Sayonara Japan
U2′s final Vertigo show in Japan on Monday (Dec. 4) focused on paying respect to the country and its people. Early in the show, Bono expressed the band’s genuine love for the country, noting they had a wonderful stay in Tokyo. Bono spoke of his visit to Kyoto, where he toured the Church of Light, designed by Tadao Ando.
Bono was so charmed by Kyoto that he brought back three of its residents to Tokyo with him for the final show. During “Mysterious Ways,” Bono invited the three to dance with him on stage. Mouths dropped open when they saw Bono’s guests were geishas (perhaps actually maikos [geishas in training]) in full traditional wardrobe and makeup. Morleigh Steinberg ran alongside the women in the pit, directing them to dance with their fans, to the delight of the audience and Bono, who grinned from ear to ear. At the song’s conclusion, he bowed to them sweetly.
Another highlight of the show was a particularly moving performance of “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own,” which Bono dedicated to his father and the fathers of his friends Gavin and Guggi, who watched the show from the mix desk.
Setlist
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo – She Loves You (snippet)
Elevation
Out of Control
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – In a Little While (snippet)
Beautiful Day
Angel of Harlem
The First Time
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own
Bad – Ruby Tuesday (snippet)
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky – When Johnny Comes Marching Home & Hands That Built America (snippets)
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You
The Saints Are Coming
Window in the Skies
Vertigo (“For us!”)
I-Wanna-Blog-for-U2log contest winner
We are pleased to announce the winner of our I-Wanna-Blog-for-U2log contest. Tim Nafus of New York City will receive an OTX Extreme Luau & Ticket Package, so he may attend and report on the final show of the Vertigo tour for U2log.com. Nafus won over the U2log.com editors with his impressive writing sample, which detailed how he can cook thirty-minute brownies in twenty minutes — among many other such important skills. Nafus was the only applicant who purchased beers for the U2log.com editors, which heavily influenced our decision.
We thank all the fans who entered the contest. Every submission entertained the U2log.com editors. We will be inviting many of the contest applicants to write content for the site in the future.
Aloha, Tim!
Performance in the skies
Friday night U2 performed two songs, “Vertigo” and “Window in the Skies,” on the rooftop of TV Asahi in Roppongi, a posh area of Tokyo. The performance was aired live on the Japanese television show “Music Station.”
Hundreds of U2 fans gathered outside the studio in hopes of hearing the performance, but were disappointed to hear little over the traffic noise on the streets and the helicopters that were filming the performance. Only Larry’s intro to “Vertigo” could be heard faintly.
Video
Vertigo
Window in the Skies
These videos will likely be removed on YouTube by TV Asahi, so watch them while you can.
R&R in Tokyo
I know many fans are curious to know what the band have been doing in Japan when not performing or doing media interviews. Larry Mullen spent some time shopping in Gwen Stefani’s favorite area of Tokyo, Harajuku. He shopped at Kiddy Land, a famous toy store, presumably for gifts for his children…Adam Clayton visited with Eric Clapton, who is also touring in Japan now and staying in the same hotel as U2…Bono enjoyed a traditional Japanese meal at Gonpachi with his friends Gavin and Guggi. Kanye West was also seen at the same restaurant. Rumour has it that Kanye will perform with U2 for the final show in Japan on Monday…Edge, the zen master, has been keeping a low profile, meditating and such.
All band members have been generously signing autographs and posing for photos with Japanese fans around the city. The band seem to be truly enjoying their visit to Japan.
Permanent Hiatus
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