Plamena Parteniotis
U2 are not a band which can be described in several sentences. They are a living music legend, which even now continues to provoke, charm and enchant. Bono and company not only proved through the prism of time that they are a band worth respect, but also convinced everyone, even slightly skeptical, that when a proper seal exists between the musicians, the melodies are born easily and remain forever.
The evening of September third for the thousands who came to the Olympic Stadium in Athens will remain a memorable event. This was the date of U2's first visit to Greek soil. And what a visit it was!
The stage cannot even be subject to description. Not because it is small and insignificant. On the contrary. This is much more than scenery. It is a kind of time machine, they tangle you in its arms and takes you on a trip. Huge, gigantic, impressive and breathtaking set design, which even with its initial image, leaves you speechless.
After the nice beginning with the warming up Snow Patrol, who electrified the crowd with songs like "Chasing Cars", "Open Your Eyes" and "Just Say Yes", come the moment of the "great countdown". On the screen appears a clock showing hectic hands. And the goal was one - "Midnight" or in other words, the moment in which U2 will seize the legendary stage.
And they came right in the appointed hour. Without unnecessary pomposity, without unnecessary decorations, fading out of the stadium and fireworks. Just four people devoted entirely to music who came to sing songs that remain deep in you. The Irish legends began their show with the hammer blow "Beautiful Day". Melody and the cry of the music lovers, who had filled the stadium, merged into one. An avalanche of emotion that had no intention of calming down anytime soon.
For two hours Bono, Di Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry is Myulen gave their best for the Greek audience. They dedicated it a song - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", they talked with it, they made it hush like the sea before the storm, then to erupt in unstoppable applause. And the stage never stopped changing. For seconds, it was turning from a peaceful area into the core of a tornado through disco ball to a spacecraft. The songs were also not ending. Before the eyes of the Greek fans some of the greatest and most emblematic songs of the Irish took turns. Revolutionary "Sunday Bloody Sunday", the blood boil "Vertigo", the eternal "One", the distracting "Not Going Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" are just a small part of the notes and staves, which spilled gently but firmly before the thousands of people in the September night.
Of course, we cannot speak of a U2concert, without logically mentioning one of their strongest tunes. Released in the late 80's, "With Or Without You" has proved that it may rightfully be called an eternal song. This was the curtain call and the culmination point in the evening. The voices of all people who had filled the Olympic Stadium to the last nanometer, not only weaved into one but echoed so loud that they choked the speakers. The lyrics of the song once again proved that there can not be anyone, to remain completely indifferent to it. This reaction by the Greek fans was their original reverence to the rock titans U2. Because they really managed for two hours not only to take us with them on a musical journey, not only they introduced to us their beautiful and emotional world, but they also gave us charge that each bring with himself.
Thus at the end of the show, shortly after the magnificent Irish quartet embraced and bowed to the fans, the crowd slowly started on their way to the exits. Slowly, because they were all in trans still mentally singing and smiling visible. Slowly, because in the Greek capital had just happened something extraordinary. U2 had finally come and the musical life surely would never be the same.
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