U2: Space Is The Place

The video for U2's first single "Get On Your Boots" turns out to be pretty sticky...and hard. It's the video equivalent of a Jeff Koons sculpture dipped in candy floss ice cream...


...or maybe it's like a trip to the local planetarium. As Sun Ra says: “The music is different here, the vibrations are different, not like planet earth...”



Edge says:

"It's based around the idea that men have fucked things up so badly, politically, economically and socially that it's really time we handed things over to women. We had our doubts when we saw a rough cut – but the finished video is brilliant. He's [Alex Courtes] really nailed it."

Eh? I guess that explains all the sexy ladies with moustaches. I prefer Ann Powers' Obama connection:

"This is U2's celebratory announcement of a new historical moment, one in which America and the world confront the catastrophes of the recent past and bust out some elbow grease to make things better."

I'm a long time, die-hard fan, but this song and now the video just reek of stale product. Sure, the riff is sticky - ear candy - but why the limp vocals? And how about these lyrics:

That’s someone’s stuff they’re blowing up
We’re into growing up
Women of the future
Hold the big revelations

At least "Vertigo" sounded like a rocket in flight...it's as though a vampire sucked all the sugar out of the band...and hard candy without the sweet is like sucking on plastic...or tinsel.

Here they are in another time, another place:


New Years Day Video