U2.COM :

"A spine-tingling night right from the start with a huge and passionate audience. If they weren't in red and white - great planning by the fans here again - they were in U2 shirts or in Music Rising shirts or even, dressed like PopTarts. The opening clutch of tracks suggested this was going to be some night but none of us could have predicted the ovation when New Year's Day arrived. What a response
Say it's true, it's true...
And we can break through
Though torn in two
We can be one.
With the flag of Solidarnosc on stage it felt like all the hopes and dreams of this audience were captured in a song.
'Something going on here. There's something going on in this country,' said Bono. 'We could feel it the last time we came. This country is going somewhere very special. Is it faith? Faith in the future. Poland! Europe needs more countries like Poland...'
We sang Happy Birthday to Edge tonight and it felt like everyone was celebrating a birthday. Was it the best show of the tour to date ? Who can tell? If you were here, it probably was. "



ME :
'Graund control to major Tom...'
I don't find any words to describe the way I feel. But the thing I should probably do is to give my tremendous thanks to you guys. For all you've done for us that night . For masses of energy and love you put into bringing people up to where you are. Because you are high. For your passion. For your self-abnegation. Courage. Care. Persistence. Sensitivity. MEMORY. But most of all, I'd like to thank for all the beautiful and unforgettable inspirations you brought to us. You enabled us to open our minds. you helped us to experience the beauty of noise. You showed us how to hear the voice of silence. Thank you. From the depth of my heart. From the part of me YOU shaped.
I LOVE YOU




Gary Lightbody, Snow Patrol :

"I had to write about this. I simply had to. I hope I'm not speaking out of turn here as this is U2's site and hallowed ground for all of you but this story needs to be told. The shows so far on this tour have all been amazing and each night the crowd's reaction to U2 has been loud and joyous and passionate. Last night in Poland though was something else. Hard to explain. Let me try.

I have never in my life seen a crowd reaction like that of Katowice last night. Right from opener Breathe there was a daft magic in the air. Insanity everywhere you looked. People's faces clothed in the kind of joy I've only seen in gospel churches and then only on the TV so to see this religious fervour up close was overwhelming. The city outside the stadium could have been under heavy fire from alien spacecraft and I don't think anyone would have heard, saw, or indeed cared that much.
Then The Edge takes to the piano for New Year's Day (playing it guitar pick still between his fingers!) and the place is bathed in red and white instantly. Red cards held aloft by the people on the floor and white cards in the seats to make a giant Polish flag you could probably see from space. It took the breath clean out of me. By the end even Bono was speechless, for a few seconds anyway. The things he said next are lost to me verbatim but what I won't forget is the tears that came to me then. In floods. And when I turned to check if anyone had snared me for blubbing I realised that every single person around me also had tears in their eyes. We were sharing something that simply never happens at rock shows anywhere. A collective emotional and spiritual surrender of epic proportions. This was majesty and tenderness married and that is a rare thing indeed.
Last night was something I've never seen before and I can't quite fathom it. Not sure I ever will or even want to. It will sit alongside the greatest nights of my life and I thank U2 and Poland for that. Also thank you to the Polish U2 fans for giving us the best reaction to our own set we've had on this tour so far. All in all then a night of triumphs.
I would tour with this band (we all, us Patrollers, would) 'til the last grain of sand tipped gently into the bottom half of the hourglass and yes that sounds (and perhaps is, why not) a massive hint hint to stay on this magic carpet ride a little/a lot longer but believe me when I say this: this is the greatest show on earth. Why on earth would you buy just anyone's cockatoo? Long may they reign!

Gary Lightbody, aged 33, Bangor, Northern Ireland, Overwhelmed.x "



ME :
no words as well, Gary...I feel proud and honored that we've become a source of true and beautiful emotions. It is tremendously rare and monumental - 70.000 people becoming one spirit for just one night. It was seen from the first tune of 'Breathe' till the last sound of 'Moment of Surrender'. I was standing there, totally unaware what was happening to me because I was so mesmerized and intoxicated indeed. There was standing a girl from Russia next to me. I'd never met her before and we hadn't even share a single talk just to begin to sing together and holding hands throughout the whole night few seconds later... I'm enormously happy I could be a part of this unforgettable and beautiful musical spectrum. I am unconditionally and inevitably under the spell of that night. Snow Patrol began to play, I was standing right in front of the stage and my gladness grew stronger as I saw you, Gary, smiling at us while we were cheering and having a great time. This was magical. Thank you, U2 and Snow Patrol equally, for bringing us at the highest point of the most raised, elevated consciousness and freeing our minds and souls by infusing them with your music.
WE ALL LOVE YOU VERY MUCH,
sayrr


And, of course - happy birthday The Edge!! Once again