Apple's CEO Tim Cook, the Edge, Bono and Larry Mullins. U2 launch new album on iTunes.Irish Voice.
On the heels of Tuesday’s launch of the iPhone 6, 500 million iTunes users all over the world received a gift from Apple: “Songs of Innocence,” the first album in five years from Irish rock legends U2.
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. gave a (not entirely) surprise performance at the iPhone 6 launch in Cupertino, CA, where they announced the album’s release with Apple CEO Tim Cook. The New York Times reported that Apple promised a $100 million marketing campaign around the new album.
While many people were delighted with the freebie tunes, others are calling the gift a tad presumptuous.
Here are the reactions of some who were less than thrilled:
Hey, U2, get off my cloud!
My 16 year old just found U2 album in her itunes library. Has a look on her face as if she has just been leered at by a 70 year old perv
— Ann (@cut2theroot) September 9, 2014
To be fair, Bono’s sunglasses aren’t for everyone.
Who df gave Apple permission to put U2's new album on my phone??? How about you put some god damn memory on my phone, let's try that
— JOSÉPH (@JZnotthatJAYZ) September 11, 2014
It was not a good surprise for anyone with a phone on the brink of full memory usage.
The fact that they could just put that new U2 album on my phone scares me so much haha.
— Ian Kelly (@IanGWB) September 10, 2014
Many people expressed alarm that the gift wasn’t exactly optional.
When I saw that Apple randomly put the new U2 album on my phone http://t.co/pUy3OIdZZE
That iPhone looks suspiciously like a flip phone, but we’ll allow it.
having U2's album preloaded on itunes is the billionaire equivalent of leaving a flaming turd on your doorstep
— VodkaMom (@swarthyvillain) September 10, 2014
And others just found it to be a crude move.
My girlfriend is really pissed because she can’t delete that U2 album from her phone. She’s walking around muttering.
— Shaun McIlroy (@shaunmcilroy) September 10, 2014
Twitter was flooded with calls for advice on how to delete the album, with some fearing it couldn’t be deleted. (It’s going to be OK, you guys, just swipe left on the album title!)
Guy. There's a new U2 album on my phone. Like... did I just win the lottery or something? Best. Tuesday. ever.
— Curt Mega (@curtmega) September 9, 2014
But then again, there were also those for whom it was the Best. Tuesday. Ever.
Anyone who didn’t get the album and is feeling left out can download it for free from iTunes until October 18.