ravin30000
The Fly
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2004
- Messages
- 33
Hi all,
I think the band should consider doing smaller shows for, say, U2.com members, in addition to big shows for the general population. Here's why...
While I was watching the band in D.C., it became obvious to me why they chose to stick with the hits for the majority of their set. When you're playing to 80,000 people who aren't U2 obsessives, songs like Beautiful Day and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For pretty much guarantee a good reaction. Truth be told, the crowd's enthusiasm towards these songs had me dancing and singing along, even though normally I'd skip over them on my Ipod.
Contrast that with Your Blue Room, which pretty much had everyone around me baffled. Although I was psyched to hear it, it was a definite down moment for the majority in attendance, even those three rows back from the stage. Given the context, it really is risky for U2 to play such an obscure song, when they could easily substitute it for another tried and true crowd pleaser.
So although I regularly complain about the lack of deep cuts in the setlist, I understand the band's reasoning behind what they choose to play. They simply want to have as many people as possible lose their shit as much as possible without totally alienating their longtime die-hard fans.
That said, for once, I shockingly propose that the band actually FOLLOWS in the Rolling Stones' footsteps. If I remember correctly, the Stones played little club and theatre shows interspersed between big arena shows on their last tour. Although I this might be overtaxing for the band on the current tour, especially on Bono's voice, in the future, it might be cool if they do a small u2.com members-only tour in some select cities. I think this would be especially great if they did it between album cycles, so there wouldn't be any pressure to promote a particular record. That way, they could play whatever they wanted, to an enthusiastic audience that knows their catalogue intimately. In other words, CRAZIER, STRANGER, MORE CHALLENGING AND EXCITING SETLISTS with plenty of lesser known album cuts, b-sides, covers, Pop and Zooropa songs (had to say it).
This way the die-hards finally get what they want. And the band gets what they want, because U2.com memberships would go through the roof!
What say you?
I think the band should consider doing smaller shows for, say, U2.com members, in addition to big shows for the general population. Here's why...
While I was watching the band in D.C., it became obvious to me why they chose to stick with the hits for the majority of their set. When you're playing to 80,000 people who aren't U2 obsessives, songs like Beautiful Day and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For pretty much guarantee a good reaction. Truth be told, the crowd's enthusiasm towards these songs had me dancing and singing along, even though normally I'd skip over them on my Ipod.
Contrast that with Your Blue Room, which pretty much had everyone around me baffled. Although I was psyched to hear it, it was a definite down moment for the majority in attendance, even those three rows back from the stage. Given the context, it really is risky for U2 to play such an obscure song, when they could easily substitute it for another tried and true crowd pleaser.
So although I regularly complain about the lack of deep cuts in the setlist, I understand the band's reasoning behind what they choose to play. They simply want to have as many people as possible lose their shit as much as possible without totally alienating their longtime die-hard fans.
That said, for once, I shockingly propose that the band actually FOLLOWS in the Rolling Stones' footsteps. If I remember correctly, the Stones played little club and theatre shows interspersed between big arena shows on their last tour. Although I this might be overtaxing for the band on the current tour, especially on Bono's voice, in the future, it might be cool if they do a small u2.com members-only tour in some select cities. I think this would be especially great if they did it between album cycles, so there wouldn't be any pressure to promote a particular record. That way, they could play whatever they wanted, to an enthusiastic audience that knows their catalogue intimately. In other words, CRAZIER, STRANGER, MORE CHALLENGING AND EXCITING SETLISTS with plenty of lesser known album cuts, b-sides, covers, Pop and Zooropa songs (had to say it).
This way the die-hards finally get what they want. And the band gets what they want, because U2.com memberships would go through the roof!
What say you?