'It's no secret…'
Who knows what this band are going to play from night to night?
After Landlady out of the blue three nights ago, tonight it was The Fly that arrived in the set, a perfect finale to the new Berlin sequence of Zoo Station, Stay and Wild Horses.
When & Where
Third night in Mediolanum Forum, Milan, Monday 15th October 2018.
Set List
Who knows what this band are going to play from night to night? After Landlady out of the blue three nights ago, tonight it was The Fly that arrived in the set, a perfect finale to the new Berlin sequence of Zoo Station, Stay and Wild Horses.
First time since 2011.. and - THIS IS NOT A REHEARSAL - some eye-popping visuals to go with it.
'It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky
It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight.
They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by the moon
Y' know I don't see you when she walks in the room...'
Red Flag Day is also back after a five show break. Here's the full set list from Milan 3.
On The Fansites
Long-running Italian Fansite @U2Place have been at all the Italian shows to date, here's their review of Milan 3. (translated via google)
'On October 15, 1940, exactly 78 years ago, 'The Great Dictator' was shown in the cinema for the first time, but his message is still very current. Chaplin takes us into this new U2 concert that starts pushing on the accelerator with 'The Blackout'… 'Lights Of Home' is the second piece of the evening (then 'I Will Follow')… Energy that sweeps away any resistance and makes you jump from start to finish… It is then the turn of 'Red Flag Day'… The voices of the public follow that of Bono and fill the Forum…
A memorable Berlin moment begins with 'Zoo Station', the level is raised and the audience accompanies the band in this musical journey. 'Stay' (a real gem) - the audience sings this song word by word, multiplying the emotion that every fan is experiencing right now. Hearts that beat in unison!. This sequence ends with a resounding 'Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses'… (and) continues with the raw sound of the early nineties, with a tour debut, the long-awaited 'THE FLY'! These last four pieces in a row are something incredible…
After a short break… U2 return to the stage… an adrenaline rush with 'Elevation' and 'Vertigo'. 'What? Paul is dead, I'm fucking BONO!' 'Even Better Than The Real Thing' is an explosion of colours placed above the e-stage, flooding the whole arena with light. The star dust falling on the crowd anticipates the 'Polar Star' 'Acrobat', an essential moment of the concert... Bono takes off his mask and lowers the engine, giving us 'You're The Best Thing About Me'… the audience applauds in time and accompanies the band in this song. The transition between 'Summer Of Love' and 'Pride' is one of the most interesting ideas of this leg. Absolutely very successful!
Adam and Edge go up on the (podium) stage set up on the sides… and the arena is unleashed! Great enthusiasm about this absolute masterpiece of U2 history… You skip ahead in time to 'Songs Of Experience' with 'Get Out Of Your Own Way'… the choir of the crowd, always particularly involved with these concerts in Milan, are felt throughout the song.
The absolute class of U2 is revealed again in the next piece, 'New Years Day'… we chase once again the bass of our Adam that takes us back to the early 80's… the hymn to joy that announces the arrival of 'City Of Blinding Lights'. It's the turn of 'One' and the audience now enchanted… 'Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It's Way' leads us to the final farewell… our four favourite Irish leave us… with the notes of '13 (There Is A Light)'…
Experience Of The Day
Witnessing 'The Fly' ascend from innocence to experience. The decoding of the stunning new visuals began within minutes… 'Its like a huge digital word search' said Alison (@amubalt via Twitter)… #trending
@atu2comSherry (via Twitter) 'The band's history is embedded into the screen. Beyond the favourite Fly slogans, there's so much "hidden" U2-ness in there...Willie Williams hit this out of the ballpark.'
@U2start (via Twitter) 'THE FLY! It's first performance since Moncton 2011, it closes the first part of the set after Wild Horses. What a tour debut tonight in Milan.\'
@amubalt (via Twitter) Allisøn Retweeted U2enEspaña 'Ok U2 Trainspotters - SO MUCH to dig into here! Lots of hidden words, codes, messages, patterns. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the screen closing on the band to bookend the opening reveal at the start of the show. Bravo, Willie & team!'
@CathalU2ie (via Twitter) 'Is there a better #IrishMusicParty than the return of The Fly complete with ZooTV-esque screen in Milan tonight?'
What Did Bono / Macphisto Say?
'What being a rock and roll star does to the mind of a young man… what's Italian for 'loco'? Pazzo? Crazy? Same in every language!' (intro to Even Better Than The Real thing)
'Blessed is Santa Maria delle Grazie, where you can join in the Last Supper … Blessed are the pavement artists where they make a dance of our walk… Blessed is La Scala… Blessed is Luciano Pavarotti…' (amongst the B Atitudes intro to New Years Day)
'Whats that smell? Oh, its confusion! My favourite scent. When the truth is complex and lies are so simple, its great to be Macphisto…'
U2.com / Zootopia Reviews
p8little (translated)'Third night in Assago - What a show to be there for three consecutive concerts! The fly is the gem of the evening - U2 are so great as they are not only a band, but also true friends ...'
Were you in the house tonight ? Post your reviews and add your photos here.
2026
U2 - Yours Eternally (Lyric Video) ft. Ed Sheeran and Taras Topolia
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