Why have U2 never played Heartland Live?

Hi all,
New member here. Does anyone know why U2 have never played Heartland live?

It's may favourite song of Rattle and Hum and I'd love to hear it live

Probably because Bono would be in trouble trying to sing it.

I would imagine it’s not enough of a crowd pleaser. U2 like to cash in on as many people as possible and they’re only going to do that by playing their greatest hits.

Which is a shame as Heartland is the only good thing about R&H.

LoveBucket

Very good question...I would love to see it live. Welcome to the forum, by the way!

Very good question...I would love to see it live. Welcome to the forum, by the way!

Even better than the real thing :

Quote from: riffraff on February 02, 2021, 06:09:01 AM

Very good question...I would love to see it live. Welcome to the forum, by the way!

Even better than the real thing :

That's cheating! 

Possibly a combination of a tough vocal and a sound that might not project well enough live.  It might not be the case for Heartland, but RHMT and Acrobat were finally given the green light in concert after a long wait, so... 

They've NEVER played it live?

They've NEVER played it live?

No.  Additionally, the song was intended for The Joshua Tree and bumped by TTYW as the band felt the latter would be better live.  Heartland would have fit in well on TJT.  I think TTYW could have worked nicely on R&H too. 

This is the best version of Heartland ever played live:

Welcome Seswilson.

I do not know the answer, but I suspect it's an accident. The release of Rattle and Hum created a backlash in the USA and U2 chose to tone down the "Americanness" of the tour - which included not touring America. Heartland is easily the most American song, so I suspect they didn't play it live for that reason. Then they went on the ten year hiatus from all things not weird. By the time they did a show where Heartland would have fit in, IE Elevation, it just wasn't a fan favorite and didn't earn a spot.

Wow those two cover versions are truly amazing. I was going to say “too hard to play and sing live” before I watched them, but obviously not.

Also my favourite on RH, along with Hawkmoon, which I think they did ok justice down under.

Quote from: Shank Asu on February 02, 2021, 01:17:44 PM

They've NEVER played it live?

No.  Additionally, the song was intended for The Joshua Tree and bumped by TTYW as the band felt the latter would be better live.  Heartland would have fit in well on TJT.  I think TTYW could have worked nicely on R&H too.

Good points. Heartland really belongs on Joshua tree. Guitars and drums sound like a JT session. Definitely.

Quote from: Achtung Baby on February 02, 2021, 01:25:51 PM

Quote from: Shank Asu on February 02, 2021, 01:17:44 PM

They've NEVER played it live?

No.  Additionally, the song was intended for The Joshua Tree and bumped by TTYW as the band felt the latter would be better live.  Heartland would have fit in well on TJT.  I think TTYW could have worked nicely on R&H too.

Good points. Heartland really belongs on Joshua tree. Guitars and drums sound like a JT session. Definitely.

Where on the tracklist would you have put Heartland?

Heartland fits in on TJT but I have nowhere in the tracklist to add it, so R&H works just fine for me.

I can see the argument for TTYW on R&H, but.... It belongs exactly where it is.