Has the show ever given a musical artist THREE slots before? Not counting instances when the host of the show also happened to be a musician, of course. U2 played “Vertigo” with their first slot, played something else presumably off their new album with the second slot, and then closed the show by plundering the vaults for “I Will Follow.”
Was Bono repeating the word “live” over and over again to poke fun at everyone’s favorite acid reflux victim, Ashlee Simpson?
From what I recall, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, and Pearl Jam all did three numbers when they were on. In each case, the third song they did was an older song (e.g., Neil Young did The Needle and the Damage Done and Paul McCartney did Hey Jude). Thus, given U2’s status, I wasn’t too surprised the band did a third number. However, what was unprecedented was the group’s launching into a fourth song. (Of course, nobody watching got to hear it because NBC wouldn’t let the show go overtime. :mad: I mean, what would we have missed if SNL ran an extra five minutes? The beginning of an infomercial on vitamin-selling that already aired 649 times?)
Yeah NPD I really wanted to hear what song that was only heard the opening chords and couldn’t make it out…In fact I logged in to the SDMB wondering if someone with inside info was going to post what that was … Bono and the boys really rocked out, I don’t recall scores of better SNL performances. Amy Poehler really seemed touched didn’t she ? Was Maya Rudolph crying like part of Beatle Mania?
I definitely thought the livelivelivelive stuff was a nod to the Simpson drama.
Made it worth it for a fairly unfunny show __ although the Tony Danza impression did make me laugh
I think the fourth song was All Because Of You. Edge goes to town–this is also the song with the highly appropriate line “I love the sound of my own voice.”
You can hear all the new songs at U2.com and it’s well worth it, IMHO.
Springsteen also did three songs in 1992.
I really felt like an asshole becaue Amy Poehler made me cry. If you are a 32-33 year old woman who liked U2 a lot prior to the year 1985 then a situation like that would definitely make you pretty emotional. That song definitely brings me back to a time when hormones were strong and U2 was a name you could be proud to magic marker on your army surplus backpack. I think the live live live was a reference to the fact that he just stuck his crotch in someone’s face and thinks he’s superduper cool cause he’s Bono. Which is another reason to cry. Bono grew up to be such a twit.
I laughed a lot last night. I love Luke Wilson though. I liked the science teacher in disguise, Debbie Downer, and the news. I also laughed a lot during the opening monologue. Do not forget the Train Wreck Awards! I love Maya’s Diana Ross. I also love her Whitney Houston. Rachel Dratch wasn’t exactly the most convincing Tara Reid but it still made me laugh. Amy was awesome as Anna Nicole.
I love SNL since Tina Fey has been doing the news and since the current female lineup. I only miss Will Ferrell a little bit but I love Fred Armisen and Horatio Sanz in their own way. Jimmy Fallon was hot but also annoying. I will be happy if this is a whole season of Amy Poehler jumping around yelling, Rachel Dratch making funny faces and Maya Rudolph using her diva voice.
My observations:
They rocked. I haven’t heard U2 do anything this good in a decade. That set just kicked ass.
They haven’t aged a day. Well, Adam Clayton looks like a middle-aged man, but bono and The Edge could have stepped right out of 1985.
Amy Poehler likes U2. Or at least Bono.
I recall REM doing three songs but that was some time ago.
Great performances last night; I am saving this tape.
That’s what the folks over at the @U2 forums seem to think it is. Why, oh why couldn’t they have extended SNL for another 5 minutes to show that one too? Oh, and why didn’t I tape the show so I could watch the performance again? :smack:
Yeah it was surprising to see a group that’s been around for 20+ years to sound
that great!!! U2 hasn’t lost anything. Also, considering this was a live television performance, the acoustics are usually not the most suitable for any musical performance. Unless they were extremely zealous to promote the new album (which I doubt), they really had no reason to perform on “Saturday Night Live”. A “foul up” on live TV could be devastating to any performer. I was really impressed that they “pulled this off” with great musicianship and no trace of “jitters” or stage fright.
Incidentally, I am not much of a U2 fan, so factor that in to my review. Geez, they were impressive.
In Tom Shales’s book about SNL last year, he stated at the beginning that he was not going to talk about the music on the show, because he doesn’t know much about music and that aspect of the show probably deserves its own book anyway.
I’m in complete agreement. From Paul Simon to Paul Shaffer to the Go-Gos to Buster Poindexter dueting with Chrissie Hyndes Sinead dueting with the Pope to U2 last night, there have been some amazing performances and amazing brouhahas in the musical acts of SNL.
U2 was just terrific last night. Just terrific. I know, again from Shales’s book, that they always put the weakest sketches at the end of the show. Probably last night Lorne and Tina looked at the last sketch and said to each other, “Screw that! Let’s get Luke to ask Bono if they’ll do one more number!”
Pull it! Pull it! Pull it! Pull it! Pull it!
I actually stayed awake just to watch U2 and I’m so glad I did, I wish I had taped it. I have such fondness for U2 even though it’s not cool to love them anymore, I loved them growing up and I am so happy that they continue to rock and put out good stuff and that they can actually perform live, unlike most other acts out now. I would cry unashamed if Bono hugged me too. I would melt into a puddle of goo at his feet. I love his persona, his arrogance, his humanitarian work. I am not usually such a ‘fan’ but damn I love U2.
Can’t wait to get their new album, hopefully I will get to see them again when they tour next. If I had money I would buy the U2 Ipod. I covet it.
U2 rocked SNL. They proved that they are the real deal once again. Professionals who write, produce, play, sing, perform all their own stuff. I’ll place the “Artist” label on them any day.
Makes ashley simpson look all the more pathetic “it’s like so hard to like be an artist you know.” Yeah, I know. Because your not even close to being one.
I was taping it for my wife who was out of town.
Since we have a cable box, I can only tape what I’m watching. Well, I flipped over to HBO during a commercial, and wouldn’t you know it, “Family Bonds” had a midget stripper at the guy’s birthday party.
I was so mesmerized that when I flipped back to NBC, U2 was half-way through “Vertigo”. Try explaining THAT ONE when she watches the tape.
Well, after WU, I went to bed and left it taping, so I’m happy to hear that they did 2 more tunes, including “I Will Follow”. I’ll watch it tonight.
Unfortunately, I missed 1-2-3-14.
LOLOL!
That will be the greatest story EVER! Keep us updated, eh Trunk? 
Hopefully she’ll understand.
“Well, you see, honey. . .it’s not like I changed the channel just for any old midget, or just to see a stripper. . .it was a MIDGET STRIPPER.”
Now, I’m starting to worry I didn’t keep flipping back to the midget stripper during the song. . .
“uno dos tres”
:: click ::
<midget stripper>
:: click ::
“Hello Hello”
:: click ::
<midget stripper>
:: click ::
“It’s everything I wish I didn’t know”
:: click ::
<midget stripper>
:: click ::
“girl with crimson nails”
:: click ::
<midget stripper>
:: click ::
“yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah YEAH!”
:: click ::
<midget stripper>
What a great performance.