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  1. I was thinking the other day that some of the songs that I enjoy the most live are songs that I find very skippable when listening to the studio versions...

    ...I'm not talking about songs that "just" sound better live than in studio, because that's like 90% of U2's catalog, no, I'm talking about songs that I consider rather weak, a bit boring or that I even dislike a bit in their studio versions, but when they start playing them live I can't help but start air-guitaring myself or feeling the urge to sing along with it, songs that become a highlight in any show they're in.

    For me, some of these songs are:

    I Threw a Brick Through a Window ("...no one... no one is blinder..." totally love that line live)
    I Still Haven't Found
    Angel of Harlem
    Mysterious Ways
    Magnificent

    I think there were more, but I don't remember now...
    ...do you feel that way about some songs too?
  2. Interesting topic. Funnily enough I actually totally disagree with all of your songs! Except Magnificent, but that's because I skip NLOTH in its entirety I love the album versions of the songs you mentioned, especially Still Haven't Found. The album version has a vibe and a feeling that they've never been able to match live. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they've never played it as well or it hasn't been as good, just saying they're different and I love the album version.

    I think Wire is one that I tend to skip on The Unforgettable Fire. When I listen to that album I'm usually in the mood for ambient U2, and that song sticks out like a sore thumb a little bit, at least for me. When I watch a UF bootleg of a show when they actually played it though, it definitely kicks ass live.

    One Tree Hill is another one where the live version is so much better that it makes the album version sounds a bit bland, Exit I'll listen to sometimes but other times I'll skip it. The Rattle and Hum performance is just too damn good.

    Love is Blindness is one that I sometimes skip, the live version with Macphisto is so much more powerful.

    Staring At The Sun - I hate the album version and it's weird synths.

    All I can think of right now I think. But this thread made me remember how much of a kick-ass song Love and Peace is
  3. Please is one of these tunes for sure. One of the best songs played live ever
  4. The songs from October are a prime example of this. Don't listen to the album that much, but love the live versions of Rejoice, I Fall Down, With A Shout, Gloria. I still love the album version of Tomorrow, though.
    Surrender is another example. The live versions are like another song!
  5. I must admit I have quite a few songs in mind where the opposite is the case. enjoy the studio version, don't like the live one...

    to stay on topic though, songs I skip on the album but enjoy live:
    I'll go crazy...
    stuck
    kite
    pride

    not many, apparently. there are a few more I wouldn't go crazy over either way. ahum
  6. I almost prefer all live versions but big examples for this topic for me :

    Vertigo
    Beatiful day
    Please
    Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World
    Zoo Station
    Bullet The Blue Sky
    40
  7. Agreed with those who mentioned Exit and Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World. I will add:

    Bad
    Dirty Day
    Miami

    Of those five, I'd most especially like to see Exit and Dirty Day make a comeback on the I & E Tour. They are absolute beasts live.
  8. Bad too ... big difference with the live version
  9. - 11 O'Clock Tick Tock (average AT BEST on the studio version, but one of their best live songs)
    - I Threw a Brick Through a Window
    - Party Girl
    - Surrender
    - "40"
    - Bad
    - MLK (I know it isn't that different but I just like it better live)
    - Silver and Gold
    - Angel of Harlem

    And while I adore the studio version of Bullet the Blue Sky (it's probably my second or third favourite on The Joshua Tree), that distorted, hard rocking ZooTV version is infinitely even more awesome.
  10. do you guys really skip these songs on the albums??
  11. The ones I mentioned yes sometimes I do.

    From the ones others have mentioned, I'm with you on Stuck (although I don't find it that exciting Live to include it on my list), and with CMIPalaeo's MLK (I really dislike Bono's voice in the album version) and Silver And Gold (without the live energy it sounds a bit boring to me).

    I personally like but I can see people skipping Dirty Day or Miami.

    But I didn't thought that many people "disliked" studio Bad... obviously it's better live, but it's still a TUF highlight for me.

    Anyway, I really find interesting how different we as fans perceive U2's good and bad, highs and lows... it's totally subjective and I'm not sure other bands out there can have that many songs considered both their best and their worst at the same time for their fans.
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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.