The Joshua Tree Tour 2019

Dec 11 2019
Manila, PH / Philippine Arena
54

Gloria in Manila

U2

Sunday Bloody Sunday, Gloria, New Year’s Day, Bad, Pride….  pretty great  to announce your debut performance in the Philippines.
And what a reception from a huge audience in the world’s largest indoor venue.
'Thank you for your patience.
Well our prayer tonight is for an epic night of rock’n'roll transcendence...
Anything can happen, anything will happen, you need it, we need it…'

We all needed it on the penultimate night of a tour that opened in Vancouver in May 2017 and closes this Sunday in Mumbai.
So many heroes in the house tonight, including 100 Red Cross volunteers, part of the response to the recent Typhoon Kammuri.
'The Red Cross volunteers… let’s keep them in our prayers, the ones who keep us safe from physical harm, also for the journalists, for truth tellers,
activists, who keep this country spiritually safe… everyday heroes all, women and men, let’s see your stars in the sky Manila..’

IN THE PRESS 
(Rappler.com - uncredited)
U2 held their historic first concert in the Philippines on Wednesday, December 11, and paid tribute to female gamechangers all over the world – Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa included. After their performance of "Beautiful Day," Bono said, "Human rights drown out human wrongs, that's a beautiful day. When sisters around the world go to school with their brothers, that's a beautiful day. When journalists don't have to worry about what they write, that's a beautiful day. When women of the world unite to rewrite history as herstory, that is a beautiful day." He then said, "For Maria Ressa," before launching into the band's 1991 song, "Ultra Violet (Light My Way)." As they performed, the big screen backdrop displayed photos of revolutionary Filipinas throughout history, including Maria, Philippine Revolution heroine Melchora Aquino, zarzuela singer Maria Carpena, former president Cory Aquino, world-renowned singer and actress Lea Salonga, Senator Pia Cayetano, the #BabaeAko movement, the One Billion Rising movement, Grrl Gang Manila, youth activist and typhoon Haiyan survivor Marinel Ubaldo, activist Lidy Nacpil Alejandro, and environmental and indigenous rights advocate Joan Carling. Women from around the world were also highlighted, including comedians Ellen Degeneres and Hannah Gadsby, primatologist Jane Goodall, protest punk band Pussy Riot, Syrian Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini, AIDS awareness advocate Connie Mudenda, and climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was named Time magazine's Person of the Year on the same day as the concert.
"Women who light up history, your own Maria Ressa, is an incredible woman. But the extraordinary thing is, even Maria will say it's not about individuals. It's about collective action. It's about social movements. And so then all of you can grow up to be the President or Maria Ressa," he said after the song. Throughout their tour, the band has played "Ultra Violet" to honor women, choosing representatives from each country they visit. In Seoul, South Korea where they played before heading to the Philippines, the band showed photos of historical Korean women, including South Korean first lady Kim Jung Sook, feminist painter Na Hye Sok, Korea's first female civilian pilot Park Kyung Won, and K-pop star and actress Sulli, who died in October. U2's choice to include Maria in their tribute is not surprising – U2 frontman Bono had stressed the importance of a free press and safety for journalists. “President Duterte is very popular, he doesn't need me on his side, and as it happens I have a very deep conviction about journalism," he said at a press conference in Manila on Tuesday, December 10. "The safety of journalists is very important, and I think a democracy requires a free press,” he said. U2 is known for speaking up on social and political issues – and not just through their music. At the same press conference, frontman Bono sent out a "soft message" to President Rodrigo Duterte, saying "you can't compromise on human rights."

IN THE SETLIST
'Gloria' returns to the set for it's second only outing this tour and 'Bad' is back complete with a snippet of David Bowie's 'Heroes' dedicated to  volunteers with the Red Cross that the band met yesterday and to journalists from this country, 'truth tellers who help keep this country spiritually safe'…

WHAT ELSE DID BONO SAY

'It doesn't matter how long it takes to get where you wanna go as long as you get there in the end' (ISHFWILF)

'This country is a miracle of a place. Look at what you've done with your archipelago... it is an incredible thing to witness… the excitement and kinetic energy of this country, thank you for letting us be guests of the nation.. a great nation' (before God's Country)

'We are coming to the end of our tour soon. I was told today that this is our 2050th show that we have played in our lifetime. Doesn't feel like it…'

'Thank you to the men and women of our crew… Best in the world… Building this… And taking it down
Jake Berry… the most incredible man… came here many months ago to make sure we could play here… In the Philippines… and discover this 
incredible room this is a great, great venue. 
Well… thank you for sticking with us, thank you for giving us a great life… 
How we waited… no good excuse…We should have been here every year… 
From our single island to your thousand islands, thank you for making us feel so welcome 
On your islands, you're making a new history  for yourselves but the truth is, none of us are really an island and what happens in one country affects the other side of the world. From typhoons to droughts… the way we live in one
country affects life in every country. There is no them, there's only us. We are… One.'

ON THE SOCIALS
@sarialmighty : in this sea of people the four decades are worth the wait for every fan inside the arena, U2!

@SilRigote : 'I kinda fee like saying that Manila might get the award of BEST TJT2019 concert. Band sounds flawless, crowd is loud and enthusiastic...what can be better than this? '

@the_gardentarts : I am going to keep talking about those new piano notes in RTSS. They are *everything*. How long has Edge been keeping them from us?! And... hallelujah…'

@miriamgracego  : “Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" is from @U2's 1991 album Achtung Baby.  Originally a song about lovers going thru rough times, it has taken on a spiritual interpretation — an allusion to a divine light guiding a person through the dark.

AND ALSO
Bono mentioned it might have been the band's 2050th live performance this evening* - but if you know different, do let us know in the comments below
* Source @U2gigs (link : http://www.u2gigs.com/all-u2-tours.html)

Here's the complete set list and if you were at the show in Manila tonight, tell us all about it. 

Add your own review and photos below. 




    JT Merchandise

    Bad in Mumbai - Give Peace A Chance...
    Comments
    54
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    chibello
    This time in my homeland
    I had the chance to watch you live in Chicago during your Vertigo tour in 2005. I was crying. I said to myself, I would definitely watch you again live if you choose to perform in the Philippines! When friends told me that you are coming to South Korea and Singapore, they were asking if I’d watch. But I made vow that I will watch again if you play in the Philippines. And, tben tje announcement came! I will be there, I will definitely be there on December 11. Excited!!!
    AidenF
    Overwhelmed at the opportunity.
    It's been a lifelong dream of mine to see you guys live! The Joshua Tree album was released the year I was born (1987). Now 32 years later, this is my one chance. I'm pulling overtime and double shifts and saving up every penny I have to go to Manila!
    Paul2u
    U2 Limerick City to Manila
    U2 Limerick City to Manila I hope to see Dallas and the boys there... Limerick city U2 formally named the band... can't wait...was stage front in Dublin hope to be stage front in Manila too...
    ericbaduriadelacruz
    Eric
    Finally I hope I see you in Manila I file my vacation on Manila just for you Bono I'm still I have found I'm looking for I'm waiting for the day Dec 11 ,, One
    ericbaduriadelacruz
    One
    Finally I hope I see you in Manila I file my vacation on Manila just for you Bono I'm still I have found I'm looking for I'm waiting for the day Dec 11 ,, One
    j2736
    My dream coming to fruition.
    Finally...after decades of waiting... Thank you for coming to my country Philippines. I started crying when I learned about this.
    ramonrubio
    love :)
    sobrang tagal kong inantay ito, bata pa ako. ngayon magkakatotoo na. sana mapagbigyan ako ng magandang ticket sa pre-sale. looking forward talaga. sobrang happy. huhuhu
    rzorsua18
    U2
    See u
    ChrisBanezLim
    After all these long days of the Joshua
    been a fan of U2 since a boy at 11 during the War album era that got cemented when The Joshua Tree came out got saved on St Patrick's day turns out before i turn 13, I'd no idea then they were a christian band The great thing about the Joshua Tree lp is that it brought back the sensibilities of musicians playing on a record album as it destroyed the norm of cheap electronic synthesizer infested production that are conventional back in the 1980s all the more reason to celebrate with the revamped Joshua Tour that been sorely missed in the Philippines
    josemarimperial
    U2 in the Philippines on my 50th
    This is got to be the best birthday gift ever, watching U2 at the Philippine Arena. I thought I was dreaming. I thought someone fabricated a fake post on Facebook. Unbelievable! It's really happening!!! Thank you, U2!!!
    TENGC
    thank you for deciding to include Manila
    Salamat po =) see you
    aldenmabalot
    Finally!!
    Oh what a day....what a "Beautiful Day"! Been waiting my entire life....... Can't wait!
    Maeyang22
    All i want is u2
    Thrilled & excited to see you guys - the greatest band.
    BadMsSarajevo
    Answered Prayer!
    Been dreaming about this! Almost bought ticket for the SG leg. Glad I waited I bit longer! Woohoooo!!!
    Jonj_De_Bullet
    Finally, they're coming...!
    What I never thought possible, honestly, is totally happening!!!!! BCN' U2 this coming December!!! Thanks!
    LotuacoU2
    u2fan
    Lets Go !
    dex_md
    Dreams do come true!
    I'm so ecstatic about this!
    NdyFlores
    U2 Phil Arena
    Awesome ❤ Biggest Band in the Biggest Indoor Arena!
    vincemd
    Waiting for this!!!
    What took you so long? I'm sure the 50,000 seat stadium will be fully packed. See you soon guys!
    GenesisBono
    The Joshua Tree Tour Philippines..
    Oh yeah!!.. I've seen you in your hometown Dublin "Innocence & Experience Tour (3Arena) 2015"; "The Joshua Tree (30th Anniversary) Tour in Croke Park 2017"; "The Experience & Innocence Tour (3Arena) 2018".... Now I am going to see you again, and this time in my hometown Philippines!!.. Can't wait! December 2019!.? Solid U2 Big Fan!
    N3lson
    Finally!
    Wow! Finally after 30+ years of waiting!
    beanstalk
    manila <3 U2
    bloody finally found what im looking for!
    alibono
    ahhhhhhh
    This is AMAZING!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
    MariaEdna
    The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 Dec 11 2019 M
    Been waiting for this concert to be held in the Philippines for a long, long time, and it is now CONFIRMED!!!! Excited to see you :)
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