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May 13, 2009

Bono Writes Bad, Vaguely Racist Poem About Elvis Sadly we only get to hear 30 seconds of "American David," Bono's 14-minute poetic tribute to Elvis, among other things. It was written in 1994, recorded a couple of years ago complete with a backdrop of Elvis-related sounds, and premiered this morning on Radio 4. He's trying to be racy (and Beat-y), but Bono has problems with subtlety, e.g. magnificent lines like "Elvis, the white nigger / Ate Burger King and just kept getting bigger." Snap along.

Posted at 10:41 AM
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12 Comments

So by using that phrase does he retroactively makes Elvis Costello racist as well?
Bono can't even be racist in an original way.

Posted by: Rob at 05/13/09 11:02 AM  | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

to be fair, costello was cribbing norman mailer via lester bangs...

Posted by: brandon profile link  in reply to Rob's comment at 05/13/09 11:09 AM  | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

Bono, the peoples charmer, should of been a farmer, he's so full of shit, he could fertilize a continent.

Posted by: kinny profile link at 05/13/09 11:06 AM  | Reply
Score = 14 Vote up Vote down

"should have" been a farmer

Posted by: mer  in reply to kinny's comment at 05/13/09 4:30 PM  | Reply
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the white nigger line has been around since 1994 from the passengers original soundtrack. the track was called elvis ate america.

Mail your bono bashing to 1994 when the album came out.

Old news.

Posted by: kwikle at 05/13/09 11:25 AM  | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

1957, kid.

Posted by: norman mailer  in reply to kwikle's comment at 05/13/09 11:34 AM  | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

speed cop...

Posted by: "slum baby" at 05/13/09 11:53 AM  | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

Aren't those lines from Passengers' (U2 + Howie B + Eno) "Elvis Ate America"?

Posted by: ollie profile link at 05/13/09 12:07 PM  | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

I don't know if the super-sensitive political correctness calling this "vaguely racist" is more offensive or dull.

Posted by: TD at 05/13/09 1:05 PM  | Reply
Score = 10 Vote up Vote down

Agreed.

Posted by: PR  in reply to TD's comment at 05/13/09 1:22 PM  | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

it was published in Q magazine and later the last third of the poem became "elvis ate america" on the passengers album.

Posted by: stephen at 05/13/09 1:08 PM  | Reply
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Just another douche moment of his true persona.

Posted by: Mr_Blue_Angel_Dood profile link at 05/13/09 2:51 PM  | Reply
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