The Concert of a Lifetime -- Part 3

"Uno! Dos! Tres! Catorce!" (One, Two, Three, Fourteen!)

So screamed Bono with a rollick, in terrible Spanish, and "Vertigo" began. "Vertigo" isn't my favourite U2 song in particular, but I hate to admit that I was taken with Bono's swaggering intro. Next on the setlist was "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight", another song I'm not yet fully enamoured with, but it was still enjoyable.

Really, I was hoping for as many oldie-goldies as possible, and the next song didn't disappoint. With a somewhat unclear introductory video referencing the Iranian elections, Larry's militant drumbeats and Edge's insistent repetitions of one of the most iconic guitar riffs in rock history ushered in the oldest song of the night: "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" from 1983's War album. You just can't go wrong with it. Edge's guitar instrumental in the middle was slashing and jarring, just as it should be.

Afterwards, U2 was generous enough to include a rare treat, which I quite enjoyed: "MLK" from 1984's "Unforgettable Fire" album. An underspoken, hymn-like tribute to the great Dr. King. It was so stirring, I was wrapped up in the moment of appreciating the song. I was grateful, too, that they included the following song on their setlist. Devoting it (and the rest of the concert) to Burmese civil rights leader Aung Sun Suu Kyi, they played song which pleases my sentimental side: "Walk On". It was everything that I hoped for it to be. U2 then left the stage, and some suckers in the crowd, thought that the concert was over, and left. In disbelief, I repeatedly pointed out that they still hadn't played "Streets".

Of course, they came back. They played "One", their painfully beautiful song about love and isolation in a fallen world. I pulled out the lighters I had brought for this song and distributed them accordingly. Next, they lead the oblivious crowd in a stirring rendition of "Amazing Grace". It was wonderful to sing the song along with the band. And then... the stained-glass strains of Edge's guitar filled the Roger's Centre with the chiming notes of what is arguably their greatest masterpiece: "Where the Streets Have No Name". It was simply perfect; there is no more that they can say. The three songs together held a sort of redemptive trajectory: from the ironic (in the Fryean sense) separation of fallen love in the first, to the comedic path of redemption in the second, to the enjoyment of the Romantic world of Heaven in the third.

U2 then went back under the stage, and more suckers left the building.

Their second encore was tremendous. Bono was wearing -- I kid you not -- a jacket with lasers coming out of it, and was holding onto and swinging from what I can only describe as a flourescent steering wheel of a microphone suspended from above. The opening chords of their next song took me aback, initially, because I didn't at first know what they were, but I quickly realized that they were playing "Ultraviolet" from "Achtung Baby". I really loved it, a fantastic song. To hear Bono wail "Baby, baby, baby, light my way" as lasers shot out of his chest was truly magical.

Next was, I have to say, was the song I had been waiting for. As soon as I heard Adam's insistent bass line and the unearthly and pure sustain of Edge's guitar on "With or Without You" I felt deeply affected. Words fail for how magical this song was. Bono's vocal performance was perfect as the disco ball illuminated a crowd of tens of thousands, while one felt a strange intimacy with the band, even in the nosebleed section. This was the most magical song of the night. I wish I was still listening there listening to that song.

The final song of the night is the second best song on the new album: "Moment of Surrender" -- another Augustinian spiritual song. As Bono sang such naked lyrics as "My body is a begging bowl, and I'm begging to get back to the rhythm of my soul, to the rhythm of my unconsciousness", my friend pointed out that the lights of the CN tower were pulsing in many colours along with the music. It was gorgeous. The band left, and I was silent. I could barely say anything for the rest of the night.

My analysis several days (weeks?) after the concert? It was surprising to see not a single song from "Pop" on the setlist, although I have read they have not played an entire song from the album on their whole tour. I was especially glad that they played "Until the End of the World" at this concert. I would have been happy if they had played "Gloria" or "40" or "New Year's Day", but I could not complain with the fantastic song line-up.

All in all, the concert renewed my love for U2 and was an entirely unforgettable night.