jick
Refugee
Many in this forum have blasted U2 for miming their TOTP and CD UK performances. But even their live performances leave a little bit to be desired. They are basically live "mimes".
I've listened to the mp3s from BBC, SNL, J.Ross and the New York show. The conclusion that can be gathered is that U2 were basically trying to reproduce note-for-note the songs as they appeared in the album (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) but they failed to add extended jams, extra verses, new parts, snippets of other songs, or other things that U2 have patented through the years.
Back in the past, U2 tranformed their 5 minute studio song called Bad into a 10 minute epic. Where The Streets Have No Name was added a few "ohhs". Sunday Bloody Sunday had the extended reprise at the end. With Or Without You and One had the extra new verses at the end. Even as far as Walk On, we had the hallelujah's to end the song which made it sort of a U2 mini-epic. How can we forget "40" being the extended closer? I Still Haven't Found had snippets of Exodus during the JT Tour and then turned into Stand By Me during Zoo TV. Velvet Dress was transformed into something simple but better during POPMart. Even the live versions of Gone and Discotheque were made more interesting.
But starting with the ATYCLB promo tour, it seems U2 have lost their touch for spontaneity and flexibility. During that tour, their predominantly played songs were Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment, Elevation, and New York. And their versions during the promo tour didn't differ much from the Elevation Tour and they were basically the same as the album. Now with the Bomb promo tour, U2 seems to have no flexibility - playing Vertigo, Sometimes You Can't Make It, Miracle Drug, and All Because Of You similar in arrangement, length and mix as the album versions. Sure the guitar tones may be different (it is mroe metallic and sharper for the live versions of SYCMIOYO as compared to the warmer softer rounder tone of its counterpart studio version) but the notes still remain the same.
It also seems that all the songs off HTDAAB have real endings (no fadeouts). Perhaps U2 intentionally did this so that they will just be able to emulate the album versions. Its sad to know that U2 seems to be losing a little bit of their live looseness and spontaneity with the past few tours. I think it all really started with Zoo TV when the multimedia extravaganza had to be timed with the videos so U2 had to play their songs a certain way so that their concerts will last for the exact same length. If you look at pre-Zoo TV, U2 had much more flexibility live. And from the looks of their current live performances, it seems U2 have even lost more flexibility. It is such a pity when you consider that U2 are supposed to be the best live band.
Cheers,
J
I've listened to the mp3s from BBC, SNL, J.Ross and the New York show. The conclusion that can be gathered is that U2 were basically trying to reproduce note-for-note the songs as they appeared in the album (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) but they failed to add extended jams, extra verses, new parts, snippets of other songs, or other things that U2 have patented through the years.
Back in the past, U2 tranformed their 5 minute studio song called Bad into a 10 minute epic. Where The Streets Have No Name was added a few "ohhs". Sunday Bloody Sunday had the extended reprise at the end. With Or Without You and One had the extra new verses at the end. Even as far as Walk On, we had the hallelujah's to end the song which made it sort of a U2 mini-epic. How can we forget "40" being the extended closer? I Still Haven't Found had snippets of Exodus during the JT Tour and then turned into Stand By Me during Zoo TV. Velvet Dress was transformed into something simple but better during POPMart. Even the live versions of Gone and Discotheque were made more interesting.
But starting with the ATYCLB promo tour, it seems U2 have lost their touch for spontaneity and flexibility. During that tour, their predominantly played songs were Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment, Elevation, and New York. And their versions during the promo tour didn't differ much from the Elevation Tour and they were basically the same as the album. Now with the Bomb promo tour, U2 seems to have no flexibility - playing Vertigo, Sometimes You Can't Make It, Miracle Drug, and All Because Of You similar in arrangement, length and mix as the album versions. Sure the guitar tones may be different (it is mroe metallic and sharper for the live versions of SYCMIOYO as compared to the warmer softer rounder tone of its counterpart studio version) but the notes still remain the same.
It also seems that all the songs off HTDAAB have real endings (no fadeouts). Perhaps U2 intentionally did this so that they will just be able to emulate the album versions. Its sad to know that U2 seems to be losing a little bit of their live looseness and spontaneity with the past few tours. I think it all really started with Zoo TV when the multimedia extravaganza had to be timed with the videos so U2 had to play their songs a certain way so that their concerts will last for the exact same length. If you look at pre-Zoo TV, U2 had much more flexibility live. And from the looks of their current live performances, it seems U2 have even lost more flexibility. It is such a pity when you consider that U2 are supposed to be the best live band.
Cheers,
J