Why "Acrobat?"

1991.

U2's Achtung Baby.

Track 11.


Why "Acrobat?"
November 24th, 2011
Toronto, ON


 When thinking of a name for the blog, I took into account everything- The message I wanted to send...the themes I would dwell upon....the opinions I would express...the style, etc.

U2 has been my favorite band forever. Their music has accompanied me throughout most of my life, and in some ways I feel as though I've grown with them. Their music-style has changed dramatically at various points throughout their career, and as a result, a passive-listener may only be able to associate the band with one particular "phase."

eg. "U2...that annoying band that sings Vertigo?"
or "U2...Sunday Bloody Sunday!"


 I've gone through my own phases as well...making the band and I a perfect fit.I wonder if there are friends and acquaintances who can still only associate me with one of my phases?

Whether regarding someone as an artist, or merely as an individual, I'd say that it takes courage to "reinvent" yourself...or to defy the expectations others may have of you. You risk losing certain friends you've made along the way--yet you open yourself up to new opportunities. You allow yourself to venture into the unknown.

The unknown can be a terrifying thing. I respect those who dare to tread where many wouldn't.

U2 took their biggest step into the unknown with the release of "Achtung Baby." There, at the peak of their fame and popularity, the band decided to abandon the style of music they had become known for, and try something completely, completely different. The results were at once predictable and surprising. They surely lost many "friends" along the way. (To this day, you will find what I would term 'casual' fans who say they stopped listening to the band after "The Joshua Tree.")

Yet they gained many new fans, and kept themselves relevant. They stayed true to themselves as artists, and the result was their most interesting, challenging work to date.

They took a risk, and succeeded.
----

Enter track 11, "The Acrobat."

The lyrics really strike me in this song. It felt relevant to any blog I was going to write. Almost a "disclaimer", if you will.

"Don't believe what you hear, don't believe what you see..."
Opinions are just that--opinions. These things I write are simply my own, and I encourage everyone to arrive at their own conclusions. In fact, one the the principles of the Baha'i faith is this: The independent investigation of truth. I'd encourage everyone to always seek truth, free of any pre-conceived notions or bias.

"And I'd join the movement if there was one I could believe in....yeah I'd break bread and wine, if there was a church I could receive in..."

We are all, eternally, seekers. Some of us believe we have found "something" that gives us answers, and many of us are completely disillusioned at what has been presented to us.

We've become cynical. Whether it relates to politics, to religion, to God, or to humanity itself, we are a generation of cynics. We're desperate for answers. Are they out there? The only way to find out is by doing what was mentioned above: seek knowledge and truth. See things with our own eyes, hear with our own ears.

"I must be an acrobat, to talk like this and act like that, but you can dream, so dream out loud..."

I'm wary of hypocrisy, including my own. It's so easy to "talk" sometimes, especially online. We can promote grand ideals and noble sentiments...but the challenge is to try and live up to these things in our own lives. I don't claim to be the embodiment of perfection in this area, but the battle is ongoing. (Check back in with me in 50 years.)

But none the less, it's great advice being given: Despite being acrobats (and we are, aren't we?), we CAN dream, so we might as well dream out loud.

"In dreams begin responsibilities"

So we can dream out loud. Great. But this is where we need to make a commitment to ourselves, and to others: If we're going to espouse noble causes and ideals, we should make an effort to live up to them. A real effort.


I'm working on it....I think we all are. I wish each of you the best on your own personal path. None of us necessarily know where our paths are leading, but I hope we will all find the courage to carry on into the unknown.
~


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFG6F6DW318