Avoiding the REAL argument here Sergio? (all in good fun)
Hahaha no, not actually.
Acrobat is indeed a very different song and the one that probably feels the most out of place in the album - I give you that. But that doesn't make it any worse. God Part II feels like it doesn't belong to Rattle&Hum (in fact, it might as well be part of Achtung Baby, both lyrically and musically) but is still one of the best songs in that album. The same goes for Exit-The Joshua Tree or other songs. Feeling like not belonging to its album shouldn't be a factor in properly appreciating a song on its own!
Acrobat is rage, Acrobat is anger, Acrobat is the scream against those bastards, it's the song that makes you wanna punch someone or else go out and make the most of your -few-chances to get it right. Acrobat has got Larry on fire and Edge playing like he hasn't ever since (maybe only in Love Is Blindness and Dirty Day). And of course, it has Bono, undressing his own feelings and showing the world his rockstar face paired with his acrobat face, and telling himself "how can I stand this?". Nah, it's an awesome song.
Maybe/Probably the fact that it's never been performed live plays an important role in extending its "black legend" and make us fans overrate it in a way, I will give you that too. But it's understandable anyway, isn't it?
It is understandable maybe, and the reasons you gave I'll most definitely grant. I don't want it to be interpreted that I don't think it's an awesome song, I really do. I listen to it all the time when I listen to AB, I don't skip it or anything like that. And yeah being a song that may not fit with the rest of the album isnt' a reason against it (I think God Part II is like top 3 on Rattle and Hum) but for me it's just the music of the song. It's kind of like one big climax that doesn't really take off, because it already has taken off. It could be argued that the solo is the take off point, but it's not all that different from the guitar parts throughout the whole song except it's up an octave and it's a little dirtier.
To me Achtung Baby is an album of songs. It's when Bono said "fuck sketches, I'm going to write some LYRICS, and SONGS". I don't think Acrobat could fit on any other album, but in an album full of really structured songs I think it's too "skectchy". Again, not a reason to say it's bad, but in comparison to the other songs AS a collection of songs on Achtung Baby it's just not up there with a lot of the others.
I think almost every song on Achtung Baby could be a single, and not because they have a commercial sound or anything like that, but because they stand so strong on their own. Acrobat doesn't really for me. It all comes down to taste, and people will always have their own opinions.
4 - Zoo Station
3 - Even Better Than The Real Thing
4 - One
3 - Until The End of The World
3 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
3 - So Cruel
3 - The Fly
3 - Mysterious Ways
4 - Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World
5 - Ultraviolet (Light My Way) (+)
2 - Acrobat
4 - Love Is Blindness
3 - Night and Day
5 - Lady With The Spinning Head
2 - Salomé
3 - Blow Your House Down
1 - Satellite of Love (-)
2 - Heaven and Hell
2 - Oh Berlin
3 - Near the Island
3 - Down All The Days
3 - Fortunate Son
1 - Alex Descends Into Hell For a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1 (-)
4 - Zoo Station
3 - Even Better Than The Real Thing
4 - One
4 - Until The End of The World (+)
3 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
3 - So Cruel
3 - The Fly
3 - Mysterious Ways
4 - Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World
5 - Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
2 - Acrobat
4 - Love Is Blindness
3 - Night and Day
5 - Lady With The Spinning Head
2 - Salomé
3 - Blow Your House Down
1 - Satellite of Love
2 - Heaven and Hell
2 - Oh Berlin
2 - Near the Island (-)
3 - Down All The Days
2 - Fortunate Son (-)
1 - Alex Descends Into Hell For a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1
4 - Zoo Station
3 - Even Better Than The Real Thing
4 - One
4 - Until The End of The World
4 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (+)
3 - So Cruel
3 - The Fly
3 - Mysterious Ways
4 - Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World
5 - Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
2 - Acrobat
4 - Love Is Blindness
3 - Night and Day
5 - Lady With The Spinning Head
2 - Salomé
3 - Blow Your House Down
1 - Satellite of Love
1 - Heaven and Hell (-)
2 - Oh Berlin
2 - Near the Island
3 - Down All The Days
1 - Fortunate Son (-)
1 - Alex Descends Into Hell For a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1
4 - Zoo Station
3 - Even Better Than The Real Thing
4 - One
4 - Until The End of The World
4 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
3 - So Cruel
3 - The Fly
3 - Mysterious Ways
4 - Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World
5 - Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
3 - Acrobat (+)
4 - Love Is Blindness
3 - Night and Day
5 - Lady With The Spinning Head
2 - Salomé
3 - Blow Your House Down
1 - Satellite of Love
1 - Heaven and Hell
2 - Oh Berlin
1 - Near the Island (-)
3 - Down All The Days 0 - Fortunate Son(-)
1 - Alex Descends Into Hell For a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1
4 - Zoo Station
3 - Even Better Than The Real Thing
4 - One
4 - Until The End of The World
4 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
3 - So Cruel
4 - The Fly (+)
3 - Mysterious Ways
4 - Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World
5 - Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
2 - Acrobat (-)
4 - Love Is Blindness
3 - Night and Day
5 - Lady With The Spinning Head
1 - Salomé (-)
3 - Blow Your House Down
1 - Satellite of Love
1 - Heaven and Hell
2 - Oh Berlin
1 - Near the Island
3 - Down All The Days
1 - Alex Descends Into Hell For a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1
4 - Zoo Station
3 - Even Better Than The Real Thing
4 - One
4 - Until The End of The World
4 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
3 - So Cruel
4 - The Fly
3 - Mysterious Ways
4 - Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World
5 - Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
1 - Acrobat (-)
4 - Love Is Blindness
3 - Night and Day
5 - Lady With The Spinning Head
1 - Salomé
3 - Blow Your House Down
1 - Satellite of Love
1 - Heaven and Hell
2 - Oh Berlin
0 - Near the Island (-)
3 - Down All The Days
2 - Alex Descends Into Hell For a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1 (+)
You have all been very kind to Alex. Good. Let's see if it survives for another round.