Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris

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Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris
Video by
U2
Released10 June 2016
Recorded7 December 2015
VenueAccorHotels Arena (Paris, France)
GenreRock
Length151 minutes
LabelIsland, Interscope
DirectorHamish Hamilton
U2 chronology
Songs of Innocence
(2014) 		Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris
(2016) 		Songs of Experience
(2017)

Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris (stylised as iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE: Live in Paris) is a 2016 concert film by Irish rock band U2. It was shot on 7 December 2015 at AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France, on the final date of the band's Innocence + Experience Tour. The concert aired on American television network HBO the same day as the show, and was later released worldwide on home video on DVD, Blu-ray, and via digital download on 10 June 2016.

The video depicts U2's return to Paris less than a month after the 13 November 2015 attacks in the city. The band had played two of four scheduled shows in the city when the attacks occurred, forcing the postponement of the final two shows and the originally planned HBO broadcast until December. During the filmed concert, U2 paid tribute to the victims of the attacks and were joined on-stage by Eagles of Death Metal, whose concert at the Bataclan was the site of the deadliest of the attacks.

Background[edit]

Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris was originally scheduled to air on American television network HBO on 14 November 2015 to showcase a performance by U2 on their Innocence + Experience Tour at AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France from earlier that day.[1] However, the broadcast was rescheduled after the terrorist attacks in Paris the day prior forced the postponement of the band's final two Paris concerts, which were scheduled for 14 and 15 November.[2] The shows were rescheduled to 6 and 7 December,[3] making them the final dates of the European leg of the tour.[4] According to tour producer Arthur Fogel, "minimal" refunds were requested (3,000 of the 34,000 tickets sold). The rescheduling posed logistical challenges for the band, as the tour was supposed to end in Dublin more than a week prior to the new Paris dates, and crew members and equipment had been set to disperse. Arena security was bolstered for the rescheduled shows.[5] Writing about U2's plan to return to a Paris still on high alert, Don Kaplan of the New York Daily News said, "The Dublin band, born in the crucible of violence that gripped Ireland in the 1970s and '80s, has long collaborated with other musicians, artists, celebrities, and politicians to address issues concerning poverty, disease, and social injustice. That they've now opted to challenge terrorism and fear should surprise absolutely no one."[6]

Concert overview and production[edit]

U2 are joined on-stage by Eagles of Death Metal, who were returning to Paris for the first time since the attack at their Bataclan show.

U2 paid tribute to the victims of the attacks by displaying their names on the video screen during their performance of "City of Blinding Lights".[7] The display was created by Willie Williams and the tour's video team. Guitarist the Edge said the group tried to balance paying tribute "in an artful way that doesn't feel exploitive or jingoistic or anything trite".[7] At the end of the show, the group were joined on-stage by Eagles of Death Metal, who were returning to the city for the first time since their show at the Bataclan where the deadliest of the attacks in Paris occurred, killing 89 people. Bono introduced the group by saying, "They were robbed of their stage, so we would like to offer them ours."[7] The two bands performed a cover of Patti Smith's song "People Have the Power" before U2 left the stage and Eagles of Death Metal concluded the show with their song "I Love You All the Time".[8] The Edge singled out the moment in which the members of U2 handed their instruments to Eagles of Death Metal as his favourite of the evening.[7]

Audio aspects of the television broadcast were handled by Music Mix Mobile (M3). The company's co-founder John Harris served as co-mixer, alongside the band's own mixer Carl Glanville, who worked on the Songs of Innocence album and the tour pre-production. Leading up to the concert, Harris travelled on tour with U2 for two months and recorded 20 shows in six countries to familiarise himself with their setlist. For the Paris concert, he chose several digital audio processing solutions by Waves Audio, including Waves MultiRack, H-Reverb Hybrid Reverb, CLA-76 Compressor/Limiter, and L360 Surround Limiter. Harris said that the arena was "not acoustically perfect" and that his responsibility was "to create an acoustic space [for the broadcast] that compensates for that". Most of the reverb heard on the broadcast was achieved using the H-Reverb product. For the show, 126 audio inputs were recorded, including 12 bass channels and those covering three separate drum sets. Harris used a Waves workstation in an M3 Eclipse truck, duplicating the workstation that he used daily in the United States.[9]

Release[edit]

The concert was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and via digital download on 10 June 2016.[10] Deluxe editions of physical copies include bonus video material. A super deluxe bundle includes: a USB light bulb; a 64-page hardcover book; stencil set; dog tags; badges; and a downloadable copy of the concert.[11]

The packaging for the home release was designed by AMP Visual in conjunction with long-time band consultant Gavin Friday. The cover image depicts a lightbulb, which was used as a prop at the beginning of shows on the Innocence + Experience Tour to represent U2's early, innocent days. The light bulb on the cover was taken from a desk lamp, photographed, and given a "tough punk-like graphic" treatment. The packaging design is an homage to Andy Warhol's artwork for The Velvet Underground & Nico; additionally, the two-DVD edition of Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris features a peel-off sticker of the light bulb, similar to the banana sticker that peels off the cover of The Velvet Underground & Nico.[12]

On 15 March 2021, U2 announced a concert broadcast series called "The Virtual Road" in partnership with YouTube, by which four of the group's past concert films were remastered and streamed on the band's official YouTube channel for 48 hours each. Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris began streaming on 10 April, with a pre-recorded performance by French rock band Feu! Chatterton serving as an "opening act".[13] To coincide with the broadcast event, a four-track EP of songs from Innocence + Experience was released to streaming services and digital stores.[14]

Reception[edit]

Television ratings[edit]

The Monday night broadcast of the concert on HBO drew 140,000 viewers and a 0.06 rating in the 18–49 age demographic, according to Nielsen data.[15]

Critical reaction[edit]

Bono and Adam Clayton, during filming of the concert

Jeff Miers of The Buffalo News gave the concert a favourable review, saying that the band mostly "rose to the occasion through the course of a two-hour show filled with songs and statements that seemed eerily prescient." Miers thought the Songs of Innocence tracks were weaker compared to the group's other songs, but overall praised the concert: "During its many majestic moments, the band's show suggested that the spirit that infuses the best rock music – one of defiant optimism, compassion and passion, a liberal and open-minded view of the world, and the stubborn belief that a few chords and a little truth can change the world, one consciousness at a time – was not snuffed out when terrorists stormed the Bataclan."[16]

Reviewing the home video release, Mike Mettler of Sound & Vision said, "U2's live-stage mastery is on generous full display here, directed with a keen, all-encompassing eye by longtime band video associate Hamish Hamilton". He concluded, "the elegiac envelopment of the sounds and visuals of iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE is something to behold on Blu-ray on any given beautiful day, so don't let it slip away."[17]

In January 2017, the Digital Entertainment Group honoured Innocence + Experience with an award for "Best Concert Video on Blu-Ray".[18]

Track listing[edit]

Track list per U2.com official website.[19]

All lyrics are written by Bono; all music is composed by U2, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."People Have the Power" (public address introduction)Patti Smith, Fred "Sonic" Smith 
2."The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)"U2 (music), Bono and The Edge (lyrics) 
3."Vertigo"U2 (music), Bono and The Edge (lyrics) 
4."I Will Follow"  
5."Iris (Hold Me Close)"U2 (music), Bono and The Edge (lyrics) 
6."Cedarwood Road"U2 (music), Bono and The Edge (lyrics) 
7."Song for Someone"U2 (music), Bono and The Edge (lyrics) 
8."Sunday Bloody Sunday"  
9."Raised By Wolves"U2 (music), Bono and The Edge (lyrics) 
10."Until the End of the World"  
11."The Fly (Gavin Friday remix)" (public address during intermission)  
12."Invisible"  
13."Even Better Than the Real Thing"  
14."Mysterious Ways"  
15."Elevation"  
16."Every Breaking Wave"U2 (music), Bono and The Edge (lyrics) 
17."October"  
18."Bullet the Blue Sky"  
19."Zooropa"  
20."Where the Streets Have No Name"  
21."Pride (In the Name of Love)"  
22."With or Without You"  
23."Stephen Hawking Global Citizen" (prerecorded speech)  
24."City of Blinding Lights"  
25."Beautiful Day"  
26."Mother and Child Reunion"Paul Simon 
27."Bad"  
28."One"  
29."People Have the Power" (with Eagles of Death Metal)Smith, Smith 
30."I Love You All the Time" (solo performance by Eagles of Death Metal)Jesse Hughes, Joshua Homme, Mark Ramos Nishita 
Bonus Material
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cedarwood Road – A Gavin Friday Narration"  
2."Out of Control" (Live in Paris – 6 December 2015)  
3."The Future Better Hurry Up" (commercial for Innocence + Experience Tour)  
4."The Electric Co." (Live in Paris – 11 November 2015)  
5."i + e – Behind the Scenes with the Director"  
6."Bad" / "People Have the Power" (With Patti Smith, Live in Paris – 6 December 2015)U2 / Smith, Smith 
7."The Wanderer" (Intermission video)  
8."The Troubles" (featuring Lykke Li)  
9."Music Videos"
  • "Ordinary Love"
  • "Invisible"
  • "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)"
  • "Every Breaking Wave" – A Film by Aoife Mcardle
  • "Song for Someone" (Directed by Vincent Haycock)
  • "Song for Someone" (Behind the Scenes)
  • "Song for Someone" (Directed by Matt Mahurin)"
  

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Portugal (AFP)[33] Gold 4,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Grow, Kory (30 July 2015). "U2 to Air 'Innocence' Show, Behind-the-Scenes Doc on HBO". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  2. ^ Butler, Bethonie (13 November 2015). "U2 postpones its Paris concert that was to air live on HBO Saturday night". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  3. ^ "U2 reschedules Paris concerts, HBO will air Dec. 7 show". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  4. ^ "U2 Reschedules Paris Concerts Postponed Because of Attacks". Time. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  5. ^ Waddell, Ray (8 December 2015). "U2's Rescheduled Paris Shows 'A Challenge' That Ended With a 'Great Experience' Says Live Nation Exec". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  6. ^ Kaplan, Don (23 November 2015). "U2, HBO bravely reschedule Paris concert, despite global terror threats". New York Daily News. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d Newman, Melinda (23 June 2016). "U2's The Edge on HBO's 'Innocence + Experience' Paris Concert, Eagles of Death Metal and 'Busting Our Ass' to Finish the New Album". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  8. ^ Moyer, Justin Wm. (8 December 2015). "Eagles of Death Metal join U2 onstage for triumphant return after Paris attacks". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings LLC. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Music Mix Mobile (M3) Calls On Waves Audio For U2: Innocence + Experience Live In Paris". Live Design. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  10. ^ Gordon, Jeremy (13 May 2016). "U2 Announce iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE - Live In Paris Concert Film". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  11. ^ Bonner, Michael (13 May 2016). "U2 reveal iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE – Live In Paris". Uncut. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  12. ^ "U2 A Light in the Dark". AMP Visual. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  13. ^ Sexton, Paul (15 March 2021). "Archival, Four-Concert 'U2: The Virtual Road' Series Coming To YouTube". UDiscover Music. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  14. ^ "'The Virtual Road: iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Live In Paris' - U2". U2songs.com. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  15. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (8 December 2015). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's TOP 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Update: 12.7.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  16. ^ Miers, Jeff (8 December 2015). "U2 brings music - and healing - in Paris show". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  17. ^ "U2: iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE - Live in Paris". Sound & Vision. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  18. ^ Latchem, John (January 2017). "DEG award winners include 'Deadpool,' 'Star Wars,' 'Star Trek'". Home Media Magazine. Vol. 39, no. 1. p. 19.
  19. ^ "Official release: Live in Paris DVD". U2.com. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
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  21. ^ "Austria Top 40 – Musik-DVD: 24-06-2016" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  22. ^ "U2 – 1nnocence + Experience - Live in Paris [DVD]" (in French). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien.
  23. ^ "U2 – 1nnocence + Experience - Live in Paris [DVD]" (in Dutch). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien.
  24. ^ "Top DVD – 13/06/2016 a 19/06/2016". Portal Sucesso! (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 22 July 2016.
  25. ^ "Musik Video Top-10: Uge 24 – 2016" (in Danish). Hitlisten.NU.
  26. ^ "U2 – 1nnocence + Experience - Live in Paris [DVD]" (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.
  27. ^ "U2: Innocence + Experience Live In Paris (Br" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
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  32. ^ "U2 Innocence + Experience Live in Paris | U2". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Portuguese video certifications – U2 – Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  34. ^ "Top 20 DVD Musical: Week 24, 2016" (in Spanish). Top 20 DVD Musical. PROMUSICAE. Select Year: 2016, Week as Semana: 24, Then click on "Search Charts".
  35. ^ "Veckolista DVD Album – Vecka 24, 2016" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan.
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