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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 (3 Viewers)

Echoing what I mentioned before about having no clue about important landmarks and events, two of the streets we walked a lot on were Parnell and Talbot Streets. Both were involved in one of the deadliest days as part of The Troubles. On 1974-05-17, the UVF set off four bombs in Dublin, killing a total of 33 people. One of Larry's neighbors was killed. 

Bono was often on Talbot Street and said he happened to ride his bike to school that day (and missed being there at the time of the bombing). Raised By Wolves is about that day. Andy Rowen, brother of Bono's best friend Guggi, was there and struggled to get over the carnage he witnessed and turned to drugs to cope. Bono would later say they wrote about him in Bad (as well as dedicating the song to him in concert several times).

There is a memorial commemorating the events on Talbot Street (which apparently, I walked right past and didn't even see). Just down the street is Croke Park, where the band has played 11 times. The band remember their first show there in 1985, their first stadium show as a headliner in front of 57,000 people.

Edge recalls: "That was probably the high point of TUF tour because we really had done it. This wasn't a band that was doing ok. This was a band that was topping the charts and had broken America and the world, coming back to play in their hometown, in the centre of their city. There was an entire stadium jumping up and down to Pride. Making a stadium into a club gig is the way I remember it." By the 2000s, U2 played there to 82,000 people. (I Will Follow with video from that show.) That's also the show they played Springsteen's My Hometown . . . back when Edge had hair.

Croke Park was also a key site during the battle for Irish independence. In 1920, the IRA killed 14 British Intelligence officers. In response, British forces entered the stadium during a GAA match and shot and killed 14 onlookers. Two other officers were killed, bringing the death toll to 30 people that day. This was the first incident labeled as Bloody Sunday (of Sunday Bloody Sunday fame), with the other being the killing of 14 unarmed civilians in Northern Ireland in 1972.

 
(58) - > 57- Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around the World

Vulture.com ranking and comment -103/218 - At this point in the record, there had to be some respite, or listeners wouldn’t have kept going. It’s a light and fluffy composition that belies its origins, though; it was about U2’s own “lost weekend” in Los Angeles, where some of the band let loose in a manner they hadn’t been able to in their youth, when they were trying to get the band off the ground, get out of Ireland, and get a record contract. U2 have also characterized it as a drinking song, and made that point most definitively on the Zoo TV tour, where the Fly would go out on the catwalk, find an attractive young woman, spray Champagne around, and serenade the lucky lady on Handicam.

Original Comment - May be the weak track on this album, which is astounding in its quality. 

Total Points - 525.35

Rankers - 17

Average Points per rank - 30.90 (Approximately a 44th rank). 

Ranks  - 63rd on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 14

Lowest Rank - 103

Previous Rank - 58 > 57

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - And here is the first track from Achtung Baby. We wont see another til the top 40. Half of the votes were for this track when asked, so that is correct. We are gonna be shocked by some of the ones that take a leap. This one only has two top 25 rankings, both are ranked 14. Only 5 other top 50 rankings as well. The rest appear sporadically down the way to 103. 

 
(57) - > 56- Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own

Vulture.com ranking and comment -39/218 - There is so much love, regret, and gratitude in this song, written about Bono’s father. In the last verse, Bono’s voice soars with just the tiniest crack of sadness: “Can you hear me when I sing / You’re the reason I sing / You’re the reason why the opera is in me.”

Original Comment - Another obvious single that isnt on my wavelentgh. U2 seem to have one of these an album. I could list them all, but that would be boring. To me it feels awfully similar to Stuck in a Moment You Can’t get out of

Total Points - 558.35

Rankers - 16

Average Points per rank - 34.90 (Approximately a 40th rank). 

Ranks  - 53rd on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 10

Lowest Rank - 185

Previous Rank - 57 > 56

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - This one has four top 25 rankings, five more in the top 50:and five more down to 100. Just like Tryin to throw your arms around the world, it moves up one place from last time. These two sings are stuck to each other. 

 
(40) - > 55- Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get out Of

Vulture.com ranking and comment -73/218 - Brian Eno can throw everything into a blender that he wants, but this is still a gospel song at its heart — a tribute to Michael Hutchence, the late INXS singer who was a friend of the band and whose suicide weighed heavily on Bono and Edge particularly. Bono told Rolling Stone, “t’s a row I didn’t have while he was alive.” The last three stanzas of the song are heart-wrenching.

Original Comment - i could have manufactured “40” landing here, as the ranking difference wouldnt have been that dramatic, but played it pure. Consecutive tracks that have a final ranking way higher than any of us ranked it. This is Another single that does nothing for me. Im sure it has a Powerful message and all, but its just pleasant. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

Total Points - 575.15

Rankers - 19

Average Points per rank - 31.95 (Approximately a 43rd rank). 

Ranks  - 60th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 6

Lowest Rank - 196

Previous Rank - 40 > 55

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - This is an odd one rankings wise. We have a 6 that is a total outlier. We then have 7 rankings between 23 and 33 indicating its well liked. The next tier is from 42 to 52 where another 6 rankings occur. Three more between 62 and 76. Then in a total oddity all the way down to 196 for the next ranking and it has two rankers at that exact position. 

 
Next up we will do 4 tracks to get us down to the top 50 remaining. All are post Joshua Tree. 

All rise from their previous rankings. One of them is the largest jump we have left from the 90s to here. Two are from the same album, which definitely has its fan(s) in this thread. One of these 4 songs is the first one to reach 20 rankers. Our first song to have half the rankers involved. Thankfully after todays marathon song titles, only one has a more than a two word title. 

 
Let's see where else I went to around town . . .

- One place we drove past several time was 3Arena, which used to be called Point Depot before switching to O2 Arena (and now 3Arena). Point Depot was a converted train depot turned into a musical venue. U2 filmed Van Diemen's Land and Desire from RAH there. They recorded 4 shows there to close out 1989 (some if not all of them have been officially released). They've played there a total of 12 times.

- Another place we drove past was RTE Studios. They have made a dozen TV appearances there over the years.

- We went by several places that were used in some of their music videos including Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way, Pride, With Or Without You, The Sweetest Thing, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, and Gloria. Most of those places were only in short clips of the video, and I didn't recognize them when we were there (but did after seeing the video as again).

- Looking at a map, we drove by the Grand Canal Dental office that used to be a recording studio . . . which was used to record some of the Pop album.

- We also went by several of the recording studios they used since they got started: the former Westland Studios (ATYCLB and Pop), one in Hanover Quay (where they have recorded most of their material since 1994), and Windmill Lane Studies (first 5 albums plus several songs across multiple other albums). All of the studies are all downtown and are located only a few blocks from each other.

- We went to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, which IIRC is the oldest manuscript of the New Testament at 1,400 years old. U2 played the college 10 times in the late 70s, starting with a lunchtime performance on the steps of the library in 1978. I saw a picture of that performance, and let's just say attendance was on the lighter side (as in mostly college kids walking by on their way to class).

- We drove on Morehampton Road, the site where Greg Carroll, Bono's personal assistant, was killed in an accident in 1986 (that led to the song One Tree Hill). Carroll took Bono to the memorial of the same name in New Zealand when they first met.

I've still got a couple of stories involving real life run-ins with Bono and our day spent in Belfast. 

 
John Maddens Lunchbox said:
John Maddens Lunchbox said:
John Maddens Lunchbox said:
Almost a bingo on Tryin To Throw Your Arms Around the World! I'm at 58.

I'm at 49 on Stuck in a Moment. It's a nice song to sing along to. Pretty good live.

As far as Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own? Well I'm at 35 on that one. It's an emotional connection. See I have a pretty good, but somewhat strained relationship with my father, especially since my mother passed away. That's probably why I cry basically every time I sing this song, which is pretty frequently. Especially on the lyrics that JML highlighted in the write-up, all the way through the crescendo at the end. I love my Dad, but we don't talk sometimes. To me, this is a beautiful song that resonates with me on a personal level. So, yeah. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own.

 
John Maddens Lunchbox said:


#62 for me.  And yes, the fish/bicycle line drops it a bit, as it just doesn't seem to fit here.  I enjoy the atmosphere on this more than anything...kinda blurry and langorous.

John Maddens Lunchbox said:


#58.  So close again to a bingo!  For some reason, I excised this from my list at one point, and then it got back on and climbed all the way to my top half.  Why?  Beats me!  Probably had it too high.  I enjoy the bridge the most.

John Maddens Lunchbox said:


#44 on this one, which looking at it again is probably too high as well.  I love the way this song begins, blasting out all sparkly and shimmering.  By the end I find it dragging a little.

 
Tryin' = Unranked. It's too long and the fish/bicycle line is cringe. But it does a good job at setting a mood, and I've always liked the "run to you" part of the vocal.

Sometimes = 73. I don't find it to be anything special musically, but I lost my dad 2 years ago, so the lyrics very much resonate.

Stuck = Unranked. The chorus is too stilted for my liking. However, it came on the car radio the other day and I thought it was better constructed than I'd remembered ... until I got to the chorus. 

 
SONGS 62-55     (click on the link for full background)

62 - MLK  The song was included in U2's 2002 halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVI, as a projector showed the ~3,000 names that had died in the Sept 11th attacks only months before.

61 - October  title track shares its name w the month the album was released 
"'October'...it's an image. The 60s, a time when things were in full bloom & everyone thought how great mankind was. Now, we go through the 70s & 80s, it's a colder time of the yr. It's after the harvest. Trees are stripped bare." 

60 - Seconds  (<--I'm surprised nobody noticed that the song named "Seconds" somehow landed at "60"  ⏲️)
Bono had writer's block....Edge wrote the line "It takes a second to say goodbye". Bono wrote the remainder of the lyrics.
Edge sings the 1st verse, Edge+Bono share the 2nd verse..........& then Bono takes the 3rd verse by himself.

 59 - Gone  about the price of fame (“You get to feel so guilty/Got so much for so little”)
On the PopMart Tour, “Gone” was occasionally dedicated to late INXS vocalist Michael Hutchence. 

58 - Trip thru Your Wires  about a girl who evokes tremendous passion in a guy. The title is a play on "Trip Wire," which is a low-placed wire that often sets off a trap
Trip Through Your Wires - Denver, Co 1987    Outtake Footage From R&H

57 - Trying to Throw Your Arms dedicated to the LA bar, The Flaming Colossus, a popular celebrity hangout in Hollywood.  The song's lyrics describes a drunken stagger home after a long night out.
The line "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" is a quotation from Irina Dunn.

56 - Sometimes You Can't:   The lyric was written by Bono as a tribute to his father, Bob Hewson, who died in 2001. Bono sang this at his funeral.

55 - Stuck in a Moment  lyrics were is inspired by a fictional conversation Bono has w M. Hutchence about suicide. He characterized the song as a fight between friends, which he felt guilty for never having w him.    Won a 2001 Grammy award.   3 very different videos were made for the song

 
John Maddens Lunchbox said:
(40) - > 55- Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get out Of

Vulture.com ranking and comment -73/218 - Brian Eno can throw everything into a blender that he wants, but this is still a gospel song at its heart — a tribute to Michael Hutchence, the late INXS singer who was a friend of the band and whose suicide weighed heavily on Bono and Edge particularly. Bono told Rolling Stone, “t’s a row I didn’t have while he was alive.” The last three stanzas of the song are heart-wrenching.

Original Comment - i could have manufactured “40” landing here, as the ranking difference wouldnt have been that dramatic, but played it pure. Consecutive tracks that have a final ranking way higher than any of us ranked it. This is Another single that does nothing for me. Im sure it has a Powerful message and all, but its just pleasant. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

Total Points - 575.15

Rankers - 19

Average Points per rank - 31.95 (Approximately a 43rd rank). 

Ranks  - 60th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 6

Lowest Rank - 196

Previous Rank - 40 > 55

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - This is an odd one rankings wise. We have a 6 that is a total outlier. We then have 7 rankings between 23 and 33 indicating its well liked. The next tier is from 42 to 52 where another 6 rankings occur. Three more between 62 and 76. Then in a total oddity all the way down to 196 for the next ranking and it has two rankers at that exact position. 


I like this song and the inspiration behind it makes it meaningful……but my ranking of 29 would be in the 40-60 range if I re-did my rankings.  It just has too many flaws, particularly the lazy lyrics.  For a song that Bono suggests is deeply personal to his relationship with Hutchence, he certainly didn’t overthink each and every word.  Which annoys me.

 
been buried under work.   Some quick takes. 

"Gone" - my 12.  Favorite song from Pop.  Love the falsetto on the chorus.   No sentimental attachments or nothing, I just think it's a fantasically constructed song that just works for me.  I may have given it more praise than its due, but still feel it's top 20 worthy for me at least. 
 "October" my 32.  Favorite song from October.   Simple.  Really warm song.  I wish they did more raw piano songs like this. 
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" my 42.   I may have overrated this one. 
"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"  - my 50.  I generally like ATYCLB and this song fits in the album really well. On its own, it's pretty good. 
"Trip Through Your Wires" -- my 58.  I don't see much difference between #40 through about #70.  Lots of B+'s here including this one.  This song doesn't do that much for me after 100 spins of Joshua Tree, but it's solid.
 "MLK" - my 72.  Generally love all things UF.  Just not much to hook onto for this song. 
"Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World" - at 124 for me.  gonna run to you, gonna run to you.   It's fine. 
"Seconds" at 131.  Even in this range of U2 songs, I still like most of these tunes which I can't think of many other bands that I can say that for beyond #100.  This song just has lost most of its mojo for me over 30 years later. 
 

 
By the way, love all of the detail on your trip @Anarchy99.  You were either there for a year, or you have a real eye for detail.  It was a great read!  

 
By the way, love all of the detail on your trip @Anarchy99.  You were either there for a year, or you have a real eye for detail.  It was a great read!  
I have no eye for detail. Just researched landmarks after the fact and discovered all the places we ended up going. There wasn't any fanfare or markings indicating any relevance to U2. A few places I knew of and had an idea where they were. But most of the spots were things I found out about later. I still have a few more things to post on, just busy being back to work.

 
(64) - > 54- Zooropa

Vulture.com ranking and comment -32/218 - U2 had made their peace with electronics and experimentation with new rhythms and production, and what was going to be a quick EP turned into an album recorded between dates of the Zoo TV tour. A shimmering, ethereal piece of cyberpunk, tied back to humankind with the last lines: “She’s gonna dream up the world she wants to live in / She’s gonna dream out loud.”

Original Comment - Whole album seems like Actung Baby leftovers, which is a good and bad thing. This one has an incredibly long build up. Such a divergent list of rankings here. I like it as it takes many detours and changes of direction, but I’d really love to hear from #15

Total Points - 586.50

Rankers - 15

Average Points per rank - 39.10 (Approximately a 45th rank). 

Ranks  - 36th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 10

Lowest Rank - 70

Previous Rank - 64 > 54

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - All 15 rankings for this interesting track are in the top 70. We will see that more frequently, but its the highest low ranking so far. There are 5 top 25 rankings, which is interesting. 5 between 30 and 42 and the lowest 5 rankings are between 62 and 70. Some moments in this song are brilliant, others misfire badly, but its always an interesting listen.

 
(55) - > 53- God Part II

Vulture.com ranking and comment - “God Part II” is meant as a direct a response to the 1988 Albert Goldman bio of John Lennon, following his then-shocking Elvis biography in the early ’80s. Not all windmills need to be tilted at, and a line like: “I don’t believe that rock’n’roll / Can really change the world” seemed pretty misplaced.

Original Comment - This is the first, but by no means the last song on this list which doesn’t have a ranking over 100. This song gets a lot of critics. I actually enjoy it. Its probably their best sign of whats gonna come on Achtung Baby

Total Points - 626.70

Rankers - 17

Average Points per rank - 36.84 (Approximately a 51st rank). 

Ranks  - 38th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 9

Lowest Rank - 176

Previous Rank - 55 > 53

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - Two top 10 rankings, 4 others in the top 25, but only 2 others on the top 50. There are 8 rankings between 55 and 87. The ranking points for thee songs will start ramping up quickly as more rankers start piling on. 

 
(73) - > 52- When Love Comes to Town with B.B. King

Vulture.com ranking and comment -55/218 - B. B. King: “I’m no good with chords, so what we do is get somebody else to play that.”

Bono: “Well, Edge will do that; there’s not that many chords in the song, there’s only two.”

The presence of this song — that U2 would dare to want to collaborate with B. B. King! — upset so much of the Establishment. But it sure seems like everyone involved in the song was having a good ol’ time here.

Original Comment - This is not my style of U2 track, but I recognise it is well made and classy. I am still second highest ranker. The band are trying too hard to impress blues players. Keith Richards had some interesting thoughts about what U2 were trying to do, not the info in Silver and Gold by Vulture, but the original comments by Richards that the band attempted to win him over after. The 9 ranking surprises me, so lets here why.

Total Points - 628.60

Rankers - 20

Average Points per rank - 31.43 (Approximately a 61st rank). 

Ranks  - 44th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 8

Lowest Rank - 147

Previous Rank - 73 > 52

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - Our first song with at least 20 rankers. It makes a nice jump from last time when i think it came up too early. It has 4 top 25 rankings, 6 others in the top 50 and 6 others between 55 and 68. 

 
(98) - > 51- Lemon

Vulture.com ranking and comment -72/218 - Another song delivered in the “Fat Lady” voice that Bono developed during Achtung Baby, and that, combined with the light, lilting melody, hides the fact that this is about Bono’s mother, who died when he was very young.

Original Comment - This song can divide people. I enjoy it, until i have to listen to 30 plus minutes of remixes on the yellow vinyl 12”. Then i want to play frisbee. I am not the highest ranking here, but two ranking spots behind it. The rankings of 25, 27, 183 and 198 you would think are weird. There are some other unusual ones to come. One track has rankings of 9, 11, 100 and 161. BTW this is another track about Bono’s mother. 

Total Points - 659.20

Rankers - 17

Average Points per rank - 38.78 (Approximately a 49th rank). 

Ranks  - 36th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 5

Lowest Rank - 111

Previous Rank - 98 > 51

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - Many deliberately excluded this from their lists, but many like me really like this track. It has 7 tracks in the top 25, including 2 in the top 10. Then we have 4 in the 40s and a few more lower down. The 7 top rankers drag this from 98 to just outside the top 50. It is our biggest jumper left. 

 
Next up we start the top 50 with an odd group. One from Rattle and Hum, one from Pop and another that wasn’t on a proper album. The songs from 50-41 are sort of a mixed bag before we get to the big time. 

 
Zooropa = 42. Great use of atmosphere, and a logical step forward from the sound they created on AB. 

God Part II = 55. The music is very good, but the lyrics gave a sense of "geez, U2 just has to insert themselves into absolutely EVERYTHING". 

When Love Comes to Town = 66. Very good at what it does but not really what I listen to U2 for. 

Lemon = 74. Also very good at what it does but not really what I listen to U2 for. I have never bothered to check out the remixes. 

 
When Love Comes to Town = 66. Very good at what it does but not really what I listen to U2 for. 

Lemon = 74. Also very good at what it does but not really what I listen to U2 for. I have never bothered to check out the remixes. 
I noticed in the Led Zeppelin countdown you said this a lot. What do you listen to U2 for?  Is it just favoring a certain style?  With the Led Zep countdown, I favored their acoustic and bluesy music over their hard rock, but I do like some of that too. 

 
Everything really came together for me when we went to Belfast. I heard lots about The Troubles, the conflicts, and the many years of violence most of our trip. Lots of interesting discussions involving folks from different countries on our tours, what's happening with Brexit and the potential reunification of Ireland, as well as religious and political positions and affiliations. It was the FBG Politics Forum except it was live instead of on a message board.  :pokey:

The official story is The Troubles lasted from around 1966 and ended in 1998. I vividly remember in the late 70's and early 80's the IRA, bombings, hunger strikes, riots, etc. from reading newspapers and watching the evening news (are either of those a thing anymore)? 

Once in Belfast, it quickly became clear that things are not over, there is a backdrop of perpetual uneasiness, and the parties involved really don't care for each other. Belfast is divided into the protestant side and the catholic side . . . with a 20-mile-long wall down the middle. Everywhere you go . . . on buildings, on walls, on lampposts, there are endless signs, murals, and rallying calls to support all sorts of causes . . . political, charitable, paramilitary, etc.

I found THIS SITE to give people an idea. We went to some of those places and more. There were broken bottles and glass on sidewalks and in the streets (one place had blood stains from the night before). There were cars that had been torched and buildings with broken windows. There were sites that had had huge bonfires. Where we went even had broken arrows and spears that people tried to shoot or throw over the wall / giant fences. Buildings had bars on barbed wire fences with metal, dagger-like tips on top of them. There were blocks and blocks that even today looked like a war zone.

We had local tour guides on the catholic side of things who were there 40+ years ago. They lived through when things were REALLY dangerous, when the British army came in as peacekeepers (and shot unarmed residents). Once I heard that one of them had to use a fake name and a fake passport to go to his one trip to the US, I pretty much figured out that we were getting only one side of the story. But these guys had photo album after album of pictures of chaos in the streets, people bloodied with soldiers shooting in the background, places burning, and smoke everywhere.

They had news clippings on people that vanished, local murders, and all sorts of wanton acts of violence. There are protests almost every day over who knows what there. A few weeks ago, there was an all-out riot when one side broke through the wall / gates at night and the military had to be called in again. We saw recent pictures when planned protests went off the rails, and pictures taken from the hills showed downtown Belfast on fire.

Even now, people live in fear that something can happen at any moment. There have still been bombings, shootings, people mowed down people on sidewalks . . . not even targeted people, just random people . . . sometimes in broad daylight. The whole situation is very tense . . . and we are DECADES away from when it was bad.

That's when all those old U2 songs took on deeper meaning. Just listening to all these stories and vignettes of people that died as innocent bystanders . . . kids, mothers, clergymen, you name it. AFTER the conflicts were supposedly over, there were militant groups that basically had contests to see how many people on the other side they could kill. We heard about one guy whose body count got into the 30s.

When we got on the bus to ride back to Dublin, our guide threw on a block of U2 over the bus speakers. Sunday Bloody Sunday. New Year's Day. Pride. Bad. Where The Streets Have No Name. Bullet The Blue Sky. He basically had to stop when a bunch of people complained that it was too loud and to turn the music off.

As far as the band goes, they were pretty concerned what would happen and what the fans would think when they played Sunday Bloody Sunday for the first time in Belfast in 1982 (War didn't come out until 3 months later). Apparently, it was well received and there wasn't any trouble. After the performance of SBS in Denver on 1987-11-08 (the version on the RAH DVD), Bono felt they could never have a better or more emotional performance of the song. Once the last few dates on TJT were played, he contemplated never playing the song again. The song wasn't played on the Lovetown tour and wasn't played regularly on the AB and Pop tours. But it returned for every date of both the Elevation and Vertigo tours. It had mostly been set aside for 14 years.

Anyway, all this just reaffirmed my love for the powerful, defiant, protest songs of U2 from the 80s. That wasn't my intent . . . it just turned out that way. I will always remember that day in Belfast and the bus ride back. Their more recent albums just don't capture that for me. It doesn't make them bad or disappointing . . . they just aren't the same, and they don't grab me like their earlier work. C'est la vie.

 
When Love Comes to Town is a fun song. I'm at 104 on it.

Lemon, I feel like deserves some discussion. It's a pretty important U2 song, IMO. I'm at 44 on it. It's polarizing, it's electronic, it's well-known, it's weird, and it's beautiful. The songs about his parents resonate a bit more with me, I've lost my Mom and have a somewhat strained relationship with my Dad, who is from Ireland (County Cork). For me, Lemon is "midnight is where the day begins". It probably inspired MacPhisto, although I'm not entirely sure on that one. Anyway there's probably more I'm not thinking of, but Lemon is a pretty big player in the U2 universe, for better or for worse.

 
One more thing on Lemon. It was an important enough song to link up to "With or Without You" on the Zooropa tour. Starring Mr. MacPhisto, of course.

Here is the Sydney performance

One thing I love about this: "Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I want to go to bed. I had a little drink about an hour ago and it went right to my head". My very Irish family would sing this all the time at family gatherings when I was a kid.

"If you're not Irish, that isn't your fault"  :lol:

 
I ranked this song #32.  I'm a fan of the blues and B.B., and I find this song thoroughly enjoyable. Bono and B.B. both do a great job of belting out those lyrics. It's a fun pairing.

Hey Yayyy Yayyyy Yeah
I only ranked 25 songs and had this one very high on my list.  It's a memory for me in that I saw it live in Fort Worth in '87 when BB filled in for the Bodeans on the 2nd night - I think the Bodeans were booked or something?  Anyhow, what a treat!  I was an Adam Clayton cigarette butt throw away from the stage in what we thought were "behind the stage" seats.  They were not.  They were right on the side.  I could see BB's sweat rolling down his big dome.  That guy didn't cheat an audience.  

When Bono called him to the stage to perform this song, I had no idea it would appear on Rattle & Hum, but that's what I got to see and I'll never forget it.  Still, the best concert experience of my life.

 
One thing I love about this: "Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I want to go to bed. I had a little drink about an hour ago and it went right to my head". My very Irish family would sing this all the time at family gatherings when I was a kid.
It reminds me of that scene inside Quint's boat on Jaws with Quint, Brody, and Hooper.

 
I noticed in the Led Zeppelin countdown you said this a lot. What do you listen to U2 for?  Is it just favoring a certain style?  With the Led Zep countdown, I favored their acoustic and bluesy music over their hard rock, but I do like some of that too. 
When I put on U2 I generally want them to rock out in that distinctive way they do. It's not so much a specific sound -- I love Boy and AB and they sound nothing like each other -- as it is the elements they are really good at. They are not a blues band -- indeed, Edge's guitar playing along with Eddie Van Halen's are among the most profound ways in which rock has divorced itself from the blues -- and they are not an EDM band. Those two songs are good, but U2 would not be one of my favorite bands if all their material sounded like that. 

 
John Maddens Lunchbox said:
(40) - > 55- Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get out Of

Vulture.com ranking and comment -73/218 - Brian Eno can throw everything into a blender that he wants, but this is still a gospel song at its heart — a tribute to Michael Hutchence, the late INXS singer who was a friend of the band and whose suicide weighed heavily on Bono and Edge particularly. Bono told Rolling Stone, “t’s a row I didn’t have while he was alive.” The last three stanzas of the song are heart-wrenching.

Original Comment - i could have manufactured “40” landing here, as the ranking difference wouldnt have been that dramatic, but played it pure. Consecutive tracks that have a final ranking way higher than any of us ranked it. This is Another single that does nothing for me. Im sure it has a Powerful message and all, but its just pleasant. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

Total Points - 575.15

Rankers - 19

Average Points per rank - 31.95 (Approximately a 43rd rank). 

Ranks  - 60th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 6

Lowest Rank - 196

Previous Rank - 40 > 55

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - This is an odd one rankings wise. We have a 6 that is a total outlier. We then have 7 rankings between 23 and 33 indicating its well liked. The next tier is from 42 to 52 where another 6 rankings occur. Three more between 62 and 76. Then in a total oddity all the way down to 196 for the next ranking and it has two rankers at that exact position. 


Ugh.  A good friend’s SIL just killed herself today by jumping in front of a train here in the suburbs of Chicago.  Left behind a young baby.  I thought of this song.  ####.  Sorry to be a drag on the thread.  But this sucks.

 
The only one today that I had on my 115-song list was God Part II at #70.  I had that one in the 30s at one point, but I waver on it.  Sometimes the lyrics irritate me.  Probably should have left it a little higher, though.  It has a cool menace-y feel.

None of the other three made my first cut, though reading these comments I feel like omitting When Love Comes to Town must have been a mistake.  

Zooropa is fine, but I'm one of the people who actively dislikes Lemon, which might seem weird since I love Numb (which I consider the other love/hate song).

 
Lemon, I feel like deserves some discussion. It's a pretty important U2 song, IMO. I'm at 44 on it. It's polarizing, it's electronic, it's well-known, it's weird, and it's beautiful. The songs about his parents resonate a bit more with me, I've lost my Mom and have a somewhat strained relationship with my Dad, who is from Ireland (County Cork). For me, Lemon is "midnight is where the day begins". It probably inspired MacPhisto, although I'm not entirely sure on that one. Anyway there's probably more I'm not thinking of, but Lemon is a pretty big player in the U2 universe, for better or for worse.
Great comments. I dont think even the most ardent fan of this song can argue that there are good reasons why some people hate this song. It would be nice if more of the top 50 chimed in on it. Some U2 songs when you first hear them, you go “WTF is this?” Lemon was one that had me excited, same with Numb. Others like that ####### Boots song go the other way. I may have said that before. 

The songs 50-41 have some divisive ones too, but once we reach the top 30-40 we are going to have barely any that people hate en masse. 

 
Big fan of When Love Comes To Town (13 on my list of 25) and Lemon (8 on my list of 25). But, since I'm not "the most interesting ranker" in either case, I don't have to explain myself. :P
Explain away....especially If you rank Lemon at 8. I mean I moved it up to 15 this time round. Thats as high as I will probably ever go on it. I just cant get those 40 plus minutes of awful remixes on the yellow vinyl edition out of my head

 
Explain away....especially If you rank Lemon at 8. I mean I moved it up to 15 this time round. Thats as high as I will probably ever go on it. I just cant get those 40 plus minutes of awful remixes on the yellow vinyl edition out of my head


A 15 ranking for you puts it in like the top 10% of your rankings, whereas my 8 ranking in my 25 song list puts it in the top 32% of my rankings - so you have waaayyy more splaining to do than me!

Also, I've never listened to those, and now never will. Problem solved!

 
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Ugh.  A good friend’s SIL just killed herself today by jumping in front of a train here in the suburbs of Chicago.  Left behind a young baby.  I thought of this song.  ####.  Sorry to be a drag on the thread.  But this sucks.
That is terrible. I'm sorry this happened. A lot of lives were impacted today, and that includes the conductor, first responders, etc. Very sad.

 
Great comments. I dont think even the most ardent fan of this song can argue that there are good reasons why some people hate this song. It would be nice if more of the top 50 chimed in on it. Some U2 songs when you first hear them, you go “WTF is this?” Lemon was one that had me excited, same with Numb. Others like that ####### Boots song go the other way. I may have said that before. 

The songs 50-41 have some divisive ones too, but once we reach the top 30-40 we are going to have barely any that people hate en masse. 
I just watched that movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, which is about the multiverse and infinite worlds where every possible outcome exists in one of the universes. Because of this, I can fathom a world where a whole bunch of people like Lemon. 😉

 
Ugh.  A good friend’s SIL just killed herself today by jumping in front of a train here in the suburbs of Chicago.  Left behind a young baby.  I thought of this song.  ####.  Sorry to be a drag on the thread.  But this sucks.
Man, that is so heartbreaking. If they have a go fund me for the child/family, please link it. 

 
Great comments. I dont think even the most ardent fan of this song can argue that there are good reasons why some people hate this song. It would be nice if more of the top 50 chimed in on it. Some U2 songs when you first hear them, you go “WTF is this?” Lemon was one that had me excited, same with Numb. Others like that ####### Boots song go the other way. I may have said that before. 

The songs 50-41 have some divisive ones too, but once we reach the top 30-40 we are going to have barely any that people hate en masse. 
I actually really enjoy Lemon now.  It’s grown on me over time.  Especially like the part “I feel, like I’m slowly slowly slowly slippin’ under…..”

 
(73) - > 52- When Love Comes to Town with B.B. King

Vulture.com ranking and comment -55/218 - B. B. King: “I’m no good with chords, so what we do is get somebody else to play that.”

Bono: “Well, Edge will do that; there’s not that many chords in the song, there’s only two.”

The presence of this song — that U2 would dare to want to collaborate with B. B. King! — upset so much of the Establishment. But it sure seems like everyone involved in the song was having a good ol’ time here.

Original Comment - This is not my style of U2 track, but I recognise it is well made and classy. I am still second highest ranker. The band are trying too hard to impress blues players. Keith Richards had some interesting thoughts about what U2 were trying to do, not the info in Silver and Gold by Vulture, but the original comments by Richards that the band attempted to win him over after. The 9 ranking surprises me, so lets here why.

Total Points - 628.60

Rankers - 20

Average Points per rank - 31.43 (Approximately a 61st rank). 

Ranks  - 44th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 8

Lowest Rank - 147

Previous Rank - 73 > 52

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - Our first song with at least 20 rankers. It makes a nice jump from last time when i think it came up too early. It has 4 top 25 rankings, 6 others in the top 50 and 6 others between 55 and 68. 
Mrs APK was at 27.  I was at 68 — too low in retrospect.   Great song.  The only thing that dropped it lower for me……Bono is good but candidly, he can’t hang with BB King. ;)

Mrs APK when asked for comment:  “……..”

 
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