Miami - Vindicated?

[Kurukira]

Caroline van Oosten de Boer was founding editor of U2log.com (2000-2011) and co-author (with Pimm Jal de la Parra) of 'U2 Live - A Concert Documentary' (Omnibus Press).  She provided her U2 playlist to U2.com, and guess which song made her list...and she's referring to the LIVE VERSION:

What? Ok, I hear you. You hate this song. Fair enough. Maybe it’s not the greatest track on Pop, but baby, you should have seen it live. On the road, this strange little ditty became the perfect vehicle for Bono to show off the full extent of his ability to ham it up: strutting around in his peacock shirt, with his Clockwork Orange meets Ulster Orangeman bowler hat, twirling a Stars and Stripes brolly. Taking into account the band was playing this the week Gianni Versace was murdered on Miami Beach, it blew our heads completely when we saw them do it – some of the best memories I have of seeing U2 live with my friends. For me, Popmart was the greatest tour, and the Miami / Bullet the Blue Sky / Please cluster was its thumping heart of darkness.

Caroline, not only have you co-written one of my favorite U2 books, you have justified 'Miami' live. Truly a woman of good taste.  Check out the rest of her U2 playlist:

http://www.u2.com/news/title/sonic-otherness

[Velvet Dress]

That's great, but I think people who hate Miami aren't going to change their minds based on what she said, if seeing videos of the Popmart shows can't convince them of its greatness live.   The last sentence you quoted there is perfect, though.

Was she referring to any performance in particular?

[Kurukira]

That's great, but I think people who hate Miami aren't going to change their minds based on what she said, if seeing videos of the Popmart shows can't convince them of its greatness live.   The last sentence you quoted there is perfect, though.

Was she referring to any performance in particular?

Maybe that's true (for those who hate it), but those of us who don't now have some more ammunition to work with, let's put it that way.  She did make mention of a performance of it the week of Gianni Versace's death (he died July 15, 1997), so I'm guessing the Rotterdam shows (July 18 & 19) were referenced here (thanks U2Start!).

[marvgadgie]

The Pop LP/tour was a perfect example for me how U2 are/were(*delete as appropriate)  incredible live whatever the latest release. I thought Pop was a decent, not great, LP but the Pop Mart tour was incredible when I saw it in Leeds. Songs that I thought were alright became absolute monsters live - Mofo and Please in particular were songs I liked but was blown away by them live. Miami as a studio song didn't, and still doesn't, do much for me but yes, when lined up with Bullet/Please/Streets it was the most memorable part of a great concert. U2 songs get better as they are toured.

[emalvick]

Those Pop songs in general improved with touring.  I specifically love the way Miami and Please came about.  Those were two songs I didn't care much about until I heard them live.  It's kind of the way Bullet the Blue Sky came to life for me when it first got toured live.  That song has since died with me with a bit of a deterioration in performance as of the Elevation tour, but I love what it was.

With regards to Miami, my only complaint is that I don't think a live version has officially been released anywhere.  It seems the popmart from Mexico city put in Sunday Bloody Sunday and Desire instead of Miami by that stage of the tour, and I don't remember having any truly great soundboards from that tour.

[The Unknown Caller]

Still think that Miami is the worst U2 song of all time and even worse live. Sorry!

[Sugarcube]

Still think that Miami is the worst U2 song of all time and even worse live. Sorry!

Have you heard Get on your Boots?

[Chip]

Yes, the POPmart version vindicated "Miami." It was the perfect leadin to "Bullet" and, in fact, was the equivalent of "Bullet" but applied to materialism and hedonism.

[Bundang Dave]

Still think that Miami is the worst U2 song of all time and even worse live. Sorry!

Have you heard Get on your Boots?

Heh, I love both Miami and Boots!

[Kurukira]

Yes, the POPmart version vindicated "Miami." It was the perfect leadin to "Bullet" and, in fact, was the equivalent of "Bullet" but applied to materialism and hedonism.

Not only that, I have always thought it was the spiritual successor to "Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car"

[briscoetheque]

Yes she is dutch. She's talking about the rotterdam shows.

Both of which are available on really high quality bootlegs and are brilliant shows.

[jick]

That song will never be vindicated.

Unless the Heat win the NBA Championship.

Cheers,

J

[miami]

i've always championed miami on these boards, especially the live popmart versions. i don't trust anyone who doesn't enjoy miami live, they obviously aren't  lovers of u2's darker, twisted, more interesting side.

[JTBaby]

Miami doesn't NEED vindication.

It came into it's own live.

That being said a 10-song Pop sans Miami and Playboy Mansion would be a classic, as opposed to the near miss it is.

It would be the best song on HTDAAB (airball)

[Kurukira]

That song will never be vindicated.

Unless the Heat win the NBA Championship.

Cheers,

J

LOL, THAT would be great - then you can't complain if some of us changed our signatures to 'my mammy' for the occasion!