The evolution of "Discotheque."
One of my favorite aspects of this band is how they continue to write a song well after its initial creation, and somehow improve upon it.
"Discotheque" is a prime example. The original album version has all the underpinnings of a great rock & roll song, but it is completely undone buy its horrid production. The bass guitar, which should be the driver in a song like this, sitting right on top of the song and smirking, is drowned out by the bass drum and other rhythm effects. This sets up is a complete lack of dynamics when the song reaches its "rock" zenith and nothing really happens. The song should jump from level 7 to level 11 at this point, but it can't, cause it's already at 10.
Luckily, U2 learn from that. The remix cut, or whatever it's called, is much improved. The bass is allowed to drive. All the superfluous loops and electronic drum treatments are gone. There's room to move here. Some space from which to explode. It actually can and does explode when the chorus fall hits, plus they've improved the chorus guitar tone. Gone is the "farting wasp." I can actually hear driving chord changes now. There's a rhythm in that riff that was barely audible in the bug fart we got before.
A big improvement, but, still, that outro. The nadir of U2's career.
Not to worry. Just wait 3 or 4 years and they continue to make it better.
This, this is "Discotheque"
Discotheque 2005 - YouTube
Granted, it's a live version, so stripped down is expected, but the rewrite isn't. A more effective chorus build up? Check. A new drum beat? Check. A brand spanking new outro? That rips? Check. That outro seals the deal. 2 dirty chords. 4 to the floor beat. They coulda played that thing for 5 minutes straight and it would still be awesome.