My thoughts on the Bono interview in Rolling Stone, January 11-25 2018.

[suegeo]

Writer, Jann S. Wenner, Photograph Anton Corbijn (Note, 2 men)

I love U2 and I love Bono.

After reading the piece, I got the names of many artists that Bono and the band found inspirational. More for me to study, more for me to learn, which is good.

The trouble is, the list of artists Bono draws inspiration from is a real sausage fest.

As Glamor Magazine’s first “Man of the Year” in 2016, I wish Bono would have studied women artists more, read more works by women, studied some love poems written by women. And then I wish he would have dropped the names of some underappreciated female artists for me to study.

The males he mentions are:
--Gavin Friday “The Last Song I’ll Ever Sing”
--Anton Corbijn’s photos
--Yeat’s “cold passion”
--Bob Dylan’s Senor, Senor is one of Bono’s favorite songs (Senor, Tales of Yankee Power)
--Also, Bob Dylan, At your most serious moment you need humor.
--The song “Summer of Love” and the guitar part written by a guy working with Ryan Tedder.
--St. Paul, the person (man) who wrote best about love.
--Chance the rapper, who has no record label, who is “doing it” himself.
--Psalms of David: Bono claims David is the first blues man, shouting at God “Why did this happen to me?”

Bono even humorously claims that some male Saint looks a lot like Elvis. Two men who look alike. At some point in their lives, all women realize that all men basically look alike. Ha ha.

The interview would have been better if he could have peppered more female names throughout. I’d much rather learn about under-discussed women than male artists. But I'll take what Bono gave, because he is a poet with a good heart.

The quote about music being too girly resonates with me, a female. Here’s the quote, from Bono:

“I think music has gotten very girly. And there are some things about that, but hip-hop is the only place for young male anger at the moment-and that’s not good. When I was 16, I had a lot of anger in me. You need to find a place for it…In the end, what is rock & roll? Rage is at the heart of it."

I think with this quote Bono meant there isn’t enough angry music out there, not enough outlets for pent up frustration with a system that is wildly unfair to females, African Americans, and basically anyone who isn’t a white male.

Hip hop is one exception to this.

As a middle age woman who is pissed off at the way the world is turning, I like hip hop. I like the feel of it: the protest, the objection, the raising of the voice to people who have authority and power, but don’t deserve it. (like out of control police men or men preaching at women about morality or male CEOs ravaging everything.)

Bono pointed out which genres of music his children like. His daughter, Eve, likes hip hop and I do too. I’d like to think she likes hip hop for some of the same rage-filled reasons that I do.

Bono’s daughter Eve is a good actress. She plays Lucy Elkins in "The Knick" on Cinemax. She isn’t my favorite character in that show (the kick ass, take names Juliet Rylance’s character is).

But Eve acted a scene opposite the nun in that show that resonates with me, still.

It was a rant about the expected deference a woman is expected to give to a man, any man, and it went something like this:

“My whole life these men who were supposed to show us how to live our lives. We are supposed to respect and trust and honor them. Well, they’ve all disappointed me. And betrayed me. And thrown me away. Why do I let them do it? Why do we let them do it? It doesn’t make any sense. And I’m sick of it. All I know is, I’m not getting what I deserve: Something better.”

Eventually Eve's character Lucy gets her revenge on her sick, messed up father. I won’t say how, because I don’t want to ruin the show, if you haven’t seen it yet.

The men are completely fucked up in that show. And talented, brave, smart women are fucked over.

And so I guess I’m left with my female anger. And there is NO PLACE for young, middle-aged, or old female anger at the moment. And that’s not good.

One of my favorite U2 songs is "one." I liked the youtube video I saw with Mary J. Blige stepping out of a limo and walking onto the stage to sing it with Bono.

If Bono can showcase more female voices, the better I'll like him. And I like him plenty already.

Also, if people would take the time to actually read an article before attempting to shut down all discussion with "Music's too girly?! What an outrage!, what a loser that Bono is", that would be nice.