VitalAccurateThinking

Blogging the Bono

I got this DVD for my birthday and finally sat down to watch it last night. As a big fan of U2, I really enjoy their live performance DVD's.

There were some bizarre moments when Bono delved off into politics by putting on a head band with a Muslim crescent, Jewish star and Christian cross. It took me a couple of times to understand it, but it spelled out co-exist with the crescent being the "C", the star being the "X" and the cross being the "T". He donned the head band while playing the song for Love and Peace or Else:


I noticed that he pointed to the crescent, star and cross with his longest finger and singing "Jesus, Jew, Muhammad". The 2nd time through, I think he realized he just flipped off three major religions and used his index finger instead. For those that have the DVD, this is during Sunday, Bloody Sunday almost exactly one hour into the concert. He then either had the bandana on his head or around his arm for the most of the concert.

Granted U2 is a very political band. Sometimes, I wish they would just shut up and sing. They have to be the best song-writing and performance band of my generation - hands down, bar none. Here is an example from One:


Of course, One is about the AIDS crisis, but the lyrics are unmistakable humanism at its best. Pride celebrates Dr. King's legacy during which Bono made a pitch for Africa relief. He dedicated Running to Standstill to the "brave men and women of the United States military." Running has the three best lyrical lines of all time:

The only songs I did not like on the whole DVD were Zoo Station and The Fly. Overall, it is a very good DVD. However, Go Home is better. Bono in front of his home crowd beats Bono in Chicago. Plus, this DVD did not have Kite or Walk On. Don't get me wrong, I would still buy it and watch it out of shear love of U2 and their music. I'll still import the songs to my iPod and listen to it repeatedly.

posted by Jim VAT @ 4:38 PM