My "please give those tunes a rest" Top 10
(in chronological order):
1. I Will Follow
(Though played fine in 2001 & 2005/06 – it is one of the real staples in U2's tours from the very early days: It should be played, but only occasionally and make room for another early tune on that spot)
2. Sunday Bloody Sunday
(Though played fine in 2001 & 2005/06 – its hasn't been missed so much in '89/'90 or the first '97 legs. Then there were also great U2 shows possible without this old war-horse, that – let us face it – has become more and more the "we shout the chorus out and drink our beer" mass pleaser than the protest song, this tune is. The message is somewhat lost in the process. If U2 give it a rest, they might find another approach to it, playing it again after the next tour – but doing the tune more justice then instead of only being one of the 'Greatest Hits', they "have" to play. Because Sunday is one of their best songs, too, and shouldn't be perfunctory ...)
3. New Year's Day
(Hm, could be a great one when played with speed & sould as on Vertigo's spectacular 5th leg in Melbourne, but it could also be switched with other "Greatest Hits". It shouldn't be a "have to" song, too).
4. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
(Without a doubt a masterpiece, a rocker, one of the all time classics guitar riffs – but, but: U2 haven't done this song any justice during the last tours. I've listened to a few versions, that nailed it the way it has been long ago. On the other hand, there was the idea to use it as a kind of cut short element for medley-kind of parts in the show. I do hate these truncated versions of '97/'98 and in 2005/06 – there are no final chorusses, not the building up of the whole band with audience on the last monumental notes. Either play it hard, fast paced and complete – and switch it with, let's say NYD – from night to night, or it has to go ...)
5. With Or Without You (Yes, folks!)
(Although there were some noticable versions on the last tour – just listen to Melbourne I – this tune has had the saddest evolution in U2's live circus. Being a sonic revolution with lyrics, sung from the heart, about despair, bitterness and addiction – it has lost it's complete coda and ending with the "Shine Like Stars" or "Love Will Tear Us Apart" improvisations and the important subtle acoustic guitar, played by Bono, somewhere during the ZOO TV days. Then it became an only sing along mass pleaser, a show element, the part where you have ladies in your arm instead of giving the bittersweet tune all, that is in there. Throw this now only perfunctory persiflage out . It's enough to let the crowd belt out "All I Want Is You - ouh" – one of these is enough ...)
6. Bullet The Blue Sky
(With Bono having become less and less the aggressive stage accuser, and more and more the "friend" of the powerful this once breath taking "shout at the world" (from '87 until the top of '93) is now cut short, has nearly lost its fire. Just stop it now – because this tune is about El Salvador, is about aggressors, is about violence, about hate Either name the guilty ones, or leave it. "Bullet" is not about multi-perspective looks on presidents or war, it is about a position. Bono now doesn't stand for this "black or white" attitude anymore. Fine, but then leave this "black or white" prayer out of the setlists ...)
7. Until The End Of The World
(Listen to a '92 version, to the somewhat lamer '97 versions, to the much worse version in '01 and to the low-points of 2005/06. Bono is speaking the lyrics, not having the rhyme anymore, when once he was shouthing this guitar-thunderstorm out, when once you were blown away by the power, now it has become an echo of former versions. Judas & Jesus – what a song, what a topic – but all we have now is bul fight imitations and nostalgia. Out!)
8. Beautiful Day
(Sadly thought to be a U2 "comeback" song and a must staple, this tune is fine – but not that fine, to re-play it night after night in the same way, the same style, with the same "spontaneous" ending. I think, this tune should be played from time to time on the tour, because it means a lot to especially younger fans. But I promise, that the intensity of a U2 show would be lost, if this tune is not played. So, it is not a must all. Why not leave it out or played sometimes, when it has been played from 2001 until today?)
9./10. Some of you might expect me to mention "Where The Streets Have No Name" and "One", but I won't do this. These are the real must-songs in the show standing for the best albums, U2 have made yet, standing for the 80ies and 90ies. Songs that mean so much for generations of U2 fans now – still creating magical atmosphere, when played live. Community songs, you might call them. Without them, U2 concerts might not be the same. But I have a slight comment: No more speeches please before "One", that last more than 2 other songs, that could be played in the same time, that Bono needs for his words. And "One" is a song, that might be played on differents spots and in other arrangements – it doesn't have to be the show's ending or in the encore. Played on spot #5 during ZOO TV was perfect ...
and AIWIY , bad and RTSS brought back. and the elctric co 
