Opening Act(s): Snow Patrol, The Hours
Setlist:
Breathe, No Line On The Horizon, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent - Miss Sarajevo, Beautiful Day, Elevation, One - Unchained Melody, Until The End Of The World, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Unknown Caller, The Unforgettable Fire, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, Pride (In The Name Of Love), MLK, Walk On, Where The Streets Have No Name - Happy Birthday. Encore(s): Ultra Violet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender.
Remarks:
At the first ever U2 concert in Croatia, snippets of Miss Sarajevo are performed after Magnificent. Furthermore, Bono recites a few lyrics of Ivan Gundulic's poem "Dubravka" during Beautiful Day. The Edge's 48th birthday celebrations spill over as well into tonight's show with champagne and a "Happy Birthday" right before the Encore.
Media Review:
Croatian Times
U2 wows Zagreb
by Marija Andric
Irish band "U2" gave a spectacular two-hour concert yesterday (Sun) evening in front of around 63,000 fans at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb.
Irish rock band "Snow Patrol" and British "The Hours" preceded U2 on the stage.
Bono Vox and his band played in Croatia for the first time, which thrilled numerous fans.
In one of his numerous emotional addresses to the audience Bono said: "Thank you for hosting us in this beautiful country. Thanks also to those of you who came from other parts of the region. This is a beautiful country, and you are a beautiful people."
Remembering numerous war victims, Bono dedicated the song "One" to those whose warm hearts had been injured by cold ideals.
As opposed to many stars who barely know in which country they are singing, the Irish band showed it was familiar with Croatian history.
Bono quoted in English well-known verses of the poem "Dubravka" by Croatian poet Ivan Gundulic.
Besides the great music, fans were thrilled by the 55-metre-high, spectacular rotating stage. As Bono said, the idea was not to impress anyone but to bring the band closer to the audience.
Bono also remembered political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi, a leader of the non-violent movement for human rights and democracy in Burma (Myanmar) and a Nobel laureate.
He also took a chance and congratulated band guitar player the Edge on his birthday. Band members together with fans sang "Happy Birthday" to him.
Security was provided by 1,000 police.
U2 will give a second concert in Zagreb this evening (Mon). Some 60,000 more fans are expected to attend it.
The weather service says rain may occur, but organizers have said the stage is completely equipped and even the worst weather will not result in cancellation or postponement of the concert.
© 2009 Croatian Times
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