Aug
02
2010

The Italian Connection

20

A friend of the band for many years was the late and great Luciano Pavarotti, who famously guested on 'Miss Sarajevo'.

The Vertigo show from Milan in 2005 was released as a live bonus  DVD with the 'U218 Singles' collection.

So there's two pretty good Italian connections - but what else can you tell us ? Song lyrics, early shows, cultural references, fan-stories ... U2's Italian connection.  The condensed edition. Over to you...
This article is tagged to:
Tours, U2 360° Tour, U2 360° Tour 2010
20  Comments
CaptainCatholic5887 - 05 August, 2010
Awesome
This is an interesting topic, because I did not know U2 had much of an Italian connection! I'm Italian myself (with a name like Tony DeGennaro) and very proud of my heritage, so thanks for sharing this wealth of information everyone, very interesting to know.
corrado1977 - 05 August, 2010
obviously yes!
Guys.....nobody in the whole world can do the same f******ng noise in a stadium....only wuwuzelas could do that!!! whan someone sing in italy, we are waiting for something special....and the artist MUST observe our waits....someone sing for one hour only.....it's a shame....U2 understood that, they loves us..... In italy you could see U2 at their best, just after dublin... see ya tomorrow in tourin....
brina - 04 August, 2010
it all started a long time ago
I fell in love with U2 in Modena (Italy) on May 29th 1987 when I first saw them on stage. it was an event where different bands played their music: U2, The Pretenders, Lone Justice and some others I completely forgot... now I can not wait till Rome Oct. 8th!!! I love you all Sabrina
sabrina_ugolini - 04 August, 2010
Larry and his Harley Davidson
During Zoo TV Tour in Italy he made miles & miles on his Harley
manutwo - 04 August, 2010
Opera & Ultraviolet
Bono hears opera in his head in Ultraviolet too!
cantona - 04 August, 2010
Football
Remember the World Cup match in USA94 when Ray Houghton shinned a goal for the Irish to beat the Italians? Guess who was in the crowd ? Thats right, your favourite band. And Larry was very excited !!!
Paul Bertens - 04 August, 2010
Transport
Bono drives an Italien car: a Maserati of course
musicabona - 04 August, 2010
MacPhisto
On July 9th 1993 Bono appeared as MacPhisto on St. Peter;s Square in Rome. He was wearing a golden suit, a red shirt and his horns of course. I read about this in the book "Faraway So Close", which was written by BP Fallon. There is also a great photo of MacPhisto.
adele73 - 04 August, 2010
Bono and his father
"my father thought he was Italian" (due to his love fot the Opera) - Bono, Milan 2005
eleslane - 04 August, 2010
Bono and the Pope
Bono came to visit Giovanni Paolo II Pope in Italia and he gave him his sunglasses (that the GP also put on..!!) :))) Bono use to speak a little Italiano too when he comes to visit ....let me say it back to you: "GRAZIE GRAZIE; GRAZIE MILLE!!!!!" I'm going to Turino tomorrow, can't wait!!!!!
manutwo - 04 August, 2010
Italian & Irish Immigrants
In a couple of songs about America (New York and The Hands That Built America) Italian and Irish immigrants are tied in the lyrics. And this may not be relevant, but I like to think that the Irish and Italian flags are only a few shades of color apart :) Turin 2001: The Elevation Tour was mainly indoor but in Italy U2 played in Delle Alpi Stadium, the only Italian date of the tour, in front of 70.000 people. The heart-shaped walk had to be extended and in an interview the Edge said that it was in order to accomodate the Italian people's big heart (or something like that...). That was a GREAT show.
kiss - 04 August, 2010
Back to 1987
I was not there, in Modena, 1987. During one of the 2 concert Bono told to the audience: La gente irlandese e quella italiana hanno lo spirito vicino" meaning: Italian people and Irish people have a close spirit (or souls). Vertigo Tour, 2005 in Milan: Bono said: "Bono, this is the only country where it makes sense" (Bono, in italian, means sexy person) it was the the intro for the Sexy Version of Elevation See you in Turin, Bruxelles, Rome
nkokic - 03 August, 2010
ONE in Modena
In my opinion one of the most emotional versions of "ONE" was in Modena in 1995 (Concert with Pavarotti and friends)..... THANK YOU! natasa
monica martino - 03 August, 2010
April 18, 1989
All I want is you the video was shot on the beach of Ostia (Roma)
marinajendiroba - 03 August, 2010
Miss Sarajevo
The version of Miss Sarajevo played in Milan, with Bono singing Pavarotti's lines, was amazing!
babyface82 - 03 August, 2010
peace & love from Italy
"you're the reason why the OPERA is in me" Opera is one of the most "italian" thing!
joshua84 - 03 August, 2010
italians and irish people have the same
like bono said we've got the same soul! they've always made wonderful shows in italy: roma, reggio emilia, torino, milano...we love them and we're waiting for them! i met the boys a few times and...they're great great great people!! WELCOME TO ITALY GUYS!!!
Maximo7519 - 03 August, 2010
Bono
Another connection is Bono's name itself. Bono, Bono, that in Italian slang means "sexy person".. Also, a connection is the love of Bono's father for the opera, which inspired "Sometimes you can make it on your own". And another connection -according to my personal view-is that Irish and Italian people share common values in life. Cheers!
perrybarber - 03 August, 2010
All I want is you
Wasn't the video shot in Italy? Perry London
loveandpeace83 - 03 August, 2010
TURIN !!!!
I'M VERY SAD TO NOT BE IN TURIN !!! I'M IN PARIS THE 18 th SEPTEMBER, YES :=) KISSES loveandpeace83 (U2--forever^^)
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