U2 // Roeli's U2 blog

Bullet the blue sky

2009-10-09T10:32:00.002+02:00

As per usual when the U2 circus hits the road, there is a LOT of debate on which songs should or shouldn't be played.

If they'd ask me (which they obviously won't...) a lot of the hits can be skipped.
For me this has to do with making room for more new songs and the fact that some of these songs don't seem to 'evolve' throughout the years (e.g. Pride or Beautiful Day).

Don't get me wrong, I love those songs. And again I found myself jumping, clapping & singing along at the top of my lungs when they got played during one of my U2360 shows. But, besides maybe the odd snippetry, they never seem to reach a new (musical) identity.

A song that has evolve throughout the years, but to my regret has not (yet) been performed on the U2360 tour is Bullet the Blue Sky.

Lyrically Bullet the Blue Sky is inspired by Bono's trip to Central America in 1985 as part of Amnesty International. On return to the studio he asked Edge to "put El Salvador through an amplifier". Musically the drums and the bass provide a simple but steady groove that leaves a lot of room for Edge to fulfil this task.

1987-1989 Joshua Tree & Lovetown tour
Beautifully introduced by Adam in the movie Rattle & Hum, it's focusses on American foreign policy, mainly in Central America. Directly aimed at the US by the 'Star spangled banner' intro it also took a swing at the televangelist practise: "I can't tell the difference between ABC News, Hill Street Blues, And a preacher of the old-time gospel hour Stealing money from the sick and the old. Well the God I believe in isn't short of cash, mister!".

From the movie Rattle & Hum:

1992/1993 Zoo TV tour
A very fierce version, with it's focus on the renewed racial divides of the early nineties. Any visitor of these concerts will remember the burning crosses on the video screens turning into burning swastikas. But it also ended referencing war as the song segued into Running to stand still, Bono surrounded by smoke -an effect inspired by Vietnam vet stories.

Live from Zoo TV Sydney:

1997 Popmart tour
For the Popmart extravaganza the band provided Bullet (and Streets as well) with a groovy hip-hop feel, accompanied by colourful, playful pop-art Roy Lichtenstein visuals of fighter jets bombings. Bono in a Cuban style outfit, parading with an American flag umbrella as visual reference to the songs original theme.

Live Popmart Santiago:

2001 Elevation tour
With a new focus on American internal gun politics and the influence of National Rifle Association (NRA), the intro on the Elevation tour includes NRA president Charlton Heston stating that "Guns don't kill people, people kill people", then followed by footage of a young child carrying a gun found somewhere around the house. The song closes with a lyrical reference to the killing of John Lennon by Mark Chapman, but also the bodybags from Vietnam.

Elevation live from Boston:

2005/2006 Vertigo tour
A return to the visuals of Popmart with a fighter jet hovering the big screen for the duration the song. Thematically, this time around it combines religious violence and, like in 1987, American foreign policy, now inspired by the war in Iraq, with Bono in blindfolds, clearly a reference tot the treatment of Iraqi prisoners in Abu Graib prison. Musically the song has a much more haunting and bluesy feel, mainly because of the revised guitar solo.

Live from Sao Paolo:

Conclusion? They're all different, as were the concerts. I have my pesonal favourites (Zoo TV and Popmart) but you can have your own.

Will we see Bullet resurface during a 360 show?...Who knows...I for one would like to see and hear where else they can take this song.

Gavman encounter

2009-07-22T13:20:00.000+02:00

Adam....

2009-06-25T06:59:00.001+02:00

Great bass!

WOW!

Video from on stage in Barcelona

2009-06-21T22:59:00.001+02:00

TV Catalunya have put a short interview with Bono online....from under the claw and on the stage...
Any thoughts on this Adam? ;-)

http://www.tv3.cat/videos/1327429/Bono-ens-ensenya-el-nou-escenari-de-la-gira-dU2

Independent interview

2009-06-21T13:52:00.000+02:00

Great interview with the band.
Insight in some personal stuff and a couple of hints on coming show...
Plus: this might be the first official pic of the band with the new
stage!

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/u2-access-all-areas-1782416.html

Barcelona, 16th of June, 09.05

2009-06-17T21:39:00.001+02:00

U2 arrivés in Barcelona for production rehearsals yesterday, June 16th.
Rumour has it their plane landed at 09.05 ;-)

How to take notes these day and age...

2009-06-14T00:57:00.004+02:00

Note to self: try finding my own guitar tech taking notes and making pictures of every setting :-D

U2 on iLike - Get updates inside iTunes

Best Claw view to date

2009-06-12T10:28:00.002+02:00

Big thanks to U2eastlink for keeping us mere mortals up-to-date.

This must be the best view of the stage yet. Looks like the screen itself will not be revolving, but the pictures will!

One heart, One love!

2009-05-30T09:19:00.002+02:00

Now please, release a quality version of this impromptu track(s) as a download and I will be a happy man !!!

"Chris Blackwell once said to me: "All of this could be yours"

2009-05-29T09:09:00.001+02:00

Surprise appearance of the band at Island Records 50th anniversary bash:

The Claw 23/05

2009-05-26T23:57:00.001+02:00

The Claw 23/05
Originally uploaded by nikov2

Best pic of the claw so far!

U2's Claw being constructed

2009-05-17T10:14:00.000+02:00

thanks iGreg!

YouTube - U2 The Claw (16th May 09): ""

Size matters!!!

2009-05-08T09:32:00.003+02:00

On U2.community Dirk1968 posted some pics of the building of the structure of what has become known as 'The Claw'.

Size does matter baby!!!, check these out:

Height of Mercedes bus is 2,22 meter/86,5 inch....now check these trusses...

Fucking brilliant Bono

2009-04-28T21:32:00.003+02:00

Fucking Brilliant Bono (2003) made it to the Supreme Court

Dutch news report never shy to use the expletive itself ;-)

New Magnificent mix by Fred Falke

2009-04-24T08:57:00.002+02:00

Magnificent (Fred Falke Radio Mix)

via & via

NINE INCH NAILS: STROBE LIGHT - NEW ALBUM

2009-04-02T15:17:00.000+02:00

Bono part of NIN april fools joke...

New album track "Everybody's doing it (featuring chris martin, jay-z AND bono)"

NINE INCH NAILS: STROBE LIGHT - NEW ALBUM

Looking for the Joshua Tree in Death Valley 2009

2009-03-26T22:30:00.001+01:00

Cool quest...

To bad the tree is not there anymore but there are a few surprises at the end of this a cool video:

Death Valley from Scott Gold on Vimeo.

U2 NOVA interview

2009-03-24T22:59:00.003+01:00

Uncut interviews from Dutch television program 'NOVA':
Bono and Adam
Larry and Edge

Magnificent clip seems to be about uncovering the city of Fez from under white cloths...

NOVA interview

2009-03-24T11:58:00.000+01:00

Dutch tv program NOVA will broadcast an interview with tje band tonight:
NOVA (in Dutch)

164 feet = 50 meters = WTF?!

2009-03-22T21:49:00.000+01:00

Scatter o'Light: the claw is 164 feet tall

Amsterdam here we go!

2009-03-14T11:34:00.003+01:00

"I'm hatching some plot, scheming some scheme...."
And when that scheme works out ;-)))))

See you all on july 20 & 21st !!!!

And here is for sweet memories (NOT!):

Presale a breeze!!!

2009-03-10T10:15:00.002+01:00

4 tickets Amsterdam on their way, looks like a smooth operation!!!

**Keeps fingers crossed for the coming days and the less fortunate**

Baby, baby, baby....I know I'm not aloooone!

2009-03-10T08:44:00.001+01:00

U2.com member presale for the U2360 tour starts today!

First up: Milan, Amsterdam and Gothenburg....

U2 Amsterdam Arena lay-out

2009-03-09T15:23:00.003+01:00

U2360 tour widget

2009-03-09T12:45:00.001+01:00