It's a privilege to serve the poor, to be servants of noble Africans, but I better belong in the rehearsal room or in the studio with my band. That's where I want to be and I still wake up in the morning with melodies in my head.
BonoRead
Hanging out with politicians and corporations is very unhip work. But I think that the U2 audience have turned out to be incredibly subtle in their understanding.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Bono expresses the tension between mainstream influences and the sophistication of his audience's understanding.
In this quote, Bono highlights the contrast between engaging with the often superficial world of politicians and corporations and the depth of understanding exhibited by his audience. He suggests that while such engagements may lack authenticity or appeal ('unhip'), the audience he connects with possesses a nuanced grasp of deeper issues, reflecting a greater cultural awareness and sophistication.
Themes
PoliticsAudienceUnderstandingCorporationsCulture
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on the role of artists in society, this quote can illustrate the complexity of public engagement.
More from Bono
All quotes βPerspective is the cure for depression.
BonoRead
At a certain point, I just felt, you know, God is not looking for alms, God is looking for action.
BonoRead
It's much easier to be successful than it is to be relevant. The tricks won't keep you relevant. Tricks might keep you popular for a while, but in all honesty, I don't know how U2 will stay relevant. I know we've got a future. I know we can fill stadiums. And yet with every record, I think, 'Is this it? Are we still relevant?'
BonoRead
God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them.
BonoRead
Until it's on the radio or online, it's not real. With U2, our album isn't finished until it's in the stores.
BonoRead
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