Bono Rocks Brazil's Carnival
Published
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS -- Thousands of Brazilians took a break from samba to rock with U2 frontman Bono during Carnival celebrations in the northeastern city of Salvador.
Bono performed an impromptu duet of "Vertigo" with Brazilian popular singer Ivete Sangalo as Carnival got underway in Salvador on Thursday, a day earlier than in Rio de Janeiro.
While the highlight of Brazil's carnival celebrations is Rio's annual samba parade on Sunday and Monday nights, many people prefer Salvador's carnival, where giant sound trucks with bands on top jam the city's streets night and day.
The U2 singer is attending Salvador's Carnival as a guest of Culture Minister and pop star Gilberto Gil. The O Globo newspaper reported Friday that music producer Quincy Jones was also attending Carnival as a guest of Gil.
Bono sang the duet from Gil's private box that faces the avenue as Sangalo and her band performed from atop a sound truck. U2 played two sold-out concerts in Sao Paulo's Morumbi soccer stadium Monday and Tuesday nights.
Bono is among 191 nominees, including politicians and peacemakers, for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. The Irish singer was proposed for his fight against world poverty.
Bob Geldof, former leader of the Irish punk group the Boomtown Rats, is also among the nominees. Geldof was nominated for organizing last year's Live 8 benefit concerts.