Live in Berlin for the MTV EMA's

At 7pm Berlin time tonight U2 took to the stage on the East Berlin side of the Brandenburg Gate for a short but stunning six-song live set, part of the at the MTV EMA's. (Apologies if you are in the UK and Ireland where unfortunately this clip is unavailable due to local programming restrictions.) More of U2 at the MTV EMA's here.



'Thanks for coming out in the cold,' said Bono as the opening bars of One broke the sharp night air. The words ONE and FREEDOM bathed the Gate, the video backdrop ending with fireworks and Bono wishing Berlin a 'Happy Birthday'. It turned out to be a memorable night, prelude to the coming celebrations of the twentieth anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

'Thousands of Berliners and U2 fans enjoyed the 'MTV EMAs present U2 at the Brandenburg Gate' this evening.' said Mr Klaus Wowereit, Governing Mayor of Berlin. 'The Pariser Platz was the scene for a joyful celebration of peace, love, freedom and music that Berlin will never forget. Congratulations to U2 and MTV for bringing this unique moment of musical history to the City of Berlin.'

As for the set, here's our notes: From 'One' the band segued into'Magnificent' where Bono spoke of this proud city and one nation and thanked MTV for building the set. Then they ignited Sunday Bloody Sunday and with the stage swathed in green and Edge rocking out, Bono introduced the surprise guest, Jay-Z as the 'Mayor of New York City' who then rapped over the song, while Bono and Edge shared verses of the Bob Marley classic 'Get Up Stand Up'. Bono had some special lyrics for the city.

'And all the lovers and hate
That pass these keepers of the gate
And it's a heavy weight this history
But it's not too late
Won't stop this Congregation
Can't stop this Radiation
Can't stop this Meditation
And I have no Hesitation
In this ancient brand new nation
I sing but it's a shout
Jay-Z is in the house
So there's no roof over our head
Heh neither of us are goin' to bed
Berlin Berlin...'

Speaking of the wonderful friends the band have in this city, Bono invited the audience to 'feel this moment that we're in ... in this beautiful city of Berlin.' And we're into Beautiful Day with the stage brilliantly illuminated, right up up to the horses at the top of the Brandenberg Gate itself.



In biting cold, Vertigo was just the ticket to keep people warmed up - the crowd going all the more crazy with a customised German countdown to open the track.
Everyone swaying from left to right, Bono leans on Adam as he sings... and speaks: 'Wanna thank the Mayor and MTV and Jay-Z. A song for people who are trying to hold - just that little bit tightly'.
With that the band were into a mesmeric 'Moment of Surrender', the Branderberg Gate shining under the night sky and towering over the square with four Irish musicians underneath.

Here's what they played.

One
Magnificent
Sunday Bloody Sunday (featuring Jay-Z)
Beautiful Day
Vertigo
Moment of Surrender

Were you in Berlin for the set tonight? Or maybe you caught the highlights on the MTV Europe Awards. Let us know below how it was.

Get RSS News Feed

This article is tagged to:
Highlights, TV

tommorowu2 - 05 November, 2009 Amazing gift! Oh my...I saw on MTV only 'sunday bloody sunday' and 'one'. But It was amazing! Effects were absolutely great and You U2 gave to this beautiful, full of history city something special, amazing gift!. I really wanted to be there. I regret a lot that I wasn't!

collectoraholic - 05 November, 2009 Thanks so much U2 & MTV! That was BRILLIANT! Another job well done, lads! & Willie, you are a genius!

pepette - 05 November, 2009 MTV EMA Shame on you!!!!! Such a beautiful show!!!! Incredible place Branderberg Gate. Edge, Bono, Larry and Adam don't change anything it's a good remember of 11 july in SDF Paris. But why we have seen only 3 songs??? What about the 3 others??? For a fan it was juste a deception... Because you just want more and more U2 ;)

ashernorris - 05 November, 2009 Magnificent, What More Can I Say? I didn't get to see any of the show besides "Sunday", but their energy was incredible, really feelin' the moment. Some fellow U2 fans might not like Jay-Z, the King of Rap sharing the stage with our U2, but I personally think Jay-Z is a genius, I saw The Greatest Rock Band and the Greatest Rapper ever to make music, making music together. Incredible.

Kristin Skinner - 05 November, 2009 wish i could have been there I experienced ONE and MAGNIFICANT while dancing in my living room in Dublin. I can only imagine what the atmosphere must have been at Brandenburg Gate. I was at that gate in July 1989 only a few months before the fall of the wall. U2 is the perfect band to be a part of this incredible and emtional moment in history.I was in LA for the rosebowl and the two shows in Dublin ... tonight was historic and I just wish i could have been there to be a part of it. U2 thank you for pouring out the Joy.. Best band of all time ...

- 05 November, 2009 HIGH LIGHT A MEMORABLE PLACE - A MEMORABLE CONCERT!THE BRANDENBERG GATE SHINED, THE MUSIC WARMED OUR HEARTS! WE GLOWED! FROM EAST TO WEST! An ancient brand new nation says THANK YOU for these true moments, for these songs of truth, of love, of FREEDOM. I go to sleep with the lullaby in my heart!

xalira - 05 November, 2009 Best performance! U2 was the first to win an award at this EMAs, and they showed right away why they have been voted for Best live act! Thanks for an amazing year, guys! Now relax to be ready to rock in 2010 just like in 2009, or even better :D We'll be waiting!

DaphneJessica - 05 November, 2009 Coming Full Circle I am a Canadian living in Berlin where part of Achtung Baby was recorded. Achtung Baby is my favourite U2 album. As as young teenager, it was the first CD I ever bought and my life was never the same again after I heard it. Tonight I had the privilege of seeing U2 perform live in front of the historic Brandenburg Gate to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago. It was very meaningful, not just to celebrate a milestone in Germany's history, but because it was so personal to ME. Achtung Baby is the very album that made me become a U2 fan in the first place. It started this whole journey... Seeing them here in Berlin tonight was like coming full circle. Love, Daphne

janebono - 05 November, 2009 Best Live Act Well done U2 you deserve it - awesome and spectacular shows you put on this year.

CEVSS - 05 November, 2009 Good 4 U2 Thank you for being so available and willing to put yourselves out there. I am amazed at how much you give to your fans. Some people are never happy. Be glad they could hear the joyful noise. Can't wait to see the videos-U2 and Jay-Z! What a show.

Yogic - 05 November, 2009 WASN'T There just HERE I LOVE these updates...very vivid view from here...Thanks U2 for sharing : )

Yogic - 05 November, 2009 CoNtRaStiNg BERLIN 2 beautiful contrasting pics the rest is sooo Surreal : )

sheila491 - 05 November, 2009 Far Out! Congratulations on U2 winning Best Live Act On MTV Awards. The song with Jay Z was really cool! Great show!

Roy McBride - 05 November, 2009 Another Irish Traveller... The gig was amazing...with typical luck of the Irish the rain stopped before the boys hit the stage...the gate looking great with some customized lighting effects. The sound was fantastic, clear as a bell. The boys where well up for it, as good as any normal concert...if you get a chance to watch it, I was particularly taken with Adam, who gave it some gusto to say the least. Regards to all - Roy McBride

buyer71 - 05 November, 2009 Brandenburg Gate never looked better! Lights were so beautiful during One! Band was also great. Berlin loves U2. And Willie

childofthemoon - 05 November, 2009 Wunderbar... Magnificent.... It was wonderful. Thank you for this generous gesture! I spent hours on the internet trying to get a ticket - in vain. However, I was lucky and got in without a ticket. Sometimes she moves in mysterious ways! I guess many people stayed home because they thought it was sold out. Well, good for those who still showed up. Everybody who wanted to be there could get in. I am proud that U2 chose Berlin to play a free concert. The sound was gorgeous, the light show on the Brandenburg Gate amazing. I would have loved to hear more Achtung Baby songs like ZOO STATION or LOVE IS BLINDNESS. Why don`t you play the WANDERER live? Such a great song... The new songs are just MAGNIFICENT! Looking forward to the new album and tour in 2010. And everybody knows: ONE is the greatest song ever written. One city (but not the same) on a BEAUTIFUL DAY. Jay-Z was great. It would have been magnificent, if U2 would have visited the EXPERIENCE-show with DJ Helmut Heimann. He played ONE that night in his show. Just an idea, just a dream... Well, you never know, if dreams come true. Nobody would have thought that the wall would come down 20 years ago. Nobody would have guessed that U2 would play a free concert in front of the Brandenburg Gate... By the way, I was wondering, is that an OASIS-riff that Edge plays before VERTIGO? Very rockn`roll... Wonderful! Thank you so much! Danke! Happy Birthday, Larry! By the way: Everybody who went to the MTV-Awards was jealous that he didn`t come to see the U2 show... I hope the band enjoyed their set as much as I did... They should have stayed for one more song, STAY (Faraway/So Close) maybe...

Amraaa - 06 November, 2009 We're One... ....One made me cry, not because I was bummed or whatever, it's due to the power of the song to suck out all of the feelings hidden inside of me...beautiful! thanks U2!

- 06 November, 2009 Beautiful night I was watching the Awards only because of you guys! congratulations on your reward! I loved the performance and the lights were amazing! I enjoyed it very much, but wanted more ( why only 3 songs shown? ). it reminded me of your concert in Zagreb 3 months ago. keep on surprising us and see you next year!!!!

viamar - 06 November, 2009 Beautiful Night Absolutely beautiful... Never seen the Brandenburger Tor like this! Wish I could have been there to see the entire set. Would be great to have this brilliant show on DVD one day, as bonus tracks or something like that...

vladau2lover - 06 November, 2009 I saw it on TV!=) It was so cool and im really happy that U2 won an award but Bono,please never sing rap again...it sound shit!=)))))

Dimitrij - 06 November, 2009 best stage ever This Brandenburg Gate was built for U2! You know that if you have been there last night. The most intimate stage with the most extrodinary background. Congrats on the lighting-job and the images. It blew me away. The songs were amazing! Thanks guys... by the way u2.com: Germans considered it a quite warm evening compared to the days before :-)

serrademir - 06 November, 2009 Danke! Such a magnificent show! I saw it on TV. One made me cry... But, never sing rap again please.

kris_smith87 - 06 November, 2009 Epic!!! "Sunday Bloody Sunday" with Jay-Z was so epic. Sheer brilliance. I really think it needs to be released on CD!

BalazsHorvath - 06 November, 2009 Magnificient I was there... this was one of a kind most memorable few minutes. You played good, the crowd was excellent, colours unbelievable, you guys made this unforgettable... I was waiting three hours but it was definitely worth...thank you, see you in Helsinki next year in August! Wembley on the 14th this year was also bomb...

- 07 November, 2009 parastoo thank u so much for supportin the GREEN MOVEMENT in Iran! we love you U2 and thank you Jay it was awesome! know that we appreciate this... God bless you GO GREEN! Peace

All I Want Is You 2 - 07 November, 2009 Live in Berlin for the MTV EMA's The video gave ME the chills. I wish I could have been there.

tanjav - 07 November, 2009 What a show !!!!!! A great show at a special place.

- 08 November, 2009 What a night! I still can't believe it, that you played my absolute favourite song..... Moment of Surrender... for everybody who's trying to hold on.... just a little tightly... what a testimony! THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL MOMENT AT THE BRANDENBURG GATE! I will never forget this night in Berlin! Thank you!!!

u2search - 08 November, 2009 No Wall A friend and I got tickets and we traveled from The Netherlands to see U2 in Berlin. The crowd was cold and wet and a bit angry about the long waiting with hardly any warming up. It was pure magic to see how One took the crowd up and lifted the spirit and from then on it became a real show. Magnificent! Both the sound and Bono's voice were terrific, even better than at some 360 shows I attended. I loved how Bono thanked Berlin for building the set ;) Hope to see the whole show on U2.com soon.

dannyboydrums - 08 November, 2009 New berlin wall Hey guys ,shame about the "new" wall but i'd bet my bottom dollar that you were not that happy about it either? Blessings, D