U2's Amsterdam #4 setlist, 13/09
Tonight was U2's fourth and final show in Amsterdam. It's been a long time since U2 have played four shows in the same city during a single European leg: the last city to enjoy such a run was London in August 2001 on the second leg of Elevation. The only other time this has happened in Europe since the end of Lovetown was also in London when U2 did four non-consecutive shows at Wembley Stadium during August 1993 on the fourth leg of ZooTV. However, runs of four (or more) shows will come to define this year's European leg: after Amsterdam, there are another six to come.
This show had a number of treats in the setlist. Perhaps the biggest surprise came during the E stage rotational slots: a tour debut. Magnificent was performed for the first time since 20 July 2011. This is the first song from No Line On The Horizon to be performed in full this tour; the album's only previous representation had been via a snippet of Moment Of Surrender. Magnificent was followed by an acoustic rendition of Sweetest Thing, the first time that song has been played in Europe since 22 August 2001. This was Sweetest Thing's seventh performance on the current tour; the most recent previous performance was in New York on 23 July 2015.
Early in the setlist, Out Of Control rotated back in after an absence of two shows. This is just the second time this tour it has been played more times than The Electric Co. in a single city - the other claimant to that title is Vancouver, 1-0, since The Electric Co. did not enter the setlist until San Jose. In all other cities, The Electric Co. has been played as many or more times than Out Of Control.
After I Will Follow, Bono spoke about how U2 visited Hargen beach during their stay in the Netherlands. He mentioned this at yesterday's show too, but today's little speech was notable for two reasons: first, Bono could actually remember the name of the beach; second, he mentioned U2 were there taking photos with long-time collaborator Anton Corbijn. Bono told the audience that one of these photos may become the cover of U2's next album Songs Of Experience. He also joked that Corbijn would be in U2 "if he weren't so tall!"
A couple of fan favourites were saved for the finale. Bad made its much-awaited first appearance of the European leg; it was last performed in New York on 19 July and has now been played 12 times on the current tour. Bad has not been a frequent inclusion in European setlists on recent tours: it was done at just one Vertigo Europe show, 27 June 2005 in Dublin, while on 360 it was done at seven full tour shows (five on the first European leg, two on the second lap) plus Glastonbury. Tonight, Bono sung a snippet of 40 near the end of Bad - and then the band went into a full performance. As with Bad, this was 40's first appearance of the European leg; its most recent previous appearance was to wrap up the North American leg on 31 July 2015. The most recent European performance of 40 was on 14 August 2005 in Portugal.
The full setlist was:
- The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
- Out of Control
- Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? (snippet) / Vertigo / God Save The Queen (Sex Pistols) (snippet)
- I Will Follow
- Iris (Hold Me Close)
- Cedarwood Road
- Song For Someone
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet)
- Until the End of the World / Love and Peace or Else (snippet) / Words (snippet) (Intermission - The Fly)
- Invisible
- Even Better Than The Real Thing Fish Out of Water Mix
- Mysterious Ways / Burning Down The House (snippet)
- Magnificent / Amsterdam (snippet)
- Sweetest Thing
- Every Breaking Wave
- October
- Bullet the Blue Sky / Ode To Joy (snippet) / 19 (snippet)
- Zooropa
- Where the Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)
- Pride (In the Name of Love)
- With or Without You / Shine Like Stars (snippet)
- City of Blinding Lights
- Beautiful Day / I Remember You (snippet)
- Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Bad / 40 (snippet)
- 40
encore(s):
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