Posted on 08/08/2009 4:14:42 AM PDT by lizol
’Something I’ve Never Seen Before’
Saturday 8 August 2009, by Corinne/Dead
I had to write about this. I simply had to. I hope I’m not speaking out of turn here as this is U2’s site and hallowed ground for all of you but this story needs to be told. The shows so far on this tour have all been amazing and each night the crowd’s reaction to U2 has been loud and joyous and passionate. Last night in Poland though was something else. Hard to explain. Let me try.
I have never in my life seen a crowd reaction like that of Katowice last night. Right from opener Breathe there was a daft magic in the air. Insanity everywhere you looked. People’s faces clothed in the kind of joy I’ve only seen in gospel churches and then only on the TV so to see this religious fervour up close was overwhelming. The city outside the stadium could have been under heavy fire from alien spacecraft and I don’t think anyone would have heard, saw, or indeed cared that much.
Then The Edge takes to the piano for New Year’s Day (playing it guitar pick still between his fingers!) and the place is bathed in red and white instantly. Red cards held aloft by the people on the floor and white cards in the seats to make a giant Polish flag you could probably see from space. It took the breath clean out of me. By the end even Bono was speechless, for a few seconds anyway. The things he said next are lost to me verbatim but what I won’t forget is the tears that came to me then. In floods. And when I turned to check if anyone had snared me for blubbing I realised that every single person around me also had tears in their eyes. We were sharing something that simply never happens at rock shows anywhere. A collective emotional and spiritual surrender of epic proportions. This was majesty and tenderness married and that is a rare thing indeed.
Last night was something I’ve never seen before and I can’t quite fathom it. Not sure I ever will or even want to. It will sit alongside the greatest nights of my life and I thank U2 and Poland for that. Also thank you to the Polish U2 fans for giving us the best reaction to our own set we’ve had on this tour so far. All in all then a night of triumphs.
I would tour with this band (we all, us Patrollers, would) ’til the last grain of sand tipped gently into the bottom half of the hourglass and yes that sounds (and perhaps is, why not) a massive hint hint to stay on this magic carpet ride a little/a lot longer but believe me when I say this: this is the greatest show on earth. Why on earth would you buy just anyone’s cockatoo? Long may they reign!
Gary Lightbody, aged 33, Bangor, Northern Ireland, Overwhelmed.
He was way too good for the gypsy tramp thief!
Saw them on the October tour
To much hype now
Oh, the carbon footprint!
Thank you for the post and pictures. Looks awesome.
I saw them before Bono began his metamrophsis to God’s
other son!
Freedom, Democracy, Liberty - the Poles know what it’s like not to have them - George Bush emphasized them throughout his presidency.
I don’t know if Bono mentioned Iran in his speech, but the Iranian people could sure use the support
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Carbon footprints are only to be assigned to the little people.
We are all God’s children!
His problem is he is a collectivist, except of course for his own wealth.
And he liked Bush for redistribuing hundreds of billions of stolen wealth from American taxpayers to Africa, a fellow collectivist too.
Heyup. I know a fellow that played keys on 6 gigs with them back in the 80s
He said Bono was a megaass back then.
Bono had an entourage that would form a “V” around him for protection.
Dragonlady!
Sorry, don’t get U2, don’t like Bono, think they are BO-RING, and completely unoriginal.
that’s one hell of a carbon footprint-
poor guys will have to buy a rainforest
The only thing that liberal schmuk 'Bono' is fuller of than himself is sh*t. 60 years old and still posing in black leather pants with fake hair extensions. Get real, you brain-fried, lip-synching fakers.
;-)
Talking out of your a** . He’s 49 . And he’s free to wear whatever he pleases . Chill ...chill .
It's just music - played by aging character actors, with more money than God, who have absolutely no more in common with their dewy eyed fans than I do.
“Bono”? “The Edge”? Spare me, please. They're about as authentic in the real world as “The Rock” or “Hulk Hogan” are. They are no more a real rock band than was “The Monkees”. They just got lucky because they had/have a better hype machine.
Plus, their overtly Socialist Euro-trash music sucks.
They released another album since Joshua Tree?
Maybe I’ll look for it...
Campaigning for Obama and complaining about "Carbon Footprints" while he flies around in private jets creating more pollution than all of the over-the-hill-gang losers who prostrate themselves before him at his lip-synched "concerts."
And while you and I may disagree, I am as entitled to both my opinion and my right to say it as you are, you bent-head thought-police dilweed.
;-/
Can’t stand the man or the band.
U2 was at the venue I work at in ‘87,the second of many shows I’ve worked there,and he was hanging out by on of their tractor trailers with the bass player. He was telling him he was going back to the hotel to crash. There was no visible “entourage” around him other than a couple of house security dudes.
So when is the next Bulwar-Lytton contest?
And, no, I’m not a fan of them.I think they have some good songs but I like a lot of types of music.
U2 kicks ass.
Welp thats the thing Sam was telling me that Bono had this team and every one else was on their own. Even the Edge was on his own.
Rory Gallagher rocked a million times harder.
Keep paying 200 a ticket to see Bono in stadiums with lousy acoustics. His handlers love it.
I am going to The Roadhouse
LOL, you and me both.
I didn't know until a few years ago that "New Years Day" was inspired by Solidarnosc. So it's understandable why that song has tremendous significance for Poles.
If Bonzo and The Side had to put on a show without any special effects, they’d be playing Indian casinos, because their music is so mediocre.
Being a fan is one thing but people who get so emotionally wrapped up in a concert need some kind of help.
Just my opinionm of course.
Yup, fifty billion of my money, he didn't even ask...then, he retired to his multimillion dollar lodgings in Dallas.
Thought police ? Just the facts Jack just the facts .
I’m no fan of Bono or U2 , but I don’t give a crap what he wears , and he most certainly does not lip sync .
While I may disagree with his politicx , I respect him and the rest of the band for their endurance ( all original members for 30 years , too ) and ability to still draw huge crowds wherever they perform .
How old are you anyway ? 79 ?
Bush the great RINO sent almost 200 billion dollars in aid to Africa to fight AIDS, most of which was srolen by the UN and corrupt African leaders.
Before the bailout at the end of his term and Obama’s TARP, Bush’s prescription drug benefit to seniors was the LARGEST redistribution of wealth in world history.
In order for Bush to spend that money he had to take feom taxpayers and he had to make deals with other corrupt members if congress and agree to let them spend like drunken sailors, not to give sailors a bad name.
Bush is a RINO just like his dad.
Bush is pro-life, pro-military and national defense.
What other important issues can you say Bush is conservayive on?
His SCOTUS picks? No, he tried to give us two moderate’s like his dad gave us Souter.
Small government? No, he more then doubled the Depart. of Education, making centralized government controled education stronger.
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