by Paul

Maybe it's because I haven't seen U2 for twelve years or maybe it's because I just came from the depths of Siberia to be at this show, but whatever the case it was the most special and amazing show I have ever been too.

I had no awareness of the events before the show, but I did see an extraordinary amount of passion in U2 last night. Bono was singing for the salvation of Russia.
He cited Gorbachev as starting a new chapter, the greatest one, in Russia's history. That led into I Still Haven't Found what I'm Looking For, which became significantly appropriate for Russia at that moment. The steady rain was like tears from God pouring out his Love over Russia and Moscow. (Funny to think that I had been saying they could drop that song, and suddenly it was so powerful again.)
Every song in the show hung together so well. Many of the songs such as the opening four, Vertigo, City, Streets, Sunday, Elevation and UV sent shivers of pure rock through the stadium. Their sound was so big, so rocking and so clear.
In A Little While became a tribute to space exploration and there was a "cross" to the International Space Station, but nothing live a la ZOOTV. Edge the Rocket Scientist of U2 was in full approval.
There was steady rain for much of the show, but this only served to add atmosphere and an emotional urgency to proceedings. Curiously the rain came on cue at the start of U2 (it was dry and clear for Snow Patrol) and dried up as the show finished.
The number of police inside the stadium might seem strange to westerners but this is normal, according to my Russian friends, who say that it is exactly the same at all football matches held at Luzhniki.
My only disappointment was missing out on Glastonbury, North Star or Every Breaking Wave.
But just as Bono said he hopes they get invited back to Moscow (they politically threw caution to the wind through out the show with many statements), and that it can't be so long next time, I hope it is far less than 12 years before I see U2 again.
Thanks be to the Almighty for the most spectacular of shows. Blessings!

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