U2 were very prominent at last night's Grammys in New York, appearing in the opening sequence during Kendrick Lamar's XXX and then playing 'Get Out Of Your Own Way' on a barge on the Hudson on a cold January night in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty.
As ever, any U2 public appearance raises more questions than answers and here were our favourite reactions from American viewers watching the barge performance from their comfort of their warm homes.
1.Obviously U2 played on a barge beside the Statue of Liberty
Anyone familiar with U2's body of work will not be surprised to learn that they chose a boat on the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty to protest Trump via a stars and stripes megaphone.
Remember Bono revealing the Stars and Stripes lining of his leather jacket during the 2002 Super Bowl?
Similar thing.
Talk about waterfront activation: @U2 performing on a barge as part of #GRAMMYs #Grammys2018 pic.twitter.com/UMlP0tDXtt
— Vivien Li (@VLiTBHA) January 29, 2018
U2 is performing on a barge in the middle of the Hudson River. Of course they are.
— Ryan 🇺🇸 Tarpley (@tarps3) January 29, 2018
U2 sailing off on a barge never to be forcibly uploaded (or heard of) ever again is definitely OUR favorite song #GRAMMYs
— Current Affairs (@curaffairs) January 29, 2018
2. How did Adam play bass with those thick gloves on?
Playing outdoors on a barge at night on the Hudson would put a chill in the bones of the hardiest soul. So respect to Adam Clayton, who gave zero fucks about being a rock star hard man and played (or pretended to play) with a massive parka and a thick pair of Thinsulates over his fingers. That can't be good for playing bass!
Twitter noticed.
The bass player for @U2 should win a Grammy for playing the bass while wearing gloves. #GRAMMYs
— Us The Duo (@UsTheDuo) January 29, 2018
Bass player of U2 on the Grammys is just trying to get home and out of the Hudson River Asap. Love those bass gloves. #GrammyAwards2018
— josh goleman (@joshgoleman) January 29, 2018
U2’s bass player looks like he’s working the freezer at Costco
— jesse bond (@jessebondrocks) January 29, 2018
U2 is apparently playing at the Statue of Liberty. Nothing plugged in, bass player has heavy winter gloves on, no speakers, no cords. Hollywood and musicians must think highly of our intellect.
— scott ficks (@benanniemolly) January 29, 2018
Way too cold for kimonos or yukatas or robes while floating on a barge on the Hudson #Grammys2018 #U2 pic.twitter.com/mUaJXNxFV0
— Adam’s Kimono (@AdamsKimono) January 29, 2018
3. Larry looked really bored by the whole thing
Larry Mullen is a pretty chilled out drummer at the best of times. But Grammy viewers thought he could try to look a bit more interested by the whole playing-on-a-barge thing.
U2's drummer makes playing the set look effortless. Like he's not even trying (or moving). Pretty cool. #GRAMMYs
— Josh Pacheco (@Joshontheradio) January 29, 2018
U2’s drummer looks as bored playing U2’s music as we do hearing it. #GRAMMYs
— eBaum's World (@ebaumsworld) January 29, 2018
U2's drummer looks like he would rather be literally anywhere else instead of fake playing behind this track and freezing on a river #GRAMMYs
— Justin? (@j_davis614) January 29, 2018
4. U2 accomplished a feat of time-space engineering last night
Everyone knows that traffic in Manhattan is mental. U2, however, make dreams come true and managed an unimaginable traffic feat last night. They got from Madison Square Garden to the Hudson River and back in less than two hours. Social media was dubious.
.@U2 sure got back from that barge rather quickly, wouldn't you say?
— SoundDiego (@sounddiego) January 29, 2018
5. Bono's stars and stripes megaphone wasn't very subtle
Subtly has never been Bono's forte, but self-awareness did not prevent him picking up a stars and stripes megaphone and listing off a new set of beatitudes, including worthy things like 'Blessed are the shithole countries, for they gave us the American dream'
Blessed are the shithole countries, for they gave us the American Dream@U2 #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/go7TmGpaFK
— Carl Mullan (@CarlMullan) January 29, 2018
Not everyone liked the megaphone however.
You guys think Trump heard Bono through that megaphone?
— KOWALICK (@MattKowalick) January 29, 2018
me into an American flag megaphone: This was a surprisingly good U2 album but this performance is a little on the nose and I would rather have some Lorde, please and thank you. #TheGrammys pic.twitter.com/q416IH19mq
— Derek Operle 📽🎞📻 (@doperle) January 29, 2018
Fun fact: Bono has never met a megaphone he hasn't hollered into.#GRAMMYS#Bono
— Saltine-American (@BazarComedy) January 29, 2018
6. This was only U2's second-best performance on a barge
Remember the video for 'Gloria', filmed on the Liffey back in 1981? Barge music was better back then.
@U2 was much better on a barge in 1981. #GRAMMYs https://t.co/kqqtRxZYyy
— Chickensuit (@chicken_suit) January 29, 2018
