Not impressed by the set-list!

[No spoken words]

I think opening with a non-new album track pretty much says you aren't promoting the album and that it's a greatest hits tour...

Depends on the artist. As was mentioned, Bruce is/has been doing this, and he's still clearly supporting his new album.

 

[BVS]

Depends on the artist. As was mentioned, Bruce is/has been doing this, and he's still clearly supporting his new album.

Someone mentioned in another thread that some nights he's playing as little as 2 songs from the new album, I wouldn't say that's supporting the new album.

 

[No spoken words]

Someone mentioned in another thread that some nights he's playing as little as 2 songs from the new album, I wouldn't say that's supporting the new album.

Not at the show I was at, and, in general, I have seen many bands out supporting new albums that open with classic songs of theirs, so I disagree with your statement beyond the Bruce example. I guess it's just a perception thing, and that's subjective.

 

[BVS]

I have seen many bands out supporting new albums that open with classic songs of theirs,

I've seen a few, PJ for example during the Binaural tour, and it just seemed like low confidence in their new album.

 

[No spoken words]

I've seen a few, PJ for example during the Binaural tour, and it just seemed like low confidence in their new album.

Yeah, I hear you, I guess I just don't view that way, especially if they end up playing a bunch of new songs later on. I'm sure there must be cases where that is true, though, where they maybe do lack confidence in the material. I think we can easily forget that musicians are human, too, and thus can suffer from a crisis of confidence, etc.

 

[BVS]

Yeah, I hear you, I guess I just don't view that way, especially if they end up playing a bunch of new songs later on. I'm sure there must be cases where that is true, though, where they maybe do lack confidence in the material. I think we can easily forget that musicians are human, too, and thus can suffer from a crisis of confidence, etc.

True

Which I have to say that I'm pleasantly suprised by U2's playing the songs off of NLOTH that they are... I didn't expect MOS, though it's my favorite I would have thought they might get scared and not play it. I'm shocked(in a good way) they aren't playing SUC, and I pretty much doubted they would even touch Cedars, WAS, or FEZ.

So s to U2.

 

[Blue Room]

I really think you're having a hard time understand my posts as of late. There was no analogy. It's just the most ZooTV like in the sense that it starts off with a very brave amount of the new album. That's it.



Little bit revisionist don't you think? Do you remember that tour? There was a lot stink raised for U2 opening their sets with so many off the new album, there were a lot of 80's vs 90's fans upset that SBS and NYD were dropped that's why they came back once they made it into stadiums. AB was popular but it was not an instantly popular album and it very much divided their diehard audience.

Not really, I saw 8 Zoo shows. U2 were IT that year, Achtung Baby was one of the top albums that year. There was no doubt about it. The tour is a big deal this time, the album is not. I think you are being revisionist. MTV asked them why they started with so many from the new album and Bono said they felt like it. Then said we may lose the "pop" kids but we dont need them. THAT line is what created controversy. I dont remember any outcry about it amongst the fans at the time at all about them playing so much off Achtung. Most of the outcry was that U2 soldout by doing such a large production from what I experienced.

Here is another big difference. The pacing with the Achtung songs opening worked and worked very well. Not this tour.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

This makes me laugh and laugh and laugh:

The perfect U2 playlist - Features, Day and Night - Independent.ie

 

[Blue Room]

I think opening with a non-new album track pretty much says you aren't promoting the album and that it's a greatest hits tour...

I dont think so at all. As long as they play 5 or 6 songs off the album I don't think you need to open with a new song. I guess U2 didn't think the War album, Unf. Fire album and Joshua Tree albums were very strong then by your criteria. War opened with a non war track at every show. Unf. Opened with 11 O'Clock Tick Tock, and even some Joshua Tree shows opened with Stand By Me followed by Cmon Everybody and I Will Follow before they got to the new material.

 

[Bruce]

Someone mentioned in another thread that some nights he's playing as little as 2 songs from the new album, I wouldn't say that's supporting the new album.

He's playing 4 at most 5 songs from the new album which considering he's playing 26 to 30 songs per night is not alot. Songs from Magic except for Radio Nowhere are basically non-existent as well.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

He's playing 4 at most 5 songs from the new album which considering he's playing 26 to 30 songs per night is not alot. Songs from Magic except for Radio Nowhere are basically non-existent as well.

do they bitch and moan about that on his forum?

 

[Bruce]

Not to keep bringing it all back to "why can't they be like Springsteen," he usually opens shows with a classic as well, and makes that opening spot a rotating one. I think it's pretty great.

So I don't think that would be the worst idea in the world for U2 to try it.

Theres probably not a bigger Springsteen fan on this board than me but he's been opening his current tour mainly with "Badlands" which really is a setlist closer and not an opener. It's been working but not having the effect other songs that he's used to open shows with.

 

[Bruce]

do they bitch and moan about that on his forum?

I belong to Greasy Lake and it's divided because there are alot of people who really dont like his new material especially WOAD and are content with the old stuff.

 

[BVS]

Not really, I saw 8 Zoo shows. U2 were IT that year, Achtung Baby was one of the top albums that year. There was no doubt about it. The tour is a big deal this time, the album is not. I think you are being revisionist. MTV asked them why they started with so many from the new album and Bono said they felt like it. Then said we may lose the "pop" kids but we dont need them. THAT line is what created controversy. I dont remember any outcry about it amongst the fans at the time at all about them playing so much off Achtung. Most of the outcry was that U2 soldout by doing such a large production from what I experienced.

Here is another big difference. The pacing with the Achtung songs opening worked and worked very well. Not this tour.

Well I do remember an outcry amongst fans one of the reasons why every review made such a big deal about it, and if there were any thoughts they were going to lose the "pop" kids then obviously there was concern about this. Who do you think the pop kids were? They were the one that started liking U2 on the JT bandwagon. I mean of course he tried to act cool about it, but once they hit stadiums they went to pulling out SBS and NYD. So yes you're being revisionist if you thought that everyone automatically loved AB when it came out and that U2 were so confident that they didn't care. There are even die hard fans in here that still don't like AB. I can't believe you don't remember how much that album divided their base.

And whether it "worked" better or not is all subjective.

I dont think so at all. As long as they play 5 or 6 songs off the album I don't think you need to open with a new song. I guess U2 didn't think the War album, Unf. Fire album and Joshua Tree albums were very strong then by your criteria. War opened with a non war track at every show. Unf. Opened with 11 O'Clock Tick Tock, and even some Joshua Tree shows opened with Stand By Me followed by Cmon Everybody and I Will Follow before they got to the new material.

Yeah I do think U2 were still very insecure during War and UF they still hadn't actually MADE IT in America. As for the JT tour I have no clue why they would ever start with a cover one of the dumbest moves they ever did.

 

[Salome]

The pacing with the Achtung songs opening worked and worked very well. Not this tour.

I agree with you that Breathe isn't 1 of their better openers
but otherwise there's nothing wrong with starting the show with 4 No line songs
the crowd really seams to like the song No line and IMO both Magnificent and Boots get a very good reception

personally I kind of wished they had spread the Achtung songs a bit more over the ZOO TV shows
but then again they didn't mix with any of the other songs so they didn't have much of a choice

 

[BVS]

This makes me laugh and laugh and laugh:

The perfect U2 playlist - Features, Day and Night - Independent.ie

It seems like everyone is forgetting what album 'One' is from...

 

[Blue Room]

I agree with you that Breathe isn't 1 of their better openers
but otherwise there's nothing wrong with starting the show with 4 No line songs
the crowd really seams to like the song No line and IMO both Magnificent and Boots get a very good reception

I dont have a problem with it either, I was just responding to argument made in another post. As is pretty clear from my prior posts, my problem with the setlist is the opening song. Thats about it. I think it just kills the pacing right off the bat. I like their song choices for the most part on this tour otherwise. I even like Breathe live, just not to open. I just think they need to tweak it a bit more and use a different opening song. Hopefully the tweaking will continue. Looks like Breathe opening is here to stay though unfortunately.

 

[Bruce]

Well I do remember an outcry amongst fans one of the reasons why every review made such a big deal about it, and if there were any thoughts they were going to lose the "pop" kids then obviously there was concern about this. Who do you think the pop kids were? They were the one that started liking U2 on the JT bandwagon. I mean of course he tried to act cool about it, but once they hit stadiums they went to pulling out SBS and NYD. So yes you're being revisionist if you thought that everyone automatically loved AB when it came out and that U2 were so confident that they didn't care. There are even die hard fans in here that still don't like AB. I can't believe you don't remember how much that album divided their base.

And whether it "worked" better or not is all subjective

I dont know if alot of people can appreciate the abuse that the media gave Rattle and Hum. They couldnt keep going in the same direction at that time. Achtung baby in my opinion was the perfect answer. In my opinion for the most part it worked.

 

[Blue Room]

Well I do remember an outcry amongst fans one of the reasons why every review made such a big deal about it, and if there were any thoughts they were going to lose the "pop" kids then obviously there was concern about this. Who do you think the pop kids were? They were the one that started liking U2 on the JT bandwagon. I mean of course he tried to act cool about it, but once they hit stadiums they went to pulling out SBS and NYD. So yes you're being revisionist if you thought that everyone automatically loved AB when it came out and that U2 were so confident that they didn't care. There are even die hard fans in here that still don't like AB. I can't believe you don't remember how much that album divided their base.

And whether it "worked" better or not is all subjective.

I do remember, you clearly don't remember what the ticket demand was like for that tour. EVERYBODY wanted to see them live and Achtung was one of the top sellers that year. Yeah they lost some JT fans, but they were just as popular as ever and the album was as well. Makes it easier to start off with a bunch of songs off it.

 

[Blue Room]

Yeah I do think U2 were still very insecure during War and UF they still hadn't actually MADE IT in America. As for the JT tour I have no clue why they would ever start with a cover one of the dumbest moves they ever did.

I have never heard an interview or piece of TV footage from the band ever indicating that in the slightest. So you are saying U2 were insecure when they went a completely different direction from War with Unf. Fire?? I think it qualifies more as ballsy over insecure.

Whether opening with a cover was their worst thing is also subjective as long as we are going to start throwing that term out there.

The whole thread basically is.

 

[Bruce]

I do remember, you clearly don't remember what the ticket demand was like for that tour. EVERYBODY wanted to see them live and Achtung was one of the top sellers that year. Yeah they lost some JT fans, but they were just as popular as ever and the album was as well. Makes it easier to start off with a bunch of songs off it.

Being a Penn State fan I can honestly say there was more aggravation trying to get a Zoo Tv ticket than there was losing to Michigan for 10 years in a row.

 

[Blue Room]

Being a Penn State fan I can honestly say there was more aggravation trying to get a Zoo Tv ticket than there was losing to Michigan for 10 years in a row.

Hey at least it wasn't to your arch rival like Pitt or something. We have that going on with the Buckeye's right now, it stinks!

I have been to every Michigan home game against Penn State and for the most part they are some of the classier fans I have encountered.

 

[Bruce]

Hey at least it wasn't to your arch rival like Pitt or something. We have that going on with the Buckeye's right now, it stinks!

I have been to every Michigan home game against Penn State and for the most part they are some of the classier fans I have encountered.

I've been a Penn State season ticket holder for 10 years. Well at least we got the Zoo Tv tickets. Thanks for the compliment State College is really a friendly place. Can we start a thread where U2 brings 360 to Ann Arbor and Beaver Stadium?

 

[BVS]

I do remember, you clearly don't remember what the ticket demand was like for that tour. EVERYBODY wanted to see them live and Achtung was one of the top sellers that year. Yeah they lost some JT fans, but they were just as popular as ever and the album was as well. Makes it easier to start off with a bunch of songs off it.

You're really missing my point Blue Room. Yes of course I remember the demand one of the quickest selling concerts of it's time. In fact I missed their first time around in TX because it sold out in minutes and I was on the phone getting a busy tone for an hour and a half. But that still doesn't mean that AB didn't divide their fan base, or that many of the 80's fans that were expecting more 80's tunes were very much like the 90's fans now. That's all I'm saying. I don't think it was any easier to open with AB tunes than it is NLOTH tunes both sets are going to have their ditractors and ZooTV had a lot of fans that had been with them since 1980 that felt betrayed and they were in that audience, to forget this is revisionist.

 

[jimyjazz]

Opening with four new songs isn't the problem. The problem is the predictable, static song selection and that the songs do not go with the stage at all. For a band with a catelogue as large as U2, as with as many hit singles and albums, there is no excuse for the lack of adventurousness they display.

So many people on this thread are making excuses for the setlist (venue size, ligh/video etc), or make snarky remarks about whiners (ie. people with an opinion)but no has actually said that they think it's the best that U2 can do.

 

[No spoken words]

or make snarky remarks about whiners (ie. people with an opinion)

So if you criticize the band left and right, you have an "opinion", if you praise the band you're just sheep?

You're a whiner, with an opinion.

And, of course this is not the best U2 can do. Not even close.

BUT I ENJOYED THE SHOWS ANYWAY

Baaaaah.

 

[Zoomerang96]

fuck me... elevation, stuck in a moment, walk on ALL in the same show?

that's just flat out gross. there are more songs from atyclb being played than there are in total from the 90's combined. fucking brutal.

 

[BVS]

Opening with four new songs isn't the problem. The problem is the predictable, static song selection and that the songs do not go with the stage at all. For a band with a catelogue as large as U2, as with as many hit singles and albums, there is no excuse for the lack of adventurousness they display.

So many people on this thread are making excuses for the setlist (venue size, ligh/video etc), or make snarky remarks about whiners (ie. people with an opinion)but no has actually said that they think it's the best that U2 can do.

I completly agree that the setlist hasn't yet fit the stage. I think the second night in Amsterdam got really close minus one or two songs.

I'm just tired of those that come on here and pretend that U2 haven't done static list all their career, or ignore that they've made more changes so far than PopMart, or act like static setlist effect them, they effect the small percentage that go to two or more shows...

 

[jimyjazz]

So if you criticize the band left and right, you have an "opinion", if you praise the band you're just sheep?

You're a whiner, with an opinion.

If people who have the gall to criticize the band are whiners then the rest, including you, are wannabe sycophants.

Praise when it is due (the album is really good), criticize when neccessary 9set lists are awful).

 

[monsieur fly]

fuck me... elevation, stuck in a moment, walk on ALL in the same show?

that's just flat out gross. there are more songs from atyclb being played than there are in total from the 90's combined. fucking brutal.

That says it all, I'm afraid. It's just so complacent to recycle those songs- it's the second most-heavily featured album in the show for goodness sake! Utter madness.