If I were to describe the recently concluded U2
concert in one word: Phenomenal. I know this article is kinda late already
since the concert has been more than a week ago, but I am still on U2 high and
I’m having a post-concert depression as of this writing.
This rock show has got to be the concert of the
year (or decade), as people from across generations gather in the biggest
indoor arena to witness Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. and The Edge rock
the Manila stage for the first time as part of the Joshua Tree Tour last
December 11. When I say people from across generations, I mean from Baby
Boomers to Millennials. As one would describe, it is a meeting of all rocker
titos and titas, and a few millennials who have classic taste in music. I was
born in the early 90s but when your father has a collection of U2 vinyl records
that he keeps playing up in the attic, you can’t help but to become a fan
because c’mon, it’s U2!
THE JOSHUA TREE TOUR
The Irish group performed in three parts: First
part, they played their hits from the 80s that are outside of the Joshua
Tree era, the second part was the entire Joshua Tree album,
then the last part was an encore of their hits from various albums such as Achtung
Baby, Boy, The Unforgettable Fire and All That You Can’t Leave Behind.
The band started the night with their iconic
rock single Sunday Bloody Sunday to get our bloods pumping, followed by their
hits from the 80s, New Year’s Day and Pride (In the Name of Love),
to name a few.
The main setlist consisted all the tracks from
the iconic album, down from opening track Where the Streets Have No Name to
the album’s last track Mothers of the Disappeared. The night would not
be complete without the crowd’s rock anthem I Still Haven’t Found What I’m
Looking For, wherein the band made the audience sing the first half of the
song, followed by the group’s most successful single With or Without You.
One of my favorite performances that night was Running
to Stand Still. I personally think that U2 is at its best when their music
is stripped down to basics, when it all gravitates down to the melody and lyrics.
And this performance hits home.
And so she woke up, woke
up from where she was lying still.
She said, “I gotta do something about where we're going”. You got to cry without
weeping. Talk without speaking. Scream without raising your voice. You know I took the
poison, from the poison stream then I floated out of here.
The band ended the second set with a hit from
their album Rattle and Hum, Desire.
ENOUGH
ABOUT HISTORY, WHAT ABOUT HERSTORY?
After they ended the Joshua Tree set, the
iconic rock band re-entered the stage as people started singing the intro of
the Tomb Raider soundtrack Elevation. Followed by their single from
their 2004 album, Vertigo, which I think is their most energetic
performance that evening.
One song that struck me the most was Every
Breaking Wave. The performance was again, stripped down to The Edge’s piano
and Bono’s beautiful vocals, which made the song emotional, pure and heartfelt.
Followed by their controversial song that sparked mixed political opinions from
Manila crowd, Ultra Violet (Light My Way).
Politics aside, the number commemorates strong women
who contributed to society by voicing out their beliefs. Some of the Filipinas
projected in the ginormous screen were Maria Ressa, Cory Aquino, Marinel Ubaldo,
in line with other influential women around the world like Ellen DeGeneres, Melinda
Gates and Greta Thunberg.
“In our prayers, let's keep the
journalists, the truth tellers, the activists who keep this country spiritually
safe. We salute you!”, frontman Bono said.
As I have mentioned earlier, U2 is at its best
when everything is stripped down to raw and pure talent, and for the finale
song the band decided to end the night with One where Bono asked the
tech team to turn down the stage lights and just enjoy the song with no flashy
lights, effects and backdrops.
I just stood there, stuck in the moment
(lol), watching the band take their final bow on stage. The band played a total
of 25 songs that lasted for more than 2 hours. The fan girl in me was hoping
that they would play my all-time U2 favorite – Stay (Faraway, so Close)
from their 90s album Zooropa.
It has been 9 days, 12 hours and 33 minutes
since the concert. I still have U2 concert hangover, and I think it will
probably linger for quite longer. Thanks to MMI Live and Smart for making this
historic concert happen.
There’s millennial lingo that goes, “Okay,
Boomer..” which we say to our old generation titos and titas. But for this one,
I have to say, “ALRIGHT, BOOMER!”, you guys have great taste in music!
Prior to the concert, we had a U2 pre-concert
party at the Smart Music Live Lounge. Thanks to Smart, we early birds had a
place to hangout before the concert started. We arrived in the Philippine Arena
at around 3PM, and we were able to witness the exponential growth of the number
of attendees lining up to claim their tickets, buy the official merch and to
get in line for VIP standing.
Every breaking wave on the shore, tells the next one
there'll be one more. And every gambler
knows that to lose is what you're
really there for. If you go? If
you go your way and I go mine? Are
we so? Are we so helpless against
the tide? Are we ready to be swept off our feet, and stop chasing every breaking wave?