Will any opening song other than "Vertigo" be a surprise?

[LyricalDrug]

What are the Vegas odds on the first song, opening night? Place your bets here...

Here's my list of most-likely candidates:

1. Vertigo
2. Love and Peace or Else
3. City of Blinding Lights
4. Zoo Station

 

[Chizip]

ill be surprised if its anything besides vertigo or love and peace or else

 

[bcrt2000]

it could be a classic song....

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

i'd be very surprised

 

[Numb1075]

I've said it before, I think Vertigo has an 85% chance of opening with the remaining 15% going to L&PoE

If Zoo Station opens, that means someone slipped a sheet of acid in my beverage

 

[FullonEdge2]

How about they start the show with one of the "Boy classics" each show. It could be a rotation between "I Will Follow," "Out of Control," "The Electric Co." or possibly even "Stories for Boys." Following one of these songs, the band can go right into Vertigo. This would fit the theme that Bono has been suggesting pretty often: that this album feels like it's their first. So why not start the show with a song from their true 'first' and THEN play Vertigo?

 

[Numb1075]

probably because the casual fan (75% of audience or more) might not recognize the tune.

At a concert, you want to grab everyone's attention right away. Vertigo will do just that....everyone knows it and it's good.

 

[FullonEdge2]

probably because the casual fan (75% of audience or more) might not recognize the tune.

At a concert, you want to grab everyone's attention right away. Vertigo will do just that....everyone knows it and it's good.

Well, you know that most casual fans have got to know at least I Will Follow, and possibly Out of Control. Plus, those songs are all energetic and likely to pump up the crowd.

 

[Numb1075]

IWF - yes.

OOC - I'm not too sure.

 

[FullonEdge2]

IWF - yes.

OOC - I'm not too sure.

I agree that OOC is a little more obscure, but I've heard the Brooklyn Bridge bootleg and when OOC comes on the crowd goes absolutely wild. I think they were louder for that song than when Vertigo started. Granted, the people who went to that show were probably more hard-core than a typical U2 concert audience, but I just can't see people not getting pumped up by a Boy song to start the show. Vertigo can always come next..

 

[-macphisto-]

Has U2 ever opened a concert with a song that wasnt off of there latest album?

 

[FullonEdge2]

Has U2 ever opened a concert with a song that wasnt off of there latest album?

If they did, it was back in the '80s. There's been rumors that the band has some real tricks up their sleeves for the tour's setlists, so don't you think it might be time to break this tradition and use something other than Vertigo or even LPOE to open?

 

[chiso]

I think they should open with STORIES FOR BOYS... not because it's a great opener (though its a great song), but for the following reason:

- They begin playing Stories for Boys.
- Whoever DOESN'T go nuts (or sing along) over this
song will be escorted the f**K out of the arena/stadium
and, in his place, will come a muthaf**kin hardcore U2
fan who couldn't get in!!!

 

[FullonEdge2]

I think they should open with STORIES FOR BOYS... not because it's a great opener (though its a great song), but for the following reason:

- They begin playing Stories for Boys.
- Whoever DOESN'T go nuts (or sing along) over this
song will be escorted the f**K out of the arena/stadium
and, in his place, will come a muthaf**kin hardcore U2
fan who couldn't get in!!!

HaHa. good one. I think it would work too, except maybe they should use a rotation of Boy songs to open.

 

[Bono's Betty]

We will know in a few days!!!

 

[-macphisto-]

I would be in heaven if they opened with Boy songs, but I just dont see it happening, I also think Rejoice would be a sweet opener, with that opening riff of the Edge!

 

[FullonEdge2]

I would be in heaven if they opened with Boy songs, but I just dont see it happening, I also think Rejoice would be a sweet opener, with that opening riff of the Edge!

You don't see it happening, huh. You know, Bono has really been into calling this album their first. Wouldn't it make total sense? Either way, if it happens, I called it first.

 

[chiso]

I would sell my girlfriend's soul to hear Lost on a Silent Planet as the opening song!!!

I already sold mine to go see them under the Brooklyn Bridge

 

[Axver]

Has U2 ever opened a concert with a song that wasnt off of there latest album?

Yes.

Pre-War Tour - Out Of Control.
War Tour - Gloria and Out Of Control.
Under Australian Skies Tour - Gloria and Out Of Control.
The Unforgettable Fire Tour - 11 O'clock Tick Tock, a few rare uses of Gloria.
The Joshua Tree Tour - Stand By Me, I think 18 times.
Lovetown Tour - Where The Streets Have No Name (half of the shows), Bullet The Blue Sky, a couple of instances of Stand By Me, one instance of In God's Country.
ZooTV - Sunday Bloody Sunday opened the public rehearsal at Hershey on 7 August 1992.

Many of those tours also saw a new song sometimes used to open (for example, God Part II opened a couple of Lovetown shows and MLK opened the first UF Tour show.)

 

[babyman]

it's gonna be vertigo, 100%

 

[the tourist]

I think it'll be All Because Of You. I hope it's Love And Peace Or Else. And I'd dream about it being Heartland.

 

[nbcrusader]

Pre-War Tour - Out Of Control.
War Tour - Gloria and Out Of Control.
Under Australian Skies Tour - Gloria and Out Of Control.
The Unforgettable Fire Tour - 11 O'clock Tick Tock, a few rare uses of Gloria.
The Joshua Tree Tour - Stand By Me, I think 18 times.
Lovetown Tour - Where The Streets Have No Name (half of the shows), Bullet The Blue Sky, a couple of instances of Stand By Me, one instance of In God's Country.
ZooTV - Sunday Bloody Sunday opened the public rehearsal at Hershey on 7 August 1992.

Many of those tours also saw a new song sometimes used to open (for example, God Part II opened a couple of Lovetown shows and MLK opened the first UF Tour show.)

But this is the clear exception to the rule.


My odds:
Vertigo - 95%
LAPOE - 5%

 

[LDG]

probably because the casual fan (75% of audience or more) might not recognize the tune.

At a concert, you want to grab everyone's attention right away. Vertigo will do just that....everyone knows it and it's good.

With all the efforts U2 has made this tour to appease the old Propaganda members, I have to believe that a little more than the casual fan will be in the crowd for these shows, making one of the older cuts even more appropriate. That said, it's probably still more likely that Love and Peace or Vertigo will be the opener.

 

[U2FanPeter]

Vertigo apparently is a medley with Stories For Boys.

Rumours have it was played 4/4 of the nights of Vancouver rehearsals.

LAPOE or this would each make for the perfect opener.

U2FP

 

[unosdostres14]

I think they'll definetly play something new. All i gotta say is that I hope Bono does something totally outrageous and new. Like teh George Bush prank calls....just somethign totally awesome and totally cool like that.

 

[Hallucination]

I think LAPOE has a good build up but it's not high tempo enough to be the opener in my opinion. I think they should open with I Will Follow and then go into Vertigo. BUt It will quit possibly be the other way around.

 

[clerks]

It wil be Vertigo, but I'd love to see Elevation again.

But here's hoping it's Zoo Station as I missed that tour.

But I would love love love Discoteque!

 

[bazza]

it will be vertigo....it's gotta be.

 

[Axver]

But this is the clear exception to the rule.


My odds:
Vertigo - 95%
LAPOE - 5%

Not really. From 1 December 1982 until the start of the Joshua Tree Tour, U2 opened with a new song just twice (Wire on 17 September 1984 and MLK on 18 October 1984). Then again on the Lovetown Tour, a new song opened only 10 times out of 47 shows. In the eighties, an older song was more likely to open.

But it seems that since the start of the nineties, U2 have decided to firmly stick with new songs. I can keep hoping for Streets or 11 O'clock Tick Tock, though ...

 

[neilm]

Vertigo...every show.