Bono has apologized for giving new meaning to the word earworm and sending U2’s latest album straight into iTunes users’ music libraries, whether they wanted it or not, Pitchfork reports.
In a Facebook Q&A session, one non-consensual listener wrote, “Can you please never release an album on iTunes that automatically downloads to peoples [sic] playlists ever again? It’s really rude.”
Pitchfork, a music-reviews website, reports that a seemingly chastened Bono replied, “Oops. I’m sorry about that. I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing. Drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion, and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn’t be heard.”
“There’s a lot of noise out there,” the U2 front man continued. “I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it.”
U2’s latest album, Songs of Innocence, was uploaded to iTunes users’ libraries for free download on Sept. 9. Non-U2 fans, and even U2 fans chaffing at not having a say in the matter, cried foul.
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Write to Elizabeth Barber at elizabeth.barber@timeasia.com