I don't mind Bono talking about Africa during the concert. Talk about it all you want (within reason - no hour long rants, but Bono knows better). What did get on my nerves?
The changing of WTSHNN. Keep Africa out of that song. I don't think they should try and attach any sort of direct meaning/cause/metaphor to a song so blatantly...it completely takes one out of the experience. When I saw WTSHNN during the Elevation Tour...it was such a magnificent experience, such an emotional, spiritual one - I even cried a little. I got completely caught up in all of it, in what the song meant to me, and the wonderful red lights, and Bono's emotion...it was amazing.
The Vertigo presentation of WTSHNN never got me very far off the ground. The red lighting was gone, so there was no release at the beginning of the song, and the African flags scrolling down throughout the performance just left me irritated. Like I said - talking about Africa in a concert is one thing, and I don't mind it at all and I think people should be educated. But I don't think a song should be commandeered for a cause in such a forceful way.
Am I making any sense? Did anyone else feel Streets was lessened in power in its new, Africa-specific context? It took away the personal meanings the song had for me (at least during the 5 minutes it was playing) - am I alone in this?
-Miggy