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So I was innocently scrolling through my friends list when my eyes slid past this post on [livejournal.com profile] u2 about U2 shows in Phoenix and Atlanta. Only--and I'm sure you can all see what's coming--I kinda misread the second part. "Wow!" I thought, "U2 is doing a show in Atlantis!"

Then I thought: "Now there's a crossover I secretly kind of want to really must never write."

And then I thought: "Actually, this may have already occurred because...

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...John and Rodney have clearly snagged souvenir Bono glasses." (Cap by [livejournal.com profile] sdraevn.)

I amuse and frighten myself.

Speaking of U2 and me being frightening, yesterday [livejournal.com profile] wychwood asked for my Top Five U2 Songs as part of the Top Five Meme (for the record: "Lemon," "Out of Control," "One," "Until the End of the World," and "If You Wear That Velvet Dress" or "Drowning Man," depending on my mood), then reciprocated with her own. I immediately turned into a freak of nature: "But those are so conventional!" (Like "One" isn't?) "You need to hear more exotic U2, STAT!" When I resumed semi-normal breathing patterns, I offered to send her some stuff. Unfortunately, most of my U2 .mp3s are protected (yes, I know you can get around that, but it is a pain in the ass and I am lazy) so what follows is mostly whatever fell into the center of a Venn Diagram crossing "Stuff that [livejournal.com profile] wychwood doesn't already have" and "Stuff of [livejournal.com profile] trinityofone's that's unlocked." Of course, it also falls into a third category: "Stuff that is really, really awesome."

Race Against Time
A tense, moody instrumental piece from the "Where the Streets Have No Name" single. I used this in my SGA S1 Mix as the track for '38 Minutes.'

Outtake 2: Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Come
Another instrumental, this one from the "Unforgettable Fire" single. I have unholy love for the title, and the song is pretty damn cool, too.

Trash, Trampoline, and the Party Girl (Studio Version)
This song is probably best known for being performed live, but I really like the studio version. Also, I have been writing an SGA story titled after this baby for months *whimpers in the direction of [livejournal.com profile] monanotlisa*, so y'all should listen to it and send me good-progress vibes.

If You Wear That Velvet Dress (Live from Mexico City)
I always thought that the album version of this song (it's from the IMO underappreciated Pop) was pretty much the sexiest thing I had ever heard; then I listened to this. I'll wear that velvet dress for you, Bono! All you had to do was ask!

Out of Control
I love U2's later stuff, but there's something wonderful and innocent and perfect about the songs off their first album, 1980's Boy. Bono wrote the words to this song when he was 18. One day I'll die/The choice will not be mine/Will it be too late?/You can't fight fate. Best played REALLY LOUD.

Deep in the Heart
Bits of this rival "If You Wear That Velvet Dress" for sexiness. From the "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" single, its one drawback is that the lyrics are annoyingly heterosexual. Makes it difficult to use as the inspiration for McKay/Sheppard fic, darn it.

Until the End of the World (Live from Slane Castle)
To counter that, a really great live version of the best song ever about a gay Jesus. *eg*

Rejoice
Um, and to counter that, a song from October, the only U2 album that I find annoyingly preachy. Yet this song still has one of my favorite lyrics: I can't change the world/But I can change the world in me.

Night and Day (Steel Strings Remix)
...And then gay sex trumped religion once more with this cover of the classic Cole Porter song, one of the lustiest, lustful things I have ever heard. The longing in every word, every note...and of course the repression... *dies*

Stay (Faraway, So Close!) [Underdog Mix]
A funky/cool remix of one of my favorite songs. And another one that's all about yearning. Am I sensing a theme?

Drowning Man
Yup. I'll cross the sky for your love, Bono sings in this one and...oh, the hurt, it hurts so good.

Seconds
This, like "Drowning Man," is off the album War. Unlike "Drowning Man," Bono isn't singing: this is one of the three songs in which The Edge has lead vocals. (Quick! Name the other two! Win a cookie!) This is a great song for Sheppard, even without the little chirruping voices in the background singing, "I wanna be an Air Force Ranger! I wanna live a life of danger!"

Bad/Norwegian Wood (Live)
"Bad" has never been one of my favorite U2 songs, and the fact that stupid people *coughJJAbramscough* are always using it in romantic moments on their stupid shows *coughAliascough* even though it's about DRUGS, PEOPLE, DRUGS...well, in spite of all that, this version rocks, mostly because the little snippet of "Norwegian Wood" is just. too. cool.

So Cruel (Live Acoustic)
I've posted this before: a really eerie version of "So Cruel" that I think must come from a sound check or something--notice that they start over at the beginning. Ah, the weird stuff I used to pick up on Limewire before Trinity's stupid network cut me off from peer-to-peer sharing, *sob sob*

One (Live with Craig Armstrong)
Okay, "One" kills me because it is pretty much THE SONG of any ship I have ever shipped, including my own poor doomed OCs in The Novel. This version? Well, it kills me even more, because it is all the angst and pain of Achtung Baby-"One"--plus strings! *wibble*

Running to Stand Still (Live)
Another song that is about DRUGS, PEOPLE, DRUGS. But that is very pretty, nonetheless.

In God's Country (Live from Chicago)
Heh, I once quoted this song in a paper I wrote about Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf. See, 'cause he was arguing that the Irish were like Grendel lurking outside the warmth of England's Herot, and Grendel's supposed to be a descendent of Cain, and Bono sings I stand with the sons of Cain, and U2 is an Irish band and...okay, I can see why I only got a B on that one.

Spanish Eyes (Live)
Bono has this weird obsession with the concept of "Spanish Eyes"--it pops up in a number of songs, and I really have no idea what it means. But if it keeps him growling the likes of, And I need your love/More than you need me...well, then I am totally okay with that.

Mysterious Ways (Live from Paris)
I like this version of "Mysterious Ways" a lot, although I think it sacrifices some of the strength of The Edge's opening riff in favor of serpentine rhythm. The Achtung Baby original is better.

The Fly (Live from Paris)
From the same concert as the above, this is possibly the best live version of ANYTHING I have ever heard. EVER. The introduction: And love...shines like a burning star, falling from the sky tonight...well, it gives me chills. And hey, "The Fly" is a kick-ass song all on its own. If you download just one thing here, download this.

Staring at the Sun (Live)
I'm not sure where this version of this song is from, but I like how raw it is.

Elevation (Live from New York)
"Elevation" is far from my favorite song on All That You Can't Leave Behind, but it's FANTASTIC live, and this proves it.

Kite (Live from Slane Castle)
"Kite" is my favorite song on ATYCLB, and it's just as heart-wrenching in this format. Perhaps more so: Bono's story at the beginning about his dad and Edge's dad hanging out in New York? Aww. And also, *sniff*

Peace On Earth/Walk On (WTC Tribute)
I actually like the little bit of "Peace On Earth" at the beginning of this better than the rest, but I know [livejournal.com profile] wychwood really loves "Walk On," so...

The Wanderer (Walk the Line)
From the recent Johnny Cash tribute. This is a song that U2 wrote for Cash, and that he sang at the end of their album Zooropa. The Cash version is better (and it is THE song for The Dark Tower's Roland, or so I still insist...), but this is a fitting tribute.

Lemon (Live from Sydney)
Everything, all things, come back to "Lemon." A man dreams of leaving but he always stays behind...

ETA: And a .zip file of all of them, if you are so inclined.
ETA2: Fresh .zip file, 'cause the other one all ran out and stuff.

Enjoy! Please tell me if the links run out, and if you want to share your random thoughts about any of these songs or about U2 or music in general, I would looooooove that. Oh, and [livejournal.com profile] nenar and [livejournal.com profile] caseymae: I know I still owe you mixes. I am working on them. Hopefully some of this can help tide you over...
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December 2012

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