Photo: Wenn
iTunes users have complained about U2's surprise release of Songs Of Innocence with a number expressing complete ignorance as to who the band are.
As reported by Consequence Of Sound, a number of Twitter users this week have asked 'Who is U2'? after the surprise album appeared in their account. Many even went so far as to express concern that they had been hacked. It appears that certain people utterly unaware of the band, which may explain why only 200,000 people out of a potential half billion users have downloaded the LP.
Below are some tweets that illustrate what Bono and co. are up against.
WTF WHO THE HELL IS U2 AND WHY DO I HAVE THEIR ALBUM IN MY ITUNES IM SCARED HELP HEEELP pic.twitter.com/6NF5N4UvLN
— Neonme (@NeonMeB3) September 10, 2014
So am I the only one who phone got hack wtf is ah U2 and how tf did it get on my phone in my music
— •Chris&August• (@CeCeTheDancer_) September 11, 2014
who is this U2 why its in my itunes pic.twitter.com/GZgMp3TYpA
— may (@lanaugh) September 10, 2014
Part of U2's rationale for releasing their album in this fashion is that their music exposed to people who had never heard of them. “People who haven’t heard our music, or weren’t remotely interested, might play us for the first time because we’re in their library,” Bono wrote on the U2’s official site, “Country fans, hip-hop afficionados from east L.A., electro poppers from Seoul, bhangra fans from New Delhi, highlifers in Accra might JUST be tempted to check us out, even for a moment.”
"Copies of the U2 album 'Songs Of Innocence' which have been delivered free to consumers’ iTunes accounts will not be reflected in the Official Albums Chart – the Official Charts only count music which consumers have made an active choice to acquire. The album will only count when consumers have made an active choice to buy it."
Watch the trailer for Songs Of Innocence Below
The tracklisting is:
1. The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
2. Every Breaking Wave
3. California (There Is No End To Love)
4. Song For Someone, Iris (Hold Me Close)
5. Volcano
6. Raised By Wolves
7. Cedarwood Road
8. Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
9. This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now
10. The Troubles.
The album will be released in its physical form on 13 October, including a deluxe, gatefold double album, contains an acoustic session of songs from the album and four additional tracks: 'Lucifer's Hands', 'The Crystal Ballroom' and alternative versions of 'The Troubles' and 'Sleep Like a Baby Tonight'.
Below: Who could surprise release an album on iTunes next?
