U2 in Mexico: a politically correct show
Bono, U2 lead singer, said during the first of three concerts that the group offers in the Mexican capital, that “the generosity and spirituality of a country like Mexico can not be broken by anyone.”
The singer of the famous Irish rock band was positive given the difficult situation facing Mexico violence, noting that “tonight will not talk about negative things.” The above message was delivered by the musician before playing his famous song “I Still Have not Found What I’m Looking For.”
U2 gave the first of three presentations at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where he seeks to break his own world record in the convening of 300,000 people for three nights as part of his world tour “360.” The show, considered by Billboard magazine “the most profitable tour in history,” the first night called 93,100 people, according to data provided by the promoter Ocesa.
The Irish began their part of the concert after the group’s performance “Snow Patrol” group “headlined” by U2 in most of the current concert tour. First we heard the Mexican traditional song “Cielito Lindo” as background music, to which was followed by the song “Space Odyssey”, by British David Bowie, U2 piece took as their anthem to introduce the dazzling audience Claw “as you know your scenario, which symbolizes a spaceship.
U2 pleased their fans with songs like “Even Better Than the Real Thing” followed by “I Will Follow”, “Get on your Roots”, “Magnificent,” “Mysterious Ways” and “Elevation.” This is the fourth time that the band formed by singer Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. steps on Mexican soil, following his previous visits in 1992, 1997 and 2006.
360 ° Tour is the biggest show that the group is to Mexico City and the world, according to data provided by Jay Terry, director of production of the Irish quartet. The tour began in Barcelona on June 30, 2009 and ending on July 30, 2011 in Canada at the Magnetic Hill Music Festival, where the Grammy-winning group “Arcade Fire” will be the opening act for U2.
The second and third presentation of U2 in Mexico will be held next Saturday and Sunday on the same stage, which is expected to bring together 100,000 people each night.
Hola Mexico We Love U
El Cielito lindo warns us that are coming. Come to full light. With serene way, without saying goodbye, go to the tunnel. A minute later, the steps of the Aztec 120.000 sticks and throats roar of satisfaction.
For the second song, “I will follow”, and there seems no doubt: U2 brings more than a huge circular stage and some stunning displays, brings an expressive and musical energy envelope.
Mariana gets on stage and Bono helps to read a poem in Spanish of Nezahualcoyotl. Final repeat several times: “With songs give life on earth.”
Moment of calm. And the screens show an unexpected use: Subtitles.
Bono uses Spanish only to say “Snow Patrol is a band are tough.”
And still in English: “This looks like a space station but is actually a time machine. Today is May 11, is 10th was my birthday. I think of my mother and the mother of my children has come to be here with us.
“Mexico, hopefully they can see what we do, which is a wonderful country. Her spirit is indomitable. His joy … Tonight we will make the lights brighter. You are the bright lights and this song is for you. And play “With or with out you”. And now the whole song is heard in the stands and not just the chorus.
And in the end, Bono, The Edge, Mullen and Clayton showed in the May show impressive in the world, that all that flashy technology that gives vertigo is meaningless if it does not serve what they can do four musicians drums, bass, guitar and a microphone.
Finally, Bono says: “We want to dedicate this song to all who take a loved one in the violence in Mexico. This is not a problem only in this country, around the world, and we want to know they are not alone, that We are all with you.
¡U2 ya está en México! U2 is in Mexico !
Clayton made ​​a tour of recognition in the building where he was staying and his companions and then continued the trip to Coloso de Santa Ursula.
Having done a sound check at the Estadio Azteca, Bono and Larry Mullen Jr. arrived at the hotel on Paseo de la Reforma where they stay.Aboard two vans and escorted by a pair of mexican police cars, musicians entered the hotel through the back door under a barrage of flashes from the media.
A dozen fans of the group was in the place and screaming, asking artists with a greeting and congratulated Bono, his birthday. Bono simply raised his hand, answered “tomorrow, tomorrow“in Spanish, and disappeared from sight.
Rehearsals in Mexico
U2 rehearse in Mexico City, 10/05
Yesterday may have been Bono’s 51st birthday with thousands of birthday wishes Bono was off to work. Rehearsals at Azteco Stadium which officially kicks off the North American leg tonight. Our friends in Mexico that have been on site all week reported that the following songs have been rehearsed A couple of interesting surprises Please and Discotheque was throwen in the mix - while they may not be played as full songs only a snip to be inserted with Crazy Tonight - Only time will tell. What we do know is that Mexico is ready ! Fans have been waiting a couple of years for their return.
- Magnificent
- Discothèque riffs
- Crazy Tonight / Please
- Walk On
- One riffs
- Zooropa
- Magnificent
- Even Better Than The Real Thing
Happy Birthday Bono
Singer, activist. Born Paul Hewson on May 10, 1960, in Dublin, Ireland. The son of a Roman Catholic postal worker, Bono’s Protestant mother died when the boy was just 14. He joined the band U2 in October 1976 when he was in high school, and was dubbed “Bono Vox” (good voice). He was made frontman for the Irish rock band though his singing at the time was less compelling than his stage presence.
U2 began touring almost immediately and released its first album, Boy, in 1980. In 1987, they released The Joshua Tree, their sixth album and the one that catapulted the band — and its outspoken frontman — to stardom.
Subsequent albums secured U2’s reputation for range and innovation, including 1991’s industrial-sounding Achtung Baby, 1993’s funkier-edged Zooropa, and techno-influenced 1997’s Pop.
U2 has returned to its modern rock roots with 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind. Creating simple, but powerful music, the group scored with such tracks as the soaring “Beautiful Day,” which won the Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of Year. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004) also fared well, both commercially and critically. Its two leading singles, “Vertigo” and “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own,” made strong showings on the charts and won several Grammy Awards.
In March 2009, the band released No Line on the Horizon, which reached the top of the American pop charts. It featured such popular songs as “Get On Your Boots” and “Magnificent.” To support the album, Bono and the rest of the group have been touring extensively.
Bono and his wife Ali have been married since 1982. They have two daughters, Jordan and Memphis Eve, and two sons, Elijah and John Abraham.
Backstage at U2 Mexico
“From the Friday, April 29 began to bring campers and some units to be used as dressing rooms for both production and for the band. Also reached a fairly large contingent of trailers, in total will be 90. Three times more than any other concert we have ever had, told El Economista Héctor Raúl Barrios, Director of Operations of the Estadio Azteca in charge of logistics for mounting the production.
Interviewee says that the group had brought more trucks’ N Sync with 52, and in 2001 was the world’s largest production. Now U2 sets record. The 90 trailers loaded everything from “the irons, especially the floor which will build the structure that is shaped like a spider, audio, video, special effects and the need for the event,” said Barrios.
Mounting the stage started after the court was delivered on Sunday 1 May. Be used approximately 5,500 square feet to mount it. “We know that the grass will no longer so ready now 6.500 meters of grass in the nursery. Once we deliver the field on May 17 evening, we will begin restoration work to be ready by July 10 when the final of the FIFA U-17 “details.
“We have information that the band will be at the Azteca Stadium on 9 and May 10 for testing. But when it comes to Mexico, yes I know, “says the manager of logistics for mounting the production.
TIME OF INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF “THE CLAW”
The assembly kicked off on Monday, May 2, “and must be completed on the 8th. Ready to go 9. The disassembly starts after the event ends on 15 and give us the pitch on day 17 between 9 and 10 pm, ahead of The Economist.
About 250 people are working for the assembly, telling the Mexican staff ICE, the U.S. production and the Estadio Azteca.
Barrios talks for the moment the four parking lots generally used are saturated. In each are being carried out various maneuvers and operations for the event. “As the empty trucks are to leave three to get the space you normally require. General parking has not been touched, nor the shed. “
WHAT IS REQUIRED?
“What we provide at the Azteca are the spaces. Only the band asked us 2,500 square meters. There is parking on the south side which is preparing for a hospital, catering for the group and rest areas. Besides there is the whole backstage area, production, et cetera. “
The Director of Operations ensures that Azteca Stadium holding the event is a great challenge in the history of the stadium had not faced. “We’ve never had such a big event, so heavy and so important as to show respect by removing the part of football. Just as the Azteca stadium can afford them. “
SPACE
Around 18,000 people with tickets to court will be the first to enter the stadium - he explains - and then open the doors for all other people who attend.
“We will have a record entry of 110,000 people in each of the three concerts. No longer be possible to regain this amount of public concerts because we normally do in the stadium are not 360 °. In fact we Luis Miguel, Gloria Estefan, Elton John, Michael Jackson did not address all the back stage. This is unique in that the scenario is almost in the center of the court and you can see around, “says the interviewee.
- How long have you been involved in this project?
- “We’ve seen things with people in production since 2009 because we must remember that we have this event since last year but Bono health issues and problems that brought the band was canceled and rescheduled for this year. So it’s almost two years that we are with this project. We hope everything goes well and that May 11 is closed throughout this stage of preparations, “he says.
Héctor Raúl Barrios confirms the existence of which U2 has three stages around the world: “What I’ve heard is that it is. You can not have a single scenario that walks throughout the tour. There are three spiders. Three huge bugs are being assembled in different parts so that when the band gets is all perfectly prepared and able, without any problems, give their concerts. “
ENVIRONMENT FOR CONCERTS
The Azteca official confessed by the pressure is great, but it is a different emotion to make something that has to do with football. “It’s the biggest show in the world. Is equaled to prepare the World Cup or the Pope’s visit. Of that size is for us this emotion. “
But he also says that implies a big commitment as a total for the three nights telling the staff, vendors and employees for the event will be 350.000 spectators, “to which we must give public security, lighting and sanitation. We believe we have the preparation and infrastructure to pull it off. “
“We work shoulder to shoulder with the production and take into account all the recommendations we make and try to resolve it as quickly, professionalism and quality they require. Is the best show in the world today and hopefully I can enjoy, it’s worth coming because it does not come to Mexico every day, “he adds.
IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND
“You must come as comfortable as possible because the doors will be open from 3:30 to 4 pm and the show starts until almost 10 pm. Many hours which will run until the end of the event expected to conclude at 12:30 pm, “concludes Héctor Raúl Barrios, Director of Operations of the Estadio Azteca.
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TOUR OF THE STORY
The “360 ° Tour” which kicked off in Barcelona on June 30, 2009, managed to dethrone The Rolling Stones’s number one who had won four years ago with their “Bigger Bang Tour.”
The most ambitious tour of all time still has 26 shows pending and completed in Canada on July 30, 2011, when estimated to be collected about $ 700 million and will have been seen by more than 7 million people in 30 countries , as announced on 12 April, the concert promoter Live Nation with the Irish band who has a 12-year contract.
The “Bigger Bang Tour” to The Rolling Stones took place from 2005 to 2007 raised $ 554 million in ticket sales.
Madonna, the Queen of Pop, he could not stay without a crown and her “Sticky & Sweet Tour” which took place from August 23, 2008 to September 2, 2009 grossed $ 408 million, becoming an artist’s tour soloist with major gains of all time, surpassing the record that she had established in 2006 with “Confessions Tour,” which grossed $ 194 million.
Mexico Calls it U2 Week !
But the high demand for their fans not only reflected in the sale of tickets, but they themselves have become subject to sale items.
The quartet has, on the official website, a section of unique sales for Latin America. But do not just sell shirts, mugs and pins in collection, but also any kind of merchandise related to the activities of the group, and in particular of his vocals. Such is the case of Bono carries rosary in several concerts, sometimes hanging from the microphone.
A copy of this rosary is sold through a website which states that this item is brought directly from Italy. The seller claims it is the same as the singer has revealed itself in four different models including one gold and one of wood.
Or the ticket collection “One Bonodollar” limited edition. This article served to promote the movie The Million Dollar Hotel (2000), which Bono made the music and participated in developing the script. Appears on the ticket face interpreter.
A close relationship
In the past there were many rumors that the band stopped coming to Mexico because of an altercation with the family of a politician. The truth is that despite all, Paul Hewson, Larry Mullen Jr., David Evans (The Edge) and Adam Clayton cherish each one of the visits they make to our country, and in return, among U2 fans have several celebrities.
Matando Cabos producer and Saving Private Perez, Billy Rovzar, says that it is eager to see them again, because it is a staunch fan of the band for several years.
Many people speak of the innocence and human quality of Bono, but the producer recalled how he was the last time I lived with Bono. “We were in an incredible living Jaime Camil, we had lunch at his ranch. And to see Bond on TV, listen to your music, it totally changes when you know, human quality blinds you: when you see someone as big as he talk about the weather, the grass, how it behaves when no cameras, is something that leaves you with good taste, “says Rovzar.
Rovzar currently lies within the line producer of the Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn off the dark, stage where The Edge and Bono played music history.
“We are partners in Spiderman, he is personally rewriting the music, is also co-producer. Work for things I have not been on the boards has had with others, but hopefully soon be. “
Artist contributions
A follower of the band spent three thousand dollars in pure marketing, between her sweatshirts, pictures, shirts, mugs and claimed that Bono was all for it.
One night the band arrived at a prestigious hotel on Reforma Avenue in Mexico City and dismounting from the truck carrying them, Bono approached the fans who were outside the building.
The singer told to keep quiet and be with them, but some began to scream and try to get close and then the security team took to the band.
The incident was almost a scandal. The next day Bono took a few pictures with fans who stayed there.
Mothers,U2 and Spirituality
The spiritual journey starts at home, home is where these boys had started their musical journey that has taken them around the world and moved many to look beyond their square space. Today we honor those mothers that have given us Paul, Larry, Dave and Adam ( yes we used their christian names) The world is a much better place with their music and voice. Reglion always sparks some interesting conversations.
Given the opportunity to explore U2 from Theological, Spiritual view we have watched many books, sites and interesting side notes appear. However the classic general introduction to U2 from a spiritual perspective comes from Steve Stockman’s well organized Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2; “Stocki” an Irishman who has been writing on the band since the early 80s and knows their milieu intimately. Also consider the works of Vagacs and Scharen as well as Garrett to complete your collection, However, most of the best theologically informed writers on U2 are working in journals, magazines, and online. U2-and-God pieces are those by Steven Harmon and Mark Meynell
Since U2 lyrics reflect a thorough immersion in Biblical thought and language, it’s often useful to turn to Drawing Their Fish in the Sand, an online archive of scripture allusions in the band’s work.
Moving from reflection on U2 to material directly by the band, one option that will spark thought is Bono’s National Prayer Breakfast sermon in 2006, which can be viewed here (a 22-minute clip via CNN and YouTube) or purchased as the book On The Move (including photos from his service in Ethiopia with World Vision as a young man). An often-reprinted excerpt from Bono in Conversation, displays the singer at ease in the role of apologist for faith.
And then there’s listening! Novices should certainly explore a best-of album, or a classic like The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby; however, U2 are above all a live band whose vision cannot be fully grasped from their studio material, which is in essence a preliminary sketch for what they eventually achieve in performance.
Their slogan: “Live is where we live.”
We would recommend a trip to YouTube. Either look up performances of your own favorite songs, or observe a few characteristic U2-plus-their-audience moments: Where The Streets Have No Name (2001), Sunday Bloody Sunday (1988), Mothers of The Disappeared (1998—in Santiago with the real mothers brought onstage), the love song to the Holy Spirit Mysterious Ways (2009) and the ZooTV iteration of The Fly (1993) with Bono in character and disorientation on the agenda.
It’s a cliché to point out that the band’s name is a pun: You, too, can be part of this. With that outlook, it’s no surprise that I need to tell you that this guide just skims the surface of ways spiritually-minded listeners can interact with U2’s material. Come on in and mix it up; there’s room for everyone
There are big questions about some of the things they do and say. There are the financial decisions that U2 Inc. have made, there are other concerns of lifestyle and rock star egos, there are concerns about their theology and ethics. For example Christians some have cited their Coexist campaign (which calls on all the ‘Sons of Abraham - Jews, Christians and Muslims - to live together in peace) as evidence of universalism. Well, it may well be! Yet it is hard to deny the moral goodness of the objective.
If one needs labels (and how one wishes one didn’t), perhaps we should see U2 as ‘post-evangelical’ (in the sense of what Dave Tomlinson was getting at in his 1995 book of that name) more than anything else. That will leave many things to be desired for the regular evangelical, of course.
But it is interesting how often themes of historic Christian orthodoxy permeate and inform their creativity. It is of course easy for Christian observers to judge and condemn them - yet who of us can honestly claim to understand the choices, dilemmas and conflicts that arise from having such wealth and influence?
Nevertheless, they offer a profound challenge to Christians with their passionate and committed engagement 
with the world around us at the social, political and personal levels. U2 is one model of Christian artistic engagement at the highest and most exposed level.
You might not agree with everything they do; you may totally detest their music! But it is foolish to ignore their attempts – for in recent times, no another performers have brought a Christian worldview and set of values into the public square more wholeheartedly and globally than U2. “U2: The Stadium Psalmists & Prophets Mark Meynell
Closing Thoughts. Most of us listen to music as background, something to fill the void. I challenge you to listen to music, really listen. Listen not only to U2 songs, but all songs. You find that references to God and man are vast and written deep within songs that you never thought would have any reference at all.
2011 has been another defining year for the boys, and we of course will continued be along for the ride “Will You?”
Suggested Reading
- Achtung Baby (33 1/3 album guide) Catanzarite, Stephen Continuum New York 2007
- Bono on Bono: Conversations Assayas, Michka Hodder London 2005
- Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog Whiteley & Maynard (eds) Cowley Cambridge 2003
- Into The Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song Stokes, Niall Carlton London 2005
- One Step Closer – Why U2 matters to those seeking God Scharen, Christian Brazos Gr. Rapids 2006
- Religious Nuts, Political Fanatics: U2 in Theological Perspective Vagacs, Robert Cascade Eugene, OR 2005
- The U2 Reader: a Quarter Century of Commentary Bordowitz, Hank (ed) Hal Leonard New York 2003
- U2 by U2 McCormick, Neil (ed) HarperCollins London 2006
- U2: An Irish Phenomenon Cogan, Visnja Collins Press London 2006
- U2: Into the Heart (the stories behind every song) Stokes, Niall Thunder’s Mouth London 2005
- U2: The Complete Guide to their Music Graham / Oosten de Boer Omnibus London 2004
- Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 Stockman, Steve Relevant Orlando, FL 2005