Lets talk about the U2 set list staples.
I think a lot of them are sounding much more vital on Leg 3 than on Legs 1 and 2. It is almost making me forget how pissed I still am that they can't drop Elevation or Walk On or both.
I Will Follow: I know it wasn't played on the 1st 2 legs, but the 3 performances so far on this leg have reminded us exactly why it should have been! The Edge especially looks like a kid in a candy store playing this song, and its faster and Bono is singing it better than at any time since around 1985! I don't care if its been played 450 gazillion times in their career, if U2 are going to bring this much energy to a song, play it! Play it twice for all I care!
New Year's Day: Its been widely remarked upon here that Bono is singing this song amazingly well this leg. Refer to the voice highlights clip. I think it works better right up front in the set list, it gets the crowd fired up and into the show without resorting to moles in holes with souls! Massively popular and massively good. Plus, they don't wear out its welcome by over playing it like they did with say, Pride.
Sunday Bloody Sunday: Continues its awesome run from 2009 into 2010! Elevation and Vertigo are nursing home tribute band versions compared to the 360 fired up version. Larry especially is killing this song on the drums.
Still Haven't Found: I think it sounds even better than 2009, when I thought it sounded the best since Lovetown. Instead of being the speak/sing along and play lazy moment, U2 are actually putting some energy and passion behind this song again. Once again, it has that "Gospel tune with a restless spirit" feel that Bono first described in 1987.
Streets: Continues a solid 2009 run, maybe a bit better now owing to Bono.
With or Without You: Wow! It actually sounds like Bono decided to sing this song again instead of mumbling it out as an afterthought between Ultraviolet and MOS. The highs and lows are in the right place. It is sounding closer to the album version these days. Drastic improvement over everything since Zoo TV.
Mysterious Ways: Yes, I want the slide solo back as much as anyone, and there is a lot left to be desired here. I will never understand what possessed Larry to neuter this song single handedly on 360. However, it seems to be much tighter and pack a punch that it didn't have last year.
One: Honestly don't know. Would love some help here. I think it depends on the night. The closest thing I can develop to a pattern is these days, Bono doesn't seem to care about singing this song until it gets toward the end, then he lets loose and belts it out like he did on Zoo TV-Elevation. Boston 9/20/09 is a good example, I was at that show. I was pretty bored for the 1st part of the song, eagerly awaiting Streets, then seemingly out of nowhere, "you ask me to enter but then you made me crawl" comes out like he's trying, then the Edge's guitar and Bono's vocals kick it into high gear! Now I'm interested, and after the outro, Bono's winding up to do "hear us coming" which he does perfectly. My overall impression- "shit, that must have been the best version I've seen since Zoo TV!" Go to the boot and listen to the 1st couple minutes...not so much.
Until The End Of The World: Leg 1 OK. Leg 2. Better. Leg 3. Much, much better. Like NYD, this song always finds a way to be good, but it just seems that much better on Leg 3 of 360.
I left out City, Vertigo and Beautiful Day because we discuss them elsewhere all the time. Ditto with the newer 360 staples from NLOTH.
There just seems to be a vitality to the show that wasn't there in 2009. The set lists, IMHO, have improved a bit overall, though there are certainly some things I wouldn't have done. Like maybe dropping TUF......
I will defend U2's "greatest hits" in places like Moscow, Istanbul and Athens until I die. Zurich showed, just as I and most others expected, that it would be back to rarer stuff and brand new songs as soon as they returned to familiar territory. Hell, Zurich 2 went without NYD, Pride and WOWY!
So anyways, comments on performances of the staples would be appreciated!
Or if you are like me and feel that there is a different energy/vitality to this leg but can't quite explain it, lets hear your thoughts as well!
Thanks everyone!
I think a lot of them are sounding much more vital on Leg 3 than on Legs 1 and 2. It is almost making me forget how pissed I still am that they can't drop Elevation or Walk On or both.
I Will Follow: I know it wasn't played on the 1st 2 legs, but the 3 performances so far on this leg have reminded us exactly why it should have been! The Edge especially looks like a kid in a candy store playing this song, and its faster and Bono is singing it better than at any time since around 1985! I don't care if its been played 450 gazillion times in their career, if U2 are going to bring this much energy to a song, play it! Play it twice for all I care!
New Year's Day: Its been widely remarked upon here that Bono is singing this song amazingly well this leg. Refer to the voice highlights clip. I think it works better right up front in the set list, it gets the crowd fired up and into the show without resorting to moles in holes with souls! Massively popular and massively good. Plus, they don't wear out its welcome by over playing it like they did with say, Pride.
Sunday Bloody Sunday: Continues its awesome run from 2009 into 2010! Elevation and Vertigo are nursing home tribute band versions compared to the 360 fired up version. Larry especially is killing this song on the drums.
Still Haven't Found: I think it sounds even better than 2009, when I thought it sounded the best since Lovetown. Instead of being the speak/sing along and play lazy moment, U2 are actually putting some energy and passion behind this song again. Once again, it has that "Gospel tune with a restless spirit" feel that Bono first described in 1987.
Streets: Continues a solid 2009 run, maybe a bit better now owing to Bono.
With or Without You: Wow! It actually sounds like Bono decided to sing this song again instead of mumbling it out as an afterthought between Ultraviolet and MOS. The highs and lows are in the right place. It is sounding closer to the album version these days. Drastic improvement over everything since Zoo TV.
Mysterious Ways: Yes, I want the slide solo back as much as anyone, and there is a lot left to be desired here. I will never understand what possessed Larry to neuter this song single handedly on 360. However, it seems to be much tighter and pack a punch that it didn't have last year.
One: Honestly don't know. Would love some help here. I think it depends on the night. The closest thing I can develop to a pattern is these days, Bono doesn't seem to care about singing this song until it gets toward the end, then he lets loose and belts it out like he did on Zoo TV-Elevation. Boston 9/20/09 is a good example, I was at that show. I was pretty bored for the 1st part of the song, eagerly awaiting Streets, then seemingly out of nowhere, "you ask me to enter but then you made me crawl" comes out like he's trying, then the Edge's guitar and Bono's vocals kick it into high gear! Now I'm interested, and after the outro, Bono's winding up to do "hear us coming" which he does perfectly. My overall impression- "shit, that must have been the best version I've seen since Zoo TV!" Go to the boot and listen to the 1st couple minutes...not so much.
Until The End Of The World: Leg 1 OK. Leg 2. Better. Leg 3. Much, much better. Like NYD, this song always finds a way to be good, but it just seems that much better on Leg 3 of 360.
I left out City, Vertigo and Beautiful Day because we discuss them elsewhere all the time. Ditto with the newer 360 staples from NLOTH.
There just seems to be a vitality to the show that wasn't there in 2009. The set lists, IMHO, have improved a bit overall, though there are certainly some things I wouldn't have done. Like maybe dropping TUF......
I will defend U2's "greatest hits" in places like Moscow, Istanbul and Athens until I die. Zurich showed, just as I and most others expected, that it would be back to rarer stuff and brand new songs as soon as they returned to familiar territory. Hell, Zurich 2 went without NYD, Pride and WOWY!
So anyways, comments on performances of the staples would be appreciated!
Or if you are like me and feel that there is a different energy/vitality to this leg but can't quite explain it, lets hear your thoughts as well!
Thanks everyone!
