Suggested listening – U2 on YouTube Bono’s first monologue On the Black Eyed Peas: Says they’re “true pioneers from space” and “Xena meets Parliament/Funkadelic”.  Oh, I see.  Irrelevant past meets unrealistic future. On the band being in Hollywood: Larry Mullen Jr. is U2’s James Dean.  Adam Clayton is Rhett Butler/Clark Gable because “Frankly, my dear, [...]

Suggested listening – U2 on YouTube In a Little While – One of my favourite cuts.  This usually blows my mind live.  Johnny Ramone breathed new life into the band when they discovered this was the last song he listened to.  But Bono’s playing with me, with us.  This is a song of heartbreak; of [...]

Suggested listening – U2 on YouTube Vertigo – “Honey, I’m home.” The Edge’s Telecaster moans like a siren. Bono has a new pace for the vocals to go along with the new stage. “I can’t stand the beats/I’m asking for the cheque.” I know the feeling. “Give me something I can feel,” he blasts, his [...]

Suggested listening – U2 on YouTube One – Bono again sports the guitar but doesn’t strum for a while.  I’ve seen this song performed a few hundred times.  This, honestly, is just one more.  Nothing special.  The Edge plays a little lick after the first chorus, but that’s about it for musicianship.  This is choreography.  [...]

Suggested listening – U2 on YouTube The crowd chants “Ole”.  The screens show tumbling stars and murky comet belts.  The constellations must mean something.  A rush of sound takes over, and what looks like a chipper HAL9000 takes over.  The crowd quiets.  Baby-HAL asks “What time is it in the world?”  This is Popmart, ZooTV [...]