by Steve, Media, PA

U2, a band with many emotionally charged songs in their massive inventory, perhaps has their most popular songs. It works so well for me as the opener on the Joshua Tree album, with its long intro of organ and guitar blending and rising. But its the video performance, which won the Grammy for Best Performance Music Video in 1989, that makes it a memorable moment.

The video showed U2 putting on an impromptu concert on the roof of the Republic Liquor Store at East 7th Street and South Main Street Los Angeles, March 27, 1987. It was , of course, free in this setting but also unannounced. Some onlookers were delighted, while others were upset because they were stopping traffic. Bono with a flowing black shirt danced around while the rest of the band fed off of the jumping LA crowd. At the conclusion of the lyrics, Bono was met by the authorities who told him of the public disturbance he had encouraged. As though he had been instructed to help move everyone along, Bono thanked everyone, and guitarist The Edge took a bow.

“Streets” is still played at every U2 concert, and was also performed during U2’s Super Bowl halftime show at the New Orleans Superdome in early 2002. As they performed the song, the names of the people killed in the recent 9/11 attacks rolled up a screen in the background.