U2 - Vertigo 2005 - Live From Chicago

I was surprised when I first saw that the average rating for this DVD was at 3.5 stars. After reading some of the negative reviews I want to offer some alternative opinions before anyone decides not to get this DVD.Some have described the show as a "comparatively stripped-down stage production". Vertigo was certainly not as elaborate as ZooTV or as over the top as Pop, but stripped-down it was not. The video curtains were amazing and especially effective during City of Blinding Lights and Streets. The lighting of the Vertigo ellipse was unique and the fact that U2 was able to tap into the video message boards around the United Center made the show even more visually interesting.Some have complained about the quality of the sound. I must have gotten a different DVD than others. The sound is superb. Ironically, it is so good that you do lose a certain sense of "liveness". Thankfully, a few bad notes and scratchy vocals were left in to remind you that you are watching a live concert. One reviewer writes that Bono's voice was much better on the Boston Elevation DVD. His voice was horrible in Boston. Go back and watch the DVD again.One reviewer commented that "Bono understandably looks heavier and wearier than in days past". I personally am glad to see that at least one rock star is willing to age. "Look honey, Bono has a gut just like me!"I think the editing is well done. Very few jump cuts, interesting views from above, a few peeks at the Edge's gear and only a few songs marred by my least favorite shot - the view from the crowd. Sunday Bloody Sunday particularly suffers from the "snake pit" shot. I do agree with some that the audience seemed lifeless. I think that is an editing issue rather than a crowd problem. I also think the arena could have been miced better to record the many sing-alongs. Whoever wrote that the video looked like a grainy handicam needs to invest in a new DVD player.The setlist? There are always some folks who don't get to see the songs they wanted or don't like the treatment of certain songs. Me too. I was at one of the Garden shows and wish that they had flown Mary J. Blige to Chicago to include her amazing rendition of One which we enjoyed in New York. Bono's ability to sing Pavarotti's portions of Miss Sarajevo is amazing. Not included in the Chicago shows. But I did enjoy seeing the songs from Achtung Baby that I didn't see live - Zoo Station and The Fly in particular. U2 has a huge collection of great songs. They could never fit them all into the two shows filmed for this DVD. My favorite of all - "They not only deny (the) Pop Mart Tour (their most fantastic and successful ever), but also U2 deny the whole Pop era." Um, Pop was a horrible album compared to all of the others. That tour almost bankrupted the band due to it's enormous expense and dwindling ticket sales as word got out how uniquely horrible the show was. I'm as big a U2 fan as anyone, but I almost walked out of the stadium during that one.I won't even comment on the complaints about Bono's speeches. Anyone who has followed U2 and has seem them live before should know to expect (and I think embrace) that part of the evening.If you are a U2 fan, or someone who is just interested in great rock shows, this DVD belongs in your collection. Enjoy.

Thanks

U2's new DVD was released on a great date, given to the fact that they will play in Southamerica the last part of the tour... This 2-hr long concert has an excellent tracklisting joined to Bono's superstar caliber performance. The songs they played in this concert were very good, but maybe two songs I missed were "Kite" and "Walk On", both from their 2000 album.One of the things they could have done with this single-disc edition was to add special features, like in the Elevation 2001 DVD, in the disc 1 there's the concert plus a documentary. I know the documentaries for the Vertigo Tour will be on the DVD 2, but still...I think the order of the songs wasn't the best; if you see how they perform "Vertigo", I think that could have been the first song in the concert. Other things that were great in the show were moments when Bono asks people from the audience to go on the stage: there's a girl from the audience who goes dancing on the stage while the band performs "Mysterious Ways", I think she made this song more entertaining in the show... There's also other part in the concert, when they play "Elevation", in which Bono seems to have somthing stuck in his thorat and he stars clearing it in the middle of the song, that was a funny moment in the show.To finish: An excellent concert, with cool effects and amazing performance. Plus, if you still haven't seen U2 live in your country, a perfect way to prepare for what's coming! ;)

I don't know where critics of this video get the idea that the band seems tired, that's not the concert video that I saw. It's a spectacle like most of their tours are and Bono spoke eloquently about what Chicago means to U2 and, of course, world poverty and human inequalities. You don't get to see a U2 concert without a small lecture on global politics. But he fit the comments into the rhythms of the songs much in the way Patti Smith does. The band was everything its fans could hope for and the audience at the venue was electric. Could the editing and camera angles have been better? Maybe. But that's a small quibble at best and I never had that feeling in watching the video. Even though U2 isn't my favorite band to listen to on CD, I do admire Bono's activism and I really enjoy watching them perform in concert. This is a fine video and really indicative of their entire career.

The year was 1988, Germany was about to become ONE country once again, the Soviet Union begins its withdraw from Afghanistan, George Herbert Walker Bush is elected over Michael Dukakis, the venue was Bellas Artes Theater in Maracaibo, the movie was RATTLE&HUM, the rest is history.I was a highschool freshman when I saw it, inmidiatly I got hooked. I've been folowing their work ever since. Sure I like some albums better than others, but got to admit, this one is among my favorites, I love this concert, the fact that the mistakes are not edited, makes me feel that I'm actually there, it just can't be flawless all the time, s**t happens. Give yourself permission to enjoy this four long time friends jamming together, spreading their love and message of tolerance so we all together can make a better world to COEXIST.

Service rapide, produit top, prix très bien placé. Excellent

"U2"s Live-DVD "Vertigo 05 - Live from Chicago" wurde am 9. & 10. Mai 2005 im "United Center" in Chicago, USA aufgenommen. Mir liegt die Konzertscheibe als Einzel-DVD ohne jede Extras vor - ein klares Manko, aber der Preis ist derzeit dafür klar in Ordnung. In der DVD-Hülle gibt es dünnes Booklet mit ein paar künstlerisch bearbeiteten Farbfotos von den Bandmitgliedern. Die Scheibe ist in einer soliden Kunststoff-DVD-Hülle untergebracht. Der Sound liegt als PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 und DTS 5.1 vor. Bild und Ton sind gut, aber der Stereo-Sound ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig. Regisseur war Hamish Hamilton, der viele Schnitte in die Aufnahme eingefügt hat. Mich hat es aber nicht gestört. "U2" sind: Bono (Gesang, Akustikgitarre), The Edge (E-Gitarre, Gesang & Piano), Adam Clayton (E-Bass) und Larry Mullen Jr. (Schlagzeug). Zumindest Bono spielt bei dem Konzert auch noch auf der Trommel.Das Live-Konzert geht sage und schreibe 2:19 Stunden lang und die Playlist umfasst 23 Einträge. Den Auftakt macht das Lied "City of Blinding Lights", weiter geht es mit "Vertigo" und "Elevation". Es werden einige der Klassiker aus früheren Zeiten wie "New Year's Day", "Sunday Bloody Sunday" und "Pride (In the Name of Love)" gespielt, aber auch etliche neuere Lieder wie "Mysterious Ways" und "Zoo Station". Mit "Yaweh" klingt das Konzert langsam aus und den Schlusspunkt bildet das schöne "40". Das Konzert beinhaltet also ältere und neuere Lieder und vereint somit in toller Weise Alt und Neu von "U2". Vom Publikum bekommt man aufgrund der Kameraführung nicht soviel mit, aber es geht wohl stimmungsmäßig mit. Die Kamera hält vor allem auf Bono, was ich etwas schade finde. Die Bühnenshow ist zeitgemäß, u. a. gibt es trickreiche LED-Vorhänge.Fazit:"U2" liefern mit "Vertigo 05" ein hochklassiges Konzert ab! Es ist nicht ganz perfekt, so kritisieren hier manche, dass Bono zeitweise einen Frosch im Hals gehabt und The Edge sich kurz verspielt hatte, aber das fällt kaum auf. Meiner Meinung nach kann das Konzert mit dem von der Live-DVD "Go Home - Live from Slane Castle, Ireland" mithalten. "U2" sind nach wie vor eine spitzen Band und um es klar zu schreiben: eine der besten Bands des Planeten! Es schleicht sich aber dann doch der Verdacht ein, dass das Konzert nicht ganz eines der besten der Band ist! So wähle ich als Wertung viereinhalb Sterne mit der Tendenz zu fünf, so dass ich für dieses sehr gute Konzert fünf von fünf Sternen anklicke! In diese Wertung ist vor allem die Musikqualität eingeflossen und weniger die DVD-Ausstattung.

Grandes temas de la banda se incluyen en este concierto. Una producción musical excelente que te dejará sorprendido. Buen sonido. Calidad visual excelente. U2.

I find it really odd why so many fans on Amazon either criticize this gig in comparison to the Slane dvd from years previously.Yes Slane Castle dvd is a 10/10 alright,an absolute peach of a dvd,on a par with the Red Rocks gig,and will U2 ever do a dvd gig as good?? Maybe not,however let it go and praise the Vertigo Tour in its own right.This captures U2 early on during the tour and yes it is still a little rough as a performance but put it on,tune it up and it get the goosebumps going and the adrenaline moving just as much as any U2 show,U2 remain the number 1 live act to this day,they never let the audience down.I completely disagree that it is similar to Elevation tour,yes its staged in an arena but thats about it.Elevation was very stripped back where Vertigo has more of a light show going on,the Love And Peace Or Else part is something they've not done before with Bono drumming on the ramps,bringing back the Zoo part was a surprise too.From the thumping Vertigo to the solemn Sometimes You Cant Make It and the very under played Original Of The Species this is another classic.Yahweh and "40" are a perfect ending to a very cool gig.

If you've never seen U2 in concert you are missing out, they are AMAZING. I saw this concert live and it's was also fantastic, emotionally takes you to places far beyond the songs on the album.I actually only somewhat like the songs on the album, but in concert they become emotionally charged and great to listen to, especially within context and with Bono's commentaries and stories.The production on the video, the camera angles, and the sound are first rate, perfect.Whether you were at the concert or not, if you are a fan it's worth it.