In the last round, Wire barely avoided tying with Promenade. The latter was eliminated while the former moved on. We now move to the final round for The Unforgettable Fire. Five songs remain competing for four slots in quarterfinals. You have 24 hours to vote for your least favorite song, the next song to be kicked out of this contest. For anyone just joining us, rules may be found here.
Best Song Survivor: The Unforgettable Fire Round Six
- Thread starter digitize
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The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
the tourist
Blue Crack Addict
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Well this is probably the easiest decision of the entire game so far.
corianderstem
Blue Crack Distributor
I really don't know how to vote with Bad. I guess I'll vote for it now based on the studio version, but honestly, but no one but me cares how I'm determining what to vote for.
(Or at least no one SHOULD care what I'm voting for. So do not comment on this comment, because otherwise I will shame you for caring about why I vote the way I do.
)
(Or at least no one SHOULD care what I'm voting for. So do not comment on this comment, because otherwise I will shame you for caring about why I vote the way I do.
)
LadySpinHead
Refugee
Ah- so all of my flip-flopping gyrations to save Promenade meant nothing in the end. That'll teach me.
Pride.
Pride.
BlueSilkenSky
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
Wire, I think. I was tempted to vote for Pride but knew that would get nowhere.
iron yuppie
ONE love, blood, life
For all the talk of this album being consistently brilliant etc, almost every round has been completely lopsided. It's suggesting to me that the forum actually sees it as a highly uneven album.
intedomine
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
Looks like I will go through this whole album voting for the same song. Wire again.
Super Yo
New Yorker
Pride
prbiker15
Blue Crack Addict
I love Wire, but it has to go. 
djerdap
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
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Hardest for me.
Obviously I'm not going to touch ASOH, the best studio recording in U2's career. Nor am I going anywhere near a vote for UF or Bad. I don't agree with some people on this forum that the studio version of Bad is weak; when I first got into U2 at age eleven with the Best of 1980-1990, it was Bad and Pride that stuck out to me most as favourites. I've always loved the studio version, and then the live versions are just incredible - in terms of its entire performance career, I think Bad rather than Streets is the quintessential example of live U2.
So that leaves me with Pride or Wire. I prefer Pride in studio to Wire, but Pride's live versions, with only rare exceptions, have been mediocre and completely lacking the magic of the studio version. Wire, on the other hand, gained even more visceral energy live. I find myself at something of a stalemate. I'm tempted to abstain.
bonocomet
Blue Crack Distributor
Love love love Wire. That said, Wire. 
dazzledbylight
Blue Crack Supplier
speak for yourself
*dons brickbat-proof suit of armour & helmet*
Bad
it's never been a heavy hitter for me
An Cat Gav
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
Agreed. I don't think I've ever heard a particularly convincing live version of Pride, but the studio version is peerless, one of the best songs they ever put on wax and probably their most important single.
Sorry Wire, you're great, but the others are U2's top 10 material.
I remember the 31 August 1984, Wellington version of Pride as being equal to the studio version ... I think there might be a few other 1984 versions that are pretty good too.
I'm inclined towards voting off Pride just due to its consistently poor live showing - and the fact U2 keep trotting it out when they have plenty of other warhorse crowd pleasers they could play that sound better live. Though looks like it doesn't matter really; the outcome's clear. I'm inclined to agree with djerdap's assessment that this is a consistently great album that nonetheless has a well-defined hierarchy on EYKIW.
I'm inclined towards voting off Pride just due to its consistently poor live showing - and the fact U2 keep trotting it out when they have plenty of other warhorse crowd pleasers they could play that sound better live. Though looks like it doesn't matter really; the outcome's clear. I'm inclined to agree with djerdap's assessment that this is a consistently great album that nonetheless has a well-defined hierarchy on EYKIW.
liamcool
Blue Crack Addict
I can't not vote Pride.
Also, the demo version of Wire that's dancing around is unfuckingbelievable, go check it out.
Also, the demo version of Wire that's dancing around is unfuckingbelievable, go check it out.
Galeongirl
Galeonbroad
Yeah uhm Wire. Pretty damn easy.
gvox
Ghost of Love
Ok this is a tad bit misleading...I mean, I agree that Wire gained energy live. It was great.
And yes, Pride has had some less than stellar live moments.
But - and it's a pretty big but - the total times Pride has been amazing, even if you only think it was rarely, is more times than Wire has even ever been played live!
So when you take that and then couple that with the indisputable fact that is studio Pride > studio Wire...
The decision is fairly straightforward.
gvox
Ghost of Love
If the same people who voted off 11 Oclock Tick Tock did so because the live greatness of it doesn't save (in their mind), the studio mediocreness of it...how can the live mediocreness of some instances of Pride overshadow the sheer freaking awesomeness of the album version?
This makes no sense to me.
This makes no sense to me.
djerdap
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
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What matters is when you think of a song, what version (or versions) come into mind first, which ones you listen to the most and therefore which ones you hold as favorites. It can be the studio version, a specific live version, or live versions in general. It's a positive way of thinking if you will, which is quite weird for this place I know.
gvox
Ghost of Love
Noooo! Let's fight!
Cactus Annie
Refugee
I've put Wire. Those other 4 tracks shouldn't be in these poll.
AndrewCowley
Refugee
The only good live versions of Pride are those from November and December 1984. I generally adore those shows, but Pride was definately at its like peak then.
cobl04
45:33
People always whinge on this forum as if U2 are playing Red Light when they play Pride. Sure it isn't as good as the studio version but I've heard it live four times and loved it all four times.
GirlsAloudFan
Blue Crack Addict
Wire is so fucking badass.
But - and it's a pretty big but - the total times Pride has been amazing, even if you only think it was rarely, is more times than Wire has even ever been played live!
What on earth are you talking about?
Wire was played eighty times. I'm pretty sure I've heard the vast majority of them. Never a dud, and the ones with the Gimme Some Truth snippet are particularly noteworthy.
I can name ONE amazing live Pride. I'm pretty sure I used to rattle off a couple of other rare examples (when I actually listened to bootlegs much), but I never had more than I could count on one hand.
Wire's 80 flogs the shit out of Pride's 1-5.
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