As fans, we spend a lot of time debating a) which songs U2 should stop playing, and b) which songs they should play live for the first time. I’ve listened recently to a couple old concerts that I haven’t listened to in ages, and heard a whole bunch of songs I’d love to hear again.

So, with that in mind, here’s my list of the Top 10 Songs U2 Should Play Live Again. Any song is eligible, except for songs they played during the Vertigo Tour. (So, “One Tree Hill” is disqualified because it was played a couple times in New Zealand. And “Kite” is out because it was played late in ‘06, too.)

1.) Please

2.) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

3.) The Unforgettable Fire

4.) Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around the World

5.) A Sort of Homecoming

6.) October

7.) Ultraviolet

8.) In God’s Country

9.) Gone

10.) Exit

What would be on YOUR list?

So I saw “U2 3D” for the fourth time this weekend. And I have to say, No. 4 was just as good. I still found myself grinning and bouncing in my seat from the first “Everyone.”

My excuse for yet another viewing was that my friend and sister wanted to see it. But let’s face it: I don’t need an excuse; I’d take a stranger to see it.

My friend Kate saw U2 with me in Chicago on the third leg of the Vertigo tour, so I knew she’d like the movie. (And she did; she said she even got tears in her eyes at one point.) I wasn’t sure what my sister would think, though. Laura grew up listening to U2, not because she wanted to but because her big sister was always blaring it from her bedroom. I’ve heard a lot of people say that’s how they were turned on to U2, but it never grabbed Laura for whatever reason. Of course she was only 9 when I went to college, so maybe I left too soon for the music to sink in.

But now, for the first time in the nearly 19 years since I moved out of the house, I got Laura to a U2 event. She went for the 3D because she had heard so much about it (it wasn’t just from me, I swear). And she had a great time. She sang me the lyrics to let me know when she recognized a song. She got a kick out of my chair dancing. And best of all: Laura now wants to see a U2 concert.

Now that will be worth writing about.

The folks over at Zoom-In Online contacted me today to say they just posted a podcast interview with Catherine Owens, director of (do I need to say it?) U2 3D.

Megan Cunningham, for On The Circuit, spoke with Owens at the Sundance Film Festival the day after the film’s premiere. The podcast lasts about 12 minutes. Enjoy.

Bono made an appearance recently in the comic ‘Pearls Before Swine.’ Links are here:

www.comics.com/comics/pearls/archive/pearls-20080208.html

www.comics.com/comics/pearls/archive/pearls-20080209.html

ABC News talked to Bono about his Valentine’s Day auction at Sotheby’s. An interview with Bono and Damien Hirst is scheduled to air on Good Morning America Weekend on ABC this Saturday.

Our man about town has already made a few other appearances in New York City this week.

Above: With United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on February 13, at UN headquarters in New York. Despite Bono’s best efforts, the Secretary General remains unconvinced that reissues and remasters really are that cool. (photo via)

Below: On his way into the Edun Fashion Week presentation at The Desmond Tutu Center on February 12, in New York City. (photo via)

Happy Valentine’s Day, all …

- This post brought to you by Scatter O’ Light.

On Saturday 16th February the Biography channel will be showing a programme at 9 pm entitled “Live Aid: how music changed the world,” which is bound to include a U2 mention, and then a biography of Bono at 10 pm.