u2nug

Subject: U2 vs. the Nuge

Bartcop,

Being a guitar player and musician for 20 years and a music afficianado my whole life, I have to say that I
agree with Kilpatrick when he notes the similarities between "Stranglehold" and "Bullet the Blue Sky."

The rhythm of the intro and main part of both songs have the same cadence and phrasing and with the
exception of the end of each measure, where U2's bass line goes to lower notes and The Nuge's guitar varies
between going up and going down. The "feel" of the rhythms are the same, too. They aren't close enough
to require U2 to pay any royalties to Ted, the similarities are there, at least as far as my ears tell me.

I agree with you, though, that when I listen to the two songs, I hear completely different things.
U2's song is incredible and meaningful and powerful and Nugent's is trite arena rock crap.
When I listen to "Bullet," I too can, "see those fighter planes."

Rock on, Bartcop.

Pedro DePacas

From: ZoCrowes255@aol.com

Subject: Stranglehold and Bullet the Blue Sky-A Guitarist Opinion

Coming from the stand point of a guitarist I have noticed the songs Bullet the Blue Sky and Stranglehold
are vastly different. The Nugent song is in the key of D and it concentrates on the V and IV (A and G)
while the U2 song is in the key of A and concentrates on the minor V and major IV (E minor and D).
Both songs fills and bass parts are played at the 5th fret using the A minor pentatonic scale so that may
cause the similarity to some people's ears. Under copywrite law this is not infringement.

The melodies are different, the chords are nowhere near being similar (even if they where you can't
copyright a chord or chord progression) and the tempo is different although both are played at about
120 (which is pretty much standard). Thats just my 2 cents.

From: Ahmenhotep@aol.com

Subject: U2 & Ted Nugent

I don't know if U2 stole any music from Ted Nugent although it would not be surprising if they did,
to quote Elvis Costello "All musicians are thieves and magpies." If one listens to Nirvana's
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Boston's "More Than Feeling " back to back you realize that
they are the same song granted the Nirvana version is a stripped down harder edged version.

I don't think this means that Kurt Cobain or the members of U2 set out to copy the songs they
ended up copying, I think that there are a finite number of musical notes out there and finite way
they can be put together and that musicians unintentionally copy other peoples works all the time,
and in the case of both Nirvana and U2 improve on they works they copied.

From: copyeditor@journalism.com

Subject: Bono is a god ... not the God, but a god

You said this is for important material; I guess important is relative, so I hope this qualifies.

I absolutely loved reading about your religious experience with U2, because I relate.
And I'm so glad you have that audio file on your site, because I couldn't understand it
very well on TV. It's giving me chills sitting here listening to it.

I wanted to share a column I wrote about U2 recently.
I hope I don't fall into the category of "whore media." I do work for a newspaper, and it
tends to be more conservative. But we're family owned, so that counts for something.
At least it means I can sleep at night with a clear conscience.
And we have a great new editor who is always looking to make sure the
local government is being held accountable. But I digress.

If you'd like to read the column, I've pasted the link and the text below.

Thanks for an amazing Web site. I can't wait to read it every day. I know how I feel about the world
and I know I'm right, but sometimes the words escape me. You have given me plenty.

One more thing: I can't watch the giant U2 MPG file. When I go to Windows
Media it tells me "An invalid media type was specified." Any ideas? I'm dying to see the whole thing again.

Hope you enjoy the column!

Michelle

Click Here

Michelle, not sure what the problem is with that.
The file runs fine on my machine, but when I downloaded it for a test, I got the video but not the audio.
Maybe my server doesn't support it. Remember a year or two back, I rented some space to play files
but they charged per click and it got very expensive.

Oh, well, HBO will play the whole night this fall,
and there's a DVD of the tour coming out.

From: dogfolks@cape.com

Subject: Do You U2?

Bart,
Since 1987, I've always been somewhat aware that I would probably like U2.
That's when I would hear I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For on the radio during my power walks.
It was very good for power walking. Then, I remember Bono and BB King (a perennial fave of mine since
1968 when I sat directly in front of him, in the second row, at a concert in upstate NY) pairing up on....
what is it....When Love Comes to Town? And, of course, Angel of Harlem.

Since then, the "power" part is missing from my walks, but that's another story. Last summer, I bought
U2 The Best of 1980-1990, and then kept forgetting to really listen to it. I'm listening to it right now.
REALLY listening.

I became inspired last night when I read, and listened to your presentation about their appearance
during the NBA game. Make no mistake. Short of seeing the performance, your narrative and photos
did what you wanted them to do - if what you wanted to do was convert just one other person.

Thanks!!!!
Anne