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  1. The idea of this topic is that we take a song, and then argue why the studio version can never capture the real essence of a song. or why it never comes alive when played live. Please, do not turn this topic into a namedropping where everybody posts his list of better live/studio songs and then leaves. Of course it doesn't have to be just one song that's discussed, as long as it stays organized and people react on the posts of one another. I think the best way to do this is to just begin with a song and then as the topic goes on, introuduce new songs or stop discussing songs.

    I'll start: I think that If You Wear That Velvet Dress is much better in the studio, because the short live version jus doesn't have it. I think the pace is too high, and the bass isn't dominant enough.
  2. Lemon...it doesn't happen live...maybe because it has too much effects, or too few performances, but it just doesn't happen, I don't know why.
  3. Originally posted by RDB92The idea of this topic is that we take a song, and then argue why the studio version can never capture the real essence of a song. or why it never comes alive when played live. Please, do not turn this topic into a namedropping where everybody posts his list of better live/studio songs and then leaves. Of course it doesn't have to be just one song that's discussed, as long as it stays organized and people react on the posts of one another. I think the best way to do this is to just begin with a song and then as the topic goes on, introuduce new songs or stop discussing songs.

    I'll start: I think that If You Wear That Velvet Dress is much better in the studio, because the short live version jus doesn't have it. I think the pace is too high, and the bass isn't dominant enough.

    It's not one of my favourite songs, it's good but I prefer it live. To be honest, actually, I prefer the Jools Holland & Bono collaboration, it captures the feel for me - I always imagined it to be a James Bond theme tune and the latter version I mentioned works best

    Originally posted by thechickenLemon...it doesn't happen live...maybe because it has too much effects, or too few performances, but it just doesn't happen, I don't know why.

    I think it's great both live and audio can't really decide which I prefer though...

    --------------------------------------------

    My main bugbear is SYCMIOYO - for me, THAT'S a song that doesn't do it for me live. Bono always puts emotion into it, but the guitar sounds too plinky and Bono doesn't always nail it for me...
  4. Lemon live hits the spot for me. I prefer it to the album version. I like that Bono could never fully replicate those falsetto's live, it was shorter and oh how good it led into With Or Without You.

    I agree about Sometimes though. Barring the odd performance, it never really ticked my boxes.

    the album version of Streets pisses all over live performances I think. Bono's vocals (he sings rather than shouts and strains), the depth of the guitars (one playing mute and the other chiming away) gives it a huge edge over live performances. The rhythm of the bass and he drums as well is just awesome. Apart from the Red and the flashing lights, the live performances quickly run out of steam and I really just do not like the 'love love love' part. I would have loved to have heard a few proper live renditions with the 'it's aaallllllll we can do'. Ah well.
  5. Originally posted by germcevoyLemon live hits the spot for me. I prefer it to the album version. I like that Bono could never fully replicate those falsetto's live, it was shorter and oh how good it led into With Or Without You.

    I agree about Sometimes though. Barring the odd performance, it never really ticked my boxes.

    the album version of Streets pisses all over live performances I think. Bono's vocals (he sings rather than shouts and strains), the depth of the guitars (one playing mute and the other chiming away) gives it a huge edge over live performances. The rhythm of the bass and he drums as well is just awesome. Apart from the Red and the flashing lights, the live performances quickly run out of steam and I really just do not like the 'love love love' part. I would have loved to have heard a few proper live renditions with the 'it's aaallllllll we can do'. Ah well.

    For me, Streets is amazing live, but it has a more rock song feel whereas compared to the album version, that leaves everything to the imagination - it conjurs pictures, it sketches an epic feel in your mind and takes you somewhere else. I can imagine being in a show when it's performed live would be absolutely exhilirating, but more because of the adrenaline rush when you hear the first notes, and when the drums really kick in rather than because your mind begins to race with images etc. I couldn't say which I prefer though lol...
  6. I agree about If You Wear That Velvelt Dress. I'll add Do You Feel Loved? This song just doesn't do it live. Also 'One' has a better album version than most of the live versions in my opinion, and Stay (except the RDS Arena 1993 version of course

    The Unforgettable Fire is also a song they can't top live. It sounds well on the tour, but Bono doesn't seem to get the high parts during the live show (which isn't that strange of course) The Ground Beneath Her Feet and The Hands That Built America are also better on the album´, just like ´The First Time´..

    I´m tired at the moment, maybe I´ll add some more in the morning Goodnight lads!
  7. Originally posted by MirrorballBoyI agree about If You Wear That Velvelt Dress. I'll add Do You Feel Loved? This song just doesn't do it live. Also 'One' has a better album version than most of the live versions in my opinion, and Stay (except the RDS Arena 1993 version of course

    The Unforgettable Fire is also a song they can't top live. It sounds well on the tour, but Bono doesn't seem to get the high parts during the live show (which isn't that strange of course) The Ground Beneath Her Feet and The Hands That Built America are also better on the album´, just like ´The First Time´..

    I´m tired at the moment, maybe I´ll add some more in the morning Goodnight lads!

    Goodnight mate, disagree with one or two things there, though
  8. Originally posted by MirrorballBoyI agree about If You Wear That Velvet Dress. I'll add Do You Feel Loved? This song just doesn't do it live.


    Do You Feel Loved was'n that good live indeed. On itself it's hard enough to discover how to play it, beacuse it's very techno-ish. The lack of rehearsal time killed it for them of course.

    Originally posted by MirrorballBoyThe Ground Beneath Her Feet and The Hands That Built America are also better on the album´, just like The First Time..


    Those are two examples of songs that were full electrical on the album and acoustically when performed live (TGBHF was acoustically on Elevation Tour right? I've only heard an early performance of it on youtube from Irish tv I think). For TGBHF it doesn't work: it takes away the song's mystique and energy. I do like it on The First Time though, that's a very nice little number (I don't mean that degrading, it's just meant to be acoustic). But I think that most songs which they performed acoustically are way less than the elctric versions. What's the use of writing all the electric guitar, bass and drums if you ain't gonna use them anyway, like with SATS and Stay? Sometimes you can barely hear the difference between the guitars on those tracks. Luckily there are some great exceptions on this, like SBS on PopMart by Edge solo
  9. The Unforgettable Fire is better in-studio, unless they can airlift the recording chambers of Slane to each concert.

    Staring at the Sun has to be electric to be good, and thus is better in-studio. I wish they would have fixed its electric live version when it messed up in Las Vegas instead of going acoustic. However, I don't know if l like the Pop version or the Mike Hedges mix better - the Pop version is better instrumentally, but the Hedges mix has Edge's backing vocals.

    The Fly is equally good live and in-studio. Its Vertigo Tour versions were absolutely stunning (I love Edge's falsetto), but the studio version offers a dark aspect that could never be replicated live. And I love Bono's Zoo-era falsetto as much as Edge's Vertigo-era falsetto.

    That's it.
  10. For me, TGBHF was great acoustically, but I agree about the idea that it loses something in the transition from electric to acoustic. But for me, acoustics always add something to ballady stuff...

    THTBA was definitely better as a studio version for me, the elements all came together, but The First Time is just one of those songs which I could listen to in any form and still love, the lyrics are so resonating and I mean, musically it's fairly simple anyway - 3 chords the whole way through isn't tough, but it's still great.

    Another one to throw into the debate - UTEOTW. For me, this is far better live than on the album. It's still good on the album (I love the tribal-esque drums on the intro. prior to the main riff kicking in) but live, it just really turns into a great rock song - I have mentioned it elsewhere, but the Slane DVD version is the pinnacle, in my eyes. Everything comes together, and I mean the place goes nuts when the opening 'noise' kicks off, and Larry hits the sticks...

    Originally posted by digitizeThe Unforgettable Fire is better in-studio, unless they can airlift the recording chambers of Slane to each concert.

    Staring at the Sun has to be electric to be good, and thus is better in-studio. I wish they would have fixed its electric live version when it messed up in Las Vegas instead of going acoustic. However, I don't know if l like the Pop version or the Mike Hedges mix better - the Pop version is better instrumentally, but the Hedges mix has Edge's backing vocals.

    The Fly is equally good live and in-studio. Its Vertigo Tour versions were absolutely stunning (I love Edge's falsetto), but the studio version offers a dark aspect that could never be replicated live. And I love Bono's Zoo-era falsetto as much as Edge's Vertigo-era falsetto.

    That's it.

    TUF - still not heard enough to make a judgement, but I do love Edge's guitar tone on live stuff that I have heard

    SATS - I prefer it live and acoustic. It just has something different, whereas the album version just seems too overproduced for my liking. Still listen to it regularly though lol!

    The Fly - just great all over lol. The album version like you say has a certain darkness to it, whereas all the live versions have that extra energy, plus the outros are better live for me
  11. The Fly is better live than in the studio for sure...much more energy and the Flye really flies when it is alive..

    TUF is very good both live and studio. The Edge is more on fire though (The Unforgettable kind of Fire..) when he plays it live. Good topic btw..
  12. IYWTVD: I don't like the song, but it's much better live. Still, I don't hope they ever play it again
    Lemon: Love both versions, but I prefer the live versions. It's awesome to see Macphisto sing.
    SYCMIOYO: Think they're both nice, but live it has way more feeling in it.
    One: It's overplayed and I dislike both versions, but live is just way better
    Stay: I really like the studio version and the live versions are also good, but I prefer the studio, because I don't like it to be played acoustic.
    The Fly: Love all the versions but it's much better live. Especially the Elevation-tour version is just awesome.
    The First Time: Again, I love both versions, but the live versions during the Vertigo-tour are better.
    SATS: Studio version, same as for Stay, don't like it to be played acoustic. In opposite of Desire.
    TGBHF: Live
    THTBA: Studio
    TUF: Studio

    I'm a big fan of U2 live, as you can see. The songs get way more power in a live show.
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.