans can survive without plants, but we CANNOT survive without meat, or at least not in good health)).

  2. dan1980

    Just a drop?

    "I had this beautiful idea. We got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing. Drop of megalomania. Twitch of generosity. Dash of self promotion. And deep fear that the songs that we poured out life into over the last few years mightn't be heard. There's a lot of noise out there. I guess we we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it."

    Just a drop?

    What it is is either a massive dose of arrogance or an amazing disconnect between what they think people are cool with and what they actually are cool with.

    Or both.

    It's a free gift - why wouldn't anyone want that? After all, they can always throw it away but you're opening them up to something that you think they might like and otherwise might be ignorant of.

    It seems to me the same kind of attitude of those who proselytise their religious beliefs, dropping pamphlets through mailboxes and onto windscreens or knocking on doors in pairs or handing out booklets in the street.

    It's the idea that the thing they are offering is a fundamentally good thing that is relevant and valuable to people and they should be given the opportunity to see this thing because it would be unfortunate if they missed out through not knowing.

    Actually, comparing U2 to religion is not that much of a stretch . . .

    What's that one about the difference between God and Bono being that God doesn't walk down the street thinking he's Bono?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Just a drop?

      "What's that one about the difference between God and Bono being that God doesn't walk down the street thinking he's Bono?"

      Show a little sympathy. It ain't easy trying to save the whole friggin' world, y'know.

      1. Fred Flintstone Gold badge

        Re: Just a drop?

        Show a little sympathy. It ain't easy trying to save the whole friggin' world, y'know.

        Well, I got to give it to him - he DID stop clapping.. :)

    2. dogged

      Re: Just a drop?

      > Actually, comparing U2 to religion is not that much of a stretch . . .

      It's interesting that they chose to join up with the Apple cultists, then.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Just a drop?

      >After all, they can always throw it away

      Unless it's been changed I'm pretty sure earlier articles mentioned that it couldn't be deleted from the iPhone 6..

      1. mrfill
        Happy

        Re: Just a drop?

        "Unless it's been changed I'm pretty sure earlier articles mentioned that it couldn't be deleted from the iPhone 6.."

        Another good reason not to buy one....

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    In the name of dull

    I listened to the album. I thought it sounded like Snow Patrol, only with a worse singer, and worse songs. If U2 poured their life into this, at least it sounds like their cup is nearly empty.

    I deleted the album; my own small effort to aid noise reduction across the world. U2 have become the new AOL, and Songs of Innocence is their digital coaster.

    1. Squander Two

      Be fair

      I thought a lot of the backing was rather good -- special mention to Adam for playing some interesting bass for the first time in his life. Where it all went wrong was every time Bono opened his mouth. The melodies are just so twee.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    WTF?

    Have to laugh

    Only a few years ago the pretentious little lepricorn was harping on about the fact that their latest album was plastered all over the intertubes via torrent and how he wanted torrent BANNED, Banned then burned...

    So it's probably the fact that their latest digital pile of aural excrement HAD to be pushed all over the sodding world, only this time via I-Tunes to get any bugger to listen to it...

    Hmm.....

    1. Ross K Silver badge
      WTF?

      Re: Have to laugh

      little lepricorn

      What's a lepricorn?

      1. hplasm
        Happy

        Re: Have to laugh

        "What's a lepricorn?"

        One of the new Astrological signs for left handed people.

        1. DropBear
          Joke

          Re: Have to laugh

          "What's a lepricorn?"

          Well, ummm, you see, when a unicorn and a leprechaun love each other very much... I mean, where did you think centaurs came from?!?

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Have to laugh

            ""What's a lepricorn?"

            Well, ummm, you see, when a unicorn and a leprechaun love each other very much... I mean, where did you think centaurs came from?!?

            that's CEN-TURION, not cen-taur, you... you... repli-cant!

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: Have to laugh

              "What's a lepricorn?

              About 10 bob an hour

              Sorry, wrong joke.

      2. NogginTheNog
        Coat

        Re: Have to laugh

        "What's a lepricorn?"

        A unicorn with a nasty disease..?

      3. Wade Burchette
        Joke

        Re: Have to laugh

        "What's a lepricorn?"

        It is what Ralph Wiggum saw on the rock in his back yard. He told Ralph to burn things.

      4. Fungus Bob

        Re: Have to laugh

        "What's a lepricorn?"

        Its a new genetically modified food thing - scientists combined DNA from corn and lepers to make a type of corn that needs no preservatives as it rots too quickly.

        Where's the Bad Taste icon?

    2. Valeyard

      Re: Have to laugh

      could we maybe not resort to a bit of casual racism?

      Us Irish people don't much like being called Leprichauns, or even "lepricorns" really.

      It's just ironic, considering I've never even heard of a leprechaun outside of:

      1-US cartoons

      2-English people on St. Patrick's Day

      1. Squander Two

        Where the leprechauns are

        > I've never even heard of a leprechaun outside of:

        > 1-US cartoons

        > 2-English people on St. Patrick's Day

        Clearly never been to Dublin Airport, then.

      2. Martin-73 Silver badge

        Re: Have to laugh

        I agree with you re: casual racism. Bono's just an arsemonkey, no matter what his nationality. But my primary reason for replying is to ask "seriously? You've not heard of Leprechauns outside of those 2 (admittedly full of leprecorny references) situations?

        1. Valeyard

          Re: Have to laugh

          yeah seriously. if the cartoons hadn't associated them with ireland, i wouldn't otherwise be aware ireland apparently had some kinda leprechaun "thing". If there's an actual legend it's based on i haven't heard of it :/

      3. veeguy

        Re: Have to laugh

        Wait one moment-

        Now you are trying to tell me Irish folks *don't* chase leprechauns around trying to get them to tell where their Pot O' Gold is hidden?

        I'm not buying it. I've *seen* enough "Lucky Charms" advertisements to know it's true.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I saw a brilliant tweet

    "Someone hacked into my apple account and bought a whole U2 album.on iTunes"

  6. sad_loser

    compensation

    apology is all well and good but I have been sick with worry as my friends thought I had spent money on a U2 album.

    I am setting up a class action to address the reputational damage caused to many people like myself who have been harmed by this thoughtless and unnecessary self-indulgent noise pollution.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: compensation

      Given that this landed you with data on your computer you didn't authorise, there could even be a shade of Computer Misuse Act in this ..

      Probably not, but I must admit I would love to throw a legal brick at them for this if I had the money.

      1. Elmer Phud

        Re: compensation

        "Given that this landed you with data on your computer you didn't authorise, there could even be a shade of Computer Misuse Act in this .."

        But it's Apple -- it's not your device.

      2. zen1

        Re: compensation

        I have to wonder how many people who may have gone over their monthly data plan, and were charged because of that little stunt? I know I'd be rather irate about it.

  7. SuperTim

    Lucky me

    I managed to avoid the whole U2 enforced love-in despite having iTunes and iDevices....Not sure how I managed that. Still, Bono is a self-righteous nobend.

    1. stucs201

      Re: Lucky me

      Lack of current payment info will do the trick. For some reason if all they have on file is an expired card they won't let you have the "free" thing.

  8. Zippy's Sausage Factory
    Devil

    Am I the only person in the world who went "ooh, cute idea, never seen that done before." Then listened to it and thought "meh, not bad.I'll keep it around for a change now and then."

    Seriously... it's just a freebie. And if Apple want to give me free albums, paid for out of the huge amount of money I've spent with them over the years, then fine. Let's look on the bright side though - it could have been Coldplay. Or Take That.

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