dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
Just some U2 touring stats for those worried about setlist diversity:
Shows so far on 360: 86
Number of different songs played: 59
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 12
Shows on Vertigo: 132
Number of different songs played: 60
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 11
Shows on Elevation: 113
Number of Different songs played: 51
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 10
Shows on Popmart: 93
Number of different songs played: 55
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 18
Shows on ZooTV/Zooropa/Zoomerang: 158
Number of different songs played: 54
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 13
Conclusions:
While the earlier tours are at a disadvantage, having fewer songs to draw from in the back catalogue, there is still a substantial drawing area U2 can select songs from for ZooTV and later. Diversity of songs is pretty consistent, noting though that at this point 360 is the shortest by 7 shows, and has the 2nd highest diversity rating, 1 behind Vertigo (which played 46 more shows).
Stagnation-wise 360 rates highly as well, with Popmart the big loser. No fewer than 18 songs were played at 95% of shows or more. That is over 80% of a typical setlist length. 360 has 12 songs played at 95% of shows or more, roughly 50% of the average setlist length. Vertigo, with 11, is just under 50% of the average setlist length, and Elevation with 10 is approx 50%. ZooTV with 13 is sitting around 56%.
All this adds up to 360 being U2’s most diverse and least stagnant tour. Given that only 86 shows have been played (just over half ZooTV’s total), and already 5 more unique songs have been played. ZooTV also had the added bonus of a second album released during the tour boosting its numbers.
This doesn’t take away from the fact that setlist selection has at times been poor on 360. Persistence with songs such as In A Little While have meant that some feel the setlists have become stale.
However, the over-arching point to be made here is: 360 is poised to become U2’s most diverse tour ever IE, most unique songs played during the tour. It also has a very good rating in terms of stagnation, as only 12 songs have been played at 95% of shows or more. 360 still has 25 shows to go and if any of these 12 is dropped, or songs such as 40, Bullet the Blue Sky, or any number of realistic surprises shows up, these figures will only improve.
The point I am making is this:
Those pining for the old days of Popmart and ZooTV that complain that “U2 are playing In a Little While again” or “I wish they’d drop With or Without You” or “this tour is so stale, the set lists are boring” should consider these numbers. They should also consider that this tour has given us songs like The Unforgettable Fire, Your Blue Room, Zooropa, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Return of the Stingray Guitar, North Star, Glastonbury, Every Breaking Wave, Mercy, A Boy Falls From The Sky, Spanish Eyes, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, Scarlet, MLK, Mother’s of the Disappeared, Electrical Storm, One Tree Hill, Love Rescue Me and some cool covers like Das Model, The Auld Triangle, Yigidim Aslanim Burda Yatiyor, Solo Le Pido A Dios and She’s the One.
All I’m saying is, maybe things aren’t so bad?
Shows so far on 360: 86
Number of different songs played: 59
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 12
Shows on Vertigo: 132
Number of different songs played: 60
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 11
Shows on Elevation: 113
Number of Different songs played: 51
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 10
Shows on Popmart: 93
Number of different songs played: 55
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 18
Shows on ZooTV/Zooropa/Zoomerang: 158
Number of different songs played: 54
Number of songs missing less than 5% of shows: 13
Conclusions:
While the earlier tours are at a disadvantage, having fewer songs to draw from in the back catalogue, there is still a substantial drawing area U2 can select songs from for ZooTV and later. Diversity of songs is pretty consistent, noting though that at this point 360 is the shortest by 7 shows, and has the 2nd highest diversity rating, 1 behind Vertigo (which played 46 more shows).
Stagnation-wise 360 rates highly as well, with Popmart the big loser. No fewer than 18 songs were played at 95% of shows or more. That is over 80% of a typical setlist length. 360 has 12 songs played at 95% of shows or more, roughly 50% of the average setlist length. Vertigo, with 11, is just under 50% of the average setlist length, and Elevation with 10 is approx 50%. ZooTV with 13 is sitting around 56%.
All this adds up to 360 being U2’s most diverse and least stagnant tour. Given that only 86 shows have been played (just over half ZooTV’s total), and already 5 more unique songs have been played. ZooTV also had the added bonus of a second album released during the tour boosting its numbers.
This doesn’t take away from the fact that setlist selection has at times been poor on 360. Persistence with songs such as In A Little While have meant that some feel the setlists have become stale.
However, the over-arching point to be made here is: 360 is poised to become U2’s most diverse tour ever IE, most unique songs played during the tour. It also has a very good rating in terms of stagnation, as only 12 songs have been played at 95% of shows or more. 360 still has 25 shows to go and if any of these 12 is dropped, or songs such as 40, Bullet the Blue Sky, or any number of realistic surprises shows up, these figures will only improve.
The point I am making is this:
Those pining for the old days of Popmart and ZooTV that complain that “U2 are playing In a Little While again” or “I wish they’d drop With or Without You” or “this tour is so stale, the set lists are boring” should consider these numbers. They should also consider that this tour has given us songs like The Unforgettable Fire, Your Blue Room, Zooropa, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Return of the Stingray Guitar, North Star, Glastonbury, Every Breaking Wave, Mercy, A Boy Falls From The Sky, Spanish Eyes, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, Scarlet, MLK, Mother’s of the Disappeared, Electrical Storm, One Tree Hill, Love Rescue Me and some cool covers like Das Model, The Auld Triangle, Yigidim Aslanim Burda Yatiyor, Solo Le Pido A Dios and She’s the One.
All I’m saying is, maybe things aren’t so bad?