U2 Perform Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World at Sphere in Las Vegas
Chapters: Achtung Baby Live • Concert Videos • General Admission • Zoo Station at the Venetian • The V-U2 Experience • Sphere Experience and Postcard from Earth • Vegas Legends • Venetian and Tao Beach • Vegas, Baby! • Epilogue: Sun Studio
Of all the songs performed during U2's 40-show run at Sphere, Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World, from Achtung Baby, experienced the biggest changes from start to finish.
Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World at Sphere on 16 December U2023.
In this version, there's a door (stylized by Willie Williams to match the set on Bono's sensational Stories of Surrender stage show), a door security camera and the gift of a balloon. The lyrical switch-up to reference Allie instead of Dali and the VW Beetle is so beautiful, so personal to Bono. Instead of trying to throw his arms around the girl, he's trying to throw his arms around the world. Great, great stuff.
Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World at Sphere on 7 October U2023.
During the first few shows at Sphere, Bono would bring a woman on stage and the balloon's string would open up as a swing seat. Perhaps they stopped doing this because of the lawsuit potential Bono mentions at the end of this clip.
There was a lot going on visually on the Sphere screen with both versions, including the animated balloon floating at the tippy-top of Sphere and an animated fireworks display when Bono describes himself as a man-child.
Which one's better? I can't say. I like them both. Both are quite clever. Both are unique. Both are special. But I know quite a few people - including women - weren't fond of the swing version. I don't understand why, though.
I can't say this with 100% cerrtainty in terms of the timing, but I assume the removal of the swing was what prompted Bono to instead crowd surf during Until the End of the World. The desire being, from U2's persepective, to provide an element of physical audience interaction to further engage the crowd.
I Go There With You...
U2
Mattopia Jones covers the world's loudest folk band:
5 continents • 19 countries
39 cities • 11 tours • 48 venues
77 shows • 1 Sphere
3 special appearances
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Bono: Author, Actor, Factivist
The Stories of Surrender one-man theatrical stage show was conceived as a promotional book tour for Bono’s phenomenal “MEmoir” and the tour expanded into an extended series of shows on Broadway.
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