An Open Letter to U2

Fully plagiarized, cut and pasted from a post on www.atU2.com by BenHur1999.

I just happen to agree, more than I can possibly express with my own words.

An open letter to U2.

Here's the deal.

You've been doing this for a while & you are very good at what you do.
I've been to a number of your concerts and love them.
Now I assume that you are aware of the numerous requests for you to vary your set.
And I respect your creative decision, up until now, to take a different approach.

I realise that since ZooTV, your shows have been more like broadway shows. With planned 'movements' and themes.
BUT and here's the rub.

If the U2 Live show wants to remain a hot ticket for the next 10 years.
Things have to change. Why?
Because the world has changed.

Zoo TV, Popmart & Elevation, 95% of people who went to a U2 concert had to wait until the DVD of the tour came out if they were to get an another perspective on the tour.

Now, more and more people will know your exact moves before they arrive.
If this is the case. I reckon the next world tour you do will end up being your last.

Why? No element of surprise.
Now let's face it. You have done everything you can to surprise us with the staging of this tour. It is incredibly ambitious. But where do you go from here?
Back to Arenas? nup, you did that with elevation. Worked well then. Predictable now. You could try to go bigger. But really it will start to get ridiculous.


So, to maintain interest. You need a new approach.

I know it may be very difficult for you as a band.
But what you need to do is SACK Willie Williams.

Williams is a genius. Don't get me wrong.
But once you have Williams and a whole team of creative directors.
The creativity of U2 is no longer necessary.

You don't feel you have to be creative.
So what happens?
You get lazy.
Or you work really really hard on your set-pieces.
And you pull off a brilliant show that can be taken around the world.
But with Youtube, instant access, more and more people who buy tickets to U2, will take a peek at what the tour is like.
And when the rest of the world see you are doing the same thing, night after night.
You're game is up.

But here's my prediction:

if this is not U2's last world tour,
U2360 will be the last world tour U2 will be able to 'get away with' a set-piece-show, and still draw the crowds. It will mark the end of a 19 year tradition for the band.

If they keep doing a set-standardized-show, they will be in a Vegas equivalent contract very, very soon.


1989 you went away and 'dreamed it all up again'. You reinvented your songs, your music your approach to life, you made a brilliant stage show. And you have reinvented your music a number of times since then.

BUT

You now (for the first time in your career - a bit risky I know!) reinvent your approach to playing together live.

You need to spend a year NOT recording an album.
But playing your entire back catalogue, together as a band.
Learn to be bit impromptu as a band,
Learn to be able to scribble a setlist out in the dressing room.

Be the first band that can fill stadiums AND be different every night without relying on a Willie Williams magician.


learn to be able to pull off any song (within Bono's vocal range) at the drop of a hat.
It will be hard.
But it will be worth it.

U2 shows will once again have a buzz about them.
They will no longer be known for themed sections of the show, but for the uniqueness of each individual show.

Now, you say, this only appeals to the hard core fans.

Perhaps. But don't under value your hard-core fans, they are the only people you can guarentee (for the time being) will actually turn up to your concerts.

If you lose your fan-base, you've lost your tour.

U2 are not beyond their ability to generate a buzz, create mystique and fill stadiums.

But they have to work really hard on lifting their live game.

If the adrenalin is pumping because they are about to play Last Night on Earth and straight into Heartland, followed by a sped-up version of Pride. That won't be too bad will it.



They need to get the fans to do the promo for them.

You have so many fans, that they can mobilise for PR.
If the set-list is changing every night, there will be a buzz, because fans will want to chat again.
And when millions of global U2 fans chat.
U2 comes back.
Mystique is regained.
The world is a better place.


Come on U2.
Stop songwriting and start playing properly.
Don't outsource your creativity.
Come on U2. Do it.

Stein!

Thus sayeth the Walla

Random

I just thought I'd post something.

Things are crazy. Busy. The pace of this year has served to wear me out. I'm gonna need some winter rejuvenation time.

I'm going out this weekend to see a concert or two and to work on a tribute for a famous entertainer who passed away this year.

Time to head for work.

Rock On!