U2 - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - NYC
NOV 21, 2005
Forgive me for not writing a traditional review of Monday night's U2 show, but I just need to go off for a minute. Let's play a game...
I'll give you a word, and you tell me what comes to mind. Actually, this isn't a chat, it's a blog, so I'll just have to play this game myself.
The word is FRONTMAN. Go.............
Plant. Jagger. Joplin (frontwoman). Prince. Presley. Hova. Cash. And.......
BONO.
Look, I'm never going to be one of those wasted fans screaming "Bonnnnoooo! Booooooonnnoooo!" But privately, in my mind, as I watch this stage-master command the individual attention of each of the 19,000+ captivated fans at The Garden, I admire him as much as any musician in my lifetime. This man personifies the word "frontman." Let's forget all the cliches about a frontman being the one who pushes the band to greater musical heights. Bono's influence, which places him in the same category as the revolutionary Bob Marley, extends beyond the band, beyond the music.
In my view, Bono is the consummate frontman because he has used his musical status to personally affect the world. Instead of spending his off-time sipping Pina Coladas on a Carribean island, he visits African villages who have 15 water fountains to serve populations of 30,000+ (for drinking, washing, AND bathing). Instead of dropping 30 G's in an NYC / Meat Packing District hotspot, he donates countless funds to fight poverty and provide food to starving families. And, instead of being caught in Page Six half-clothed with a different Russian supermodel each month, Bono, along with his long-time wife, travel to the highest HIV-infected areas of the world to educate children about HIV/AIDS prevention.
Bono began as the unabashed, fire-breathing frontman of mega-band U2, and has become a frontman for the world. His U.S. tours not only include stops in New York's Madison Square Garden, Chicago's United Center, and LA's Staples Center, but also, most imporantly include Washington's WHITE HOUSE. Not only do "Vertigo"-adoring fans listen to him, Presidents and Prime Minsters do too.
So, as I watched Bono tirelessly belt out "Where the Streets Have No Name," along with every other timeless U2 classic, I felt an unbelievable excitement, but more importantly an overwhelming sense of pride. Similar to the way I feel about Pres. Bill Clinton, I am always proud to be in the same room, or even the same arena with Bono because I always know I will come away with an inspired sense of enthusiasm to fight the good fight. Now, that's a frontman.
[Bono's good fight: http://www.one.org]
[My good fight: http//www.playingforpeace.org]
Find yours.
