Hawkfire
The Fly
...how utterly amazing that show was. It pains me that people slag off PopMart (usually people who didn't even attend, or still wish it was 1983 and Bono was still waiving white flags), because the criticism is generally so uninformed and undeserving. This was an incredible concert, the closest thing to theatre you'll ever see in a football stadium. Last Night on Earth into UTEOTW into NYD?!?! Are you kidding me? The segue between the latter two was something U2 didn't even attempt on Elevation (despite those two remaining back-to-back). And Hold Me Thrill Me is just outrageously good. The whole attitude of PopMart - much like the album that it supported - was just "F*@# It!" and its so refreshing to see U2 challenging themselves as well as their audience. PopMart was a dynamic show that merged art, music, theatre and spectacle in a brilliantly conceived and choreographed show.
Sadly, I'm not holding out much hope for a return of this reckless abandon, "why not?" attitude that characterized U2 in the mid to late 1990's. No, not everything they touched turned to gold (though much of their Zooropa and POP output ranks amongst their best IMHO), but even when the experiments didn't produce satisfactory results, the PROCESS was always riveting, engaging, and interesting.
PopMart might not be in vogue at present, thanks to Elevation, but this show will be REDEEMED, as it was light years ahead of its time. Perhaps redemption and belated respect will come when/if this comes to DVD, as it will MELT the other DVDs in your collection, this show is so hot!!
Sadly, I'm not holding out much hope for a return of this reckless abandon, "why not?" attitude that characterized U2 in the mid to late 1990's. No, not everything they touched turned to gold (though much of their Zooropa and POP output ranks amongst their best IMHO), but even when the experiments didn't produce satisfactory results, the PROCESS was always riveting, engaging, and interesting.
PopMart might not be in vogue at present, thanks to Elevation, but this show will be REDEEMED, as it was light years ahead of its time. Perhaps redemption and belated respect will come when/if this comes to DVD, as it will MELT the other DVDs in your collection, this show is so hot!!