I initially posted on this thread to add several general "rules" that u2 incorporated would likely adhere to when making a studio album setlist:
-Won't be a double album - for commercial reasons.
-No overt swearing(fine in live gigs and buried in verses like the "fuck" on Pop and "bollocks" in AB) as several international retailers won't stock them or ask them to be changed.
-U2 carefully consider lyrics for any potential single. Check out how much they fuss over Pride running length in that studio footage from 1984.
-No overt messages about US politics about events within their own borders. I know about 87 and 92, but the "rules" on US censorship have changed drastically with radio consolidation after 1996, Columbine, Janet Jackson and 9/11. Would Bono have been the cause of a USD$500,000 FCC fine in the 90's?
-Nothing over about 7 minutes. Some live tracks go over, as does probably every complete version of BAD.
I would like to see them break some of these "rules" but I doubt it would be realistic.
As for Politics in the market place, the Dixie Chix lost about $20-25mil in touring revenue while Springsteen may lose over $40mil when comparing his 2003 numbers. This was due in part to each groups participation in the 2004 Political concerts. This has to do with some older fans that were still republicans, but also radio conglomerates blacklisting them. Bruce is still making more money than I can ever imagine, but empty seats are beginning to show up in sobering numbers.
U2 made a video about the Bush administration's response to Katrina - A year after even George himself admitted it was mess with significant blame attributed to his/Cheney's decisions.
Keep in mind that Bono has to be selective about picking his fights for reasons of "charity fatigue". He smartly doesn't want anything to take away attention from his African causes while it has his undivided non-musical focus.
Desire Lyrics: AFAIK, every version save the studio version have the "inside her" lyric. To me it was an obvious compromise for radio. The demo/rehearsal/alternate and live lyric is "inside", but "beside her" is the official lyric? Upon close listen to the studio version it actually does sound like a vocal "punch in" for those 2 words, which producers and engineers could do with relative ease.
Desire Lyrics from U218 booklet:
Lover, I'm off the streets
I'm gonna go where the bright lights
And big city meet
With a red guitar, on fire
Desire
She's the candle burnin' in my room
Yeah, I'm like a needle
The needle and spoon
Over the counter, with a shotgun
Pretty soon, everybody's got one
I'm in a fever, when I'm **side her
Desire
Desire
And the fever, gettin' higher
Desire
Desire
(burning, burning)
She's the dollars
She's my protection
yeah, she's the promise
In the year of election
Sister I can't let you go
Like a preacher stealin' hearts at a travellin' show
For the love of money, money, money..?
And the fever, gettin' higher
Desire
I love to hear anyone who thinks "beside her" fits the lyrics better than "inside her" and why. I thought the sexual overtones and reference in this song were quite blatant.
u2fp