In the fall of 2004, I planned my entire birthday party around U2's appearance on Saturday Night Live. I scheduled a movie screening a few hours prior, then shuffled everyone home in time to crowd around my tiny apartment and await the greatness.
When the band tore into "Vertigo" and The Edge was yanked back to his post on stage (apparently forgetting the tether of his guitar cord), I could've jumped through the television set, I was so excited. All four men were radiating joy and clearly intoxicated by performing. In the end, Bono pulled a star-struck Amy Poehler close for a dance to "I Will Follow." They couldn't have scripted it better, and even the casual U2 fans who attended my party thought the set was phenomenal.
A few months later, I caught up with Amy Poehler in New York on the red carpet at U2's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. When I brought up her "moment" with Bono, she blushed like an embarrassed school girl. It's good to know even famous people react to the magic.
Fast forward to last night, five years later. Thanks to Twitter, I knew what the band was going to play on SNL before they played it, but that's OK. "Breathe" is my favorite song from No Line on the Horizon, so I considered that tip good news.
But then as I watched the performance unfold, the burst of energy that I was anticipating didn't follow. The Edge seemed to be angry at his guitar and Bono acted as if he was more concerned with the crowd standing up for him than he was with keeping time with the rhythm section. The words didn't match the music, and I wondered if I was just too tired to enjoy it. Unfortunately, heading over to Twitter, I found an outpouring of similar dismay -- it wasn't just me.
Next up was "Moment of Surrender," and the way Bono shouted the first few lines of it made me wonder how he can possibly sing this night after night on tour as the final song. I'll admit, I loved seeing Larry with his headset on backup, but even that couldn't distract me from Bono's aggressive interpretation. The "rap" in the middle was like a metaphorical blood splatter of impromptu lyrics, springing from his heart. To hear a portion of it, click here. One has to wonder what was going on in his private world to spark such an ad-lib.
All I can say is that I was relieved -- no -- overjoyed that they chose "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" as their third song. Maybe it's my sentimental attachment to the song, or just that it's been around for a long time, but to me that was the only tune that sounded right. The 360 effects were also a nice touch, enabling Bono to swing around the stage like a Cirque du Soleil performer. Oh, Bono.
In happier news, there's still time to register for the U2: The Hype and the Feedback Conference taking place next week in Durham, N.C.
Packed with exciting speakers such as Rolling Stone journalist Anthony DeCurtis and our own @U2 founder Matt McGee, the gathering will bring together fans and academics alike from all over the world. Several staffers from @U2 will also be on hand the final evening to host “Sunday Night at the Movies” with author Neil McCormick. A party at a nearby pub will follow. To learn more about that event, visit our event page.
I have to confess, when I see U2 perform next month, it will be for the first time on this tour, which makes it the latest I've joined the fun in the past three tours. Until then, I'm patiently following setlists, live tweeting shows when I can catch a live feed, and holding my breath that a few of the tunes won't disappear before I get the chance to hear them. When I bought my tickets last spring, I thought I'd be mental by now with anticipation, but I think the access to more audio, videos and photos than ever before has helped keep me sane.
However, I'm frustrated that I can't join the fan debates that seem to be cropping up: setlists that include too many "greatest hits," the remix of "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight," the refusal to wear the Aung San Suu Kyi masks during "Walk On." They're all topics that have me feeling like I'm in the midst of a disproportionate amount of grumpy U2 fans, but until I've seen the entire live show, I can't fairly make that claim.
I just think U2 on their worst day is better than any other current band. There is no way that they can be expected to please everyone when "everyone" means 80,000 + fans each show. That said, I sure would like them to bring back "Electrical Storm." ;)
And finally, who knew there were other U2 cartoons out there?
© @U2/Kokkoris, 2009.
