U2
18 Singles + DVD

In November, chestnuts are gathered, and sometimes songs as well.

That's what happened in 2006, with the third collection of U2's songs.  But unlike chestnuts, I don't want to buy it, I'm not interested in the slightest.

 The first question that springs to mind is: WHY?

 What's the point of releasing another collection after the two (sufficient but not necessary) from '98 and 2002? Was it really needed?  Obviously, the answer is no.

Alright, let's move on.  I welcome with enthusiasm, instead, the news that a DVD will also be released with the concert held in Milan the previous year. Wow, Milan, my city! My U2-loving heart begins to beat strongly, and I rush out to get it.  To my annoyance, I discover that those sly ones at Universal, knowing that no one would care about the single collection, decided to forcibly include it with the concert. Patience, I buy it anyway.  Once home, I immediately put the DVD in the player. "Vertigo" starts, then "I Will Follow", "Elevation" and so on. During the proceedings, I already start having strong doubts about how my money was spent, but I wait. Patiently.  And so, only reaching the tenth track, to say it as if we were on Real TV (not far off), something goes wrong! "With or Without You" ends. The lights dim, and I hope what I think doesn't happen. Bono says goodbye to everyone with a "Mille grazie, grazie mille!" in a voice worthy of the most tipsy Vasco Rossi, and leaves, followed by the entire band.  "No need to worry," I think, "they'll come back on stage by surprise, as usual!" But instead, seconds pass, they pass, and I continue to hope it's not as I believe. And at a certain point, awaited like death:  there they are. The end credits.

Well fantastic, I think! Just a nice crap... It's not enough to have amputees from road accidents, now we have to cut concerts too! Half the setlist (or almost), but what is this?! Why this unnecessary damage? The malicious will think that all the other tracks were removed because they were terrible, and I'm sorry to say, but I am one of those.

But do we want to talk about the actual performance? Indeed; Bono's voice is tired and grating, and two great tenor highlights aren't enough (this must be acknowledged) in "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" and especially in "Miss Sarajevo", to deem a rather bland performance like this one solid. And it's known that if Bono's not there, 50% of the concert goes down the drain.  

Utterly disheartened, I put on the CD player the infamous collection of what should be the band's most beautiful singles  + two unreleased tracks.  And what do I find? Pearls of rare ugliness like "Vertigo," "Stuck in a Moment and You Can't Get Out of It," or "Elevation."  I remember the TV ad: "THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION!". But screw that...! Who's the incompetent who chose the setlist? Oh, and then watch out, there are the two fantastic unreleased tracks dominating the charts, which are "The Saints Are Coming" and "Window in the Skies". One a cover with the band of the moment (got the irony?) the "Green Day", which seems set to break everything but ends up breaking only your patience, and the other a tacky piece for ancient teeth. But please! Never to be listened again.

The only good thing is the packaging and the booklet. A well-made thing, or at least nice to look at when you catch a glimpse of it covered in dust, begging you to play it, and you disdainfully refuse and go to pick up "Zoo TV live from Sydney". Now that's a concert worth your time...!

Now seriously, let's set aside irony, but truly this blatantly commercial operation was a disappointment for  me. Being an ardent fan of a band, which I believe has given so much to the music world,  I expected something better. And instead? Half a concert, a lousy compilation, and more than twenty euros down the toilet.

In short, as good old Fantozzi would say:  a colossal crap!

See you soon, Yours Ale.