From the almost forgotten pages of U2’s song book, the band dug up ‘The Ocean‘ at their second show in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening.
While longtime fans rejoice (ha!) at the sound of these old nuggets, judging from the overall response it appears many of the fans showing up for U2’s recent concerts are not familiar with the band’s earlier work. (Hello and welcome to U2log.com, if you’re a recent fan: count yourself lucky, you have a wealth of music yet to discover.)
The seventh song from their 1980 debut album ‘Boy‘ had not been played since Stockholm, December 15, 1982. (Though one of our readers claims the band played it in Fort Lauderdale in 1985.) The somewhat prophetic lyrics (‘And I felt like a star, I felt the world could go far’) reference Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray‘, a book you can read online at Project Gutenberg — for free!
Bets on what song U2 will dig up next are open now.
I like the idea of u2 working gradually through their entire catalog. (by the time they get to europe, they could have arrived at ‘Ultra Violet’ or ‘Electrical Storm’) My bet would be on ‘another time, another place’ to be played next. What happens when I win this bet? 😉
I like the idea of u2 working gradually through their entire catalog. (by the time they get to europe, they could have arrived at ‘Ultra Violet’ or ‘Electrical Storm’) My bet would be on ‘another time, another place’ to be played next. What happens when I win this bet? 😉
I love the idea of them working through their catalog. The setlist for Vertigo seems very solid, and I can’t wait to experience it live.
I’m sure the venues get relatively quiet when U2 breaks out a song like The Ocean, but what’s so wrong with that? They are consistently playing 18 – 20 well known U2 hits every night, the newer fans can deal with three or four songs that may be unknown to them. And hey, when they do get more familiar with U2’s older stuff they’ll eventually understand how incredibly cool it was to actually hear The Ocean performed live.
I love the idea of them working through their catalog. The setlist for Vertigo seems very solid, and I can’t wait to experience it live.
I’m sure the venues get relatively quiet when U2 breaks out a song like The Ocean, but what’s so wrong with that? They are consistently playing 18 – 20 well known U2 hits every night, the newer fans can deal with three or four songs that may be unknown to them. And hey, when they do get more familiar with U2’s older stuff they’ll eventually understand how incredibly cool it was to actually hear The Ocean performed live.
It was supposed to serve as incidental music segueing from Electric Co. while Bono reminisced, likely via PJ’s book, about the first time they played L.A. (the same thing that he did for his intros of Out of Control in 2001.) It came out incredibly awkward in the April 6 rehearsal and I was surprised U2 fixed it quickly enough to get it in the concert. With what they ended up doing, I’m amazed they kept it in the show. That song always subdues a crowd, too.
It was supposed to serve as incidental music segueing from Electric Co. while Bono reminisced, likely via PJ’s book, about the first time they played L.A. (the same thing that he did for his intros of Out of Control in 2001.) It came out incredibly awkward in the April 6 rehearsal and I was surprised U2 fixed it quickly enough to get it in the concert. With what they ended up doing, I’m amazed they kept it in the show. That song always subdues a crowd, too.
Hoping they drop ABOY for Europe and play OOTS or CFYT instead.
Hoping they drop ABOY for Europe and play OOTS or CFYT instead.
By the time they get to Amsterdam they might play ALEX descends into HELL for a BOTTLE of MILK / Korova 1 !!!
By the time they get to Amsterdam they might play ALEX descends into HELL for a BOTTLE of MILK / Korova 1 !!!
Gah, just reading about Easytree shutting down. Not sure if I agree with http://www.vertiblog.com/ about the cause of it – those trying to stop the eBay auctions should be praised, in my opinion.
Gah, just reading about Easytree shutting down. Not sure if I agree with http://www.vertiblog.com/ about the cause of it – those trying to stop the eBay auctions should be praised, in my opinion.
All Because Of You will probably be played every night of the tour, it’s a hit single!
I hope that the next early song they pull up is “A Day Without Me,” and that they play it at one of the shows that I see. Or going more recent, “Ultraviolet (Light My Way).”
All Because Of You will probably be played every night of the tour, it’s a hit single!
I hope that the next early song they pull up is “A Day Without Me,” and that they play it at one of the shows that I see. Or going more recent, “Ultraviolet (Light My Way).”
I reckon they’ll drop ABOY for AMAAW… at least I bloody hope they do.
(Nice invoking of Godwin’s law at Vertiblog… in an editorial no less — not the comments.)
I reckon they’ll drop ABOY for AMAAW… at least I bloody hope they do.
(Nice invoking of Godwin’s law at Vertiblog… in an editorial no less — not the comments.)
Matthew: only in the US, I don’t think it will be released in Europe (being a bit of a radio-friendly-unit-shifter). I’m optimistically hoping some Pop material will make its way into the set. Maybe if I cross all my fingers they’ll play Miami 🙂
Caroline: I’d love to hear AMAAW, I hope they do a full-band version. ABOY is nice but I can’t stand the chorus. Glad someone else noticed Godwin’s law!
Matthew: only in the US, I don’t think it will be released in Europe (being a bit of a radio-friendly-unit-shifter). I’m optimistically hoping some Pop material will make its way into the set. Maybe if I cross all my fingers they’ll play Miami 🙂
Caroline: I’d love to hear AMAAW, I hope they do a full-band version. ABOY is nice but I can’t stand the chorus. Glad someone else noticed Godwin’s law!
Sorry, but you’re wrong. U2 played “The Ocean” on May 4, 1985 in Ft. Lauderdale. I was there. Here’s my summary:
http://www.u2tours.com/displayfan.src?ID=19850504&XID=850&Return=
Sorry, but you’re wrong. U2 played “The Ocean” on May 4, 1985 in Ft. Lauderdale. I was there. Here’s my summary:
http://www.u2tours.com/displayfan.src?ID=19850504&XID=850&Return=
I’m almost as excited to hear some early songs as the new ones, but I am a pretty damn hardcore fan… I hope (I mean PRAY) they are still doing it in 7 months when they get back to Texas, hearing any of the ones they have played so far in person would be a dream come true for me!!! Well, any of those or Red Hill Mining Town (crosses fingers)…
I’m almost as excited to hear some early songs as the new ones, but I am a pretty damn hardcore fan… I hope (I mean PRAY) they are still doing it in 7 months when they get back to Texas, hearing any of the ones they have played so far in person would be a dream come true for me!!! Well, any of those or Red Hill Mining Town (crosses fingers)…
what is AMAAW? Glad to see Ocean…hoping for more of the greats..especially Acrobat or UltraViolet. Daddy’s Gonna Pay for you crashed car would be a treat too…(now im dreaming)
what is AMAAW? Glad to see Ocean…hoping for more of the greats..especially Acrobat or UltraViolet. Daddy’s Gonna Pay for you crashed car would be a treat too…(now im dreaming)
Boy, what a bunch of song snobs we have here. ABOY isn’t that bad … I’m sure the smarmy ones would rather hear it than ADIHFOBOM (in other words “Alex Descends into Hell …”).
People who have been longtime fans will enjoy hearing songs like “The Ocean” — it’s not like they’re going to make it part of the set every night — they’re just pulling out little nuggets of joy for fans to reminisce with them. It was a staple of their early Boy and October (and pre-War) tours.
I know it will never happen, but I would love to hear “A Celebration” again. I think it’s one of their best live songs (If you come across a War Tour bootleg at London’s Hammersmith Palais, they finish the set with that and then “40”). I was at the ZOOTV Tour kickoff in Lakeland, FLA in 1992 and brought big sign that read “U2 1992 — A Celebration!” … but alas they did not play it. They likely won’t, but if they do = WOW.
Boy, what a bunch of song snobs we have here. ABOY isn’t that bad … I’m sure the smarmy ones would rather hear it than ADIHFOBOM (in other words “Alex Descends into Hell …”).
People who have been longtime fans will enjoy hearing songs like “The Ocean” — it’s not like they’re going to make it part of the set every night — they’re just pulling out little nuggets of joy for fans to reminisce with them. It was a staple of their early Boy and October (and pre-War) tours.
I know it will never happen, but I would love to hear “A Celebration” again. I think it’s one of their best live songs (If you come across a War Tour bootleg at London’s Hammersmith Palais, they finish the set with that and then “40”). I was at the ZOOTV Tour kickoff in Lakeland, FLA in 1992 and brought big sign that read “U2 1992 — A Celebration!” … but alas they did not play it. They likely won’t, but if they do = WOW.
nevermind I figured it out…Man and a woman hehe
nevermind I figured it out…Man and a woman hehe
AMAAW: A Man And A Woman
AMAAW: A Man And A Woman
VelvetElvis – just because we don’t like a song you like doesn’t mean we are song snobs. It just means our tastes differ from yours. Who knows, they may not even be that different and overlap in large areas.
Secondly, you write: “People who have been longtime fans will enjoy hearing songs like “The Ocean””
Yes… that’s what I wrote in the post. Nobody said anything to the contrary. So I’m not sure what you mean.
Paul D. Bain – So now both U2tours.com and http://www.u2-vertigo-tour.com have given me the wrong answers to my searches. Next time I’ll just look it up in the U2 Live book. It’ll take hours, but may be the safer choice.
VelvetElvis – just because we don’t like a song you like doesn’t mean we are song snobs. It just means our tastes differ from yours. Who knows, they may not even be that different and overlap in large areas.
Secondly, you write: “People who have been longtime fans will enjoy hearing songs like “The Ocean””
Yes… that’s what I wrote in the post. Nobody said anything to the contrary. So I’m not sure what you mean.
Paul D. Bain – So now both U2tours.com and http://www.u2-vertigo-tour.com have given me the wrong answers to my searches. Next time I’ll just look it up in the U2 Live book. It’ll take hours, but may be the safer choice.
Ryan: I’m The Edge’s cousin and he says they’re DEFINITELY playing Red Hill Mining Town this tour 😉
Velvet Elvis: I just don’t like the song. I’m not being a snob, I don’t like SYCMIYO or New Year’s Day much either. There are some songs I just don’t like. I was just commenting on the fact that I’m pretty certain they’re going to drop ABOY from the set when they hit Europe.
Ryan: I’m The Edge’s cousin and he says they’re DEFINITELY playing Red Hill Mining Town this tour 😉
Velvet Elvis: I just don’t like the song. I’m not being a snob, I don’t like SYCMIYO or New Year’s Day much either. There are some songs I just don’t like. I was just commenting on the fact that I’m pretty certain they’re going to drop ABOY from the set when they hit Europe.
Um, and as for my personal wish-list, now that An Cat Dubh is struck from it (hurrah!), I’ll throw A Sort of Homecoming into the fray!
Um, and as for my personal wish-list, now that An Cat Dubh is struck from it (hurrah!), I’ll throw A Sort of Homecoming into the fray!
I was extremely happy to hear that Electric Co. was thrown in and I hope it sticks. It’s some of Edge’s angriest stuff and the live version always strikes a nerve. U2 got to where they are based on what they did live, and there are so many great songs before Joshua Tree for people to discover.
The NME article has Bono saying that Bomb had its roots in Boy, plus you got the Lillywhite connection… besides, it’s great for back catalogue sales!
Surrender is a rocker live, great interaction w/ the audience type of song, but that might be asking for too much. If the majority of the crowd don’t know them, it’s no big deal… U2 need to be allowed to do what they want, and in this case I really don’t mind at all… I got hooked in ’85 and I got to learn the old stuff, and a lot of it is still great- no nostalgia, just U2 and where they’ve come from…
I was extremely happy to hear that Electric Co. was thrown in and I hope it sticks. It’s some of Edge’s angriest stuff and the live version always strikes a nerve. U2 got to where they are based on what they did live, and there are so many great songs before Joshua Tree for people to discover.
The NME article has Bono saying that Bomb had its roots in Boy, plus you got the Lillywhite connection… besides, it’s great for back catalogue sales!
Surrender is a rocker live, great interaction w/ the audience type of song, but that might be asking for too much. If the majority of the crowd don’t know them, it’s no big deal… U2 need to be allowed to do what they want, and in this case I really don’t mind at all… I got hooked in ’85 and I got to learn the old stuff, and a lot of it is still great- no nostalgia, just U2 and where they’ve come from…
I would live to hear an acoustic version of So Cruel or Love is Blindness from Achtung, Then maybe If God Would Send His Angels to give the tour some Pop.
I would live to hear an acoustic version of So Cruel or Love is Blindness from Achtung, Then maybe If God Would Send His Angels to give the tour some Pop.
I’d also like to throw in support for Ultra Violet. How about So Cruel? Or, maybe some Dalton Brothers material. We know Bono has the hat for it!
I’d also like to throw in support for Ultra Violet. How about So Cruel? Or, maybe some Dalton Brothers material. We know Bono has the hat for it!
Spike: I’m heading to the San Jose shows this weekend, so with any luck I’ll force ’em to play ASOH again. 😉
Spike: I’m heading to the San Jose shows this weekend, so with any luck I’ll force ’em to play ASOH again. 😉
Here’s my list:
Another Time, Another Place,
Acrobat,
Heartland,
Promenade,
Red Hill Mining Town,
If God Will Send His Angels,
Stay (Full band)
Here’s my list:
Another Time, Another Place,
Acrobat,
Heartland,
Promenade,
Red Hill Mining Town,
If God Will Send His Angels,
Stay (Full band)
Two things:
1) The setlist for LA concert #2 was posted on U2.com BEFORE the show was over (my brother has his phone on for the whole show and i got the broadcast and I was able to tell him what was coming next). Either way it’s kinda weird that it would be posted before/during the show
2) My concert prediction of the year is that they will add songs like Original of the Species and Man & Woman for the 3rd leg US (and hence probably for the 2nd leg in Europe) in order to give a new vibe to the show while still playing new material.
Two things:
1) The setlist for LA concert #2 was posted on U2.com BEFORE the show was over (my brother has his phone on for the whole show and i got the broadcast and I was able to tell him what was coming next). Either way it’s kinda weird that it would be posted before/during the show
2) My concert prediction of the year is that they will add songs like Original of the Species and Man & Woman for the 3rd leg US (and hence probably for the 2nd leg in Europe) in order to give a new vibe to the show while still playing new material.
I’m kind of surprised that haven’t included ‘A Celebration’ yet; it actually includes the lyric “I believe in the ATOMIC BOMB (no way!).”
I’m kind of surprised that haven’t included ‘A Celebration’ yet; it actually includes the lyric “I believe in the ATOMIC BOMB (no way!).”
U2Vox: OMG AWESOME TO THE MAX! Do it 😀 And try and get a bootleg <3 🙂 Me? Demanding?! 🙂
Shakes: I’ve got a feeling we might see a few more surprises when the band hit Europe. How about Holy Joe to go in a reshuffled opening six?
What do you guys think their best tour opener has been, post-Joshua Tree? I love Mofo but think Zoo Station nicks it for me. So glad that has returned for this tour.
U2Vox: OMG AWESOME TO THE MAX! Do it 😀 And try and get a bootleg <3 🙂 Me? Demanding?! 🙂
Shakes: I’ve got a feeling we might see a few more surprises when the band hit Europe. How about Holy Joe to go in a reshuffled opening six?
What do you guys think their best tour opener has been, post-Joshua Tree? I love Mofo but think Zoo Station nicks it for me. So glad that has returned for this tour.
Spike, you’ve got to be kidding, so I won’t poop myself yet… Yet… I must say, I really love every set I’ve read so far!!! I wonder which stuff will make this tours live DVD???
Spike, you’ve got to be kidding, so I won’t poop myself yet… Yet… I must say, I really love every set I’ve read so far!!! I wonder which stuff will make this tours live DVD???
Funny how the song-request-posts always get so long… There’s an awfull lot of songs they have to play again but i’d stick to MOFO and Ultraviolet any day….
Funny how the song-request-posts always get so long… There’s an awfull lot of songs they have to play again but i’d stick to MOFO and Ultraviolet any day….
Ah, I bet “All Because Of You” will be a European single too. It’s such an obvious hit no matter where you are, and it’s fantastic live (I was at the Brooklyn Bridge show.) It’s pretty clear that they’ve sequenced the final encore thematically, so I would say that it is highly unlikely that the song is going to be dropped on this tour at all. I don’t really care either way, I’m just looking at this logically.
Ah, I bet “All Because Of You” will be a European single too. It’s such an obvious hit no matter where you are, and it’s fantastic live (I was at the Brooklyn Bridge show.) It’s pretty clear that they’ve sequenced the final encore thematically, so I would say that it is highly unlikely that the song is going to be dropped on this tour at all. I don’t really care either way, I’m just looking at this logically.
damn, glad to see so much support for ultraviolet, i thought i was a minority loving that song (same for if god will send his angels). though i really doubt those two will ever come back. unforgettable fire and sort of homecoming would be great. didn’t they rehearse unforgettable fire back during the elevation tour? i thought i read that and so kept waiting and waiting for it to be played but alas, it never was (to my knowledge). also, hope they play gloria some more (still confounds me how that was left off of best of …)
damn, glad to see so much support for ultraviolet, i thought i was a minority loving that song (same for if god will send his angels). though i really doubt those two will ever come back. unforgettable fire and sort of homecoming would be great. didn’t they rehearse unforgettable fire back during the elevation tour? i thought i read that and so kept waiting and waiting for it to be played but alas, it never was (to my knowledge). also, hope they play gloria some more (still confounds me how that was left off of best of …)
Spike: Honestly, if by the grace of some wierd higher power and amazing star alignment I get up there again, which I’m not actually trying for, you can bet I’ll be picking “Acrobat” this time. I hope that’s acceptable. 😀
Spike: Honestly, if by the grace of some wierd higher power and amazing star alignment I get up there again, which I’m not actually trying for, you can bet I’ll be picking “Acrobat” this time. I hope that’s acceptable. 😀
Roeli: Yes for Mofo! Always thought I was alone in loving that song. Ultraviolet would be brilliant too.
blugel: also amazed they left running to stand still off the best of. i know it couldn’t be ALL joshua tree output, but damn, RTSS is one of their best songs. Tori Amos’ cover is quite good too.
Ryan: Kidding about what? Holy Joe? I don’t expect to see it, I’d LOVE to see it played though.
Matt: I dunno, I can see the logic in going for ABOY (after Vertigo the shortest song on the album by quite a distance), but I can see COBL being given a radio edit + LAPOE as contenders also. I hope they are brave and go with something like LAPOE…
u2vox: Acrobat is fine with me 😀
Roeli: Yes for Mofo! Always thought I was alone in loving that song. Ultraviolet would be brilliant too.
blugel: also amazed they left running to stand still off the best of. i know it couldn’t be ALL joshua tree output, but damn, RTSS is one of their best songs. Tori Amos’ cover is quite good too.
Ryan: Kidding about what? Holy Joe? I don’t expect to see it, I’d LOVE to see it played though.
Matt: I dunno, I can see the logic in going for ABOY (after Vertigo the shortest song on the album by quite a distance), but I can see COBL being given a radio edit + LAPOE as contenders also. I hope they are brave and go with something like LAPOE…
u2vox: Acrobat is fine with me 😀
I…. I am a humble guy. No, really I try.
This tune was a b-side and will never again be played live. The lyrics and 1/3 Bono-lese. I like it like I like Deep in the Heart, J.Swallow, etc…
RE: An Cat Dubh.
Quite ironic- I wasn’t in LA last night but I picture a coked-up porn ‘actress’ crawling, on her hands and knees. And that’s what the song is about…
An Cat Dubh is a song about what might seem good can sometimes be dangerous, or at the least, not good for us… This is not a typical rock’n’roll song and in that sense it’s a real U2 song. The theme is timeless, but it’s even more relevant today with all the stuff that’s being sold our way… Caveat Emptor!
Love and Peace or ELSE
I…. I am a humble guy. No, really I try.
This tune was a b-side and will never again be played live. The lyrics and 1/3 Bono-lese. I like it like I like Deep in the Heart, J.Swallow, etc…
RE: An Cat Dubh.
Quite ironic- I wasn’t in LA last night but I picture a coked-up porn ‘actress’ crawling, on her hands and knees. And that’s what the song is about…
An Cat Dubh is a song about what might seem good can sometimes be dangerous, or at the least, not good for us… This is not a typical rock’n’roll song and in that sense it’s a real U2 song. The theme is timeless, but it’s even more relevant today with all the stuff that’s being sold our way… Caveat Emptor!
Love and Peace or ELSE
Let’s get some 90s nuggets in there too… Confidential to the band: I’m seeing my first two shows of the tour this weekend in San Jose, and you know what I want…Ultraviolet, Ultraviolet, Ultraviolet light my way. 😀
Let’s get some 90s nuggets in there too… Confidential to the band: I’m seeing my first two shows of the tour this weekend in San Jose, and you know what I want…Ultraviolet, Ultraviolet, Ultraviolet light my way. 😀
1. I vote for “Seconds” — I’d die happy hearing that song live.
2. I may have gotten a clip of “The Ocean” from the other night on my camera (it does 60 second movies) — If it came out all right, I’ll upload it & post a link here, if that’s ok with you.
Cheers!
-Mel (dreamchaser/m220)
1. I vote for “Seconds” — I’d die happy hearing that song live.
2. I may have gotten a clip of “The Ocean” from the other night on my camera (it does 60 second movies) — If it came out all right, I’ll upload it & post a link here, if that’s ok with you.
Cheers!
-Mel (dreamchaser/m220)
PS: I agree with PopArtist re: 90’s nuggets… I spoke with Stu after LA2 & told him I missed Pop & Zooropa. He said that the band had rehearsed songs from both albums & that Edge was “prepared to play them,” but that they may not “pop up in the setlist until the European leg.” I hope that means they might play them on 3rd leg, too! I’d love to hear “Lemon” again live! *sigh*
PS: I agree with PopArtist re: 90’s nuggets… I spoke with Stu after LA2 & told him I missed Pop & Zooropa. He said that the band had rehearsed songs from both albums & that Edge was “prepared to play them,” but that they may not “pop up in the setlist until the European leg.” I hope that means they might play them on 3rd leg, too! I’d love to hear “Lemon” again live! *sigh*
Mel, absolutely, let us know if/when you post the clip.
Mel, absolutely, let us know if/when you post the clip.