U2 - Community rankings - FIN - #4 Sunday Bloody Sunday, #3 - One, #2 - Bad, #1 - Where the Streets Have No Name -Spotify links, thanks to Krista4 (3 Viewers)

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Slow, plodding, boring track IMO. Sure, the backstory and history of the song are inspirational. But when I listen to a song, I only care about the song and not all the other elements about it’s meaning, what went into it, etc. Better stated, knowing all the other stuff doesn’t change the fact that I am not in love with the song  

As far as songs with a cause with a similar drum beat and style, I much prefer Biko by Peter Gabriel. Does that make me a hypocrite for liking one song and not the other? Maybe. But we all like what we all like, even if there is no good reason or explanation. 

Biko is an excellent comparison. Except U2 do it so much better. More subtle, it’s music is such a joy and Bono is perfection vocally here. It has many layers each better than the last. It’s also a U2 song that just gets better with age.

I thought #50 was going to be either With or Without You or One.  I misunderstood the comment about the third track from TJT or AB.  

I think there would have been riots lol. 

Remember I love JT including Bullet and Exit (just not as much as others apparently).  Mothers is in my top 10 (my #9).  It's perfection - holds up to multiple listens and gets better as the years roll on.  

You guys can have Bullet and Exit and I'll take Mothers to our desert islands and we'll live in harmony (on different islands, but mine will be way better because I have Mothers of the Disappeared). 

I like cut of this guys jib....until the next one haha

I'm free this afternoon . . . I can pack your bags and get you an Uber. Heck, I'll even throw in lunch AND dinner. That is such a good deal. Bullet and Exit? I might even throw in a cheese of the month subscription. Hopefully they can deliver to GPS coordinates (assuming that your desert island won't be on a map).

Yeah but your island is gonna have all the low rent tourists...we know all desert islands get found, commercialized and exploited eventually. His island is only gonna have classy people. No Ferris wheels, Pizza Huts or human refuse here. 

 

[Anarchy99]

Biko is an excellent comparison. Except U2 do it so much better. More subtle, it’s music is such a joy and Bono is perfection vocally here. It has many layers each better than the last. It’s also a U2 song that just gets better with age.

Neither one of us is likely to budge on our opinions on this one. I am literally the complete opposite . . . the older the song gets, the less interested I am in it (certainly the studio album version). For me the Joshua Tree version gets skipped when it comes up. These things happen.

I'll just point out one thing. U2 went against the grain and had their venture into an alternate world music song in Mothers of the Disappeared. That's not really in their element, and they had a decent attempt in that genre. To me, MOTD seems better suited as a B side, bonus track on a CD single, or as part of an Amnesty International compilation album. What you call "subtle" I call lulling someone to sleep.

Maybe it's because I like Eddie Vedder, but I find the live collaboration with him to have a lot more energy. This live version would probably fall in my 75-100 range. You might be appalled, but I think Vedder's vocals are better and stronger than Bono's in the song. MOTD - U2, Eddie Vedder, and Mumford & Sons

Peter Gabriel has recorded a lot of songs in the alternative / African drum beat / syncopated rhythm style. That's part of his signature sound. Shaking The Tree is another example of a song that I like more than MOTD. It's his call to arms for women's rights in Africa, while Biko was an anti-apartheid anthem (vs. U2's awareness raising campaign for missing children in Central America). Biko has more going on musically from the beginning of the song (compared to MOTD), has guitar elements out of the gate, and PG also gets passionate and emotes as the song builds. Unlike MOTD, several times a year I will seek out Biko to listen to. If you don't love Biko, so be it, but IMO, PG fits better in that style and genre of music than U2 does.

 

[Nemesis]

#50 - Mothers of the Disappeared (1987)   Highest-9  Lowest-161    The Joshua Tree LP
Vulture-43/218 -Argentinian mothers demanding justice for their missing children. not a rock song; is proto-electronic in feel, anchored by a drum loop Eno put through a processor, w a Spanish guitar line along the top. The drum loop, despite the processing, feels organic when it ties into the lyrics: “We hear their heartbeat,” & it feels like 1, albeit in the distance. Bono doesn’t sing so much as chant, and then he veers into keening, as though he is giving voice to the mothers’ grief. difficult song to get right in a live setting, which is why it did not appear on set lists w any great regularity until 2017, where it became both respite after the emotional crescendo of the record & a highlight of the tour.

Comment -song has gotten better w age. The more you learn about the atrocities committed by the US backed dictatorships in South & Central America the more powerful this song becomes. The live versions are simply magnificent as the group figures out how to use it effectively in a concert setting. BTBS beats you over the head w a message, this 1 is much more subtle. Its a great perspective to instead of looking at the atrocities focusing on the mothers who lost their children & have no idea what happened & where they are. Builds beautifully & a great close to a magnificant album. Hear their heartbeats. 

Songfact:
Recording sessions for TJT began in Jan 1986 in Dublin & continued throughout the year. In June, U2 briefly interrupted these sessions to join the Amnesty Int'l A Conspiracy of Hope tour with Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Brian Adams, & Sting. Following the 1st concert in San Fran, lead singer Bono met René Castro, a Chilean mural artist. Castro had been tortured & held in a concentration camp for 2 yrs by the dictatorial Chilean govt because his artwork criticized the Pinochet-led regime that seized power in 1973 during a coup d'état. Castro showed Bono a wall painting in the Mission District that depicted the ongoing plight in Chile & Argentina.

Bono also learned of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo, a group of women who had children that were forcibly taken from their families by the Argentine govt (usually taken in the night by death squads). The Madres' children were usually young people who had opposed the govt, & the coup d'état. The Madres joined together & have become human rights activists.  For over 3 decades, they have campaigned for information regarding the locations of their children's bodies & the circumstances of their deaths, believing them to have been kidnapped, tortured, & murdered.

Inspired by what he learned, Bono took an extended break from recording into July, traveling to Nicaragua & El Salvador w his wife, Alison Hewson, to see 1st-hand the distress of peasants bullied by political conflicts & US military intervention. In El Salvador they met members of COMADRES  (Committee of the Mothers Monsignor Romero), an organization of women whose children were forcibly disappeared by the Salvadoran government during the Civil War because they opposed the military regime that was in power. At 1 point during the trip, Bono & Alison were shot at by govt troops while on their way to deliver aid to a group of farmers. The shots were a warning &, the incident made Bono realize that "they didn't care for their intrusion & they could kill them if they felt compelled."

The trip inspired Bono to write both "Mothers....." & "BTBS". 
Bono wrote this on his mother-in-law's Spanish guitar.

Bono: "I remember [Daniel Lanois], when we were finishing 'Mothers of the Disappeared,' losing his mind & performing at the mixing desk like he was Mozart at the piano, head blown back in an imaginary breeze, & it was pouring down w rain outside the studio & I was singing about how 'in the rain we see their tears,' the tears of those who have been disappeared. And when you listen to that mix you can actually hear the rain outside. It was magical."   (good comparison.....it does sound like rain)  Here is a video explaining the recording of the song  Link 

In Guatemala, “Mothers of the Disappeared” appeared as the b-side to the "With or Without You" single release.

Has been played live 88 times.......

• On the original TJT Tour:   the song was only played 8 times ........including Tempe, AZ 12/20/1987 Link  (which was considered for the ending sequence of the 1988 film R&H, but ended up as an Outtake)
   
  
• On the '98 PopMart Tour:   It was played for 3 concerts in Buenos Aires & 1 in Chile.   On 2 of them, the Madres joined the band onstage for the performance w pictures of their missing children. The Chile concert was broadcast on television in that country & Bono used the opportunity to ask former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet to reveal to the Madres the locations of their children's bodies.   Link2 (very powerful)
   
  
• Vancouver - opening night of The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 Link
  
• Eddie Vedder & Mumford & Sons accompany U2 on-stage for a performance of the song during a May 2017 show in Seattle, Link    (i now see Anarchy99 beat me to the punch posting his link)
  

Many of you will also recall that Sting released the song "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)" in 1987 as a protest song mourning the Chilean women who dance alone w photographs of their disappeared loved ones in their hands.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Songfact:
Recording sessions for TJT began in Jan 1986 in Dublin & continued throughout the year. In June, U2 briefly interrupted these sessions to join the Amnesty Int'l A Conspiracy of Hope tour with Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Brian Adams, & Sting. Following the 1st concert in San Fran, lead singer Bono met René Castro, a Chilean mural artist. Castro had been tortured & held in a concentration camp for 2 yrs by the dictatorial Chilean govt because his artwork criticized the Pinochet-led regime that seized power in 1973 during a coup d'état. Castro showed Bono a wall painting in the Mission District that depicted the ongoing plight in Chile & Argentina.

Bono also learned of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo, a group of women who had children that were forcibly taken from their families by the Argentine govt (usually taken in the night by death squads). The Madres' children were usually young people who had opposed the govt, & the coup d'état. The Madres joined together & have become human rights activists.  For over 3 decades, they have campaigned for information regarding the locations of their children's bodies & the circumstances of their deaths, believing them to have been kidnapped, tortured, & murdered.

Inspired by what he learned, Bono took an extended break from recording into July, traveling to Nicaragua & El Salvador w his wife, Alison Hewson, to see 1st-hand the distress of peasants bullied by political conflicts & US military intervention. In El Salvador they met members of COMADRES  (Committee of the Mothers Monsignor Romero), an organization of women whose children were forcibly disappeared by the Salvadoran government during the Civil War because they opposed the military regime that was in power. At 1 point during the trip, Bono & Alison were shot at by govt troops while on their way to deliver aid to a group of farmers. The shots were a warning &, the incident made Bono realize that "they didn't care for their intrusion & they could kill them if they felt compelled."

The trip inspired Bono to write both "Mothers....." & "BTBS". 
Bono wrote this on his mother-in-law's Spanish guitar.

Bono: "I remember [Daniel Lanois], when we were finishing 'Mothers of the Disappeared,' losing his mind & performing at the mixing desk like he was Mozart at the piano, head blown back in an imaginary breeze, & it was pouring down w rain outside the studio & I was singing about how 'in the rain we see their tears,' the tears of those who have been disappeared. And when you listen to that mix you can actually hear the rain outside. It was magical."   (good comparison.....it does sound like rain)  Here is a video explaining the recording of the song  Link 

In Guatemala, “Mothers of the Disappeared” appeared as the b-side to the "With or Without You" single release.

Has been played live 88 times.......

• On the original TJT Tour:   the song was only played 8 times ........including Tempe, AZ 12/20/1987 Link  (which was considered for the ending sequence of the 1988 film R&H, but ended up as an Outtake)
   
  
• On the '98 PopMart Tour:   It was played for 3 concerts in Buenos Aires & 1 in Chile.   On 2 of them, the Madres joined the band onstage for the performance w pictures of their missing children. The Chile concert was broadcast on television in that country & Bono used the opportunity to ask former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet to reveal to the Madres the locations of their children's bodies.   Link2 (very powerful)
   
  
• Vancouver - opening night of The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 Link
  
• Eddie Vedder & Mumford & Sons accompany U2 on-stage for a performance of the song during a May 2017 show in Seattle, Link    (i now see Anarchy99 beat me to the punch posting his link)
  

Many of you will also recall that Sting released the song "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)" in 1987 as a protest song mourning the Chilean women who dance alone w photographs of their disappeared loved ones in their hands.

Great work in this thread Nemesis

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#49 - Sweetest Thing (1987)

Highest Rank - 17

Lowest Rank - 104

Where to Find it - B Side to Where the Streets Have No Name and eventual single

Vulture.com ranking and comment -54/218 - It’s a compact little love ditty, written because Bono missed his wife’s birthday while working on The Joshua Tree. “Sweetest Thing” didn’t fit the record (it ended up as the B-side to “Where the Streets Have No Name”), and then was dusted off and rerecorded in 1998 for the leadoff single on the greatest-hits compilation The Best, 1980–1990. It’s innocuous enough, but what bumps it up a bracket is the video made to promote it, featuring Bono and what seems like half of Dublin coming out to support him in currying favor with a lady, played by Ali Hewson herself (in exchange for the single’s royalties being donated to her favorite charity, the Chernobyl Children’s Project). The video features: Irish boy band Boyzone, male strippers dressed as firefighters, a boys’ marching band, a string quartet, an elephant, a chef (played by Bono’s brother Norman), skywriting, street banners, and the remaining members of U2. Watch for the moment when Bono removes his glasses for extra emphasis at the “A blue-eyed boy / Meets a brown-eyed girl” line.

Comment - This evolved from b side to a single to a beloved song. It was the lead off single for a greatest hits compilation in 1998. Simple, but effective. The video is adorable too. Second highest ranking was 79, so my ranking of 17 drags it right into the top 50.

Next up, we see the highest ranking to date by one of us. As well as the lowest left, a 182. One more 182 is still out there as well. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

I like Mothers of the Disappeared more than I used to - I thought it was just okay at first, but like it a lot now -  but it's still only my 10th favorite song from that album, ahead of only track 8, and I doubt it would make my top 50. Still, a very nice song, 

Sweetest Thing is hard not to like.  U2 doesn't have this many songs that are merely simple and catchy, but they have this one, and it is catchy as hell.  That hook is glorious. 

 

[Nemesis]

Great work in this thread Nemesis

Thanks.  Hope you & the Mrs APK are enjoying it because I’m the type of person that is naturally curious about:

WHY did they write that song?   (What inspired it?)

WHAT were those lyrics I missed?

HOW did the song come together musically?  (Usually Edge, but what happened in the studio & what struggles or finishing touches/effects were added?)

HOW did they make that whole album?

HOW have U2 played it live?   (& how many times?)

WHAT happened In the early years?

in my searches, I’ve come across many things that made me say “Wow!   I never knew about that!” OR “I forgot about that”.  And then I ask myself “Wonder if others in this thread know this or would like know it too?”  
There is so much info out there now…..unlike when most of us probably started following U2 (b4 internet).

I always liked watching “Pop Up Videos” (which I think was VH1).  They would play the video & put info on the screen………I guess I’m the equivalent of that in this thread   (also liked “Behind The Music”)

Anyways, stay tuned…….I’ve still got a lot of info saved up for the Top 50 that I’ve been holding on to.  Including some eye opening info on a couple of U2’s most iconic videos. 
 

Edit to add:   Sure am glad we’re now at  1 song a day.  Those 3/day B-sides & covers were kicking my a$$. I felt like I couldn’t even comment on the songs myself. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#49 - Sweetest Thing (1987)

Highest Rank - 17

Lowest Rank - 104

Where to Find it - B Side to Where the Streets Have No Name and eventual single

Vulture.com ranking and comment -54/218 - It’s a compact little love ditty, written because Bono missed his wife’s birthday while working on The Joshua Tree. “Sweetest Thing” didn’t fit the record (it ended up as the B-side to “Where the Streets Have No Name”), and then was dusted off and rerecorded in 1998 for the leadoff single on the greatest-hits compilation The Best, 1980–1990. It’s innocuous enough, but what bumps it up a bracket is the video made to promote it, featuring Bono and what seems like half of Dublin coming out to support him in currying favor with a lady, played by Ali Hewson herself (in exchange for the single’s royalties being donated to her favorite charity, the Chernobyl Children’s Project). The video features: Irish boy band Boyzone, male strippers dressed as firefighters, a boys’ marching band, a string quartet, an elephant, a chef (played by Bono’s brother Norman), skywriting, street banners, and the remaining members of U2. Watch for the moment when Bono removes his glasses for extra emphasis at the “A blue-eyed boy / Meets a brown-eyed girl” line.

Comment - This evolved from b side to a single to a beloved song. It was the lead off single for a greatest hits compilation in 1998. Simple, but effective. The video is adorable too. Second highest ranking was 79, so my ranking of 17 drags it right into the top 50.

Next up, we see the highest ranking to date by one of us. As well as the lowest left, a 182. One more 182 is still out there as well. 

One of the better B-sides, and not a surprise that it eventually got its own turn in the spotlight. 

 

[rockaction]

I think that The Sweetest Thing is definitely in the top ten for me, because I'm not that huge a U2 fan but love this song. That's my two cents for the thread. A really underrated song in the pantheon of songs qua songs. Just a doozy. 

 

[Nemesis]

#49 - Sweetest Thing (1987)   Highest-17     Lowest-104    B Side to "Streets"    &    eventual single
Vulture-54/218 -written because Bono missed his wife’s bday while working on TJT. It didn’t fit TJT (it ended up as the B-side to “Streets”), & then was dusted off & re-recorded in 1998 for the leadoff single on the greatest-hits compilation The Best, 1980–1990. It’s innocuous enough, but what bumps it up a bracket is the video made to promote it, featuring Bono & what seems like half of Dublin coming out to support him in currying favor w a lady, played by Ali Hewson herself (royalties being donated to her favorite charity, the Chernobyl Children’s Project). The video features: Irish boy band Boyzone, male strippers dressed as firefighters, a boys’ marching band, a string quartet, an elephant, a chef (played by Bono’s brother Norman), skywriting, street banners, & the remaining members of U2. Watch for the moment when Bono removes his glasses for extra emphasis at the “A blue-eyed boy / Meets a brown-eyed girl” line.

Comment - This evolved from b side to a single to a beloved song. It was the lead off single for a greatest hits compilation in 1998. Simple, but effective. The video is adorable too. Second highest ranking was 79, so my ranking of 17 drags it right into the top 50.

Songfact:
Vulture's write up pretty much sums up the song origin. 

In 1988, a version of "Sweetest Thing" was recorded by NY gospel choir, The New Voices of Freedom, & appears on the soundtrack to the Bill Murray film Scrooged.  It was recorded immediately following U2's performance of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" w the choir at Madison Square Garden, which appears on the band's 1988 album R&H

For the 1998 re-release single, U2 mischievously featured a gas mask on the cover, perhaps in relation to the Chernobyl Children's Project charity & a reference to U2's concerns about nuclear issues (seen in many of their songs such as Fast Cars).

To promote the release of the single in 1998, Island Records distributed "Sweetest Thing" chocolate bars throughout Europe, wrapped in gold foil to look like the single w the gas mask photo beneath gold type. They have become a very valuable collectors item among U2 fans during the 2000s. 

Boyzone star Ronan Keating revealed:    Bono initially offered the song to him, but he insisted that U2 take it instead. Keating said: "It was U2's, they had to sing it, I knew they had to sing it."

Video:  It looks like the Bono section is all 1 shot, but there are actually several edits made where the light flares come in. Kevin Godley, who directed it, did something similar on U2's video for "Numb," where the camera stays on Edge for almost the entire time.  Godley talked about the struggle to find an elephant: “We decided we needed an elephant. I told Ned O’Hanlon, the producer, “We need an elephant by tomorrow.” Not many elephants in Dublin. Poor Ned somehow managed to fly an elephant from Belgium to Dublin.”

All told, the shoot took about 3 hrs in total to film the video.  Other appearances were filmed but some did not make it into the final video, including footage of Paul McGuinness being pulled along in a rickshaw.   Making of The Sweetest Thing Video

This song is also featured in the 2002 film "Mr. Deeds" starring Adam Sandler & Winona Ryder.  The song is used in the film while the main characters are riding bikes near a water fountain.  Link (this is the re-tooled version of the song that had been released in 1998 on “The Best of 1980 – 1990” collection).

"Sweetest Thing" became a #1 hit in Ireland, Canada, & Iceland & reached the top 10 in several countries, incl Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, & UK. In the US, the song peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #9 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

This song landed at #46 when Rolling Stone ranked their Top 50 U2 songs

Been played live 50 times............but U2 didn't play this live until March 17, 2000, when they played it a ceremony in Dublin where they were being honored. The following yr, it made the setlist for their Elevation tour, then was mothballed until 2015 for their I+E tour.

Bono x 2 in concert???? In 2015, Bono is joined by "Bono" on stage in LA       Link

 

[Nemesis]

I do like Sweetest Thing as a B-side song..........but for me, i would have ranked behind other B-sides such as:
Silver & Gold
Love Comes Tumbling
Spanish Eyes 
Party Girl

And definitely ranked it behind Bullet the Blue Sky 

 

[Alex P Keaton]

One of the better B-sides, and not a surprise that it eventually got its own turn in the spotlight. 

I had it at 24 on my own list.  Big fan.  Love this song.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#48 - Two Hearts Beat as One (1983)

Highest Rank - 2

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - War LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -91/218 - Another tour de force for Mr. Adam Clayton, the bass on this created the deepest, most unexpectedly danceable rhythm. As a pop song, it’s well-constructed, and did admirable duty as the record’s second single. But where this song excels is in the dance remix by Steve Lillywhite, which pulls out the bass line and keyboards and digs a solid groove.

Comment - Not good enough to be a single, but it was the early days so just finding their feet. Its a great album track though. I rated it 4th highest on the LP. I am fascinated by the love it/hate it rankings here. Not only do we have a 2, we have a 24. I am guessing there are personal stories here. Then we have the 182. Maybe this song killed their grandmother. I seem to be the only one who sides with vulture in the upper middle part of the rankings. 

Next up, we see the second last song from the October LP

 

[Alex P Keaton]

#48 - Two Hearts Beat as One (1983)

Highest Rank - 2

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - War LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -91/218 - Another tour de force for Mr. Adam Clayton, the bass on this created the deepest, most unexpectedly danceable rhythm. As a pop song, it’s well-constructed, and did admirable duty as the record’s second single. But where this song excels is in the dance remix by Steve Lillywhite, which pulls out the bass line and keyboards and digs a solid groove.

Comment - Not good enough to be a single, but it was the early days so just finding their feet. Its a great album track though. I rated it 4th highest on the LP. I am fascinated by the love it/hate it rankings here. Not only do we have a 2, we have a 24. I am guessing there are personal stories here. Then we have the 182. Maybe this song killed their grandmother. I seem to be the only one who sides with vulture in the upper middle part of the rankings. 

Next up, we see the second last song from the October LP

A ranking near 50 seems really fair and reasonable.  You all nailed this collectively!!  Well done!!

This is my 5th favorite on War (behind Like a Song and nearly equal to Seconds..….).   Mrs APK puts this 2nd or 3rd on War.

There is one section of the song I find annoying, as a transition in the middle (“beat on black, beat on white, beat on anything….”).   My two pet peeves in music are a) dumb transitions, b) poorly constructed endings.  IMO that’s what holds this song back from being top-25.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#48 - Two Hearts Beat as One (1983)

Highest Rank - 2

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - War LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -91/218 - Another tour de force for Mr. Adam Clayton, the bass on this created the deepest, most unexpectedly danceable rhythm. As a pop song, it’s well-constructed, and did admirable duty as the record’s second single. But where this song excels is in the dance remix by Steve Lillywhite, which pulls out the bass line and keyboards and digs a solid groove.

Comment - Not good enough to be a single, but it was the early days so just finding their feet. Its a great album track though. I rated it 4th highest on the LP. I am fascinated by the love it/hate it rankings here. Not only do we have a 2, we have a 24. I am guessing there are personal stories here. Then we have the 182. Maybe this song killed their grandmother. I seem to be the only one who sides with vulture in the upper middle part of the rankings. 

Next up, we see the second last song from the October LP

Love this. Took it in the jukebox draft we did last year. The bass and guitar parts are killer. Certainly in my top 20.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

A ranking near 50 seems really fair and reasonable.  You all nailed this collectively!!  Well done!!

This is my 5th favorite on War (behind Like a Song and nearly equal to Seconds..….).   Mrs APK puts this 2nd or 3rd on War.

There is one section of the song I find annoying, as a transition in the middle (“beat on black, beat on white, beat on anything….”).   My two pet peeves in music are a) dumb transitions, b) poorly constructed endings.  IMO that’s what holds this song back from being top-25.

It’s my #3 on War, behind, you know, those two.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Good song.  It wouldn't quite make my top 50, but still a good mid tier song on War.  

 

[bigbottom]

#48 - Two Hearts Beat as One (1983)

Highest Rank - 2

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - War LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -91/218 - Another tour de force for Mr. Adam Clayton, the bass on this created the deepest, most unexpectedly danceable rhythm. As a pop song, it’s well-constructed, and did admirable duty as the record’s second single. But where this song excels is in the dance remix by Steve Lillywhite, which pulls out the bass line and keyboards and digs a solid groove.

Comment - Not good enough to be a single, but it was the early days so just finding their feet. Its a great album track though. I rated it 4th highest on the LP. I am fascinated by the love it/hate it rankings here. Not only do we have a 2, we have a 24. I am guessing there are personal stories here. Then we have the 182. Maybe this song killed their grandmother. I seem to be the only one who sides with vulture in the upper middle part of the rankings. 

Next up, we see the second last song from the October LP

yeah, that’s a crazy split!  This tune probably squeaks in my top 30.

 

[Nemesis]

Two Hearts Beats as One..............This is 1 of the songs where i was wondering where it would show up.
IMO, Great song......another song with all 4 pulling their weight.   In my wheelhouse with Adam's early bass lines audible
And if I were ranking, it would have been in the 24 range.

 

[Nemesis]

And speaking of Adam:    nadine-shah-calls-u2s-adam-clayton-a-$%^&ing-spenk

 

[Nemesis]

#48 - Two Hearts Beat as One (1983)   Highest- 2    Lowest-182         War LP
Vulture-91/218 - Another tour de force for Mr. Adam Clayton, the bass on this created the deepest, most unexpectedly danceable rhythm. As a pop song, it’s well-constructed, & did admirable duty as the record’s 2nd single. But where this song excels is in the dance remix by Steve Lillywhite, which pulls out the bass line & keyboards & digs a solid groove.

Comment - Not good enough to be a single, but it was the early days so just finding their feet. great album track though. I rated it 4th highest on the LP. I am fascinated by the love it/hate it rankings here. Not only do we have a 2, we have a 24. I am guessing there are personal stories here. Then we have the 182. Maybe this song killed their grandmother. I seem to be the only one who sides w vulture in the upper middle part of the rankings. 

Songfact:
Most newlyweds wouldn't want their spouse working during their honeymoon, but when your job is writing songs, & you're inspired to write 1 about 2 people coming together, you get some slack. Bono started writing this when he was on his honeymoon in the Caribbean. He married Alison Stewart, who he had been dating since 1975, on August 21, 1982 in Ireland.  Bono said that in writing this song, he was hoping to create something that Aretha Franklin or Barbra Streisand would cover.

Release:
In Jan 1983, "New Year's Day" was released internationally as War's lead single.
In March 1983, BOTH "Two Hearts"   <--AND-->    "SBS" were released as singles in different regions.
       "Two Hearts", was released as a single in the US, UK, Ireland, & Australia, & rest of the world.........while,
       "SBS"  was released in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, & Brazil
("40" was not released as a commercial single, but rather as a promotional single in Germany.)

The cover art for both singles ("Two Hearts" & "SBS") was the same: Peter Rowen in a pose similar to that found on the War sleeve but taken from a wider angle, w the title along the top of the sleeve on a red banner. 

"Two Hearts" almost made it to #1 at home in Ireland, but was kept out of the top spot by David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”. It peaked at #2 instead.  In the UK,  it peaked at #18, ..........while in the US: #101   (Netherlands peaked at #3)

Obviously, "hindsight is 20/20"..........but such a strange release strategy to RELEASE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, but in different countries ???????

Official Video:    
Directed by Meiert Avis (his 5th video w the band), it depicts U2 performing on a rooftop at the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre, Paris, with the city laid out in the background. The band footage is inter-cut w scenes of 9-yr-old Peter Rowen (the boy from the cover of Boy & War) walking around the streets following carnival performers, including an acrobat & a fire-breather.

Numerous edits & mixes of “Two Hearts" exist, & there has been confusion over the yrs over which version is which, due to the differing titles that have appeared across various promos & commercial releases.  But main ones are:
5:56 Long Mix By Francois Kevorkian  was titled the “Long Version” and released on a US promotional single
5:42 Club Version - Steve Lillywhite Re-mix  (there is an "Extended" Lillywhite version)

A live performance of “Two Hearts” is available on the video release of U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky, but the song was not included on the audio version of that release  Link (audio only)

Been played live 140 times............133 times on the War & subsequent TUF tours.   Was played 1x on the 89 Lovetown
.......& then in 2015, as a surprise to many, it reappeared & was performed at 3 I+E concerts . 
One of those 2015 times.....maybe this is why they don't play it live much?  Link
1983 Devore concert version

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Obviously, "hindsight is 20/20"..........but such a strange release strategy to RELEASE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, but in different countries ???????

Official Video:    
Directed by Meiert Avis (his 5th video w the band), it depicts U2 performing on a rooftop at the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre, Paris, with the city laid out in the background. 

If what you said is correct releasing anything before New Years Day was silly, but like weve said before first singles and U2 are often weird choices.

As for the video info....very interesting. Didnt know it was a Sacre Couer. Last time i was there, the views were sensational. The street peddlars not so much. 

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#47 - October (1981)

Highest Rank - 32

Lowest Rank - 91

Where to Find it - October LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 119/218 - If you didn’t know the backstory of how hard it was for U2 to write and record their second album, you just had to wait until you got to the title track. It is gray and brittle, the sound of frozen tree branches and faded autumn leaves trapped in the first layer of ice on a pond. Bono’s vocals are achingly bleak, and the Edge comes in with that delicate yet assertive piano line. He hadn’t played piano since he was a child. “I really don’t know where that ‘October’ piece came from,” he said in 2006, “other than just sitting at a piano and that’s where it brought me: into this quite stark, quite gray, but beautiful European place.”

Comment - This is a song none of us hate, most of us like, but only one of us put in their top 50. Vulture seems indifferent to it. Me, it has Nice piano work. Well paced, sung with restraint. It’s actually quite beautiful. I am second highest on it. 

Next up, Rattle and Hum sees its second last track. The 75-46 section has swallowed up this album. Might be awhile before we see the last one though. 

 

[Alex P Keaton]

#47 - October (1981)

Highest Rank - 32

Lowest Rank - 91

Where to Find it - October LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 119/218 - If you didn’t know the backstory of how hard it was for U2 to write and record their second album, you just had to wait until you got to the title track. It is gray and brittle, the sound of frozen tree branches and faded autumn leaves trapped in the first layer of ice on a pond. Bono’s vocals are achingly bleak, and the Edge comes in with that delicate yet assertive piano line. He hadn’t played piano since he was a child. “I really don’t know where that ‘October’ piece came from,” he said in 2006, “other than just sitting at a piano and that’s where it brought me: into this quite stark, quite gray, but beautiful European place.”

Comment - This is a song none of us hate, most of us like, but only one of us put in their top 50. Vulture seems indifferent to it. Me, it has Nice piano work. Well paced, sung with restraint. It’s actually quite beautiful. I am second highest on it. 

Next up, Rattle and Hum sees its second last track. The 75-46 section has swallowed up this album. Might be awhile before we see the last one though. 

Really good song.  Mrs APK probably has it too-25 (though she wouldn’t give me any actual rankings).  It falls in the 40-50 range for me.   Simple, crisp, a bit melancholy.  
 

It reminds me of a very specific moment in my life that involves loss.  I started writing about it……but decided not to for some unexplainable reason.  It is a lovely song.

Only nitpick:  I’ve always wished it was longer. But maybe I like it more because it is perfect at this length!

 

[Nemesis]

If what you said is correct releasing anything before New Years Day was silly, but like weve said before first singles and U2 are often weird choices.

As for the video info....very interesting. Didnt know it was a Sacre Couer. Last time i was there, the views were sensational. The street peddlars not so much. 

Both songs were released on March 21, 1983..........I looked around a little and couldn't find out why.

Sacre Couer:  I too have visited it.   Great views indeed.
I googled it & looked at the pictures & confirmed that U2 used the rooftop as the architecture & statues are distinct.
In the Official Video, it shows the Eifel Tower in the distance at the 0:18 second mark & again at the 3:00 mark.

 

[HellToupee]

#47 - October (1981)

Highest Rank - 32

Lowest Rank - 91

Where to Find it - October LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 119/218 - If you didn’t know the backstory of how hard it was for U2 to write and record their second album, you just had to wait until you got to the title track. It is gray and brittle, the sound of frozen tree branches and faded autumn leaves trapped in the first layer of ice on a pond. Bono’s vocals are achingly bleak, and the Edge comes in with that delicate yet assertive piano line. He hadn’t played piano since he was a child. “I really don’t know where that ‘October’ piece came from,” he said in 2006, “other than just sitting at a piano and that’s where it brought me: into this quite stark, quite gray, but beautiful European place.”

Comment - This is a song none of us hate, most of us like, but only one of us put in their top 50. Vulture seems indifferent to it. Me, it has Nice piano work. Well paced, sung with restraint. It’s actually quite beautiful. I am second highest on it. 

Next up, Rattle and Hum sees its second last track. The 75-46 section has swallowed up this album. Might be awhile before we see the last one though. 

Love October,glad to see it in the top 50. For me it’s in my top 5. The shortness of it always leaves me longing for more

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#47 - October (1981)

Highest Rank - 32

Lowest Rank - 91

Where to Find it - October LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 119/218 - If you didn’t know the backstory of how hard it was for U2 to write and record their second album, you just had to wait until you got to the title track. It is gray and brittle, the sound of frozen tree branches and faded autumn leaves trapped in the first layer of ice on a pond. Bono’s vocals are achingly bleak, and the Edge comes in with that delicate yet assertive piano line. He hadn’t played piano since he was a child. “I really don’t know where that ‘October’ piece came from,” he said in 2006, “other than just sitting at a piano and that’s where it brought me: into this quite stark, quite gray, but beautiful European place.”

Comment - This is a song none of us hate, most of us like, but only one of us put in their top 50. Vulture seems indifferent to it. Me, it has Nice piano work. Well paced, sung with restraint. It’s actually quite beautiful. I am second highest on it. 

Next up, Rattle and Hum sees its second last track. The 75-46 section has swallowed up this album. Might be awhile before we see the last one though. 

One of the most distinctive and best songs from their early years. Its brevity works in its favor. It’s a mood piece, and accomplishes everything it needs to do.

 

[Anarchy99]

#48 - Two Hearts Beat as One (1983)

Highest Rank - 2

Lowest Rank - 182

Where to Find it - War LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -91/218 - Another tour de force for Mr. Adam Clayton, the bass on this created the deepest, most unexpectedly danceable rhythm. As a pop song, it’s well-constructed, and did admirable duty as the record’s second single. But where this song excels is in the dance remix by Steve Lillywhite, which pulls out the bass line and keyboards and digs a solid groove.

Comment - Not good enough to be a single, but it was the early days so just finding their feet. Its a great album track though. I rated it 4th highest on the LP. I am fascinated by the love it/hate it rankings here. Not only do we have a 2, we have a 24. I am guessing there are personal stories here. Then we have the 182. Maybe this song killed their grandmother. I seem to be the only one who sides with vulture in the upper middle part of the rankings. 

Next up, we see the second last song from the October LP

I'm confused by the "not good enough to be a single" statement . . . as it was the second single released from War. As Austin Powers asked, "Who does #2 work for?" The answer is me.

With regard to "just the song", U2 has several songs that I would categorize as fast-paced, up tempo love songs. Msst love songs are sappy, poppy throwaways (Sweetest Thing says hi). Bono has mentioned in the past that he wrote this song about Ali. There will be other songs down the pike that also fit the profile. I have loved this song since the beginning. The album version, the single version, the USA remix version, the club mix version, the Kevorkian remix, the demo version, the banana version, and the live US Festival version (already posted earlier).

The bassline and drumming are exceptional. It's both loud, high energy, seemingly angry, and dance-y all rolled into one. Far more energy than their recent offerings can muster. I do enjoy the remixes and live versions more. Their whole performance at the US Festival in almost 100-degree heat is great (more on that performance in later songs). The girl in the US Festival video used to post about being plucked out of the crowd on YouTube. To say she wanted to birth Bono's children would be an understatement.

Sure, the lyrics won't by confused for Shakespeare, Hemingway, or Yates. But the music, energy, and overall vibe make up for the middle school themed and teenage penned lyrics.

As far as "beyond the song" goes, Two Hearts is the U2 song I have listened to the most out of their entire repertoire.  That's not hyperbole or an exaggeration. When I was younger, I went several months at a time hearing it at least once a day. It's been a staple for me going on 40 years and has included . . .

- Playing it extensively on my radio shows in HS and college (especially the remixes).
- Editing it down and using it on weekly news and sports segment intros / outros for my HS and college TV stations.
- Playing it at sports team practices when I as an athlete (and then later on when I was a coach . . . kids had to finish doing assigned tasks by the time the song ends).
- Playing it at the school pool to try to push me to beat certain times for X amount of laps.
- Playing it to push me to finish strong when wrapping up the final stretch in jogging 10 miles, when pushing myself to run faster for track and field, and while cycling (did have a car for years and rode a bike everywhere).
- And more recently as a staple in work outs at the gym for years and years.

But overall, high energy song = $$$ for me. It's not surprising they don't play it much anymore. I don't think they have it in them to have that level of intensity and energy anymore. That's to be expected, as they aren't in their early 20's anymore. I know I sure don't.

I can tell some of my U2 faves will be falling be the wayside early, as another one of my Top 15 will be next.

 

[Anarchy99]

#47 - October (1981)

Highest Rank - 32

Lowest Rank - 91

Where to Find it - October LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment - 119/218 - If you didn’t know the backstory of how hard it was for U2 to write and record their second album, you just had to wait until you got to the title track. It is gray and brittle, the sound of frozen tree branches and faded autumn leaves trapped in the first layer of ice on a pond. Bono’s vocals are achingly bleak, and the Edge comes in with that delicate yet assertive piano line. He hadn’t played piano since he was a child. “I really don’t know where that ‘October’ piece came from,” he said in 2006, “other than just sitting at a piano and that’s where it brought me: into this quite stark, quite gray, but beautiful European place.”

Comment - This is a song none of us hate, most of us like, but only one of us put in their top 50. Vulture seems indifferent to it. Me, it has Nice piano work. Well paced, sung with restraint. It’s actually quite beautiful. I am second highest on it. 

Next up, Rattle and Hum sees its second last track. The 75-46 section has swallowed up this album. Might be awhile before we see the last one though. 

I am closest to Vulture on this one. It's a well performed and artistically crafted song, but to me it's not one of their classic, iconic, all-time staples. It's a decent mood and tone setting album track. It does segue and mesh well with New Year's Day (a frequent combo in their 80's live gigs). That's the thing for me, it seems like it is a puzzle piece for either an album or a set up to another foreboding song in a live performance. I don't think of it as a standalone song. They stopped performing it in 2015 (where it was the lead into Bullet).

There is a different mix and longer version from the soundtrack of They Call It an Accident. It's got synthesized keyboards instead of piano in the first half of the song. Worth a listen (even if it isn't as good).

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

It reminds me of a very specific moment in my life that involves loss.  I started writing about it……but decided not to for some unexplainable reason.  It is a lovely song.

Yeah, thats why I listened to October more than Boy or War. Despite its flaws, this album and in particular this song is empathetic with my sadness.

Both songs were released on March 21, 1983..........I looked around a little and couldn't find out why.

Sacre Couer:  I too have visited it.   Great views indeed.
I googled it & looked at the pictures & confirmed that U2 used the rooftop as the architecture & statues are distinct.
In the Official Video, it shows the Eifel Tower in the distance at the 0:18 second mark & again at the 3:00 mark.

Yeah Paris is an amazing city. Skyline hasn’t been spoiled with skyscrapers. I believe so that the Eiffel Tower is the most visible landscape. Love the design of the city. I even grudgingly like the french....once you understand them. 

Love October,glad to see it in the top 50. For me it’s in my top 5. The shortness of it always leaves me longing for more

Perfectly summed up. I’m wondering if @Anarchy99knows of any live versions where they stretch it out longer.

One of the most distinctive and best songs from their early years. Its brevity works in its favor. It’s a mood piece, and accomplishes everything it needs to do.

Yep. Another perfect summation.

I'm confused by the "not good enough to be a single" statement . . . as it was the second single released from War. As Austin Powers asked, "Who does #2 work for?" The answer is me.

I can tell some of my U2 faves will be falling be the wayside early, as another one of my Top 15 will be next.

I dont think Two Hearts is good enough to be a single,  but other opinions are available. Thank you for the detailed write up of why you like it. I understand. We all have our songs that speak to us. I am really interested in the 182 ranking as well. 

As for your top 15, bad news...yep the next one is one. Good news is that you wont see another one until #24. 10 of your top 15 actually make the top 15, same as another ranker. One of us only has 6 of our top 15 reach that high. I “win” though with 11 of my top 15 landing there. My #2....of course, doesnt make it along with my 11, 12 and 15

 

[Nemesis]

#47 - October (1981)   Highest- 32    Lowest- 91      October LP
Vulture 119/218 - If you didn’t know the backstory of how hard it was for U2 to write & record their 2nd album, you just had to wait until you got to the title track. gray & brittle, the sound of frozen tree branches & faded autumn leaves trapped in the 1st layer of ice on a pond. Bono’s vocals are achingly bleak, & Edge comes in w delicate yet assertive piano line. He hadn’t played piano since he was a child. “I really don’t know where that ‘October’ piece came from,” he said in 2006, “other than just sitting at a piano & that’s where it brought me: into this quite stark, quite gray, but beautiful European place.”

Comment - This is a song none of us hate, most of us like, but only one of us put in their top 50. it has Nice piano work. Well paced, sung w restraint. It’s actually quite beautiful. I am 2nd highest on it. 

Songfact:
The title track off U2's 2nd album & perhaps the most simple song U2 ever wrote - it's an almost prayer like song featuring a haunting piano track w Bono showcasing the gentle, wistful side of his vocal ability like never before. 

The title shares its name w the month the album was released, which served as symbolism for Bono's lyric. He explained the inspiration behind the title: 
"'October'...it's an image. We've been through the 60s, a time when things were in full bloom. We had fridges & cars, we sent people to the moon & everyone thought how great mankind was. And now, as we go through the 70s & 80s, it's a colder time of the year. It's after the harvest. Trees are stripped bare. You can see things & we finally realize that maybe we aren't so smart after all, now that there's millions of unemployed people, now that we used the technology we've been blessed w to build bombs for war machines, to build rockets, whatever. So 'October' is an ominous word, but it's also quite lyrical."

Lyrics:
October
And the trees are stripped bare
Of all they wear
What do I care

October
And kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall
But You go on
And on

"October" was included as a hidden track on U2 greatest hits album The Best Of 1980-1990. It comes on about a minute after "All I Want Is You" on track 14.   It is the only track from October included in the compilation.

A remixed version was used on the soundtrack to the 1982 French film They Call It An Accident.  Link

Been played live 383 times............The band played it live throughout the '80s (Oct/War/TUF/TJT/Lovetown).   Then revived it in 2015 for many of their I+E tour stops.

 

[bigbottom]

I love love love October. So melancholy and moving. I admit it always felt more like an intro or transition than a stand alone song, but it was so good in terms of what it was, it surely would have made my top 25. When I was in high school and early college, I was in a cover band that did a lot of U2 songs (in fact we did an entire show once as a U2 tribute band we called U4).  Anyway, we performed October, and we almost always did it as a lead in to, you guessed it, the immediately preceding entry in this list, Two Hearts Beat as One. 

p.s.  Didn’t have a daughter, but both times my wife was pregnant, I was pushing hard for October if it ended up a girl. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

I really like the song October. I love how cold and desolate it sounds.  A great song to close your eyes and enjoy on a snowy day.  

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#46 - Desire (1988)

Highest Rank - 13

Lowest Rank - 157

Where to Find it - Rattle and Hum LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -30/218 - If U2 were trying to show the world what they wanted to say by going back to the roots of rock and roll, they did it here. It’s “Mona” meets “1969,” Larry and Adam locking in, with Edge’s trademark guitar glimmering down the center, Bono relishing playing the part of “a preacher stealing hearts at a traveling show” — a mix of ’80s televangelism, Colonel Tom Parker, Louisiana Hayride, and the Grande Ballroom. It earns its name.

Comment - The usual two with their love and hate of the Rattle and Hum LP in the rankings. Ive gone back and forward with this one. Not my style, but i can appreciate its commerciality. 

Next up, Joshua Tree starting to appear with more frequency with our 4th look at the album. Achtung Baby is still at 2. 

 

[bigbottom]

#46 - Desire (1988)

Highest Rank - 13

Lowest Rank - 157

Where to Find it - Rattle and Hum LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -30/218 - If U2 were trying to show the world what they wanted to say by going back to the roots of rock and roll, they did it here. It’s “Mona” meets “1969,” Larry and Adam locking in, with Edge’s trademark guitar glimmering down the center, Bono relishing playing the part of “a preacher stealing hearts at a traveling show” — a mix of ’80s televangelism, Colonel Tom Parker, Louisiana Hayride, and the Grande Ballroom. It earns its name.

Comment - The usual two with their love and hate of the Rattle and Hum LP in the rankings. Ive gone back and forward with this one. Not my style, but i can appreciate its commerciality. 

Next up, Joshua Tree starting to appear with more frequency with our 4th look at the album. Achtung Baby is still at 2. 

Was Desire overplayed?  Sure. Is it a good song?  I think the answer is a clear yes. But is it a good U2 song?  That’s where I waffle. I am fully aware that I’m not as open to bands evolving their sound as I should be, but this tune (and several others) just never felt like a U2 song to me. I could hear The Stones doing Desire and I wouldn’t bat an eye. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

This seems about right for Desire.  Good song, a lot of fun, but not really a top tier one by the band.  

 

[Alex P Keaton]

#46 - Desire (1988)

Highest Rank - 13

Lowest Rank - 157

Where to Find it - Rattle and Hum LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -30/218 - If U2 were trying to show the world what they wanted to say by going back to the roots of rock and roll, they did it here. It’s “Mona” meets “1969,” Larry and Adam locking in, with Edge’s trademark guitar glimmering down the center, Bono relishing playing the part of “a preacher stealing hearts at a traveling show” — a mix of ’80s televangelism, Colonel Tom Parker, Louisiana Hayride, and the Grande Ballroom. It earns its name.

Comment - The usual two with their love and hate of the Rattle and Hum LP in the rankings. Ive gone back and forward with this one. Not my style, but i can appreciate its commerciality. 

Next up, Joshua Tree starting to appear with more frequency with our 4th look at the album. Achtung Baby is still at 2. 

Top-20 for me.  It moved around my rankings anywhere from 5 to 20, and landed around 11 or 12 in my final rankings.   Great song.  No idea how people can say it doesn’t sound like U2.   They’ve spent the last 20 years trying to create an upbeat song that is this good.  I’m not a musical expert like others in here, but how is Beautiful Day more of a “U2 song” than Desire?  I can easily see liking it more — I love both songs — but I literally don’t get the criticism.   To my ears, early U2 songs “sound like U2” - if this doesn’t sound like U2, then very little of the last 20 years does either.

Unapologetically love this song.  I’ll never stop rocking out to it.

 

[bigbottom]

Top-20 for me.  It moved around my rankings anywhere from 5 to 20, and landed around 11 or 12 in my final rankings.   Great song.  No idea how people can say it doesn’t sound like U2.   They’ve spent the last 20 years trying to create an upbeat song that is this good.  I’m not a musical expert like others in here, but how is Beautiful Day more of a “U2 song” than Desire?  I can easily see liking it more — I love both songs — but I literally don’t get the criticism.   To my ears, early U2 songs “sound like U2” - if this doesn’t sound like U2, then very little of the last 20 years does either.

Unapologetically love this song.  I’ll never stop rocking out to it.

My take was based on 1988 when it was released. Not today. It’s why Rattle and Hum was so hit and miss for me. And once that impression was set, it stuck.  But yes, as of today, they’ve done a ton of stuff that strays from the sound of their early work. And not surprisingly those tunes generally don’t do it for me. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#46 - Desire (1988)

Highest Rank - 13

Lowest Rank - 157

Where to Find it - Rattle and Hum LP

Vulture.com ranking and comment -30/218 - If U2 were trying to show the world what they wanted to say by going back to the roots of rock and roll, they did it here. It’s “Mona” meets “1969,” Larry and Adam locking in, with Edge’s trademark guitar glimmering down the center, Bono relishing playing the part of “a preacher stealing hearts at a traveling show” — a mix of ’80s televangelism, Colonel Tom Parker, Louisiana Hayride, and the Grande Ballroom. It earns its name.

Comment - The usual two with their love and hate of the Rattle and Hum LP in the rankings. Ive gone back and forward with this one. Not my style, but i can appreciate its commerciality. 

Next up, Joshua Tree starting to appear with more frequency with our 4th look at the album. Achtung Baby is still at 2. 

It’s a Bo Diddley cover, but not. But it’s very good at what it does, and made sense as the first single to signify that they were NOT going to repeat TJT.

 

[Anarchy99]

Top-20 for me.  It moved around my rankings anywhere from 5 to 20, and landed around 11 or 12 in my final rankings.   Great song.  No idea how people can say it doesn’t sound like U2.   They’ve spent the last 20 years trying to create an upbeat song that is this good.  I’m not a musical expert like others in here, but how is Beautiful Day more of a “U2 song” than Desire?  I can easily see liking it more — I love both songs — but I literally don’t get the criticism.   To my ears, early U2 songs “sound like U2” - if this doesn’t sound like U2, then very little of the last 20 years does either.

Unapologetically love this song.  I’ll never stop rocking out to it.

I could type out a response, but this pretty much sums up my #13 ranking.

Going to the well one more time . . . all the pieces fit. Strong backbone (drums and bass), sharp guitar riffs, Bono mostly restrained, and some good harmonies with great tone on the guitar. What's not to like? Another up-tempo love song. Flabbergasted that people would turn their noses at this one but applaud Sweetest Thing. Once again Vulture and I are hanging out with the fresh crowd in a trendy ranking neighborhood.

I also am curious about the constant talk about things not sounding like U2. TUF was different than War . . . and TJT was different than TUF. RAH was a different style than TJT, and AB was way different than RAH. Zooropa was different than AB . . . Pop was different than Zooropa . . . and anything after that was certainly different than the 80's and 90's. They have tons of songs that don't sound anywhere near alike.

I think some folks don't like RAH as much because it was sandwiched between TJT and AB, so automatically that means the album is inferior (compared to two masterpieces). IMO, if RAH came out in 2017, people would be doing back flips and commenting that it was much closer to their signature sound from the 80's, more straight rock and roll, less adult-themed, and with a lot more energy. But that's not when it came out, and people are hard pressed to move past their perceived disappointment from 30+ years ago.

 

[bigbottom]

I think some folks don't like RAH as much because it was sandwiched between TJT and AB, so automatically that means the album is inferior (compared to two masterpieces). IMO, if RAH came out in 2017, people would be doing back flips and commenting that it was much closer to their signature sound from the 80's, more straight rock and roll, less adult-themed, and with a lot more energy. But that's not when it came out, and people are hard pressed to move past their perceived disappointment from 30+ years ago.

I believe I posted precisely the bolded. Look, I am self-aware enough to recognize my own biases and contradictions. I could waste time and energy arguing that there were common sonic and stylistic elements across Boy, October, War, TUF, and TJT, and that releases like Desire, When Love Comes to Town, Angel of Harlem and Love Rescue Me were just too much of a left turn for 18 year old bigbottom who up to that point literally worshipped everything about the band. But music is a subjective thing and what would be the point?  By the way, Achtung Baby wasn’t enough to win me back (and I still think it’s crazy overrated for what it’s worth). It is only during maybe the last ten years that I’ve started to appreciate some of their later work like Kite and Iris. So consider me less of a true U2 fan, and more of a grumpy old man yelling at people to get off his lawn. I will go to my grave believing that Desire (and a number of other RaH tracks) were a departure from what I loved about those first five studio albums, but I get why people like the tracks - hell, I acknowledge that the songs are really good. They just don’t come close to representing what I love about U2.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

I believe I posted precisely the bolded. Look, I am self-aware enough to recognize my own biases and contradictions. I could waste time and energy arguing that there were common sonic and stylistic elements across Boy, October, War, TUF, and TJT, and that releases like Desire, When Love Comes to Town, Angel of Harlem and Love Rescue Me were just too much of a left turn for 18 year old bigbottom who up to that point literally worshipped everything about the band. But music is a subjective thing and what would be the point?  By the way, Achtung Baby wasn’t enough to win me back (and I still think it’s crazy overrated for what it’s worth). It is only during maybe the last ten years that I’ve started to appreciate some of their later work like Kite and Iris. So consider me less of a true U2 fan, and more of a grumpy old man yelling at people to get off his lawn. I will go to my grave believing that Desire (and a number of other RaH tracks) were a departure from what I loved about those first five studio albums, but I get why people like the tracks - hell, I acknowledge that the songs are really good. They just don’t come close to representing what I love about U2.

This all totally makes sense BB.  Thanks for posting/sharing it.  I can get on board with all of that.   Where I struggle is anyone who would say “R&H isn’t U2 sounding enough for me” but then in the next breath say “man, I really love a lot of stuff from the last 20 years.”   Because the last 20 years is an even further departure IMO from the early days than R&H was.   But I’m also growing to really like some newer stuff now, mostly due to this thread!   Which might be a miracle!

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

This all totally makes sense BB.  Thanks for posting/sharing it.  I can get on board with all of that.   Where I struggle is anyone who would say “R&H isn’t U2 sounding enough for me” but then in the next breath say “man, I really love a lot of stuff from the last 20 years.”   Because the last 20 years is an even further departure IMO from the early days than R&H was.   But I’m also growing to really like some newer stuff now, mostly due to this thread!   Which might be a miracle!

After the debacle of No Line on the Horizon no one was dreading SOI and SOE more than me. To say i was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. I enjoyed HTDAAB more at the time than now, think I even started a thread on it lol. Once I invest in a band, I am all in....unless a NLOTH drives me off.

Onto R&H, Anarchy obviously loves it, defends it and is maybe appoplexed at some of the comments. Fair enough.  If I thought Janet Reno was the most beautiful and sexy woman ever, I would defend her too. I am not going over old ground, but R&H has its moments. It was sandwiched between their best two, in most peoples opinions, albums. I have every sympathy for the band. They could have done Joshua Tree II, but thats not what they are about. What happened with R&H brought us Achtung. Each U2 album has its charm, place in time and yes even No Line I will grudgingly concede. 

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

I think some folks don't like RAH as much because it was sandwiched between TJT and AB, so automatically that means the album is inferior (compared to two masterpieces). IMO, if RAH came out in 2017, people would be doing back flips and commenting that it was much closer to their signature sound from the 80's, more straight rock and roll, less adult-themed, and with a lot more energy. But that's not when it came out, and people are hard pressed to move past their perceived disappointment from 30+ years ago.

Thats good analysis. It’s hard to persist with an album when the initial reaction is disappointment. I gave NLOTH 10 listens. It just made me madder. Listening with fresh ears for this helped. 

I am presuming your initial listen to R&H was amazement or joy? Its such a great feeling. That is the fear or excitement when listening to new material. I am pretty sure my first listen was watching the film which was disappointment. Then listened to the album, which was different to the film. Still it got a flogging, I enjoyed it good enough as is evidenced by my second ranking on most of the R&H tracks. 

 

[rockaction]

Lol at the earnest hand-wringing here. I'm not laughing at anyone, there's good discussion in this thread. I can relate to feeling this passionately about an artist. You all have me going back through their catalogue and listening to All That You Can't Leave Behind, which I never would have done if not for you guys. I'm enjoying it quite a bit. 

 

[Anarchy99]

After the debacle of No Line on the Horizon no one was dreading SOI and SOE more than me. To say i was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. I enjoyed HTDAAB more at the time than now, think I even started a thread on it lol. Once I invest in a band, I am all in....unless a NLOTH drives me off.

Onto R&H, Anarchy obviously loves it, defends it and is maybe appoplexed at some of the comments. Fair enough.  If I thought Janet Reno was the most beautiful and sexy woman ever, I would defend her too. I am not going over old ground, but R&H has its moments. It was sandwiched between their best two, in most peoples opinions, albums. I have every sympathy for the band. They could have done Joshua Tree II, but thats not what they are about. What happened with R&H brought us Achtung. Each U2 album has its charm, place in time and yes even No Line I will grudgingly concede. 

Look, I like RAH. And I have had some snarky comments at those people who aren't as big of a fan as me. I get that not everyone likes the same things, and it's all good. But I do like throwing shade at people and talking smack. It's all in good fun. A little humor helps make these threads that seem to go on for months a little easier to digest. If people peered into my music collection, they would be appalled. Some might respond with severe vomiting and an incurable rash. I still have a few tracks with a lot of personal meaning and associated stories to tell, which may have me rate those songs higher than the other raters.

For me, my real life timeline and U2 timeline have some points where they intersect . . . and then they diverge and start going in opposite directions. I admitted that pages and pages ago. I wasn't as into them once I turned into an adult with wives, kids, jobs, and responsibilities. That makes my opinion biased, but it is what it is.

As far as my man crush for RAH, that album came out when I was in college when my life was a lot more fun and interesting. Good times. That coincides when I was most into music in general. I listed to music all day long. I wrote many a paper with RAH as the backdrop. That likely gave those songs a bump that no one else would be factoring in.

 

[Anarchy99]

Lol at the earnest hand-wringing here. I'm not laughing at anyone, there's good discussion in this thread. I can relate to feeling this passionately about an artist. You all have me going back through their catalogue and listening to All That You Can't Leave Behind, which I never would have done if not for you guys. I'm enjoying it quite a bit. 

On a complete side note, I almost never listen to an entire album anymore (especially in a row and in one sitting). Since all my music is digital and in folders, I generally hit shuffle play and whatever comes up comes up. I may have to go back to the source material and listen to the albums as they were originally recorded and intended to be listened to. I don't know if that would change my opinions of the songs, but it might get me to have a better feeling and sensation (and memories) about that specific point in time and better relate to the songs.

 

[rockaction]

On a complete side note, I almost never listen to an entire album anymore (especially in a row and in one sitting). Since all my music is digital and in folders, I generally hit shuffle play and whatever comes up comes up. I may have to go back to the source material and listen to the albums as they were originally recorded and intended to be listened to. I don't know if that would change my opinions of the songs, but it might get me to have a better feeling and sensation (and memories) about that specific point in time and better relate to the songs.

It might. This is taking me back to D.C., 2000, and the radio stations that played "Beautiful Day." I can remember thinking that it was a great song. Sort of like I can remember being in my living room when Apple decided you were getting free How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and thinking that "Vertigo" actually rocked hard. Not many people liked that song. I did. So it might take you back to a time in place if the original emotion was strong enough. Apparently U2 actually does that for me. I guess I like them more than I realized. 

 

[Nemesis]

#46 - Desire (1988)   Highest 13    Lowest - 157           Rattle and Hum LP
Vulture-30/218 - If U2 were trying to show the world what they wanted to say by going back to the roots of rock & roll, they did it here. It’s “Mona” meets “1969,” Larry & Adam locking in, w Edge’s trademark guitar glimmering down the center, Bono relishing playing the part of “a preacher stealing hearts at a traveling show” — a mix of ’80s televangelism, Colonel Tom Parker, Louisiana Hayride, & the Grande Ballroom. It earns its name.

Comment - The usual 2 w their love & hate of the R&H in the rankings. Ive gone back & fwd w this 1. Not my style, but i can appreciate its commerciality.

Songfact:
This was the big single off the R&H album.  In the US, it spent 17 wks on the chart & peaked at #3 while Desire was U2's 1st UK #1 song.  The song is about the ambition & dedication required to be a successful band. It also criticizes American preachers who swindle followers out of their money.

Music:
Edge has said the guitar riff was inspired from The Stooges’ (Iggy Pop's band) raucous, proto-punk classic "1969." 

Bono has said the tune displayed “the religiosity of rock & roll concerts” as well as his own “lust for success.” Driven by a thunderous Bo Diddley guitar riff that Edge managed to capture & capped off w Bono’s searing harmonica solo, it provided a sharp contrast to the uplifting expansiveness of TJT, let alone anything else on the radio. “I liked the fact that it was totally not what people were listening to,” the Edge has said. “It was a rock & roll record – not a pop song.”

The song incorporates a blues style & features the "Bo Diddley beat", a rhythm made famous by Diddley. Other songs featuring this beat include George Thorogood's "Who Do You Love" and The Rolling Stones' "Not Fade Away."

In concert, Bono changes the lyrics of "And the fever when I'm beside her"   to --> "And the feeling when I'm inside her"

On the Zoo TV tour, Bono would perform this as Mirrorball Man, wearing a shiny preacher's suit that looked like a disco ball & kissing his image in a mirror. He used the character only in the US, where scandalous preachers were prevalent.

This won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group in 1989 (U2's first grammy). It was also the 1988 Rolling Stone Readers Pick for Best Single.

When Rolling Stone ranked their Top 50 U2 songs, Desire showed up at 36

Rattle & Hum version    2:54 long
U2 - Desire (Hollywood Remix)  5:21 long...."In Hollywood tonight...Voodoo Economics"    i think I remember this version

Miami Vice was 1 of the few TV series that could consistently secure the rights to popular songs like this 1 while they were still fresh. "Desire" (The Hollywood Remix version) appears in the 1989 episode "Fruit of the Poison Tree." Other TV shows to use the song include Top Gear ("Episode #20.1" - 2013) & The Romanoffs ("The One That Holds Everything" - 2018).

Been played live 350 times..........on almost every tour since its release

 

[Alex P Keaton]

After the debacle of No Line on the Horizon no one was dreading SOI and SOE more than me. To say i was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. I enjoyed HTDAAB more at the time than now, think I even started a thread on it lol. Once I invest in a band, I am all in....unless a NLOTH drives me off.

Onto R&H, Anarchy obviously loves it, defends it and is maybe appoplexed at some of the comments. Fair enough.  If I thought Janet Reno was the most beautiful and sexy woman ever, I would defend her too. I am not going over old ground, but R&H has its moments. It was sandwiched between their best two, in most peoples opinions, albums. I have every sympathy for the band. They could have done Joshua Tree II, but thats not what they are about. What happened with R&H brought us Achtung. Each U2 album has its charm, place in time and yes even No Line I will grudgingly concede. 

The Janet Reno comment is one of the best things in FBGs history