U2 seen filming in Berlin

[Earnie Shavers]

It's simply because the additional songs coming from the 90s are rare. UV was hardly played. Zooropa was played so little and in such scrappy form, that this is effectively a debut. HMTMKMKM hasn't been played in 12 years. EBTTRT, sparingly, and this is a very different version. The other three AB songs and the 4/5 ATYCLB songs? Standards. In that sense, it's not really about the album. If they busted out When I Look At The World, I don't think you'd hear too many complaints.

 

[subnet]

i heard edge can't play WILATW

 

[Niceman]

4 Songs. Which is just as much as on the Vertigo Tour.

Vertigo was often more than that, but I would criticize those later Vertigo shows as well. At least then they were nominally promoting the new album. Now there isn't even that....

 

[Niceman]

Some people would, AB had ZooTv, what i am not getting here is the people moaning that U2 arent playing enough from their "current album" now want them to go and perform every song from an album that is 20 years old?

would it be great for a one of celebration? yes of course it would because its a fantastic album, but for the rest of the tour? and glastonbury? god no

oh well.

My first choice would be new material/latest album. If it has to be a best-of show, I'd rather have AB than more ATYCLB crap. Also, playing a whole album would be something different for them.

MY FIRST choice would be them playing NLOTH all the way through!

 

[Niceman]

it is very, very rare for a band able to play stadiums to march out and play most of their new songs. U2 was able to do that in 1992/3 because AB was an extraordinary album, the show itself was visually strong enough to carry unfamiliar material, and they were at the peak of their powers and popularity.

They did it in 1987 and 1997 too.

 

[doctorwho]

i'd be all up for AB or JT all the way through, but only in an arena.

Forget that!

U2 should play "October" all the way through. For the encore, they can perform the remix of "October" and then - as a special treat - the remix for "Two Hearts and the U.S. remix of NYD. Then turn on the lights, tell people to get out and release the hounds. Now that's a show!

 

[doctorwho]

My first choice would be new material/latest album. If it has to be a best-of show, I'd rather have AB than more ATYCLB crap. Also, playing a whole album would be something different for them.

MY FIRST choice would be them playing NLOTH all the way through!

I agree with your last thought.

However, you have to keep the audience in mind.

I was talking to a guy that was, at the very best, a so-so fan of U2. I asked him why and he stated he wanted more rocking songs from U2. I told him I should make him a CD with some of U2's best as he really only knew their radio hits. Then he directly contradicted himself (and he acknowledged the contradiction) by stating that he really liked "Stuck in a Moment...".

In other words, what you call ATYCLB crap is now 10+ years old. And this is the music that people who were in their teens then remember now as adults. In contrast, I bet the only songs they know from AB are "One" and MW.

That's the real issue with U2 and their expansive catalog. Die-hards what to hear rarities or an entire album. So-so younger fans want recent hits. So-so older fans want older hits. And something new and fresh is always good.

Given the success of the tour, I think U2 have found the right combination overall.

Plus, didn't Edge say that for this part of 360, since they are no longer supporting an album, they will look into their catalog more? This may explain why there are less NLOTH songs and more from AB or other albums.

 

[Swan269]

i heard edge can't play WILATW

He can, however what he can't remember is the effect for his guitar.

 

[Niceman]

I agree with your last thought.

However, you have to keep the audience in mind.

I was talking to a guy that was, at the very best, a so-so fan of U2. I asked him why and he stated he wanted more rocking songs from U2. I told him I should make him a CD with some of U2's best as he really only knew their radio hits. Then he directly contradicted himself (and he acknowledged the contradiction) by stating that he really liked "Stuck in a Moment...".

In other words, what you call ATYCLB crap is now 10+ years old. And this is the music that people who were in their teens then remember now as adults. In contrast, I bet the only songs they know from AB are "One" and MW.

That's the real issue with U2 and their expansive catalog. Die-hards what to hear rarities or an entire album. So-so younger fans want recent hits. So-so older fans want older hits. And something new and fresh is always good.

Given the success of the tour, I think U2 have found the right combination overall.

Plus, didn't Edge say that for this part of 360, since they are no longer supporting an album, they will look into their catalog more? This may explain why there are less NLOTH songs and more from AB or other albums.

I'm not begging for rarities. I just want a good show. I'd love for U2 to focus on NLOTH or the new demos. If they're NOT going to do that, I'd love it if they kept the tracks from their weakest album down to 2-3 a night. There is no good reason for Walk On to ever be performed again. Ever.

 

[Rachel D.]

U2 should never play an album live straight through, unless it's in an intimate club setting. If they did that on the 360 Tour to a stadium full of people, that would be pretty boring, I would think.

 

[Irvine511]

They did it in 1987 and 1997 too.

note the differences in the set lists between Vegas and Foxborough in 1997. they certainly learned what they could and could not do in a stadium in 1997.

they also only came out and played a series of songs in a row from the very beginning from Achtung Baby. they didn't do that with Joshua Tree.


Giants Stadium 1987 (first 10 songs):

1. Where The Streets Have No Name
2. I Will Follow (OLD!)
3. Trip Through Your Wires
4. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Exodus (snippet)
5. MLK (OLD!)
6. The Unforgettable Fire (OLD!)
7. Bullet The Blue Sky / The Battle Hymn Of The Republic (snippet)
8. Running To Stand Still
9. People Get Ready
10. Sunday Bloody Sunday (OLD!)

Giants Stadium 1992

1. Zoo Station
2. The Fly
3. Even Better Than The Real Thing
4. Mysterious Ways / Love To Love You Baby (snippet)
5. One / Unchained Melody (snippet)
6. Until The End Of The World
7. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
8. Dirty Old Town
9. Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World / Love And Affection (snippet) / Three Little Birds (snippet)
10. Angel Of Harlem (FIRST OLD SONG!)

Giants Stadium 1997:

1. Mofo
2. I Will Follow (OLD!)
3. Even Better Than The Real Thing (OLD)
4. Gone
5. Pride (In The Name Of Love) (OLD)
6. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Stand By Me (snippet) (OLD)
7. Last Night On Earth
8. Until The End Of The World / Break On Through (snippet) (OLD)
9. If God Will Send His Angels / Hallelujah (snippet)
10. Staring At The Sun




Zoo was a rarity -- a stadium tour that didn't need to rely on the past. it may never happen again.

 

[Irvine511]

I'd love it if they kept the tracks from their weakest album down to 2-3 a night. There is no good reason for Walk On to ever be performed again. Ever.

you are obviously fully entitled to your opinion on ATYCLB, but the fact remains that, 1) the band liked it, 2) it did really, really well, so obviously other people like it.

isn't it entirely appropriate that they play several hits from their third most commercially successful album and the conventional wisdom (which could be wrong) that it's their true "third masterpiece"?

 

[djerdap]

This whole "third masterpiece" talk, which would probably never even surface if not for that silly and wildly hyperbolic Rolling Stone review, makes me wanna heave.

 

[PhilsFan]

Even if you like ATYCLB (and I don't), the songs they're playing aside from Beautiful Day and I guess Elevation aren't fitting for a stadium show.

 

[U2girl]

lol. Batman did not surface on a tour since Pop, so there's no way you can count that as a ZooTv tour song. And if we're speaking eras we might as well put ATYCLB and Bomb on the same page as well. Same era right? That logic really baffles me... Zooropa is off a different album, and has been played live ONLY A FEW TIMES. It's a fucking rarity. Would you complain as well if they suddenly played So Cruel or Acrobat live... because it'd be another AB song?


I think the main reason that it's not overkill is... because Achtung Baby is actually a good album with good songs, that have all aged well. Rather than songs you get sick off after hearing them too much.

I said it was recorded in that time. But take it out and that's still 6 Zoo songs.

There was a 4 year gap between ATYCLB and Bomb. AB and Zooropa only had a two year gap - and more importantly Zooropa was recorded during the tour that was promoting AB.

Yes, I would.

They've been constantly bringing loads of AB*...on Elevation, Vertigo and now with 360, which now has the same amount (and more) in the set than the dreaded 4/5 ATYCLB songs - and that's with one full tour leg left to go. With the remaster approaching, for all we know there might be more AB songs coming in the setlist. I'm just saying there are other (younger) U2 albums that could use some live time. Pop, Bomb and NLOTH for example.

*Now, ATYCLB has been featured on Vertigo (more once they hit Australia, though) and 360 as well. However...that is a 10 year old album, not a 20 year old album. An album, none the less, that was their comeback.

And if we're of the opinion "ATYCLB has more songs played than NLOTH at this point"...well, so does AB. This should apply to all albums equally. Yet the complaints only directed at one of these albums prove this isn't about the amount of songs...it's about the wrong album being played according to the internet fans.

 

[LemonMelon]

And if we're of the opinion "ATYCLB has more songs played than NLOTH at this point"...well, so does AB. This should apply to all albums equally. Yet the complaints only directed at one of these albums prove this isn't about the amount of songs...it's about the wrong album being played according to the internet fans.

I don't feel even remotely guilty for holding a more acclaimed, higher-selling album to higher standards. Whatever the success of ATYCLB, it still pales compared to the 18 million sales and massive critical acclaim of Achtung Baby. Not to mention that the non-singles from AB have remained fan favorites after all these years. Do you see people clamoring to hear full band Peace On Earth live the way they do Acrobat? Hahahahahaha. Of course, we're relegated to the internetz, so we have no soul.

Truth is, we're fucking blessed to have a solid chunk of AB being performed every night. ATYCLB will be remembered as a symbol of U2's ubiquity, but only Beautiful Day will transcend the passage of time as a truly great song and single, whereas Achtung Baby already is considered one of the defining masterpieces of the 90s. Uh, yeah, they should be playing that shit live.

 

[djerdap]

Not to mention the fact that Achtung Baby songs are far more rocking, energetic and thus far more "playable" in a stadium setting and at that stage.

 

[U2girl]

I don't feel even remotely guilty for holding a more acclaimed, higher-selling album to higher standards. Whatever the success of ATYCLB, it still pales compared to the 18 million sales and massive critical acclaim of Achtung Baby. Not to mention that the non-singles from AB have remained fan favorites after all these years. Do you see people clamoring to hear full band Peace On Earth live the way they do Acrobat? Hahahahahaha. Of course, we're relegated to the internetz, so we have no soul.

Truth is, we're fucking blessed to have a solid chunk of AB being performed every night. ATYCLB will be remembered as a symbol of U2's ubiquity, but only Beautiful Day will transcend the passage of time as a truly great song and single, whereas Achtung Baby already is considered one of the defining masterpieces of the 90s. Uh, yeah, they should be playing that shit live.

Full band Peace on earth has about the same chance of being played as Acrobat. Clamoring for unrealistic live performances doesn't mean much.

I think clamoring for more AB is silly given the amount of songs being played consistently on each tour, but that's just me.
And if we're talking about supporting the biggest selling/critical acclaim albums...how about more JT songs being played ?

ATYCLB had critical acclaim and it outsold all the U2 albums after AB (let's disregard the fact that more people were buying albums back in 1991 compared to 2000), and likely will outsell all U2 albums that get released from now on. It is their comeback album with the importance equal to the rise to fame of JT and the reinvention of AB. Uh, yeah, it should get played live, internet moaning or not. I can think of several 00's U2 songs more worthy of a greatness status than the overrated BD but anyway...and off AB only One is a classic.

 

[dan_smee]

Hang on everyone: U2girl is back to tell us all how wrong we are, and how enlightened we will be if we listen to her

 

[LemonMelon]

And if we're talking about supporting the biggest selling/critical acclaim albums...how about more JT songs being played ?

You're on to something here.

and off AB only One is a classic.

Now you're on some other planet. I don't even really love Achtung Baby that much, but I guess I've just learned better over the years than to fuck with it on the open forum.

Regardless of the "relevance" you may attribute to it, the fact that NO ONE requests anything from ATYCLB is incredibly significant as far as judging how many tracks should be allocated to it. Again, I realize that the tens of thousands of people here are Comic Book Guy-esque fans on the fringe with no opinions that could or should be realistically followed, but poll this entire website and at least 80% would rather hear Achtung Baby in full than ATYCLB. Perhaps that tells you "ignoreignoreignoreignorehdfryhsddyrjdbsyehsja" but it tells me that more songs from it should be played live, of the two.

 

[Earnie Shavers]

It's not really all that surprising that the album that consistently places first in any "Best Album" poll is also pretty fucking popular live, especially when compared to an album that consistently places in the bottom third of such polls.

And it is far more about individual songs anyway. We're heavy on a particular album in this discussion for a specific reason. Not hard.

 

[Niceman]

you are obviously fully entitled to your opinion on ATYCLB, but the fact remains that, 1) the band liked it, 2) it did really, really well, so obviously other people like it.

isn't it entirely appropriate that they play several hits from their third most commercially successful album and the conventional wisdom (which could be wrong) that it's their true "third masterpiece"?

No album which contains songs like New York, Walk On, the album version of Elevation, Grace, the final verse of Kite, or WILATW deserves to be called a masterpiece with a straight face. I'll give as much respect to that suggestion as I would to anyone who suggests New Kids on the Block had a masterpiece...

Now, if you called TUF, POP, or even R&H their third masterpiece, I'd respect your opinion, but calling ATYCLB a masterpiece is beyond me. All that does is suggest you discovered the band on 2001.

 

[Niceman]

note the differences in the set lists between Vegas and Foxborough in 1997. they certainly learned what they could and could not do in a stadium in 1997.

they also only came out and played a series of songs in a row from the very beginning from Achtung Baby. they didn't do that with Joshua Tree.


Giants Stadium 1987 (first 10 songs):

1. Where The Streets Have No Name
2. I Will Follow (OLD!)
3. Trip Through Your Wires
4. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Exodus (snippet)
5. MLK (OLD!)
6. The Unforgettable Fire (OLD!)
7. Bullet The Blue Sky / The Battle Hymn Of The Republic (snippet)
8. Running To Stand Still
9. People Get Ready
10. Sunday Bloody Sunday (OLD!)

Giants Stadium 1992

1. Zoo Station
2. The Fly
3. Even Better Than The Real Thing
4. Mysterious Ways / Love To Love You Baby (snippet)
5. One / Unchained Melody (snippet)
6. Until The End Of The World
7. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
8. Dirty Old Town
9. Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World / Love And Affection (snippet) / Three Little Birds (snippet)
10. Angel Of Harlem (FIRST OLD SONG!)

Giants Stadium 1997:

1. Mofo
2. I Will Follow (OLD!)
3. Even Better Than The Real Thing (OLD)
4. Gone
5. Pride (In The Name Of Love) (OLD)
6. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Stand By Me (snippet) (OLD)
7. Last Night On Earth
8. Until The End Of The World / Break On Through (snippet) (OLD)
9. If God Will Send His Angels / Hallelujah (snippet)
10. Staring At The Sun




Zoo was a rarity -- a stadium tour that didn't need to rely on the past. it may never happen again.

I don't think song ORDER was the issue we were discussing? How many tracks from POP did they play on any given night? Most of them.

 

[Popmartijn]

Hang on everyone: U2girl is back to tell us all how wrong we are, and how enlightened we will be if we listen to her

To be fair to her, so do the others here with their dismissal of ATYCLB. See the next quote.

No album which contains songs like New York, Walk On, the album version of Elevation, Grace, the final verse of Kite, or WILATW deserves to be called a masterpiece with a straight face. I'll give as much respect to that suggestion as I would to anyone who suggests New Kids on the Block had a masterpiece...

Now, if you called TUF, POP, or even R&H their third masterpiece, I'd respect your opinion, but calling ATYCLB a masterpiece is beyond me. All that does is suggest you discovered the band on 2001.

 

[nirniva]

...and off AB only One is a classic.

 

[zoopop]

I don't think song ORDER was the issue we were discussing? How many tracks from POP did they play on any given night? Most of them.

Las Vegas, bad show & all, 10 songs from Pop were played that night.......all full band

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

No album which contains songs like New York, Walk On, the album version of Elevation, Grace, the final verse of Kite, or WILATW deserves to be called a masterpiece with a straight face. I'll give as much respect to that suggestion as I would to anyone who suggests New Kids on the Block had a masterpiece...

Now, if you called TUF, POP, or even R&H their third masterpiece, I'd respect your opinion, but calling ATYCLB a masterpiece is beyond me. All that does is suggest you discovered the band on 2001.

i love pop, but i will take anything on all that you can't leave behind over miami.

 

[gareth brown]

speak for yourself

...and off AB only One is a classic.

hahaha yeah are you mad?

 

[cobl04]

Some astounding opinions here.

 

[Irvine511]

No album which contains songs like New York, Walk On, the album version of Elevation, Grace, the final verse of Kite, or WILATW deserves to be called a masterpiece with a straight face. I'll give as much respect to that suggestion as I would to anyone who suggests New Kids on the Block had a masterpiece...

Now, if you called TUF, POP, or even R&H their third masterpiece, I'd respect your opinion, but calling ATYCLB a masterpiece is beyond me. All that does is suggest you discovered the band on 2001.

i haven't told you my opinion, i've told you what the conventional wisdom is. the conventional wisdom is that ATYCLB is their third best album after JT and AB.

i get it, you don't like it. most other people disagree with you. and they hate Pop and think Bono was an annoying POS on R&H.