Month: February 2006

“Shake your body, Bono!”

U2 attended the Carnival of Salvador in Brazil on Thursday (23/2), where they enjoyed musical performances by local artists from the comfort of a balcony that overlooked the festivities. In honor of the band’s attendance at the carnival, Brazilian pop star Ivete Sangalo performed “Vertigo,” during which she urged Bono to shake his body. Bono joined her vocally midway through the song. Both Bono and Edge contributed vocally to another artist’s performance of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry.”

Watch the incredible video.

(Photo: Reuters)

Bono on Nobel Peace Prize shortlist

Bono is said to have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to relieve world poverty. He has a fair bit of competition: there are 191 nominees on the (secret) list, including his partner in profanity Bob Geldof, as well as Colin Powell, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and Indian scholar Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Thousands of people have nomination rights: former recipients, members of national assemblies and congresses, university professors, international judges, and special advisors to the prize committee. This makes it rather ‘easy’ to get nominated. The winner is picked from the list by a five-member Norwegian awards committee.

The award will be presented on December 10.

U2 shoot video with Mary J. Blige

From Willie’s diary at U2.com’s members only section we learn that while the band were in Mexico, they shot a video for ‘One’ with Mary J. Blige:

“I wandered for a while before flagging down a cab and heading to an old theatre in the same part of town where U2 were shooting a video with Mary J. Blige. Mary’s version of ‘One’ is on her current album, so I’m guessing it’ll be a single, hence the video. I wasn’t involved in the shoot professionally, but it’s always interesting to see how the other half lives. Paul Hunter was directing, whilst Jeff Cronenweth and team were busy filling the theatre so full of smoke that it became almost impossible to see across the room. Looked pretty cool on camera, though.”

Willie’s diary also makes mention of a 3D concert shoot in Buenos Aires on March 1 and 2 for the production of an IMAX film. Atu2.com have more details:

“According to Definition Magazine, they’re using gear provided by Pace Technologies, which has Titanic, The Abyss, and several other Hollywood blockbusters on its portfolio. Also involved in the production is 3ality, a company which specializes in 3D viewing … get this … that doesn’t require any special eyewear.”

Enquiring minds want to know, is Hamish Hamilton involved? Because fast cuts + zooming + 3D = <small voice> yay?</small voice>

Goodbye Brazil

Last night Morumbi Stadium was filled with 70,000 Brazilians, but 20,000 more without tickets listened to the show outside the stadium in the rain. They just wanted to be there to say goodbye to the biggest band on the planet.

Bono brought two girls to the stage, one during “Desire” (she stole a kiss from Bono and The Edge) and one during “Mysterious Ways.” The highlights of the show were during “Pride” and “Where the Streets Have No Name,” when the audience sang louder than Bono. The setlist was full of surprises. Take a look:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Until the End of the World
New Year’s Day
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Beautiful Day / Blackbird
The First Time
Desire
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky / When Johnny Comes Marching Home / The Hands That Built America
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You
Yahweh
All I Want Is You / Love Rescue Me

Photo slideshow

Brazil nuts

U2 played their first South American show yesterday at Morumbi Stadium in front of an audience of 73,000 wild Brazilians. Bono spoke in Portuguese several times, which charmed the audience. They went nuts when he mentioned the next soccer World Cup: “Copa do Mundo. Vamos buscar o hexa?” “U2 é irlandês, Deus é brasileiro.” Translation: “World Cup, are we going for the sixth cup? U2 are Irish, but God is Brazilian.”

In the middle of the show, a 12-year-old boy is picked by Bono while singing “Miss Sarajevo.” During “Mysterious Ways” and “With or Without You,” a brunette fan danced with Bono, and she stole a very sensual kiss from him at the end. As he did in Mexico, Bono wore a jacket made with the local flag.

U2 will play again tonight at Sao Paulo, and on Friday will attend the Bahia Carnival by invitation of the Brazilian Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil.

Setlist:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Until the End of the World
New Year’s Day
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Beautiful Day
Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of (semi-acoustic)
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Zoo Station / Jean Genie
The Fly / Satisfaction
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You
All Because of You / Norwegian Wood
Original of the Species
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