Wide Awake In Amsterdam

29 Jul 2017

When & Where
Saturday, July 29th 2017, Amsterdam Arena, Night 1 in Amsterdam, 31st show of the #U2TheJoshuaTree2017

Set List 
Here's the complete set list from Amsterdam1 

The Holy Trinity (Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bad, and Pride) opened the first of two nights in the Amsterdam Arena. As Mothers of the Disappeared closed out The Joshua Tree album, Bono thanked the Dutch for 'for your open eyes, open hearts, open minds.' Mysterious Ways shimmied its way back into the encore and was accompanied by a dancer from the audience. The young woman wore a bomber jacket bearing the lyrics “the best things are easy to destroy" and by the end of the song, she had Bono on his knees. 'What's your name?' he called after her as security escorted the young lady off the stage.  

Social Posts
@MauritsvStuijvenberg: 'What a fantastic crowd tonight! #singing #balloons #dancer #banner #U2Amsterdam #U2TheJoshuaTree2017' 
'What a glorious show! It's impressive that a 30-year-old album sounds so fresh and relevant today,' 33-year-old Maurits went on to say. 'The band conquering the crowd at first just with great music without the need of a screen. Then a cinema, thanks to the beautiful footage of Anton Corbijn, like moving photographs. A club, during Elevation and Vertigo, dancing and shaking the floor like thunder. A church during 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For,' and a news bulletin when the young refugee from Jordan (Omaima) told us about her dreams. 
'Amsterdam loves U2, singing our hearts out—what amazing energy! The great thing about U2 is they bring together young and old people, combining a great show with a deeper message of love and community,' said Maurits, who first encountered the band during the ATYCLB years. Saturday night was his sixth live show. 'I'm looking forward to things to come with the new album and the extension of the I+E Tour.'

Dutch voices on social media (via Twitter) : 
@niek_visser: 'Het kippenvel staat me nog steeds op de armen wat een optreden weer van @U2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017 #genieten (I still have goosebumps on my arms, what a performance by U2)

@verhoefjeroen: 'Dit was de achtste tour die ik heb gezien van ze. En het blijft EPISCH. Dagen lang blijven de nummers nog door mijn hoofd galmen. #heerlijk' ('This was the eighth tour I've seen from them. And it remains EPIC. Days stay long the songs still echo through my head. ')

Bonus post from a Polish fan at the Amsterdam show (via Instagram): @callofbeauty7: 'Tego sie nie da opisać. Wzruszenia i emocje w zenicie. Przeżycie trochę odrealnione. Ciagle nie mogę uwierzyć ze byłam cząstka tego kilkudziesięciotysięcznego tłumu. Bylo cudownie. Bylo bosko. Prawie mistycznie. ('It beggars description. Emotions and emotions in the zenith. Survival a little unreal. I still cannot believe I was a part of this crowd of several thousand. It was wonderful. It was divine. Almost mystical.')

If You Had To Pick One Song 
Miss Sarajevo/Miss Syria

'Is there a time for first communion
A time for East 17
Is there time to turn to Mecca
Is there time to be a beauty queen'

From @MabelVanOranje: 'Miss Sarajevo has become Miss Syria. Whoever the people in need are, let's continue welcome them. '

What (else) did Bono Say?
Before launching into Bad Bono gave thanks to a few special people in the crowd: 'My brother Norman is here tonight. Not only did he give me my first guitar lesson, he introduced me to David Bowie's Hunky Dory and I thought it was a duo. Now, none of us in the band are self-made men. We owe our lives to each other, to family members who put their hands in their pockets, friends who kept us out of trouble, partners who saved us from ourselves. And of course, we owe this life to you.'

And introducing One Tree Hill, inspired by the loss of the band's friend Greg Carroll in 1986 not long before they began recording The Joshua Tree, Bono paid tribute those in the audience who had lost loved ones, particularly the Netherlands' Princess Mabel and her daughters, Luana and Zaria, who mourn the loss of their husband and father, Prince Friso, who died in 2013. 'See you again when stars fall from the sky.'

Review On U2.com 
WilK30.  'U2 the band of my life. First time U2 in 1981 with my friends at Pinkpop when I was 20 years old, now so many year later with my son who is now 22 celebrating 30 years the Joshua Tree. Seen U2 many teams through all these years, really the band of my life ! Never been so close to the stage, it was a great and amazing night to remember in Amsterdam.'

Other Noteworthy Stuff
Early in the show, Bono gave a shout out to Adrian Lovett, Europe executive director of the One Campaign. Several times he also celebrated the band's longtime collaboration with Dutch photographer Anton Corbjin, who was in the audience. 'Anton, you know how much we love you? Anton Corbjjn in the house: Dutch Master!' Bono said. Fans surprised the band by tossing balloons into the air at the start of 'Beautiful Day' prompting Bono to exclaim, 'What is this? Look at you!' 

If you were at the first night in Amsterdam, tell us all about it. Add your own review and photos on our tour pages

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