Questions about the new album

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Questions about the new album

Scottie · Loudmouth

Ask him live on Friday Jules

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I was thinking about that biggrin

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Maybe it was Geldofs Irish Catholic education in Blackrock College Dublin in the sixties when Ireland [Southern] was a society dominated by the conservative Catholic church.

The influence of religion was pervasive at that time- and Geldof being a naturally questioning individual with a disdain for authority had loads of time for internal and external dialogue which made its way into his music.

It was probably the historical baggage of religion and accident of birth in Ireland which made him think about God and come to a decision not to believe.

Good idea for a thread are the mentions of religion or God in Geldofs songs.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Sunday 13th of March 2011 02:56:11 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:

I am loving it. However, some questions keep going around in my head. Well 2.

1. Where did Bob find the book by Leslie Shepherd? Words from his own mouth - in a second hand book shop and on the piano of a friend... so which is it?

2. Bob describes himself as an atheist. Like me then. However, he refers to a god in many of his songs. I can understand why in Young and Sober, but the rest. As an atheist I do not believe, therefore, I do not look to something I don't believe it to 'protect' me or my family. So why Bob? again

Any thoughts, comments?

1. Did he write Mondays in London as he said at first or Atlanta as he later said? Does it matter? Geldof changes the story to make it as interesting as possible, only he knows the truth.

2. Ingrained Catholicism. You may be an athiest like me, but that doesn't stop you saying "Jesus Christ" a lot!

Intellectually I resisted, but though logic stripped away the cant and ceremony, I still could not rid myself of the voodoo. - Geldof

http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2010/05/bob-geldof-and-the-divine-power-of-jesus-christ/

Interesting reading this article, as round our way protestants are converting to catholicism wholesale. They have no idea what they are letting themselves in for!

-- Edited by ArrGee on Sunday 13th of March 2011 10:04:39 PM

Derek The Dane · In the Long Grass

The book he found at a friends place and god well thats Bob having a go at the man.I think the song Too Late God is Bobs best poke when he sings "didnt you get my message,didnt you get my call".

junkyard_smile · The Elephant's Graveyard

The latest version of the truth is that the friend was Rupert Hine and that it was on top of his piano. Though Geldof had previously suggested he found it in a second hand book shop which is a bit more romantic.

I think marketing wise they missed a trick - would have been far better to package the cd case to appear as an actual book rather than a bog standard plastic jewel case.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

junkyard_smile wrote:
I think marketing wise they missed a trick - would have been far better to package the cd case to appear as an actual book rather than a bog standard plastic jewel case.

I suspect the expected level of sales prevented that sort of thinking. Shades of Blue Monday.

I was surprised there was a physical format at all, as I half expected a download only release.

More puzzling is the US release coming over a month after the UK release. Just encourages downloading (legal and illegal). Same tracklisting as well.

Wondering if there will be a HTCPSTWS 2 like s.a.d. too. With another twenty or so tracks recorded there could well be a book format deluxe release. There should be enough material for 2CDs and a DVD.

http://theboomtownrats.blogspot.com/2005/11/great-songs-of-indifference-geldof.html

http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/16/bob-geldof-new-album-sxsw/

noelindublin · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:

junkyard_smile wrote:
I think marketing wise they missed a trick - would have been far better to package the cd case to appear as an actual book rather than a bog standard plastic jewel case.
I suspect the expected level of sales prevented that sort of thinking. Shades of Blue Monday.
I was surprised there was a physical format at all, as I half expected a download only release.
More puzzling is the US release coming over a month after the UK release. Just encourages downloading (legal and illegal). Same tracklisting as well.
Wondering if there will be a HTCPSTWS 2 like s.a.d. too. With another twenty or so tracks recorded there could well be a book format deluxe release. There should be enough material for 2CDs and a DVD.
http://theboomtownrats.blogspot.com/2005/11/great-songs-of-indifference-geldof.html
http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/16/bob-geldof-new-album-sxsw/

I say lets hear the other twenty songs. Publish and be damned!

They could tease us with another ten track album - call it How Not To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell or something. Bob could make up for lost time by releasing three albums in one year- but then that might be overkill.

Still I'm genuinely curious at to how the other tracks sound. I can live with the despair- its the hope I can't stand!

Roger Buck · Mary of the 4th Form

Jules said:

2. Bob describes himself as an atheist. Like me then. However, he refers to a god in many of his songs. I can understand why in Young and Sober, but the rest. As an atheist I do not believe, therefore, I do not look to something I don't believe it to 'protect' me or my family. So why Bob? again

I am also interested in this question. Found Bob sayiing this at his dad's funeral. Doesn't sound like a profession of atheism to me.

"Dad knew that death was a continuity of life. He was absolutely safe in the knowledge that he was going to meet the towering exuberant love of his life my mum," he said of Bob Snr's final days.

Bob is not saying Dad believed, but rather Dad knew ... He then doesn't say "safe in the belief" but "safe in the knowledge"

If you "know" that death is not the end, but that a spiritual world exists wherein you meet again those you have loved ...

This is not atheism. You believe in some kind of spiritual reality, even if not necessarily God in the traditional sense ...

I would also be interested in any comments. Has Bob changed or is he just inconsistent?

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Roger Buck wrote:
Jules said:

2. Bob describes himself as an atheist. Like me then. However, he refers to a god in many of his songs. I can understand why in Young and Sober, but the rest. As an atheist I do not believe, therefore, I do not look to something I don't believe it to 'protect' me or my family. So why Bob? again

I am also interested in this question. Found Bob sayiing this at his dad's funeral. Doesn't sound like a profession of atheism to me.

"Dad knew that death was a continuity of life. He was absolutely safe in the knowledge that he was going to meet the towering exuberant love of his life my mum," he said of Bob Snr's final days.

Bob is not saying Dad believed, but rather Dad knew ... He then doesn't say "safe in the belief" but "safe in the knowledge"

If you "know" that death is not the end, but that a spiritual world exists wherein you meet again those you have loved ...

This is not atheism. You believe in some kind of spiritual reality, even if not necessarily God in the traditional sense ...

I would also be interested in any comments. Has Bob changed or is he just inconsistent?

Bob did an interview with Gay Byrne about his views on religion and spiritual matters. The series was called The Meaning of Life and from what I remember Geldof came across as being an atheist, a particularly insistent one. He has, to sort of paraphrase him, said on more than one occasion that when he dies it will be all over and 'I won't give a ****. I was a little shocked by this, but it suggests that in this life he does what he can to help or do good, but equally he sees it all as maybe a bit meaningless.

It's likely that Geldof's upbringing in an Ireland in the fifties that was largely Catholic (in the south) left him with firm views, both pro and anti the 'benefits' of religious belief and practice. He might believe in God if he had a number one hit single.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Sunday 25th of November 2012 03:09:47 PM

-- Edited by noelindublin on Sunday 25th of November 2012 03:10:14 PM

-- Edited by noelindublin on Sunday 25th of November 2012 03:11:03 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
He might believe in God if he had a number one hit single.

It would be a miracle. He would have to do another charity record to get one.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

ArrGee wrote:
There should be enough material for 2CDs and a DVD.

Looks like I gave them the idea to release How to Fleece Fans that Buy...

disbelief