John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
Do you have a top 10 of these tracks to get us going? I am just worried i am going to punch walls and get angry at some of these. Bit scared to dive in. Start me off well please.
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U2 - Community rankings - FIN - #4 Sunday Bloody Sunday, #3 - One, #2 - Bad, #1 - Where the Streets Have No Name -Spotify links, thanks to Krista4 (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter John Maddens Lunchbox
- Start date
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
#24 - Mysterious Ways (1991)
Highest Rank - 12
Lowest Rank - 105
Where to Find it - Achtung Baby LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment -34/218 - There is so much elation in “Mysterious Ways,” the guitar riff that sounds like nothing else, Adam Clayton’s bass line rumbling and swinging and holding the band down from spinning off into the firmament, and Larry Mullen, for all his fears of where he would fit into this “new” version of U2, slotting in perfectly. And then there’s the lead singer, who turns this into a hymn of adoration to women. Bono said, “It is U2 at our funkiest. Sexy music.” He’s not wrong.
Comment - A noticeable sign in their development. It is another commerically attractive song, much better than WGRYWH. I cant put it near the elite, but it deserves a high ranking.
Next up, We reduce Boy from 2 to 1 after this one. It may be considered too early for either of these two tracks left. One of them had two low rankings despite two high rankings. The other has one low ranking and three good ones. Which ones comes first?
Highest Rank - 12
Lowest Rank - 105
Where to Find it - Achtung Baby LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment -34/218 - There is so much elation in “Mysterious Ways,” the guitar riff that sounds like nothing else, Adam Clayton’s bass line rumbling and swinging and holding the band down from spinning off into the firmament, and Larry Mullen, for all his fears of where he would fit into this “new” version of U2, slotting in perfectly. And then there’s the lead singer, who turns this into a hymn of adoration to women. Bono said, “It is U2 at our funkiest. Sexy music.” He’s not wrong.
Comment - A noticeable sign in their development. It is another commerically attractive song, much better than WGRYWH. I cant put it near the elite, but it deserves a high ranking.
Next up, We reduce Boy from 2 to 1 after this one. It may be considered too early for either of these two tracks left. One of them had two low rankings despite two high rankings. The other has one low ranking and three good ones. Which ones comes first?
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I disliked Mysterious Ways a lot when I first heard it. In fact, I disliked it so much that I ended up not getting Achtung Baby and hearing it in full until 3-4 years later. Admittedly, I was in a totally different head space when this album was released, as late '91 was when I was getting into Rush and for much of '90 and '91 I had gotten into a ton of other bands I had never really heard before (Zeppelin, Boston, Pink Floyd, Styx, Moody Blues, etc.), so U2 was easy for me to abandon at that point when a new single was so (to me at the time) crappy. Although I eventually came around to liking this song quite a bit, it's still one of my least favorites from Achtung Baby, but there is no shame in that considering how loaded that record is.
bigbottom
Footballguy
At this point, we’re in the Top 25 of a pretty amazing catalog. I don’t know that I could muster an argument that it’s too early for any tune to go off the board given how many great songs they have. I know lots of folks who don’t have New Year’s Day at the top of their lists like I do, so if it showed up at 23, I’d just say “hey, Top 25 is awesome regardless.”
Where I will be tempted to argue, however, is when a song that I think is a clunker (or just okay) breaks the Top 25 (we’ll have some of these), or Vulture or an individual ranker puts what I think should be a consensus Top 25 tune somewhere in the 90s (e.g. The Unforgettable Fire).
bigbottom
Footballguy
I acknowledge that it is a well-written catchy tune with an original sound and have no objection to its placement in the Top 25. But it just never grabbed me - not when it was released and not now. Not sure why.
Nemesis
Footballguy
Songfact:
“Mysterious Ways” was the 2nd single from AB, released shortly after the album itself and became a #1 hit in some countries, while still doing well in others. The song 1st took shape as a jam-song called “Sick Puppy” during a series of difficult recording sessions. Initially, the band struggled to build a song from it, w Bono & producer Daniel Lanois arguing intensely during 1 songwriting session. That original track was built out of Clayton’s swooping bassline over a dance beat from a drum machine. At 1 point in the recording session, “Sick Puppy” sparked a creative moment & the resulting deviation went in another direction to become the musical blueprint for the song "One".
U2 continued to return to the remnants of Sick Puppy to see if they could turn the rest of it into something else. A breakthrough was made when Edge found a soupy auto-wah-based preset (called ‘Funk Wah’) on his Korg A3 Performance Signal Processor & he came up with the song’s disarmingly simple but mighty two-note, one-chord riff & funky solo interlude. The finished track is complemented by co-producer Daniel Lanois’ congas, to give the song a rhythmic swaying pulse. U2 fine-tuned “Mysterious Ways” throughout the remaining recording sessions, right up to the album deadline, w a guitar overdub being added after the final mix had already been finished.
Bono said that it was "a bass line in search of a song", while the Edge stated that "the key to the song was finding ways to mess around with chords on top without having to change the bass"
U2.COM : Sick Puppy
U2 the birth of Mysterious Way & ONE in Hansa Studios, Berlin This is the 1st minute of a longer video where we will re-visit when we get to "One".
The single was released on December 2, 1991 in a wide variety of formats........but in each case the B-side was a "Mix version" of Mysterious Ways. (see Mix Versions below)
Bono’s lyrics – an ode to the power of female allure – are as joyful as he would ever get.
- "It's a song about a man living on little or no romance....It's a song about women - or a woman - but it's addressed to him." (this is in line with a proposed title for the album, Fear of Women)
- Bono talks a bit about theology & about El Shadi - the 3rd & least used name for God in the Bible, which translates as "the breasted one." "I've always believed that the spirit is a feminine thing," he says.
- "Mysterious Ways" is not about a particular woman. It is about women in general, & the way they entrance, & often dominate men. "At times I do tend to idealize women. It's easy to fall into the trap of separating them into angels & devils for the sake of the drama. But there's no way that there's ever anything anti-women involved. Our songs are not politically correct. They are written from a man's point of view. He's wrestling w different things, there's a flash of anger & hurt here & there. But I don't think women come out badly."
- Edge composed the chorus' reassuring line, "It's all right / It's all right / It's all right", wanting to prove a point since no prior U2 song contained the line.
Charts: UK at #13 US #9 Canada: #1 Ireland #1 Australia #3
Video: Directed by Stephane Sednaoui, the video was shot in Morocco w mirrors used for effects & a belly dancer portraying the woman who "moves in mysterious ways." (NOTE: the belly dancer in the video is NOT Morleigh Steinberg)
When U2 embarked on their Zoo TV tour in Lakeland, Florida in Feb 1992, they returned to this motif, w a belly dancer appearing on stage when they performed the song. The 1st leg of the tour featured FL resident Christina Petro.
On the 2nd leg of the tour, Morleigh Steinberg, who did some choreography for the band, took over as the dancer. She ended up taking up w Edge, whose marriage collapsed while the band was recording AB.
Remix Versions:
MW - Guitar Hero??? I'm not sure if that was a thing
MW - Apollo 440 Magic Hour mix 4:26
MW - Solar Plexus Extended club Mix 7:01
MW - Tabla Motown remix 4:27
MW - Perfecto Mix 7:06 A dance remix by Paul Oakenfold which became popular in clubs.
MW - Ultimatum Mix 5:01 mix by Stereo MCs
Live Versions: Bono performed this on the Zoo TV tour in character as The Fly, a parody of an egomaniacal rock star, wearing huge sunglasses & leather. Live performances of the song often involve a female member of the audience joining Bono on stage to dance.
Sydney - ZooTV tour Nov 27,1993 This video is notable for 3 reasons:
1 - It shows Morleigh Steinberg on stage for the entire song
2 - Sydney had 2 shows & the 1st show was the one Adam couldn't play as he was too hungover. This link is the 2nd night in Sydney where Adam returned & U2 filmed this entire concert for release.
3 - On the ZooTV tour, the song was lengthened to include an extra slide guitar solo at the end
In 2011, members of U2’s fan club were allowed to vote on 46 songs from The U2360° tour, w the 22 songs receiving the most votes to be included on a double live album called U22. “MW” made the final track list, & a recording from Feb 18, 2011 - Cape Town, South Africa appeared on the eventual CD release.
MW - Acoustic version from a I+E rehearsal 2015
Mysterious Ways - on the 2017 JT Anniv tour <--don't like this version, for some reason
Landed at #15 when Rolling Stone ranked their Top50 U2 songs
Been played live 598 times..........EVERY tour since its release....EXCEPT it wasn't played on the 2019 TJT anniv tour
Nemesis
Footballguy
Here is the early "Baby" version that got bootleg released during the middle of the AB recording sessions
Baby Mysterious Ways - U2
Final Studio Version Original Baby Version Lyrics
(For phone users, turn landscape for better view)
Johnny, take a walk with your sister the moon
Let her pale light in to fill up your room
You've been living underground, eating from a can
You've been running away from what you don't understand
Love
She's slippy, you're sliding down Fear of falling, Fear of not jumping
She'll be there when you hit the ground Fear of failing, Fear of winning
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
Johnny, take a dive with your sister in the rain Johnny take a break you’ve been staring at the sun
Let her talk about the things you can't explain Don’t you know you can’t make it with everyone
To touch is to heal, to hurt is to steal
If you want to kiss the sky, better learn how to kneel If you wanna turn her on then say how you feel it
On your knees, boy
She's the wave, she turns the tide You fear God, You fear no one
She sees the man inside the child You fear love, You fear a woman
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Lift my days, light up my nights, love
One day you'll look back, and you'll see
Where you were held
How by this love while you could stand there
You could move on this moment
Follow this feeling Move through the feeling
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways She moves in a miracle way, love
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
Love, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
We move through miracle days
Move you, spirit, move, making love
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Yeah, move, yeah, move, make love
Spirit moves in mysterious ways
You move with it, she moves with it
It's alright, it's alright, alright
Lift my days, light up my nights, love
Baby Mysterious Ways - U2
Final Studio Version Original Baby Version Lyrics
(For phone users, turn landscape for better view)
Johnny, take a walk with your sister the moon
Let her pale light in to fill up your room
You've been living underground, eating from a can
You've been running away from what you don't understand
Love
She's slippy, you're sliding down Fear of falling, Fear of not jumping
She'll be there when you hit the ground Fear of failing, Fear of winning
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
Johnny, take a dive with your sister in the rain Johnny take a break you’ve been staring at the sun
Let her talk about the things you can't explain Don’t you know you can’t make it with everyone
To touch is to heal, to hurt is to steal
If you want to kiss the sky, better learn how to kneel If you wanna turn her on then say how you feel it
On your knees, boy
She's the wave, she turns the tide You fear God, You fear no one
She sees the man inside the child You fear love, You fear a woman
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Lift my days, light up my nights, love
One day you'll look back, and you'll see
Where you were held
How by this love while you could stand there
You could move on this moment
Follow this feeling Move through the feeling
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways She moves in a miracle way, love
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
Love, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
We move through miracle days
Move you, spirit, move, making love
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Yeah, move, yeah, move, make love
Spirit moves in mysterious ways
You move with it, she moves with it
It's alright, it's alright, alright
Lift my days, light up my nights, love
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John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
I understand this line of thought. I wasn’t as extreme, but my 3 least favourite songs from Achtung Baby were Who’s gonna ride your wild horses, Mysterious Ways and The Fly.. The rest of the album was absolutely brilliant though so just plowed through those 3 “clunkers”. The other 2 singles were the ones that blew me away though, so I didn’t really hate those other 3 singles. I eventually came to like and appreciate Fly and Mysterious Ways. WGRYWH, it gets voted off the Achtung Baby Island first I am afraid.Ghost Rider said:
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
New Years Day, when we get to it has probably the weirdest set of rankings for any track we cover. I will explain more when we list it.bigbottom said:
As for outliers, I actively encourage it. The more rankers we had, the better it would have been. With only 4 though it had a dramatic effect on some songs. Anarchy has been great at explaining his anomalies, more to come lol. The other 2 rankers haven’t been as active of late discussing their outliers, which is a shame, but they stepped up in the first place which I admire greatly. It was a big ask and i wouldnt do it the same way again. If i do this exercise again with lets say Queen, then it works better if I get 20 or more lists like Anarchy is with Led Zepp
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
I am very torn on listening to the evolution of songs. On one hand it is fascinating to see the development, but on the other it’s infuriating cause they haven’t got it right.Nemesis said:
It’s maybe why I am reluctant to dive into Anarchys rest of list. Most if it is going to be a let down or infuriating. Then again I only need a few good uns to keep me going.
As much as Always is an inferior work, it’s lineage to Beautiful Day makes Always a very interesting work to listen to. Funny how they actually released Always as a B Side, but not all the others.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
It was one of my favorites the instant I heard it and is still in my top 10. The perfect use of their new sound.John Maddens Lunchbox said:
It was overplayed to a ridiculous extent, though, and I get the sense that this is their Stairway to Heaven equivalent in terms of being so omnipresent that some people get sick of it. One of my friends just yesterday said he’s finally begun to love it again after years of being sick of it due to overplay.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
Really? I had no idea it was overplayed at all. Several songs to come i could make a case for over exposure, but Mysterious ways? Can you explain how its been over played? Eg ads, out and about etc?
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Lots to cover and not sure where. I can suggest and point out songs in my leftover thread once I post them all. Yes, there are some songs from their infancy in terms of song development and there are some that essentially died on the vine and not finished. I can see how those might not be for everyone. But there are plenty of fully completed and officially released songs as well. Plus live covers if that’s your bag (or anyone else’s). They’re also demos from the early years. I can better categorize later.
As far as getting rankers for LZ, the good news is I will get a decent amount of rankers (likely 40+). The other good news is they have a relatively small catalogue. Roughly 3/4 of their songs will be represented.
If you did that for a band like Queen (asking for people to rank say 25 songs), I would guess a fair amount of songs wouldn’t get votes and maybe a third to a half of their songs might get votes. I guess it depends if you were trying to get an entire ranking of all their songs or not. I like Queen enough to come up with a list of 25 songs. But not enough to want to rank all of them.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
Thanks. I did have a couple of bootlegs called odds and ends or odds and demos or something on vinyl that i sold. I would have heard some of these tracks already. I will listen to the others, but i could get disheartened early which defeats the whole exercise. Just need a few to keep me going.
Excellent about Zep, looking forward to following along it, if not listening..
I thought about the songs that didn’t get ranked for Zep and maybe Queen. I had an idea. Yours to run with if you want. For a start i am not going to limit the songs ranked....as long as its 25 minimum. If someone wants to 25, 47 or 122, all will matter. The maths can be sorted out later and i deal with the consequences.
You are locked and loaded with 25 though, so any song that doesnt get ranked....let’s say there are 37 that don’t make the cut....you start with those 37 in your order of preference before getting to the ranked ones. You don’t have to do one a day. Do 3 or 4 a day like I did sometimes. You will have a larger captive audience waiting for theirs to pop up.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
In the ‘90s and ‘00s, it just seemed like it was everywhere.
One factor: In the major metropolitan areas of the US at the time, commercial rock stations basically came in two varieties: mainstream and alternative. This was one of the few songs that was played to death on both.
Nemesis
Footballguy
Yep.
MW peaked at #9 on The Billboard Hot 100 (the music industry standard record chart in the US......based on sales, radio play, & online streaming in the US.) In my writeup, i only listed the Hot 100
MW peaked at #1 on the US Alternative Airplay charts. (ranks the 40 most-played songs on Alt & Modern rock radio stations)
And BTW, Mysterious Ways landed at #14 on my Top25 list.
@Pip's InvitationFor my U2 "overplayed" song that I finally came 180 degrees to start liking it again was Beautiful Day.........NBC used that song as their flagship music during the Olympics years ago.
And compare that with "I Still Haven't Found", which has never grown on me.
Nemesis
Footballguy
I'm in the same boat as JML….the other list can be overwhelming.
I would be interested in getting a certain # of handpicked songs that fit my U2 listening style, but don't want to sort thru a mountain of songs (due to time down the rabbit hole, which i've already done....AND....due to not wanting to dilute my U2 listening experience)
I would like to see the list sorted of WHEN the songs originated or what album they align with…..for instance, I thought I knew all the TUF & TJT leftovers but then Disappearing Act pleasantly opened a new door. I’ll have go back & listen later
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John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
#23 - Out of Control (1980)
Highest Rank - 12
Lowest Rank - 82
Where to Find it - Boy LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment -7/218 - To be fair, “Out of Control” is the actual anthem of the album (as compared to the single, “I Will Follow). “Out of Control” is direct and driving, no fancy percussion or tricks or echoes, every single member of the band playing at 11. There’s a little shift on the bridge custom-made for audience participation by the way of hand claps, arms raised, and then an instrumental break from the drive, strung with some guitar notes and echoing “out of controlllll”s from Bono; it’s just a second to catch your breath because the last verse and chorus are pushing forward even harder — before that ringing, decorous ending.
Comment - Product of its time. You Can hear the punk roots. I am actually shocked that I am the highest ranking on the oldest U2 song or close enough. Vulture is on the right track. Boy gets reduced to one track left joining Rattle and Hum, October, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and All that you cant leave behind.
Next up, my #2 see’s the light of day. I am actually shocked at two of the rankings here. The second highest ranking is a 20. The next song is so friggin awesome and we are seeing it way too early.
Highest Rank - 12
Lowest Rank - 82
Where to Find it - Boy LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment -7/218 - To be fair, “Out of Control” is the actual anthem of the album (as compared to the single, “I Will Follow). “Out of Control” is direct and driving, no fancy percussion or tricks or echoes, every single member of the band playing at 11. There’s a little shift on the bridge custom-made for audience participation by the way of hand claps, arms raised, and then an instrumental break from the drive, strung with some guitar notes and echoing “out of controlllll”s from Bono; it’s just a second to catch your breath because the last verse and chorus are pushing forward even harder — before that ringing, decorous ending.
Comment - Product of its time. You Can hear the punk roots. I am actually shocked that I am the highest ranking on the oldest U2 song or close enough. Vulture is on the right track. Boy gets reduced to one track left joining Rattle and Hum, October, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and All that you cant leave behind.
Next up, my #2 see’s the light of day. I am actually shocked at two of the rankings here. The second highest ranking is a 20. The next song is so friggin awesome and we are seeing it way too early.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I had this one at 12. I always liked the main guitar licks, the bridge in the middle, and the lyrics. Ask me a different day and it might end up ranked higher or lower (this one has a bit of a wide range for me). I remember liking the ZooTV version, but who doesn't like a good belly dancer? Apparently Edge agreed with me, as he married the woman (Morleigh Steinberg). She first worked with the band as the girl in the With Or Without video.John Maddens Lunchbox said:
They brought her back to be the belly dancer in the Mysterious Ways video, and they added her as the choreographer for the ZooTV tour. The band used a different woman as the on stage belly dancer for the early legs of the tour, but switched to Steinberg for the outdoor stadium leg of the tour. Edge was recently divorced at the time and has been with Stienberg since that tour. She would go on to appear in their Love Is Blindness, Numb, and Mofo videos.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Solidly the second-best song from Boy in my book. The energy is off the charts. The Vulture writeup captures my thoughts pretty well.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Likewise. Vulture nails this. I’m at 16 on this one. It’s not my favorite from Boy, but I think it’s their best song on the album by a fair clip.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I guess my home wrecking side peaks out a little bit here. I had Out Of Control at 65. Love the energy, but the lyrics are very high school-y and the framework of the song is pretty basic. The sound is a template for what early U2 sounds like, but to me it's almost too simplistic.
On a side note, this was the first song I ever played as a DJ on my HS radio station back in 1981 (SHOCK! 40 years ago now!). U2 definitely was not a thing back in the day where I lived, and we were encouraged to play and promote lesser known bands. I didn't know them from a hole in the wall, and that's the track I picked out from the vinyl Boy album the station had.
As a side bar, I spun for the ladies . . . and girls were REALLY into Duran Duran at my HS. I played a TON of early Duran, who really didn't take off until Rio in 1982. They became so popular that I actually thought they were going to become the next big thing and stay at the top of the charts forever. Next in line I thought INXS was going to go global (which they did). But U2 . . . I thought they were good but I thought they wouldn't have staying power. Whoops. My bad on that one.
I can't personally see Out Of Control falling in the Top 10 or Top 20, but I can see the attraction for some people to really like it. To me, they just have so many other really great songs that this one had to slide some. It certain has staying power, as I still listen to it pretty frequently.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Awesome stuff. Especially the part about spinning for the ladies.
But seriously, a lot of early U2 had sporadic lyrical quality. And thanks to this thread we know why — Bono was making stuff up real-time during recording sessions. Some of these lyrics could have used a bit more effort and polishing. Then again…..some of his improvised lyrics are a vast improvement. The live version of I Fall Down is superior to the studio version in part due to energy…..but also because Bono sells the song with lyrics that evoke a stronger emotion.My favorite songs on Boy are Stories for Boys and Another Time Another Place (#154 ranking — this still bothers me). And after just listening to all 3 again…… I still love all three!
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
That is probably a shade higher than I'd put Out of Control, but I get it. It effortlessly rocks, and has that youthful charm about it that is very appealing.
Nemesis
Footballguy
Songfact:
“Out of Control” was one of their 1st songs & was written on Bono’s 18th birthday (10 May 1978). The 1st known performance of this song was July 23, 1978 in McGonagle's - Dublin, Ireland.
A year later, it was included on U2's 1st release, U2 "Three" in Sept 1979. The EP was released through the CBS Ireland record label & was available only in Ireland & also contained "Boy Girl" & "Stories For Boys." OOC was chosen as the A-side of the single when an Irish disk jockey named Dave Fanning played all 3 songs for a week & asked listeners to call in & choose their favorite. The EP was the group's 1st chart success, as they pressed only 1,000 copies of its Ltd-edition 12" vinyl & it sold out almost immediately & cracked the Top 20 of the Irish singles chart. (Now it's a collector's item & there is a website dedicated to the famous 1000 who own them) As a result of that success, the British music press began to pick up the scent.
A couple fun notes about the EP (which went ~6 or 7 pressings):
- All of the pressings labelled the band as "U-2" (with a dash instead of "U2")
- Some of the pressings misspelled "Ireland" ("Irelnad")
Bono: "'Out Of Control' is about waking up on your 18th birthday & realizing that you're 18 yrs old & that the 2 most important decisions in your life have nothing to do w you - being born & dying."
Recording: Chas de Whalley from CBS Records was the producer:
"This was by far the best song they had — & it needed to sound as coherent as possible — so I made them do it again & again until they finally got it right. Poor Larry was almost in tears &, Bono was ready to stick 1 on me too, only he was too polite. All I remember is him saying incredulously: “But Larry has lessons from 1 of the best drummers in Dublin! How can he be out of time?” We mixed the songs the following night."
Lyrics:
Monday morning
Eighteen years of dawning
I said how long
Said how long
#20 on Rolling Stone's Top50 of U2 songs
Been played live 381 times........heavy rotation for Boy, October, War. Since then, it has made ~12-20 setlists on most of the tours. However, it was NOT PLAYED EVEN ONCE during the 1990's
Nemesis
Footballguy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_(U2_EP)
This deserves its own posting & is a great read. It provides details on the early years of 1978 - 1980 and how they:
This deserves its own posting & is a great read. It provides details on the early years of 1978 - 1980 and how they:
- 1st came to the attention of Jackie Hayden, a representative for the CBS Records label, through their participation in a music talent contest as part of Limerick Civic Week on St. Patrick's Day in March 1978
- Recorded a demo
- Discussed a recording contract with CBS UK and CBS Ireland.......but initially turned them down
- met Paul McGuinness, who had agreed to manage the band
- Re-engaged with CBS UK and eventually signed w CBS Ireland
- the suggestion that U2 should replace Larry as the drummer
- recorded 3 songs for the Three EP
- released & promoted the EP locally, where each 1 of those 1000 copies were hand numbered
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
All is quiet on New Years Day
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
#22 - Even Better than the Real Thing (1991)
Highest Rank - 2
Lowest Rank - 78
Where to Find it - Achtung Baby LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment -8/218 - This was Joshua sounding the trumpets at Jericho, a clarion call, that cascading guitar riff that’s U2’s version of “Satisfaction.” It was a breathtaking leap from “Zoo Station” to “Even Better,” like being in a speeding car and realizing it isn’t going to stop any time soon. The tension in the melody is kinetic; it’s like the Edge is waving his hands around a theremin (and it has that otherwordly sound that a theremin does) with an intense, driving rhythm, dynamic and sexual.
Comment - Not a flawless note. This song is perfect for me. I really don’t get the low rankings, but then Again I don’t get everyone elses #2. Vulture nails it. To me this is the highpoint of one of the best albums of all time. I would love to hear criticism of this track, but then again maybe i dont lol. To see Acrobat, So Cruel, Ultraviolet, The Fly....Even Walk On ahead of it.....puke.
Next up, an overachieving song from All that You Can’t leave behind.
Highest Rank - 2
Lowest Rank - 78
Where to Find it - Achtung Baby LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment -8/218 - This was Joshua sounding the trumpets at Jericho, a clarion call, that cascading guitar riff that’s U2’s version of “Satisfaction.” It was a breathtaking leap from “Zoo Station” to “Even Better,” like being in a speeding car and realizing it isn’t going to stop any time soon. The tension in the melody is kinetic; it’s like the Edge is waving his hands around a theremin (and it has that otherwordly sound that a theremin does) with an intense, driving rhythm, dynamic and sexual.
Comment - Not a flawless note. This song is perfect for me. I really don’t get the low rankings, but then Again I don’t get everyone elses #2. Vulture nails it. To me this is the highpoint of one of the best albums of all time. I would love to hear criticism of this track, but then again maybe i dont lol. To see Acrobat, So Cruel, Ultraviolet, The Fly....Even Walk On ahead of it.....puke.
Next up, an overachieving song from All that You Can’t leave behind.
The Dreaded Marco
Footballguy
A very good song but it’s my 6th favorite from AB, at best.
Still wondering how UTEOTW wound up ranked as low as it did.
Still wondering how UTEOTW wound up ranked as low as it did.
In The Zone
Footballguy
Great song. Very underrated. It may be 4th or 5th on AB but it still awesome.
I've been silently following along since I don't have rankings to compare but to back way up real quick. True Fact:
BB King couldn't play guitar and sing at the same time.
More rankings and participants would make this thread more fun. I wish you would, at some point, re-do this with a much bigger sample size.
bigbottom
Footballguy
It’s an objectively great tune imo. Wouldn’t make my top ten because it doesn’t stir me like others (that’s the best way I can describe it), but I’ve no issue with it being your #2. I do agree about the bolded, however. Seems crazy, but I think the result of the ranking average and sample size. I think this has been a fascinating and hugely entertaining thread and I so very much appreciate all the effort you have put into it. But as In the Zone mentions, if you ever have an interest in doing this with more participants, I would participate (and I think many others) if it was a top 50 or even top 75. Ranking 200+ was just too daunting. Of course, if you had a larger sample size, I suspect you’d have a far less interesting list with fewer anomalies.
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Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Really good song. Is it the best on AB? Top-3? Maybe? Other than when Bono sings “take me higher!!” does his vocal range go beyond 3-4 notes? Doubtful. And for me that’s boring. It sounds almost monotone for much of the song.
I had it rated as the 3rd best song from AB — and #34 overall on my original list. I only had one song from AB in my top-25. It’s the Matt Stafford or Phil Rivers of albums — really good but not Hall of Fame level as an album.
Anyway, back to the song: there is no excuse for Ultraviolet or Acrobat or The Fly or Walk On to still be on this list ahead of Even Better. But it’s ok……unfortunately you’re facing what many of us faced anywhere from 30-50 slots ago when our #2 songs went off the board!
And hey, we’re debating and bickering over really amazing songs anyway. It’s not like we’re agonizing over the top 25 songs from some trash band like Matchbox 20, this is U2. They had 100+ songs that could legitimately be argued for as top-10 or top-20!!
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
22 feels about right for Even Better Than the Real Thing. I love it, but it's not in my top 5 from Achtung Baby (not as great as Until the End of the World, Ultraviolet, The Fly, Love Is Blindness or Acrobat, but in the same tier as One and So Cruel).
Anarchy99
Footballguy
I had it at 20, so the other guys had to have dragged it down. That being said, it's my 5th rated song on AB.
Anarchy99
Footballguy
Maybe it depends on the the band / performer. But in my LZ ranking thread asking people to only rank 25 songs, I think I have gotten votes for all but 3 songs that appeared on their initial 8 albums when they were still together. Zeppelin has fewer songs and fewer albums, so that probably has a lot to do with it (meaning they have roughly a third the catalog that U2 does). But I tend to agree that ranking over 200 songs is a time commitment that is hard to make.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
This is in my top 10. It grabbed me instantly. Vulture with another good writeup that describes my feelings.John Maddens Lunchbox said:
78? Come ON.
Mr. Mojo
Footballguy
This seems like it should have been higher.
I guess that shocking 105 rank doomed it.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
That seems to be the consensus track from AB that should have rated higher. What we see in the next 10 songs is quite amazing.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
Thanks for following along. Once we get to #1 I will ask for peoples lists and do a Rankers V Gentleman/Gentlewoman comparison. I think 2 of our 4 rankers have disappeared, but I will be redoing my list from 228-1. More details to comeGreat song. Very underrated. It may be 4th or 5th on AB but it still awesome.
I've been silently following along since I don't have rankings to compare but to back way up real quick. True Fact:
BB King couldn't play guitar and sing at the same time.
More rankings and participants would make this thread more fun. I wish you would, at some point, re-do this with a much bigger sample size.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
Thank you.
Part of the joy/annoyance has been the unexpected. I am 99% certain I will be asking for rankings from anyone eager. Minimum 25 songs ranked, maximum 228. The maths will sort itself out.
A bigger list will be more generic, but all the other lists out there contain surprises. Even if we have 20+ rankings, a #182 on Bullet the Blue Sky is still going to have an effect, just as a #1 will on say Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
The proviso is that we can take songs from anarchys thread as well, but #228 will be the maximum number.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
There are some fantastic remixes of the song where Bono’s “weaknesses” on this song get corrected. Be curious what nemesis has for us later.
Thats a bit harsh lol. Easily the best album for me. BTW whether you like it or not Rivers and Stafford will go into the Hall of Fame. I agree 100% with your categorisation of them though.
Thats why I am looking forward to other lists. Everyone seems to have their fave era or type of U2 song. Will be interesting how they look.Anyway, back to the song: there is no excuse for Ultraviolet or Acrobat or The Fly or Walk On to still be on this list ahead of Even Better. But it’s ok……unfortunately you’re facing what many of us faced anywhere from 30-50 slots ago when our #2 songs went off the board!
And hey, we’re debating and bickering over really amazing songs anyway. It’s not like we’re agonizing over the top 25 songs from some trash band like Matchbox 20, this is U2. They had 100+ songs that could legitimately be argued for as top-10 or top-20!!
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
Unlike APK you guys would dominate your top 20 with AB, like I did. Just different songs in different orders.
Nemesis
Footballguy
Songfact:John Maddens Lunchbox said:
EBTTRT was released as AB's 4th single. The song was originally conceived around the same session as 1988’s “Desire” – & based around a riff Edge called “about as close as we could or would ever want to get to the Rolling Stones”. It was shelved & then re-emerged during the sessions for AB, but the band struggled to make progress on it in Berlin.
What a difference a pedal makes. EBTTRT finally came to life when the Edge bought a DigiTech WH-1 Whammy pitch shifter pedal & added the song’s startling whirring-siren intro at two-octaves-up. Ultimately, the finished product is a tour de force of catchy riffery, throbbing energy, culminating in a masterfully constructed slide solo where Edge builds the song’s energy anew, progressing from languid beginnings to a Doppler-effect climax: incidentally, even his slide style is unconventional, given that he plays his slide parts in standard tunings & uses the bottleneck on his middle finger, rather than the more conventional choice of 3rd or 4th.
The song was originally called "The Real Thing" during the R&H sessions, but was retitled when Brian Eno insisted the song needed to be “more ironic”. Bono: "This was done because the title, as well as the song's lyrics were more reflective of the times [the band] were living in, when people were no longer looking for the truth, [they] were all looking for instant gratification."
It's also a play on Coca-Cola's slogan "It's The Real Thing." It was intended to make a statement about commercialism.
Bono: "It's not substantial as a lyric but it suggests a certain sexual tension & desire to have some fun playing in the shallows. 'Sliding down the surface of things.' There is a moment when you want to read a magazine, not a novel. It was nice to take some of the more fun bits of rock 'n' roll. We really needed that playful thing to balance what was at the heart of the album & make the bitter pill a little sweeter to swallow."
The lyrics "We're free to fly the crimson sky, The sun won't melt our wings tonight" refers to the Greek myth about Icarus & Daedalus where Icarus made fake wings but he flew too close to the sun and they melted.
Video: The video filmed in Jan 1992 in London was directed by Kevin Godley, who had made a # of groundbreaking videos, including Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" & Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Two Tribes." EBTTRT marked the 1st collaboration between U2 & Kevin Godley, but he went on to direct U2's videos for "Numb," "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me," "Sweetest Thing" & "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of."
The EBTTRT video featured the band & their own lookalike group called The Doppelgangers. Open auditions were held by U2 & Godley specifically for the video. The Doppelgangers (who were mainly shown in the Zoo clothes shop scenes) swap places several times throughout the video with U2, who are mostly shown indoors. In fact the Lookalikes were a bit too good & the cuts were so fast that hardly anyone noticed so the whole stunt was lost on most people.
U2 & Kevin Godley tried to rectify this by using The Doppelgangers for a 2nd time in the Zootv / Channel 4 special broadcast by having the Doppelgangers flown over to Dublin to perform to the track "Who's gonna ride you wild horses" again dressed in U2s actual Zootv stage clothes & using U2s guitars & drums while U2 sat amongst the studio audience watching. Here is that broadcast Bono interviewed w Doppelgangers
Later on: Dopplegangers - Angel of Harlem & interview
For the special effects, Godley had camera rigs built that could revolve around each member of the band, creating a constant & unusual motion. They called it "the wheel thing. It looks like the camera is actually moving around the performance, 360 degrees, up & over them & underneath them, because that's how the track felt to me," he said. "It was quite extraordinary, & what was extraordinary about it was how the band reacted to that setup. They instinctively understood what it was capable of & worked the camera in a mode that would give us the best results, so it was a perfect marriage of a half-formed idea becoming a fully-formed idea, & on the day of the shoot, the performers reacted so well to it that it doubled its potential."
Godley also mixed in quick shots of advertising ephemera, slogans & product shots, and also a clip of a porn star (which was removed when it was included in a U2 video compilation later on) . The video ends w a title card reading "WATCH MORE TV." By the end, the viewer has been assaulted w a barrage of constantly moving images, making the point that long exposure to overstimulated media & be harmful to your health. It tied in w the Zoo TV concept.
In 1992, the video won 2 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Group Video and Best Visual Effects.
A second video, directed by Armando Gallo features footage & photos of the band from the opening leg of the Zoo TV tour in spring 1992, overlayed w graphics & lyrics.
A third video makes use of video that U2 filmed for a number of AB projects set to “The Perfecto Mix” of the song. The footage is from Tenerife during Carnival, the Mysterious Ways video shoot in Morocco, & footage of U2 in drag shot for the “One” video. This footage is mixed w colorful graphic shots, images of star constellations.
U2 performed EBTTRT on their 1992-1993 Zoo TV tour w huge monitors flashing messages & video clips behind the band. This was 1 of the most daring & technically sophisticated tours of its time, bombarding the audience w a barrage of visuals to parody the way advertising messages were being thrust on the public.
Richard Branson asked to use this song to launch his Virgin Cola, a competitor of Coke, but U2 refused.
Charts-peaked at: UK #12 US: #32 Canada: #3 IRE: #3
In the ultimate irony, a Paul Oakenfold dance remix of the song charted to #8 (higher on the UK charts than the original).
The single version differs slightly from that found on AB, although it was not labeled as a “Single Version” at the time. Both use the same vocal track & run 3:41, but the single version places greater emphasis on the scat vocals near the end of the song, particularly from 2:05 onwards.
The 7" release had “Salomé as the B-side
The 12" release had "Salome", "Where Did it All Go Wrong?"....and "Lady w the Spinning Head"
Live Versions / Remixes:
Fish Out Of Water Remix - 4:09 Was released on the 20th anniv edition of Achtung Baby, & was played as the opening song of the 2001 360° Tour, some E+I tours, & the 2019 JT Tour
Link to these 5 official Remixes
1. "Even Better Than the Real Thing" (Perfecto mix) 6:41
2. "Even Better Than the Real Thing" (Sexy dub mix) 7:18
3. "Even Better Than the Real Thing" (Apollo 440 Stealth Sonic remix) 6:42
4. "Even Better Than the Real Thing" (V16 Exit Wound remix) 3:19
5. "Even Better Than the Real Thing" (Apollo 440 vs U2 instrumental) 6:27
Sydney 1992
U2 Live at The Glastonbury Festival - England 2011
'Baby' Even Better Than The Real Thing early demo version
When Rolling Stone ranked their Top50 U2 songs: #10
Been played live 419 times........heavy rotation during the 90's (Zoo and PopMart), some play during 2000's,
heavy rotation again during the E+I and I+E tours...........but NOT PLAYED during the TJT 2017 tour
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John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
Yay, someone else on team EBTTRT. 78? I am not ruling out this song was playing in the background when Zed took them to a basement and had them squeal like a pig.
I think Mysterious Ways is in roughly the right area, but totally understand if someone puts it higher (or lower). I used to hate it. A total 180 on it now.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I think I'd have five AB songs in my top 20 and only one in the top 5, so while it would be well represented, it wouldn't dominate. The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum would both have three.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
Thanks. Got the CD Singles with these remixes. A prime reason it charted again. Can’t remember which of these is the best one, ut they are all pretty good....unlike the 34 Lemon remixes.
4th singles tend to chart lower. Most people that are interested already have the album, but a quality remix can breathe new life. It’s just a shame that most remixes offer nothing.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
#21 - Walk On (2000)
Highest Rank - 22
Lowest Rank - 62
Where to Find it - All that you cant leave behind LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment -24/218 - “Walk On” is one of U2’s grand statements. It was inspired by Burmese dissident Aung San Suu Kyi, who had then been under house arrest for over a decade — but it is such a deeply moving song that, selfishly, you just want it to yourself. There is a moment in “Walk On” that you might not even hear, you probably just feel it: After the last chorus, Edge’s guitar roars into the mix, and there are three small keyboard chords that will either uplift you or shatter your heart to bits. Or both.
Comment - Nice album track that has ambitions to be much more. Others love it, i just feel it lacks something to push it to the next level, making it a frustrating track. Give me Kite any day over this one. It sort of plops this high because no one hates it. This is another song that if we had more rankers probably ends at least 20 spots lower. A definite overachiever
Next up, we start the top 20 with a track from Achtung Baby that would be top 10 if it weren’t for the #112 ranking.
Highest Rank - 22
Lowest Rank - 62
Where to Find it - All that you cant leave behind LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment -24/218 - “Walk On” is one of U2’s grand statements. It was inspired by Burmese dissident Aung San Suu Kyi, who had then been under house arrest for over a decade — but it is such a deeply moving song that, selfishly, you just want it to yourself. There is a moment in “Walk On” that you might not even hear, you probably just feel it: After the last chorus, Edge’s guitar roars into the mix, and there are three small keyboard chords that will either uplift you or shatter your heart to bits. Or both.
Comment - Nice album track that has ambitions to be much more. Others love it, i just feel it lacks something to push it to the next level, making it a frustrating track. Give me Kite any day over this one. It sort of plops this high because no one hates it. This is another song that if we had more rankers probably ends at least 20 spots lower. A definite overachiever
Next up, we start the top 20 with a track from Achtung Baby that would be top 10 if it weren’t for the #112 ranking.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
The admin to Date with 208 songs listed and only 20 left to go
B-Sides = 49 (15 covers) - (All done here and in Soundtracks etc)
Soundtracks/Special/Greatest Hits LPs - 19
No Line On The Horizon = 11 (All Done)
Songs of Innocence - 12 (All Done)
Songs of Experience = 13 (All Done)
Zooropa - 10 (Al Done)
Pop - 12 (All Done)
October = 10 (1 to go)
Rattle and Hum - 11 (1 to go)
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - 11 (1 to go)
Boy - 10 (1 to go)
All that you can’t leave behind - 11 (1 to go)
War - 8 (2 to go)
The Unforgettable Fire - 7 (3 to go)
The Joshua Tree - 6 (5 to go)
Achtung Baby - 7 (5 to go)
B-Sides = 49 (15 covers) - (All done here and in Soundtracks etc)
Soundtracks/Special/Greatest Hits LPs - 19
No Line On The Horizon = 11 (All Done)
Songs of Innocence - 12 (All Done)
Songs of Experience = 13 (All Done)
Zooropa - 10 (Al Done)
Pop - 12 (All Done)
October = 10 (1 to go)
Rattle and Hum - 11 (1 to go)
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - 11 (1 to go)
Boy - 10 (1 to go)
All that you can’t leave behind - 11 (1 to go)
War - 8 (2 to go)
The Unforgettable Fire - 7 (3 to go)
The Joshua Tree - 6 (5 to go)
Achtung Baby - 7 (5 to go)
John Maddens Lunchbox
Footballguy
With 20 left, half are from the big 2 albums. By the time we get to 10 only 4 will be left, so six of the next 10 tracks are from The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. We will also say goodbye to 3 of the 5 albums that are on their last tracks. That means 4 of the top 10 are from War and Unforgettable Fire. Which track from these 2 albums misses out? Which two “one tracks left on an album” will make it to the top 10? Getting to the elite now, if we hadn’t already.
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