U2 and Carnaval in Brazil
It’s Carnival! That’s the biggest celebration here in Brazil. For almost a week, we try to forget all the problems: corruption, shortage of water, economic crisis. Actually, we shouldn’t, but that’s another story. Despite all those things, people are united to have fun. And who loves to party? U2, of course. At two different times the band decided to have this Carnival experience. Indeed, it was one of their first wishes in Brazil.
In 1998, PopMart shows were just a few weeks before Carnival, and Bono really wanted to visit a samba school in Rio de Janeiro. As you can see in the video below, he was initially in a private area, just playing tambourine, but we know Bono — he couldn’t resist joining the people. He jumped to dance with the standard-bearer. Well, at least he tried. A reporter asked him how he was feeling about samba and he answered, “I’m a virgin.” He also said it was too hot, but we must agree that a black long-sleeve hoodie is not appropriate clothes for summer in Rio, right?
Bono enjoyed it so much that he invited 30 percussionists to join the band two days later. “Carnival is coming… Salgueiro, join us,” he said during the show. Then they played “Desire” together. It’s a pity that the recordings are very poor quality. I’d love to know their opinions, especially Larry’s, about playing with such a big group of percussionists.
In 2006, U2 were invited by Gilberto Gil — one of the most important Brazilian singers and the Minister of Culture at that time — to spend some days in Bahia. The band really kicked off in the Carnival in Salvador. “Carnival begins now,” Bono said excitedly.
In Bahia there are “trios elétricos” — huge trucks the artists play on. Bono wanted to join Gil’s trio, but U2’s security didn’t give permission; they were afraid of the crowd because all the streets were full of people. So the band watched other shows from a balcony.
Bono was so amazed, he got a microphone and, with Edge, sang Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” and improvised: “I remember Carnival / In the beautiful city of Salvador / Beautiful boys, beautiful girls / Trying to change the world / A new rhythm, a new life / A new Brazil is coming.” Then Bono called the singer Ivete Sangalo and sang: “Everybody is a little Irish / And I am a lot Brazilian.” She paid a tribute to U2 singing “Vertigo.” “The Edge, come on man, shake your body!” she said. You can watch all those moments in the video below.
As you can see, there’s a lot of energy. The band had just few days off but really enjoyed them, not only the parties but also the beach and the local food. It’s great to know your favorite band comes to your country to play and can also have a big “craic.”
Originally posted February, 2015 — Atu2
