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U2 UNITE BERLIN

U2 played an electrifying mini-set to an audience of 10,000 at Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) this evening, to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Rowan Stokes, 06 Nov 2009

With the crowd having waited patiently through snow, rain and wind on a bitterly cold Berlin night, U2's arrival on stage was greeted with joy and jubilation, the likes of which have not been seen in the city for almost 20 years. As the lights shone out over the historic city, it felt like a very special occasion indeed. And it was.

Bono took to the microphone like an old time preacher and immediately displayed his German linguistic skills. "Vielen Dank Berlin. Du bist Wunderbar," he told an appreciative audience. After that, it was down to business.

The opener, ‘One’, recorded 19 years ago in Berlin for the Achtung Baby album, went down a storm, backed by a stunning lightshow projected onto Germany's most historic landmark. The words WEST and OST were displayed together, then divided, followed by ONE, followed by FREEDOM and LOVE. It was perfect way to open the night.

‘One’ was succeeded by the powerful ‘Magnificent’ from No Line On The Horizon, and if ever there was a joyful noise this was it. The lines "Only love can heal such a scar" and "Only love unites our hearts" took on an added poignancy, as the whole of Berlin sang along.

However, it was ‘Sunday, Bloody Sunday’, which will go down, for many, as the highlight of the night. The song written about the divide within Northern Ireland could just as easily have been written about Berlin, the yearning for peace and unity amid the slings and arrows of outrageous human conflict seeming as relevant as ever. "Tonight, we can be as one," Bono sang and the as the mass chorus echoed into the night sky, Jay-Z – 'The Mayor of New York' as Bono dubbed him – joined the band to finish the song. Along the way, U2 merged ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ with Bob Marley's ‘Get Up, Stand Up’, minting some original lyrics to fit the moment:

"And all the lovers and hate
That pass these keepers of the gate
And it's a heavy weight this history
But it's not too late..."

After ending the song and bidding farewell to the mayor, Bono spoke directly to the audience and the cameras. "Feel this moment that we're in, in this beautiful city of Berlin... Ich liebe Berlin," he said, before putting his hand to his heart. ‘Beautiful Day’ was the natural follow-up and was as superb as it has ever been, ending with a verse from The Beatles' ‘Blackbird’.



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Rowan Stokes

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