Edgette said:
Well, rare for me at any rate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx1N1o0Kep8
Does anyone have any information about this one?
This performance happened on 31st January 1993, inbetween the ZOO TV days. The US-leg 'Outside Boradcast' had been shut down two months ago – and U2 were concentrating on their forthcoming European leg to start in Rotterdam in early May.
In these days – as unfortunately today – political radicalism and rassism on the street were big issues. So a "Festival against racism" took place in one of Germany's most prestigous locations: the 'Thalia Theater' in Hamburg. On the 2nd night of this 'get together' Bono & The Edge performed – supported by a local drummer and the amous violinist Jo Shankar.
As you can see in the TV broadcast everything was very spontaneous at least for U2's megalomaniac measures: no big stage, a hop on/off the stage for the various performers/speakers (also Bono was invited for a speech the day before), sound problems (the guitar 'blow' at the beginning was rather funny).
But more important: It was a statement then – and still is today. Bono with his Fly-shades & Edge showed that under the surface of media overload and irony, there still was the sincere side of U2 – a hint for what was to come with the Macphisto persona and political European shows openly directed against growing neo-nacism, racism and violence. So, for all of you, who might get 'bored' with Bono talking about political and social issues today – you might forget, that this has always been part of U2, deeply rooted in the soul of the band & their performances.
As now, then I actually was very enthusiastic about the stripped down performance of "One". The violin gave it a kind elegic, mourning atmosphere fitting perfectly the sometimes cruel meaning of the lyrics, underlining the meldoy of sorrow and the festival's issue. Still I wish, U2 would play with "One"' – a song they obviously "have" to play to their audiences in concerts – and its live arrangement, like they tried then. And I remember, I really did hope for an acoustic version switched with the electric version and for a changing slot in the rather staple ZOO TV setlist. I guess such a version on the B-stage must have nailed it ...
And: The band enjoyed this musica experiment so much, that Jo Shankar made another appearance on a U2 stage in '93: During the spectacular Wembley shows he joined the band during the song, U2 played after the shocking satellite link with the sieged Sarajewo – "Bad", one of the tune's legendary performances.
they hurt my fricking ears..
