U2 in Hawaii: Vertigo

On December 9 in Aloha Stadium, U2 gave us a near trademark opening: "Lights," "Vertigo" and "Elevation." Our group of nine stood next to the left ramp, at the bottom of a funnel lined with 47,000 people.

Though many might feel it has been over-played and over-exposed, I still like "Vertigo." In fact, it keeps growing on me, particularly after experiencing it in a stadium. U2's stadium show features a video wall that comes alive on "Vertigo" and other songs (more about "Window in the Skies" later). Visuals perfectly complemented the lyric by reinforcing the spinning chaos through hot colors and psychedelic designs. The song calls forth feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and fear in a world out of control. This is made even more poignant in the Jacknife Lee mix of the song. In this version, the line "A feeling so much stronger than a thought," is replaced with "And fear has taken over every thought." The emphasis is clearly on a preoccupation with fear.

Studio Version

Lights go down, it's dark
The jungle is your head
Can't rule your heart
A feeling so much stronger
Than a thought
Your eyes are wide
And though your soul
It can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Jacknife Lee Version

Lights go down, it's dark
The jungle is your head
Can't rule your heart
And fear has taken over
Every thought
Your eyes are wide
Although your soul
It can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Here's a few pictures from December 9 that help us see it as well as hear it. You can't view the graphics in their original morphing and swirling motion, but try to use your imagination. "Your love is teaching me - how to kneel."

Comments

[jessica mast]

wow... that one changed line does make quite a bit of difference, at least a differnt focus of the song. the concept of fear makes me think of the "post 9-11 world" you talk about in connection with "vertigo." as a nation we get so preoccupied with the worry about what might happen, and forget to see the goodness among the crazy times.

(any idea why it's called teh jacknife lee mix?)

[Jennifer]

Jacknife Lee is a producer who worked on some songs on HTDAAB with them :) Search Jacknife on U2.com for a few stories

[Jennifer]

I've always enjoyed Vertigo. I have had the experience of having a song grow on me, partiulcarly after hearing it live. The first one that pops to mind is Elevation.

[jessica mast]

thanks jennifer! it's nice to know tibits of info... : )