BONO VS. GHANDI… or is it?!?
Monday, June 8th, 2009
Above is a famous photo of Bono meeting with Ghandi (just kidding: this is a photo I found on the internet that is probably porn for some sub-furry U2/Second Life slash community.)
I ask you a question: who is a more important person: Mahatma Ghandi, the President of India, or Bono, of the rock band the U2? A lot of people would say Bono automatically, because he is white and has several pairs of sunglasses and has written such famous albums as “Rattle & Hum” and “Discotheque,” while Ghandi has written no songs, according to Wikipedia, and probably doesn’t own any sunglasses at all. Some other people, but probably not as many, would say, Ghandi is more important, because the inspiring story of a ragamuffin Indian lawyer/ascetic beating off (not sexually) British Imperialism is like a Bad News Bears for our times, and also inspired the movie Ghandi: The Movie.
But surprise! The real answer is that you don’t have to choose between the savior of India and the most famous Irishman in the world! Because in a lot of ways, Ghandi and Bono are the same person. This is why you hear Ghandi referred to as the “Bono of India.” What do I mean? Think of it like the Christian concept of “the trinity”: Bono is the Father and the Holy Spirit, and Ghandi is the Son (Jesus). You wouldn’t choose between Jesus and God, would you? (If you did, my understanding is that you will go to Hell.) So next time someone forces you to choose between your two heroes, tell them, Max said I don’t have to.
Why do I bring up Bono? Well, it just so happens that the MP3 I’m attaching to this post is a cover of the famous “U2ne” (U-tune) “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Yet” by the Chimes. Ari hates this cover, which is probably the right way to feel about it; I dig it, for basically two reasons: one is that it’s nice and laid-back, without the overblown piety of the original, chugging along at around 100 BPM with a loping drumbeat and movie strings; the other is that repeated saxophone figure from the very beginning, which is for some reason hitting the spot for me right now.
This, by the way, is the “Street Mix”–I hope the street has a name! (“Where the Streets Have No Name” is a U2 song).
