bettydalton

Bono was determined NOT to let politics get mixed up with their ZOO TV tour back in the nineties. Ofcourse it did happen, in a very good way. U2' s manager already confirmed that he liked the idea of a remake of the ZOO TV tour, as they have done with the 2017 Joshua Tree tour as well. Adam is into the idea as well. U2 played lots of Achtung Baby songs during their European leg of their most recent tour. MacPhisto returned with a vengeance, scary to watch, but his messages are so needed in these troubling times. I have heard a lot of rumors about Bono wanting to give ZOO TV a new life, but till this day he stays a bit evasive when asked about it. The 2017 Joshua Tree Tour started out as a spur of the moment though as well. Things can happen very quickly in the world of U2. I just cant imagine Bono sitting idle at home when the US elections in 2020 are going on. 2020 would be the ideal year for a rebirth of the powerful ZOO TV tour!

I agree that at heart U2 is still burning for love and that their latest record is proof of that. Yet, they aint performing in front of millions anymore, like at Live Aid. Somehow or other I always FEEL that U2 is at their best in front of larger audiences. I LOVED the 2017 Joshua Tree Tour for that very same reason. U2 can play the largest crowds and still be intimate. I even feel U2 songs are sometimes just TOO big for a small arena, like they have played during their recent small indoor tour. I totally LOVE their intimate performances, but their message of love isnt getting noticed as well as it was back in the eighties and early nineties in front of LARGER audiences. These days are yearning for a bigger tour with a bigger audience, like the one at Live Aid or during ZOO TV. I fantasize about a remake of the ZOO TV tour in 2020, which will become a crucial year for many different reasons. U2 already played a lot of Achtung Baby songs during their recent European tour, which I was really thrilled about. Back in the nineties they first did a small indoor Achtung Baby tour as well, followed by a spectucalar arena show, which I consider to be to their very best ever. Bono really transcends himself when he turns into MacPhisto. I really get scared by the things he says when he is in that MacPhisto role. But those things need to be said in these days... Come 2020 what is U2 gonna do? Sit idle at home, writing? Or do they wanna let their message of love be heard again, as they did so wonderfully powerful during Live Aid....

Watching Live Aid, seeing Bono sing in desperation to reach millions of people, he jumps down the stage and hugs one girl drawn from the crowd. This Live Aid performance, more than any other performance by U2, captures for me the true spirit of unconditional love. U2 needs to burn for love again, needs to get in front of millions of people again to sing their message of love. Love is not hip, but love is the way forward in this world of today. Maybe I am a fool for cherishing these naive wishes, but I sincerely hope U2 will want to burn for love again.

Listening to the San Jose concert I really liked "American Soul". I already liked it before on the cd, but this is one of those songs that seems to gain a lot of strength when it's played live. Americans do seem to like it too, because it seems to be played often during football games, so I have heard. I think it is a worthy replacement of "Bullet the Blue Sky". When looking at the San Jose youtube video I could even see the U2 crew behind the computer screens swinging to "American Soul" as well. I think the use of the big American flag is a powerful symbol, more powerful than the video images. U2 is using the European flag in Germany and I guess in the rest of the European tour as well. "Let there be unity" as quoted from "American Soul", that must be the idea behind the flags right? Why not start waving white flags again? I would prefer that above looking at an european flag which only symbolises economic unity and not people's hearts and minds. Bono got critized a lot back in the eighties for waving white flags. Although it were just journalists who objected for whatever reason. I didnt hear any journalists complaining though these days and even during the Joshua Tree tour 2017 when U2 uses even bigger flags that arent white. I like to think of a white flag as THE color of innocence, as the international symbolic color of surrender or peace. Any fan will remember that scene where Bono holds that white flag. I think it is truly the most powerful symbol of peace and innocence. European Soul, American Soul, Asian Soul, African Soul, isnt true unity best symbolised by the white flag?

Manohlive I have heard an amazing live version of Bad during the "Love comes to Town" tour in january 1990 in Holland. That concert became the final concert of that tour (rescheduled due to voice problems, yes again) and Bono blasted his lungs out singing "Bad". That was one of the most powerful versions I had ever heard of that song live. Too bad I only have a bootleg recording on tape/cassette otherwise I could have posted it. Anybody remember tape casettes lol? Your 2 picks would be the Fire / Tree period Manohlive. Would be my best period too. Oh how I long back to those days!

Bono's voice has had it's ups and downs. Below you will find 2 quotes from manager Paul McGuinness and Adam Clayton on Bono's regular voice problems. But I am curious to hear from all the U2 fans which album you think features Bono's voice the best, regardless if you like that album. Just listening to Bono's voice. On which album does Bono sing the prettiest according to your personal taste? I love Bono's voice the best on "The Unforgettable Fire". I have seen the short documentary that was made at the castle where "The Unforgettable Fire" had been recorded and we can hear Bono improvise. Often called Bongolese, but how funny that term might be for the incoherent words Bono is singing, his voice during The Fire recordings was out there. Just out there... I mean I dont have the words to capture the power and beauty of Bono's voice during those Fire recordings. It just mesmirizes me. Pure soul. I truly never heard anything remotely like that. Daniel Lanois compared Bono's vocal range to an opera singer. His power and soul just burst out through his vocal cords during "The Unforgettable Fire". That voice is the best I have ever heard Bono sing. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it..... Quote out of the biography "U2 by U2" from manager Paul McGuinness during the POP MART years: "When I started managing the band, Adam and I smoked, but none of the other three did. Now they all smoke except for Adam and me. Bono came to tobacco late in life. I was an ex-smoker by then and I remember saying to him: "I cant believe you have started smoking. Arent you worried that you'll damage your voice? Bono said: That's the problem. I like what it's doing to my voice". It was giving it a rougher timbre, but it was subject to change. It was starting to come and go. Adam said: " Bono would have a few good days and then a few bad days. Sometimes his voice was there and it was great and other times it was raspy and gone for no apparent reason".

I got worried. But when I saw the youtube clip I wasnt worried anymore, because he hadnt totally lost his voice AND his voice was fine before the show. Therefore I have high hopes that he will recover soon. My thoughts go back to the start of the Joshua Tree Tour and the end of the Love Comes to Town tour, back in the eighties. In those younger days he lost his voice regularly. Maybe it was a combination of the smoke machine and a bad air conditioning system in the hall, as Bono said on stage while battling his lost voice. I think with a week' s rest at most he will be back. The shows in Berlin will probably become the final shows of the tour because they have to be rescheduled to later in the year or maybe even 2019. When my concert got cancelled in 1989 in the Ahoy in Rotterdam they came back in 1990. That was also the final concert of the tour and it was a really great gig, with lots of special songs: "anybody outthere like to take this guitar.." and Bono let a u2 fan from the audience play along with them on stage. "People get ready" was what they played. Awesome concert. Awesome voice as always. Bono undoubtedly will be back soon!

My concert got cancelled once during the "Love comes to Town" tour. That was in 1989. Bono had voice problems back then too. But he recovered quickly. Bono had serious voice problems at the start of the Joshua Tree Tour in 1987 as well. The man has been having voice problems very regularly unfortunately. Maybe it is just one night that will be cancelled. But if more shows get cancelled U2 will have to refund the money or prolong their tour into 2019 when they have to come back for the cancelled shows. When U2 cancelled it's shows in Holland in 1989 I wasnt bothered, because they came back in the new year of 1990. My concert was rather special because it came after the official Dublin New years concert, and my concert turned out to be the actual final concert. They played all sorts of songs never played before. Great gig. One of the best memories of my life. I only want to say that Bono will probably recover soon. Over the decades Bono has been up and down with his voice. Too bad though for all those fans in Berlin. And what a bummer for U2 that wanted to open their european leg with a new found spirit.

Wow. Your posts really made me happy! Goosebumps all over. Thanks for posting everybody! What a thrill. Most of these songs I had never heard before. Feels like a new U2 release for me. There are more gems out there which I havent heard of yet. I originally started this thread by asking for rare U2 studio recordings, but let's make this thread about all NOT official U2 songs (studio and live recordings) that are floating out there, scattered over so many different performances with different artists. I am interested in ANY contribution of any of U2's band members including Larry and Adam. There is one example that is one of my long time cherished favorites and that is a song for the soundtrack Captive which The Edge wrote and performed. I will try to link it below, although last time around I didntn succeed in placing a youtube link.

I would love to discover new U2 songs I hadnt heard of before. Songs that U2 or members of U2 took part in over the last decades, but which are NOT official U2 songs. U2 collaborated with numerous other artists on tribute albums over the last decades. U2 or individual U2 members also took part in several benefit projects. All these songs are out there, shattered across many different record labels, other artists works, movie soundtracks and several benefit projects. .. If there is one thing that truly makes me happy then it is the joy of discovering an old rare U2 studio or live recording I hadnt heard of yet! What is your favorite U2 song outside of the official U2 discography? It can also be an individual U2 member like The Edge or Bono, Adam or Larry who contributed to a song or made a song by themselves. As long as it is NOT listed as an official U2 recording. For example The Edge made a wonderful soundtrack record called Captive. One track on it I would love to praise some more because it isnt known very well. Bono sang on lots of albums from other artists for example. Adam played bass on some other records. And I dont know very well what Larry has done. Surprise me and all of us U2 fans! Let me start by telling you my about my choice as favorite U2 song outside the official U2 discography: "SWEET FIRE OF LOVE" "ROBBIE ROBERTSON " on the cd called "ROBBIE ROBERTSON" The year was 1987. And this cd by Robbie Robertson was released which featured 2 of my favorite artists (U2 and Peter Gabriel) and my one and only all time favorite producer Daniel Lanois. Robertson had friends that worked together with U2 and Gabriel. One thing lead to another and during the recording of the Joshua Tree album in 1986, Robbie Robertson visited Dublin during a hurricane, for which the lyrics of "Sweet Fire of Love" became the inspiration. Robertson only had one guitar riff and these "hurricane" inspired lyrics. Add U2 to the mix and this beautiful song came to life. Robertson and Bono together improvised a set of lyrics in the studio while the band played behind them, creating a 22-minute track that was edited into this powerful song called "Sweet Fire of Love". This song could easily have found a well deserved place on the Joshua Tree album. Because it has got the same strength and beauty as the other Joshua Tree songs. I always crank up the volume when I play this song "Sweet Fire of Love". I just love the power of it. Bono's voice is way out there. And so is Robertson's powerful voice. Just as a bonus I will also add the song "Testimony" by "Robbie Robertson", which is another U2 pearl on Robbie Robertson's album. Both songs are easily found on youtube. I will try to post a link later on... I am curious about what would be your choice of your favorite U2 song outside the official U2 discography. Testimony: Robbie Robertson wrote the song, but U2 played all the instruments and Bono's voice at the end is so powerful!

I keep loving all the old U2 songs BUT ONLY if they perform them in a new way. Hence I do love Sunday Bloody Sunday the way they perform it now. But Pride still sounds the same as back in the eighties. BUT if U2 can perform old songs with lots of energy and soul then I will still even like to hear Pride again. I heard Pride being played in Italy and Mexico at the Joshua Tree tour and the U2 fans went beserk with energetic crowd singing. I love that. I LOVE THAT. Therefore my bottomline for which songs to play is: ANY U2 song that is new or newly interpreted OR played with that much energy and spirit it will lift up everybody skyhigh... Achtung Baby is probably the only album of which I feel seperate songs feel like orphans when played live, "One' being the exception to this rule. I love that Achtung Baby album, second best or the best of all U2's work in my opinion. But for this tour I would like to suggest to skip all the Achtung Baby songs. They feel out of place for me personally. Hopefully U2 will consider a full tribute tour for the Achtung Baby album, like they did with the Joshua Tree. The U2 manager thinks it's a great idea...

Varunjay, could you please be so kind to provide a link to that interview? That suggestion by the manager would be my biggest wish! A celebration tour of Achtung Baby! Man oh man, that would be the ultimate thrill. I so dearly enjoyed the recent Joshua Tree tour, that I really would be thrilled to see the return of Achtung Baby. Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are my personal U2 favorites. I have already mentioned this in the ZOO TV thread on this forum, that these violent political days are perfect for a full blown big stadium ZOO TV tour. U2 was so good at that tour. Just gives me shivers of joy thinking back to those days...

The acoustic part of the ZOO TV tour on the mini stage was one of the best parts of ALL U2 live performances. Spontaneous, great crowd singing, and wonderful alternate acoustic versions. I liked it that during this recent 2018 tour they ended with a delicate song 13 (There is a Light), similar to the use of "Love is Blindness" as a finale during the ZOO TV tour. However I felt that the Achtung Baby songs during this 2018 tour fell flat without the big ZOO TV stage surroundings. I love the idea though of a return of the full ZOO TV tour like many others suggested at this forum, just like they did with the Joshua Tree tour in 2017. These violent times in world politics are the perfect period for a full blown huge Actung Baby stadium tour. Those songs need to be BIG in BIG stadiums. ZOO TV was the most powerful U2 ever have been. Edge hinted at returning to the bigger stadiums during a recent review. U2 always seems to be too big for the smaller arena's. U2 is all about crowds singing along. And at U2 live concerts I really feel bigger is better...

SOA seems streching it, for me too Manohlive. Edge recently said that they will they take a break after this tour. U2 will NOT play live in other parts of the world in 2019. That is just a fan's dream. New record in 2019, forget about it... Thinking about the future of u2, what was really unnerving to me, was seeing Bono walk on stage during this recent tour. I hadnt noticed it during the Joshua Tree tour. Has something happened since then? He really moves very carefully and restrained. I usually never read about private things of the individual band members, but for the first time I am worried about Bono's health. He really seems to lack energy during this tour. Never had that feeling about Bono before. But for the first time I really do feel Bono could be at the end of the road. He still has got the spirit. But the fysical power is definitely lacking on stage. I really would be pleased however if U2 would decide to scale down their music to more delicate acoustic performances. Songs dont have to be LOUD and BIG to be convincinng. Power of the soul is found in the beauty of the songs. And songs played acoustically can be SO POWERFUL, as they have demonstrated recently with several songs. Bono will sparkle till the end of the world. Bono will never throw in the towel, but he will have to adapt to his fysical limitations that came along with his biking accident and the permanent injuries he has to endure...

Really had hoped U2 had went for more acoustic versions of the new songs when they played live. For the first time I prefer the CD version of some new songs above the live performances. The best songs that I liked during this recent tour were the (semi) acoustic songs, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Staring at the Sun etc. I really loved it too that they played "The Ocean" live. And that they ended with a delicate song 13 (There is a Light), similar to the use of "Love is Blindness" as a finale during the ZOO TV tour. However I felt that the Achtung Baby songs during this tour fell flat without the big ZOO TV stage surroundings. I love the idea though of a full ZOO TV tour like many others suggested. These violent times in world politics are the perfect period for a full blown huge Actung Baby stadium tour. Those songs need to be BIG in BIG stadiums. However the new songs from the recent album lend themselves better to more delicate, acoustic versions. I hope U2 will perform many acoustic songs in the upcoming Apollo theatre performance . Just found some youtube collection of U2 acoustic performances which I had never heard before. But I must admit that I am terribly late at "discovering" U2 songs online, so perhaps everybody has heard these songs already. Still it is a great collection!