I mentioned in the rate the songs series last time that a poll of the live songs that I was surprised this hasn't been done before here, especially considering that U2 is a band who made their bones live, and there are many fans who for the most part only listen to live stuff. It would be much more interesting than yet another tiresome recording of song preferences (whether it's voting for your least or favourite songs). Nothing against the way Dig has handled this (or the last poll), it's been outstanding, but there's only so many ways to rate these songs. I participated in the last one, but haven't for the most part in this one because it just feels like more of the same.
And yes, as much as I love HQ bootlegs, you'd have to limit such a poll to official live releases (including CD's, DVD's, and even one off b-sides if you wanted), since a lot of people don't collect the bootlegs. And yes, a lot of songs haven't been played, but so what, a lot have. If some people haven't heard a particular version, so what? They can vote for one they have. Even if there's only a few officially released live versions of some songs, it would still be interesting to see the results, and I think could spark newer discussion of these songs that going over the same studio tracks, again and again. I also think if you include the live b-sides and other officially released "rarities" a lot of people might be exposed to versions they didn't even know existed.
At the end, you'd have a "Interference's Picks" concert of all the best live versions.
What's so hard about something like this:
POLL: What is the best officially released live version of "Where The Streets Have No Name"?
Rattle & Hum, Tempe
Lovetown, Point Depot
ZOOTV, Sydney
Popmart, Mexico City
Popmart, Rotterdam (Please B-Side)
Elevation, Boston
Elevation, Slane Castle
Vertigo, Chicago
360, Rosebowl
360, Stadion Slaski, Chorzow (U22)
Etc.
You could eliminate the multiple versions from the same tour if you wished, since within a tour a different performances of the same song pretty much sound the same. As someone else pointed out, any version someone hasn't heard could easily be found on Youtube.
I'd do it myself, except I lack the organizational, technical and statistical skills for the task. Plus if I did it The Hive would probably boycott it, and since that's a good part of Interference, the results would be statistically meaningless.
Oh, and I'd go Elevation Boston on this question. The show overall isn't that impressive, and I prefer Slane, but that version of Streets enters the stratosphere.
) in the last round, leaving eleven surviving songs competing for nine slots in the 1990s/2000s quarterfinal round. You have 24 hours to vote for your least favorite song, the next song to be eliminated from this contest. For anyone just joining us, rules may be found here.
