U2@NYC
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
This is a modified, and expanded, version of what I have earlier posted on a different thread, but I think I need to relay my opinion on this topic in a more 'open' way.
There have been arguments going on back and forth on whether it makes sense to complain about the current setlist and whether we are not grateful enough to the band to be on tour. I sensed that I need to explain my views of what are, in my opinion, two different things.
Discussing, not necessarily complaining about what U2 decides to play on a specific night, is the whole point of the setlist parties, which are there to hype up the current setlist and discuss about it.
A setlist party would become rather dull if we do not even pretend to look forward to something new. The fact that I'm saying that I would love a suprise or two does not mean that I hate the stuff they are currently playing or that I want U2 to call it quits. Has anyone seen/heard of many people returning their tickets to incoming shows after they found out they are playing Vertigo x 2? Has anyone seen/heard the band being booed off-stage because they had a bad rendition of Elevation? And, more generally, has anyone seen the energy and stamina of the audience go down from previous tours? (remember the "Hi Bob" sign in Milan, the balloons in Munich, or the girl coming onstage to play Party Girl in the U.S.).
Hell, if I had the money and the time, I would follow the band all over the world and would not give a damn if they played Vertigo 10 times in a row.
Throughout my life I have very much enjoyed every single U2 concert I have been to, regardless of the setlist. Furthermore, I have yet to see an 'unhappy' or 'frustrated' face leaving any of these U2 concerts I was able to attend. And I also think that these same fans were genuinely concerned when Edge's daughter was reported ill or when the tour was about to be cancelled.
Therefore, I ask that we do not jump on top of every post thinking that many of us here are implying that we are not enjoying U2 concerts.
There is a clear difference between enjoying a show and asking for another song to be played. U2 Die-hards like many of us in Interference will challenge the current setlist, complain about it and suggest changes, but that does not mean, in any way, that the U2 experience is not the best experience of them all.
There have been arguments going on back and forth on whether it makes sense to complain about the current setlist and whether we are not grateful enough to the band to be on tour. I sensed that I need to explain my views of what are, in my opinion, two different things.
Discussing, not necessarily complaining about what U2 decides to play on a specific night, is the whole point of the setlist parties, which are there to hype up the current setlist and discuss about it.
A setlist party would become rather dull if we do not even pretend to look forward to something new. The fact that I'm saying that I would love a suprise or two does not mean that I hate the stuff they are currently playing or that I want U2 to call it quits. Has anyone seen/heard of many people returning their tickets to incoming shows after they found out they are playing Vertigo x 2? Has anyone seen/heard the band being booed off-stage because they had a bad rendition of Elevation? And, more generally, has anyone seen the energy and stamina of the audience go down from previous tours? (remember the "Hi Bob" sign in Milan, the balloons in Munich, or the girl coming onstage to play Party Girl in the U.S.).
Hell, if I had the money and the time, I would follow the band all over the world and would not give a damn if they played Vertigo 10 times in a row.
Throughout my life I have very much enjoyed every single U2 concert I have been to, regardless of the setlist. Furthermore, I have yet to see an 'unhappy' or 'frustrated' face leaving any of these U2 concerts I was able to attend. And I also think that these same fans were genuinely concerned when Edge's daughter was reported ill or when the tour was about to be cancelled.
Therefore, I ask that we do not jump on top of every post thinking that many of us here are implying that we are not enjoying U2 concerts.
There is a clear difference between enjoying a show and asking for another song to be played. U2 Die-hards like many of us in Interference will challenge the current setlist, complain about it and suggest changes, but that does not mean, in any way, that the U2 experience is not the best experience of them all.
I couldn't agree more - and I think this thread could very well be the best in this discussion area in a very long time. It should be quite clear to everyone that a lot of tension has been building up here between rather well-defined groups of people during this current tour and it seems to me that things are going round in circles here. People know how other people are going to respond to their posts before they post it (and no, I don't pretend to be innocent myself). If we could agree on a few things in this thread we may be able to avoid a lot of the tiresome misunderstandings that occur all the time.
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the setlist party without anything being said about the setlist!
Things have been said. You can also always report other posts or threads if you think they need a mod's attention. 
