2009 Setlist: Sure bets or surprises?

[Hallucination]

Guaranteed to be heard every show:
Streets
Beautiful Day
Vertigo
One

Songs that are well past due to make a comeback and would be a huge lift to the set:
HMTMKMKM
Exit
Ultraviolet(Light My Way)
God Part II

Songs that would be cool to hear but I doubt we will:
Lemon
Mofo
Hawkmoon 269

 

[Rob33]

Guaranteed to be heard every show:
Streets
Beautiful Day
Vertigo
One

Songs that are well past due to make a comeback and would be a huge lift to the set:
HMTMKMKM
Exit
Ultraviolet(Light My Way)
God Part II

Songs that would be cool to hear but I doubt we will:
Lemon
Mofo
Hawkmoon 269

hmm...good list but there's much more to be added my friend

 

[ahittle]

They'd better play Fire

Or do the same thing the Cure did with Trilogy, and play October, UF and the new album all in full.

I always got the impression that they didn't like Fire much after finishing the October tours, that they considered a naive bit of trying to write a hit single.

Has it ever made a re-appearance?

There are so many songs that I can't imagine them playing, but I never imagined that they would play An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart, so, hey, anything's possible I guess.

 

[Hallucination]

hmm...good list but there's much more to be added my friend

Well obviously but listing every single song that would be a welcome addition is kind of pointless. They're never gonna redo the setlist completely for the diehard fans anyways so...... Adding so many more than what I did is just naming songs for the sake of nameing songs and would be a boring reply. not that my reply was exciting but to go ahead and add ALL the songs I'd wanna hear is just redundent. We all wanna hear everything but we can't so I just picked a select few.

 

[Hallucination]

Originally Posted by DrTeeth
They'd better play Fire

Or do the same thing the Cure did with Trilogy, and play October, UF and the new album all in full.

I hear ya but The Cure did that for a reason. Pornography, Disintegration and Bloodflowers weren't picked randomly. Robert felt that Disintegration was in ways his follow up to Pornography and likewise with Bloodflowers to Disintegration. I dont' see how October, UF and a new album qualifies as a trilogy. Maybe Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop but even still that doesn't quite fit.

 

[ultraviolet92]

gone and last night on earth

 

[DubbalinGirl]

Comcast, as you point out, is a pavillion/lawn arrangement and lends itself to the kind of experience that allows for widely varied set lists.

I guess I don't understand the difference as it affects setlists. Bear in mind that the most diverse setlists I've ever seen out of U2 came on Lovetown, which was an arena tour, if memory serves me correctly. What makes Comcast (amphitheater) different than the Garden (arena)?

Some of his best falsettos have been hit on the Vertigo tour-

I think sometimes the falsetto are used to adjust for what he can't hit anymore.

 

[vaz02]

gone and last night on earth

I think LNOE would work quite well in an encore.

 

[Axver]

I always got the impression that they didn't like Fire much after finishing the October tours, that they considered a naive bit of trying to write a hit single.

Has it ever made a re-appearance?

After the October Tour, Fire was played on the Pre-War Tour in December 1982, then at the first show of the War Tour proper on 26 February 1983 and that's it.

 

[Blue Room]

maybe, but this is a perfect stadium filler IMO...i don't get it....listen to 8/16/1992 Washington D.C. or for that matter any ZooTV performance of this song- it was epic! I'd like to see this song make its way back into the setlist as much as I'd like to see TUF return

Bono has commented on it previously and basically implied it would be difficult for them to pull off now. Why that would be, I don't know as I'm not a musician. If its not a new song and requires some difficulty rehearsing, its doubtful U2 are going to do it. Its just how they work. I always say, anything is possible though, and don't get me wrong, I would love it if they played it. Its just very unlikely IMO.

I would say the only guarantees next tour are One and Vertigo. There are a lot of likely songs obviously as well IE: Beautiful Day, Streets, Pride, SBS, Bullet (Please drop for a tour boys!). Prior to the Vertigo tour I would have put Streets as a guarantee. However, Bono didn't want to play it initially on Vertigo, so while probable, the band don't necessarily think it has to be played any longer.

My list of what would be a dream for me got smaller last tour as they played Electric Co. Which was on my dream list for the last 3 tours. Left on my list would be:

God Part II
Hawkmoon 269
One Tree Hill (consistantly in the setlist, not just NZ and one time in Japan)
A Sort Of Homecoming

 

[IrishDawg]

I think SBS, Pride, and Bullet the Blue Sky are getting to be quite stale. I'd like to see the epic ones like Streets and One stay, however. New Years Day has always been pulled off quite well live also.

Ultraviolet
In God's Country
Stay
Mofo

would be nice to see some of those.

 

[jphelmet]

loads of songs i would like to see, but my top 5 (none of these will be played).

1. promenade
2. heartland
3. love is blindness (full with solo)
4. i threw a brick /a day without me
5. are you gonna wait forever (for very personal reasons)

of the ones that might actually make it back in, i would love to hear walk on (as a full band) like elevation. really enjoyed that song before, and think it would work well early in the set or as a main show closer before the encores.

i have still never seen a full version of all i want is you in person, and would love to hear it. I have only seen the popmart abbreviated version. kite would be a welcome addition, as would seeing window in the skies live. not a great live song, but i like the song and have never seen it live (i really don't have a clue if they will play it or not.) unforgettable fire would be really cool, never seen it in person. really don't know if it will ever be played again, but for whatever reason doesn't seem that improbable.

 

[Chill Mike D]

Mothers of the Disappeared played like they played it on the Joshua Tree tour would be nice. That's an awesome live song.

 

[Moser]

I'd not like to see Pride again, unless they drop a half-step or two so Bono can yell the chorus like he used to in the 80's, and unless the band finds a way to fit in the bridge section of the song.

The chorus falls so flat if you can't sing it with a force!

Beautiful Day can go also. It's a classic, but does it stand up against U2 titans...like Streets!

I'd like to see some songs from Zooropa again.

 

[Zoocoustic]

interesting...only in our dreams? why do you say that?

You won't find a much bigger fan of the AB songs than me, but let's be real. People do not know Ultraviolet outside of the die-hards. And it has not been played live since ZooTV.

When the band tours, they are touring the new album. As a result, they are likely to play many or most of the songs from the album in an effort to boost sales. Most bands do this. So for starters, consider they have to play a handful from the new album - let's say 6 or 7 songs.

Then, they have a list of at least 20-30 solid "hits" that they can rotate through. They have to play these to appease the masses, and remember that the majority of people at a show are casual fans with an appreciation and solid knowledge of probably 10 U2 songs at best. U2 have a large enough catalog now that they are literally going to have to pick through the "hits" and be selective.

So 6 or so from the new album, 20 or so hits - you've already filled up more than enough for a single setlist.

Now consider that from time to time they rotate through a few of the songs on the new album, adding some and dropping others as they learn what work and what doesn't in a live setting. At the same time they are also rotating through their catalog of hits, changing that up from time to time.

The end result is that the rare, obscure gems like Ultraviolet stand little or no chance of ever being played live. If anything, we're more likely to hear a moderate or lesser-known "hit" (Wild Horses, Gone, etc.) than a song that was never even released.

Just trying to keep it realistic...

 

[tomtom]

You won't find a much bigger fan of the AB songs than me, but let's be real. People do not know Ultraviolet outside of the die-hards. And it has not been played live since ZooTV.

When the band tours, they are touring the new album. As a result, they are likely to play many or most of the songs from the album in an effort to boost sales. Most bands do this. So for starters, consider they have to play a handful from the new album - let's say 6 or 7 songs.

Then, they have a list of at least 20-30 solid "hits" that they can rotate through. They have to play these to appease the masses, and remember that the majority of people at a show are casual fans with an appreciation and solid knowledge of probably 10 U2 songs at best. U2 have a large enough catalog now that they are literally going to have to pick through the "hits" and be selective.

So 6 or so from the new album, 20 or so hits - you've already filled up more than enough for a single setlist.

Now consider that from time to time they rotate through a few of the songs on the new album, adding some and dropping others as they learn what work and what doesn't in a live setting. At the same time they are also rotating through their catalog of hits, changing that up from time to time.

The end result is that the rare, obscure gems like Ultraviolet stand little or no chance of ever being played live. If anything, we're more likely to hear a moderate or lesser-known "hit" (Wild Horses, Gone, etc.) than a song that was never even released.

Just trying to keep it realistic...

I bet a lot more people know Ulltraviolet than do An Cat Dubh or The Ocean.

 

[ahittle]

I think BD has solidified its place in the live canon. Even the most casual fans go crazy for that one.

Realistically, I could see them playing (maybe...)
Wild Horses
God Part II
Ultraviolet
In God's Country
One Tree Hill
Please
Love is Blindness

 

[powerhour24]

My dream songs (I won't put Acrobat because no matter how much you "dream out loud" that one ain't happening ) :

-Heartland
-Mothers of the Disappeared
-In God's Country
-Love Rescue Me
-October
-Tomorrow
-Ultraviolet
-Love is Blindness
-Numb
-Please
-Red Hill Mining Town
-Seconds
-A Sort of Homecoming
-If God Will Send His Angels
-Zooropa
-One Tree Hill

...so many more, and Kite all the time...or closing shows

 

[kaber]

The last tour the US got far more of the early songs from Boy... than Europe. I'd like to see that change so I finally get to see that stuff played live. From what I recall Boston got a pretty varied mix of old songs.

Maybe they are getting the Deluxe versions of Boy thru War out there to put a line in the sand or because they fancy playing that stuff again?

Not sure how it will pan out though - they tour through Live Nation now don't they? Do wonder how much influence they will have on U2. Could be greatest hits plus a few new songs?

 

[dazzlingamy]

I wonder if one day, u2 will have a competition for one fan to decide a set list for a show, and they play whatever you want.


and then i wake up and realise im going to hear beautiful day another bazillion times
(but at the end of the day i really don't care because im at a fucking u2 concert!!!) hahaha

 

[Rob33]

I wonder how much actual rehearsing U2 will do leading up to and throughout the upcoming tour

 

[u2search]

Not sure how it will pan out though - they tour through Live Nation now don't they? Do wonder how much influence they will have on U2. Could be greatest hits plus a few new songs?

They've been touring with Live Nation since 1997, there is really nothing new here. The deal is about staying with them for the coming years.

 

[Yahweh]

I think the reason that U2 doesnt play a lot of their material is they have simply forgot how to play it. Bono specifically at times cant remember the lyrics to even the classic tracks. Edge also said once during the POP era that they would love to write songs like they did on the Boy album but they have forgotten how. U2 needs to practice these lesser known tracks before they get pulled out again.

There will be some suprises on the new tour for sure but I can say pretty much for sure the setlist will not vary much from night to night, it really never has and I dont see that changing on the next tour. Maximum of 40-50 different songs will be played next tour and if people dont like that thats too bad for them.

 

[JOFO]

I think the reason that U2 doesnt play a lot of their material is they have simply forgot how to play it. Bono specifically at times cant remember the lyrics to even the classic tracks. Edge also said once during the POP era that they would love to write songs like they did on the Boy album but they have forgotten how. U2 needs to practice these lesser known tracks before they get pulled out again.

There will be some suprises on the new tour for sure but I can say pretty much for sure the setlist will not vary much from night to night, it really never has and I dont see that changing on the next tour. Maximum of 40-50 different songs will be played next tour and if people dont like that thats too bad for them.

Yeah, I kind of have to give it up to them for playing songs from Boy and October last tour. They did them well. But what I don't like is the acoustic WGRYWH or Please or whatever....those need to be full band and Larry better get off his ass and re-learn them this time around.
In fact, and I've said this just about every tour since 98, they need to drop the "unplugged" set bullshit and just play the tunes full band. It's where they sound the best.

 

[Rob33]

Yeah, I kind of have to give it up to them for playing songs from Boy and October last tour. They did them well. But what I don't like is the acoustic WGRYWH or Please or whatever....those need to be full band and Larry better get off his ass and re-learn them this time around.
In fact, and I've said this just about every tour since 98, they need to drop the "unplugged" set bullshit and just play the tunes full band. It's where they sound the best.

I couldn't agree more.

I can't think of a single U2 song right now that is improved in anyway acoustically...some say the acoustic version of Stuck is an improvement, but I can't possibly see how...and Walk On acoustic? That's downright sinful.

and playing Wild Horses acoustically is a crime....the version from Dublin 2005 was absolutely fucking epic....it should never be played acoustically ever again

 

[phillyfan26]

Stuck is absolutely improved acoustic, that's probably the only one, though.

If you must ask why, it's because the whole track is cheesy with the electronic/keyboard/piano backing. With the acoustic guitar it is much more sincere.

Whereas Walk On is better electric, Stuck is worse.

I agree with you, though, U2 generally sucks acoustically.

 

[jphelmet]

In fact, and I've said this just about every tour since 98, they need to drop the "unplugged" set bullshit and just play the tunes full band. It's where they sound the best.

exactly. i have said the same thing many times.

if they are going to do anything resembling that, do it like they did stay on zooropa on the mini stage. semi-accoustic but still full band. that version of stay is phenomenal. i wouldn't mind seeing the do 2-3 songs like that in the middle of the crowd with the whole band.

its really weak to introduce different songs accoutically. i would rather them play a few less songs overall, and have them all be the full versions than the crap accoustic numbers on vertigo (except for the first time).

 

[Rob33]

Stuck is absolutely improved acoustic, that's probably the only one, though.

If you must ask why, it's because the whole track is cheesy with the electronic/keyboard/piano backing. With the acoustic guitar it is much more sincere.

Whereas Walk On is better electric, Stuck is worse.

I agree with you, though, U2 generally sucks acoustically.

Ok so it might be a somewhat cheesey song, but Larry's drumming in that song is beautiful and still, I really just prefer it full band electric. It sounds fuller and more dramatic I guess...the chessieness in that song never really got to me the way it has for many fans here...

and I'm not sure what exactly you meant by "U2 generally sucks acoustically." That's sort of vague and not exactly the point...the point is that U2 songs are generally not meant to be transformed acoustically...the songs lose their effectiveness. Having said that, when U2 do perform songs acoustically, like Stuck or Walk On or Desire....I don't think that they usually do a bad job technically speaking, the songs just normally aren't meant to be played acoustically to a live audience, and thus feel simply out of place.

 

[phillyfan26]

Sucks in comparison is what I meant.

 

[Rob33]

Sucks in comparison is what I meant.