I never really understood what the big deal was with U2. Sure they had a few good songs, but I honestly feel that they haven't written anything note worthy in the last 10-15 years.
I think like most things these days, and particularly in the music biz, it's mostly hype over substance now.
If you look at many of the popular 'so-called-artists' that are the most famous & successful now & for the last little while, many of them have little to no discernable talent, but are instead easy to package and brand.
I like what 'Shaggy' said in an interview many years ago:
"If it were up to talent alone, most of us wouldn't be here", and he included himself in that fray.
Now that's a guy I can respect!
2 other good examples that immedialetly come to mind are Cold Play - which I think are just average, but are actually touted as the 'best band in the world' right now???; and michael buble - whom I struggle to measure as anything past mediocre at best, with a less-than-average singing voice, especially since he doesn't play any instruments or write any songs.
How & why he is counted as 'super star' status is way beyond me, and easily the 8th wonder of the world, considering that there are so many 'talented people' out there who DO actually play AT LEAST 1 instrument, usually while singing no less, AND write their own songs, and yet we'll probably never hear of them because these others are constantly crammed in our faces way to much, and super-promoted as 'excellent and even beyond' - and many people buy into it.
That's were much of the problem lies - people take what is sold to them as a bill of goods and all too easily accept it as 'great', instead of holding out & demanding better for themselves and others.