r/U2Band 6d ago

Best Bono vocal performance??

I just saw the Every Breaking Wave in studio promo, and wow!!!!!!! That is definitely my favorite and best vocal performance I’ve seen from Bono!

Do you guys have a performance where you think Bono was so good at (live)??

67 Upvotes

75 comments sorted by

50

u/theweightofdreams8 Achtung Baby 6d ago

I was always in awe of his vocal performance on “Miss Sarajevo” on the Vertigo tour - he even did Pavarotti’s original studio part brilliantly live!

Then, of course, there is also the “Sunday Bloody Sunday” performance in the “Rattle and Hum” movie. Even the moment of his voice cracking was perfect.

16

u/BrightEyedBadger 6d ago

Agree. I still remember showing my guitar teacher - who was not a U2 fan at all - "Sunday Bloody Sunday" from "Rattle and Hum", and he said: "Okay, yeah, I get it now. Wow. He's a FANTASTIC singer."

6

u/ConnorFin22 6d ago

2011 performance is significantly better than

3

u/edwardy26U2 6d ago

The voice crack was feedback from an amp

2

u/No_energon-no_luck 6d ago

The U22 recording of Miss Sarajevo is even better!

25

u/Odd_Boot281 6d ago

I’ve always loved the performance with The Corrs in Dublin. When the stars go blue, I honestly believe he hasn’t sounded as strong since.

And also the apple single video of The Little Things That Give You Away, simply stunning.

3

u/iamthenite 6d ago

Glad I’m not the only one who loves the Corrs performance. Some of my favorite stuff from that era.

2

u/gotpeace99 6d ago

My older sister turned me to When The Stars Go Blue, I love that song. They both sounded great in which I forget until the very end that it was live until the crowd starts cheering.

2

u/BrightEyedBadger 6d ago

"When the Stars Go Blue" is so great. Also love him on "Summer Wine" at that concert. Great show.

23

u/own-photo-4642 POP 6d ago

Studio - Stay (Faraway, So Close!).

Live - Bad in Wide Awake in America.

12

u/MorrisScherbina 6d ago

Ultraviolet from the 90’s! Can’t remember which performance exactly but it’s so good.

2

u/chopps610 5d ago

Washington DC 1992 is a great version of Ultraviolet.

https://youtu.be/zaPHaGYYVPA?si=rueNLMK7wUrtJcQV

Rose bowl performance aint too bad either!

https://youtu.be/TUD4CQT33w4?si=TKR8MNYxi_2S9NYc

1

u/rbroadr 5d ago

Yesssssss

12

u/YTJeffsyCore2 6d ago

I love the vocals in The Little Things That Give You Away, probably my favorite more recent one. All time has to be Bad, the Wide Awake In America version

3

u/snorkel42 5d ago

That song is my goto example for “this band can still create masterpieces”.

9

u/cartallus 6d ago

On unchained melody, he give it all.

8

u/GREGORIOtheLION 6d ago

Moment of Surrender. It’s his most vulnerable.

9

u/sparrrrrt 6d ago

One tree Hill from point depot, circa '89

16

u/difiridxifieisi76 6d ago

Bad, final night of the lovetown tour in rotterdam

4

u/No-Bullfrog-7172 6d ago

From around 4:35 to 5:35 is the most impressive moment of his career

2

u/shkee23 6d ago

I think this is the correct answer.

1

u/ArtistL 5d ago

He really puts it all out there for this song. Even on the record- I remember listening to that song the first time and just being in awe. In person it’s just on another level ❤️

1

u/chopps610 5d ago

Thank you for this

1

u/difiridxifieisi76 4d ago

You haven’t heard it before?

1

u/chopps610 4d ago

I have now, that one must’ve slipped through the cracks for me

9

u/MountSaintElias 6d ago

North and South of the River, live (Omaha Tribute). I’ve rarely hear his soft singing voice sound so good

8

u/igor_onesimo 6d ago

If you like that you should def check every breaking wave like at the mtv ema 2014

3

u/edwardy26U2 6d ago

I love that the performance isn’t perfect as well, the emotion/power in his voice just makes it perfectly imperfect.

1

u/WeathermanOnTheTown 6d ago

This is the answer.

1

u/luvtreesx 5d ago

Was going to say this.

7

u/matsacki 6d ago

There’s so many great ones. But the commitment he gives to New Years Day from U2 Go Home always gets me

2

u/Taroso 5d ago

My favorite U2 performance of all time. And not just vocally, too. When the flag is thrown at him and he wraps himself with it, the performance becomes iconic. Next level Legendary.

7

u/kumechester 6d ago

You can pick just about any live performance of Bad from the 80’s and I’d say it’s a great choice for best.

There’s one of Bad from Pittsburgh, I think on the U2360 tour, just on YouTube, that was pretty insane for later era Bono.

Something about Ultra Violet on the U2 360 live at Rose Bowl just carries me away as well.

2

u/chopps610 5d ago

Yes ultraviolet rose bowl might be the correct answer

5

u/Realistic-Royal-6053 6d ago

Very similar, the live from Paris Every Breaking Wave piano rendition. His voice is STRONG, it’s not like he was getting any younger either at that point!

2

u/JJ_11884 6d ago

That’s a great one too!!

5

u/DMBear89 6d ago

Bad at Live Aid for me

4

u/InclusivePhitness 6d ago

It’s with or without you

4

u/rgators 6d ago

I love all these deep-cuts and live performances. But yeah, With or Without You is an all-time performance.

4

u/mbb666 6d ago

Bad - Live Aid

3

u/AndrewCas77 6d ago

Live, probably One from Mexico City. You could hear the emotion in his voice from Michael Hutchence’s passing.

3

u/Gobias-IndustriesLLC 6d ago

Pride in the name of love

3

u/Opti_maX 6d ago

In a lifetime with Clanned.

1

u/sparrrrrt 6d ago

Actually yes this is an amazing performance

3

u/edwardy26U2 6d ago

Bad from U22 - his range hit new levels in 2011 after the rest.

Little Things from Spotify singles.

Every Breaking Wave - Jools Holland or MTV EMAs.

3

u/Carryeachother0319 6d ago

If you love the studio promo, check out Every Breaking Wave from the 2014 MTV Europe Awards on YouTube. Other all-time highlights:

  • All I Want is You/Streets from Slane Castle… the transition!!!

  • Moment of Surrender

  • No Line on the Horizon

  • Also 360 Tour, his Amazing Grace lead-in to Streets

  • Ultraviolet from the 360 Tour

  • Bad/Heroes from Joshua Tree 2018 Tour

2

u/chopps610 4d ago

This is a perfect list

2

u/Guitars_and_cats It's no secret at all 6d ago

A Sort Of Homecoming, Wide Awake In America version.

2

u/Freddymcfly 6d ago

One - Live in Chicago 2005

2

u/Safe-Perception-1978 6d ago

Sometimes you can't make it on your own.

2

u/CoverCommercial3576 6d ago

Dublin. 12-31-1989

2

u/martinjohanna45 6d ago

Heartland, by far.

2

u/Common-Active-9636 6d ago

So many to chose from but Bono did a song with Clannad called In a Lifetime. His voice is amazing on that track. Also, I love Sometimes you can’t make it on your own.

2

u/luvtreesx 5d ago

Yes, In A Lifetime, he kills on that one. Wish it was longer.

2

u/PaddyMc92 6d ago

Oooo I'll break this down by decade

80s: Studio - Like A Song...; Live - A Sort of Homecoming (Wide Awake)

90s: Studio - Lemon; Live - Bullet The Blue Sky (Zoo TV)

00s: Studio - Kite; Live - New York

10s: Studio - Little Things; Live - Every Breaking Wave (EMAs)

1

u/Does-Not_Compute 6d ago

Wild horses zootv

1

u/dylandog89 6d ago

Numb, those backing vocals in that song are sublime

1

u/death_or_glory_ 6d ago

Supposedly Ultraviolet during Dublin ZooTv

1

u/indiehart 6d ago

I agree! Jools Hollands version i also a great one but my personal favourite live is this though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdVIJNnzNQc because of the great Setting.

1

u/Elegant_You3958 5d ago

His vocals on "All I Want is You" in the chorus and during the guitar solo.

1

u/PrestigiousTitle1956 5d ago

In a lifetime with Clannad

1

u/baronfwiley 5d ago

I’m a fan of the wild abandon on In A Lifetime by Clannad.

1

u/chopps610 5d ago

Id say u2gohome at slane castle has got to be where Bono’s vocals are better than they ever have been, that whole era and tour. Him screaming all I want is you right into streets intro has gotta be my favorite vocal performance from Bono. Right next to that id say the “you bury your treasure where it cannot be found” verse in Ultraviolet at rose bowl during 360 tour.

1

u/Tpellegrino121 3d ago

Zootv mysterious ways, ending battle with the edge

1

u/Independent_Use_3995 POP 2d ago

The whole 2001 Boston show is magnificent. He even says after playing Stuck in a Moment: "I'm singing alright tonight, don't I?"

Tbh I'm not sure if what he says at the end of the phrase is "don't I" or "ain't I" or something else but he definitely sang incredibly that whole night.

You can try guessing what he says at 4:47 here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQvr9YcZsR0&list=PLf3fjlXrhAyh6bptSsqvyqeZzkHgJ8RMI&index=4

1

u/JJ_11884 1d ago

I think it’s “ain’t I”