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)

[Grace Under Pressure]

So Cruel. What a beautiful song! Definitely high on the sing-ability dimension. Most U2 fans I know agree this is a song they love.

There are 2 lines in particular that just hit the spot for me. I'll give these a little flair on my sing along each time.

"I'm only hangin on to watch you go down my love."
"To stay with you I'd be a fool."

I always thought it was an interesting lead in to "The Fly". Really exemplifies the diversity of great songs on the album. While I'm at 56 on So Cruel, again that's no knock. These are fantastic songs.

That's it sweetheart. You're So Cruel.

 

[bigbottom]

I ranked this song #37. I love the song, and wasn't sure where to rank it. My favorite part of the song is the lyrics. I went back and forth on where to place it. The higher/lower thing screws with my head, because I'm in the same camp as Binky. My favorite number is 37, so I decided to place it there.

I had this at 48 (????) but have always loved it. Could easily be as high as 20 on any given day, depending on my mood. As mentioned by @simey the lyrics are the best part. But I do also like Bono’s falsetto. It’s a tragically beautiful song.

You monsters.

Unranked for me.

 

[krista4]

I ranked this song #37. I love the song, and wasn't sure where to rank it. My favorite part of the song is the lyrics. I went back and forth on where to place it. The higher/lower thing screws with my head, because I'm in the same camp as Binky. My favorite number is 37, so I decided to place it there.

I had this at 48 (????) but have always loved it. Could easily be as high as 20 on any given day, depending on my mood. As mentioned by @simey the lyrics are the best part. But I do also like Bono’s falsetto. It’s a tragically beautiful song.

You monsters.

And I ranked it even lower do what does that make me?

Not even worth mentioning.

 

[krista4]

So Cruel. What a beautiful song! Definitely high on the sing-ability dimension. Most U2 fans I know agree this is a song they love.

There are 2 lines in particular that just hit the spot for me. I'll give these a little flair on my sing along each time.

"I'm only hangin on to watch you go down my love."
"To stay with you I'd be a fool."

I always thought it was an interesting lead in to "The Fly". Really exemplifies the diversity of great songs on the album. While I'm at 56 on So Cruel, again that's no knock. These are fantastic songs.

That's it sweetheart. You're So Cruel.

Unranked for me.

You people are part of the problem! No, wait, you are the problem!

So Cruel was my highest ranked song on Achtung Baby. And again though it was #13 for me, it floated around in the top 10 quite a bit of the time.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

So Cruel. What a beautiful song! Definitely high on the sing-ability dimension. Most U2 fans I know agree this is a song they love.

There are 2 lines in particular that just hit the spot for me. I'll give these a little flair on my sing along each time.

"I'm only hangin on to watch you go down my love."
"To stay with you I'd be a fool."

I always thought it was an interesting lead in to "The Fly". Really exemplifies the diversity of great songs on the album. While I'm at 56 on So Cruel, again that's no knock. These are fantastic songs.

That's it sweetheart. You're So Cruel.

Unranked for me.

You people are part of the problem! No, wait, you are the problem!

So Cruel was my highest ranked song on Achtung Baby. And again though it was #13 for me, it floated around in the top 10 quite a bit of the time.

I tried to make up for it with the write-up.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

So Cruel was my highest ranked song on Achtung Baby. And again though it was #13 for me, it floated around in the top 10 quite a bit of the time.

So Cruel. What a beautiful song! Definitely high on the sing-ability dimension. Most U2 fans I know agree this is a song they love.

There are 2 lines in particular that just hit the spot for me. I'll give these a little flair on my sing along each time.

"I'm only hangin on to watch you go down my love."
"To stay with you I'd be a fool."

I always thought it was an interesting lead in to "The Fly". Really exemplifies the diversity of great songs on the album. While I'm at 56 on So Cruel, again that's no knock. These are fantastic songs.

That's it sweetheart. You're So Cruel.

Unranked for me.

You people are part of the problem! No, wait, you are the problem!

So Cruel was my highest ranked song on Achtung Baby. And again though it was #13 for me, it floated around in the top 10 quite a bit of the time.

So Cruel was my 11th ranked AB song. But at least I ranked it, unlike with #12!

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

So Cruel. What a beautiful song! Definitely high on the sing-ability dimension. Most U2 fans I know agree this is a song they love.

There are 2 lines in particular that just hit the spot for me. I'll give these a little flair on my sing along each time.

"I'm only hangin on to watch you go down my love."
"To stay with you I'd be a fool."

I always thought it was an interesting lead in to "The Fly". Really exemplifies the diversity of great songs on the album. While I'm at 56 on So Cruel, again that's no knock. These are fantastic songs.

That's it sweetheart. You're So Cruel.

Unranked for me.

You people are part of the problem! No, wait, you are the problem!

So Cruel was my highest ranked song on Achtung Baby. And again though it was #13 for me, it floated around in the top 10 quite a bit of the time.

14 top 13 rankings and you and I are the only ones here loving it. All these sidewalk spitters who didnt rank it or ranked it low......i shake my head in astonishment.
Let’s see how the next song goes as the boot may be on the other foot.
Let’s start the top 25

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

(46) - 25 - Desire
(46) - 25 - Desire (Hollywood Remix)

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.

Original 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.

Total Points - 1458

Rankers - 31

Average Points per rank - 47.03 (Approximately a 30th rank).

Ranks - 28th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 9

Lowest Rank - 110

Previous Rank - 46-25

Special Version Requested - (46) - 25 - Desire (Hollywood Remix)

Ranking Comments - Ok. I’m not going to hold back here.
Why this song jumps 21 spots is beyond me. I understand the maths. It has 31 voters, but it only has 3 top 10 rankings....barely. 26 of its votes are between 13 and 63, occupying most numbers in between.
To me its the musical equivalent of KFC. Sure its food, but its ultimately empty. It is pure commerciality and they could knock 20 of these out a week if they wanted to. Compare that to say So Cruel which is carefully crafted, with something to say and honest. I chose the Hollywood Remix as its the only way i can make this song palatable.

There I feel better. Now i fear other comments on this song are going to make it sound Shakespearian and the best thing since sliced bread, but hey ho. We are into the top 25.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Our next 2 are very interesting.
They are from the same album.
One makes a massive leap.
We have one song left from the 50s and one from the 40s. One of them is next. Is it finally Bullet the Blue Sky?
The other is a track from the same album. Is it the other big riser or one of the singles (somewhere) after the big 3?

I havent done the full analysis of either, but one has 6 top 10 rankings. The other only has 4, but they are higher. One ranker has them both ranked, but well over 100. Weird.

 

[krista4]

Going into the top 25 (and ignoring that #25 was just posted):

I have 24 of the top 25 remaining. The Fly is the one I did not rank.

My lowest ranked song remaining is Bullet the Blue Sky at #43. My next lowest is at #36.

I have nine of my top 10 left, having lost my #10 (Stay) only, and 17 of my top 25.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Ha!
Just checked. I had Desire at 68 originally, 58 this time. I must have been feeling generous.

In a weird glitch, the next 2 songs are either side of Desire in my rankings, but i have them between 57-59 and not 23-25 like the community rankings

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Let’s see how the next song goes as the boot may be on the other foot.

So you're asking us to get on our boots?

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

Why this song jumps 21 spots is beyond me. I understand the maths. It has 31 voters, but it only has 3 top 10 rankings....barely. 26 of its votes are between 13 and 63, occupying most numbers in between.

I'm the one at 63 on Desire. It's pretty good, and pretty well known. I believe I expressed some remorse earlier in not ranking Angel of Harlem above Desire. I'm not super surprised to see it ranked this high, given it's mainstream popularity.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Desire = 54. It’s good at what it does but it’s not peak U2. Very catchy, though.

 

[krista4]

Desire fell between #21 and #28 on each set of rankings I did, and ultimately landed at...#20. I don't know why. It's good but not stellar, and I see plenty below this that I prefer. Maybe it was a typo.

 

[Nemesis]

27 City of Blinding Lights 7 YRS TO COMPLETE THIS ONE....Initially conceived during the '97 Pop sessions....band tried again during the 2000 ATYCLB sessions, but couldn't finish it. Finally completed for 2004 HTDAAB album. Was the 3rd single commercially released (Europe, UK, Canada & Australia). In the US, it was ONLY a promotional release to radio.
SONG IS ABOUT NEW YORK and you don't commercially release it in the US???...........WTF??
This won U2 a Grammy in the Best Rock Song category. (HTDAAB won a Grammy for Best Rock Album)

COBL - Rose Bowl - Oct 2009 360 Tour 5:21 Incredible drone footage of the Claw stage. Filmed for the concert film U2360
(COBL is my #8............I love PIP's comment about the song having the same energy as "Streets")


26 So Cruel Relatively simple musically, but with ever so powerful lyrics & theme coming directly from Edge's separation/divorce. Song came to light during a reel changeover break in the AB Studio.....Bono improvised with a guitar & Engineer Flood later added a bunch of studio trickery to transform it into the final cut.
Has only been played live in concert 4 times
From the Sky Down - 5:28 Acoustic performance by Bono taken from the From The Sky Down, 2011 documentary film about the making of U2's AB

REALLY In Depth look at the LYRICS : From the original BABY version to the FINAL cut. "I Disappeared IN you.....You disappeared FROM me"
IMO.....Bono gets the credit on this one as the lyrics probably rank among the best Bono has ever written....at least they are the most cutting & pained lyrics in his repertoire.


25 Desire the big single off the R&H album........provided a sharp contrast to the uplifting expansiveness of TJT. Features the "Bo Diddley beat", a rhythm made famous by Diddley.
won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group in 1989 (U2's first grammy)

 

[simey]

I'm the one at 63 on Desire. It's pretty good, and pretty well known. I believe I expressed some remorse earlier in not ranking Angel of Harlem above Desire. I'm not super surprised to see it ranked this high, given it's mainstream popularity.

We both regretted placing Desire over Angel of Harlem. I ranked Desire #34. I do like Desire a lot, and I dig the r&b/blues and touch of rockabilly that rolls through it like a steam train. I compare it to Angel of Harlem, because they are both popular songs off of the Rattle and Hum album. While I prefer Angel of Harlem over Desire, they both have great things about them. I don't mind Desire being at #34, I would just put Angel of Harlem higher than that today (had it at #41).

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

I'm the one at 63 on Desire. It's pretty good, and pretty well known. I believe I expressed some remorse earlier in not ranking Angel of Harlem above Desire. I'm not super surprised to see it ranked this high, given it's mainstream popularity.

We both regretted placing Desire over Angel of Harlem. I ranked Desire #34. I do like Desire a lot, and I dig the r&b/blues and touch of rockabilly that rolls through it like a stream train. I compare it to Angel of Harlem, because they are both popular songs off of the Rattle and Hum album. While I prefer Angel of Harlem over Desire, they both have great things about them. I don't mind Desire being at #34, I would just put Angel of Harlem higher than that today (had it at #41).

Good call Simey. Well said, that’s how I feel too.

 

[Brony]

So Cruel - #11
City of Blinding Lights - #19

Love 'em both. No sentimental significance, I just really enjoy these songs. So Cruel is really good song at its core and I really like the way they blended in the groove (the one that reminds me of How Soon is Now).

 

[scorchy]

So Cruel - I ranked it #8. It was my favorite song on Achtung Baby from the opening piano, and then the simple beat kicks in and Bono actually stays somewhat restrained (at least for a while).

I'm only hanging on
To watch you go down
My love

My lord does that one get me.

In the end, I have two others from AB higher, but that's based on my head and not my heart.


Desire - I had it at #27, but I only ranked 33 songs. After waiting a couple of years for new material after TJT, hearing its much-promoted premier on our local rock station was a pretty big letdown.

 

[krista4]

So Cruel - #11
City of Blinding Lights - #19

So Cruel - I ranked it #8. It was my favorite song on Achtung Baby

Finally some more So Cruel lovers! This is the first one where I'm actually a little bummed at the placement. I did have Stay higher, but I didn't expect it to do terribly well. So Cruel's ranking is cruel. It was my highest ranked song from Achtung Baby.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

So Cruel - #11
City of Blinding Lights - #19

So Cruel - I ranked it #8. It was my favorite song on Achtung Baby

Finally some more So Cruel lovers! This is the first one where I'm actually a little bummed at the placement. I did have Stay higher, but I didn't expect it to do terribly well. So Cruel's ranking is cruel. It was my highest ranked song from Achtung Baby.

I mean, I had this ranked 4th from AB and candidly it should have been 3rd (ahead of Zoo Station — WTF was I thinking on that???). But I’m totally comfortable with a) So Cruel being 3rd on AB, and b) AB not having super highly ranked songs overall. I love AB - always have - but imo what makes the album special is the quality/depth of songs. The weakest links on this album are better than a lot of top-half songs on many other albums. The best songs on this album though….just aren’t as special as their other work.

But all that said…..the more I listen to it now, this song deserves to be higher up the list. Dammit! Why did I rank it in the 40s??

 

[simey]

The best songs on this album though….just aren’t as special as their other work.

I have two AB songs in my Top 10.

 

[Mr. Landry]

Finally some more So Cruel lovers! This is the first one where I'm actually a little bummed at the placement. I did have Stay higher, but I didn't expect it to do terribly well. So Cruel's ranking is cruel. It was my highest ranked song from Achtung Baby.

Had it ranked #6 here. I love, love, love this song. Certain days I might rank it as high as #2 (I don't think my #1 could ever be topped). I love everything about the song, but I think why I like it so much is that it struck a very personal chord with me. Just before Achtung came out my girlfriend broke up with me. Although I was quite young, I had seriously thought marriage was a possibility. The lyrics of this song fit summarize my thoughts to a T. I could have written it (if I could write). I understand the emotional connection to it bumps it up for me, but I certainly think it deserves to be higher.

I disappeared in you
You disappeared from me
I gave you everything you ever wanted
Wasn't what you wanted


Chills....

 

[Alex P Keaton]

The best songs on this album though….just aren’t as special as their other work.

I have two AB songs in my Top 10.

That’s cool. Just my opinion. Top-50 U2 songs are all great in my book (except for the couple I misranked which @krista4 is mad at me about.

 

[simey]

but I certainly think it deserves to be higher.

#26 isn't bad. I understand the top 10 rankings for it though, especially cause of the lyrics.

 

[krista4]

That’s cool. Just my opinion. Top-50 U2 songs are all great in my book (except for the couple I misranked which @krista4 is mad at me about.

Unforgiveable. Or unforgivable. I forget which is correct.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

That’s cool. Just my opinion. Top-50 U2 songs are all great in my book (except for the couple I misranked which @krista4 is mad at me about.

Unforgiveable. Or unforgivable. I forget which is correct.

No e. Not even from the Brits, who often put them in unnecessarily.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

(45) - 24 - Red Hill Mining Town
(45) - 24 - Red Hill Mining Town (Remastered 2017)

Vulture.com ranking and comment -89/218 - Throughout their history, U2 have been criticized for being political, as well as for not being political enough. “Red Hill Mining Town” is one of those moments. A commentary on the 1984–85 U.K. miners’ strike, the song focuses on the social impact of the strike, not the political or economic impact. “I feel more qualified to write about relationships because I understand them more than what it’s like to work in a pit,” Bono told Niall Stokes. The song is a masterful composition of despair and helplessness; the anguish in the vocals in that last bridge is truly heartrending. It’s worth noting that this song came into being from Bono’s first encounter with Bob Dylan, which took him in the direction of folk music, to this unbelievable version of Peggy Seeger’s “Springhill Mining Disaster.”

Original Comment - A simple song, well constructed and its considered among the worst 3 songs on the Joshua Tree. I much prefer this song to songs I ranked ahead of it. Another song that none of us really love or really hate.

Total Points - 1530.90

Rankers - 31

Average Points per rank - 49.38 (Approximately a 27th rank).

Ranks - 26th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 5

Lowest Rank - 152

Previous Rank - 45-24

Special Version Requested - (45) - 24 - Red Hill Mining Town (Remastered 2017)

Ranking Comments - 5 top 10 entries surprises me a little, but its a good song. The meat of the rankings is 15 to 31 where there are 15 rankings. It takes a big leap up the rankings because of the volume and consistency of the rankings. Would love to hear from the top 10 rankers here as many if us have 4-5 TJT tracks in our top 10, but it is spread through about 6-8 different tracks.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I had Red Hill at 48. It’s very good but not in the same league as the best from TJT. It’s a folk song in vibe if not in sound, and like most folk songs, the emphasis is on the lyrics.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

(45) - 24 - Red Hill Mining Town
(45) - 24 - Red Hill Mining Town (Remastered 2017)

Vulture.com ranking and comment -89/218 - Throughout their history, U2 have been criticized for being political, as well as for not being political enough. “Red Hill Mining Town” is one of those moments. A commentary on the 1984–85 U.K. miners’ strike, the song focuses on the social impact of the strike, not the political or economic impact. “I feel more qualified to write about relationships because I understand them more than what it’s like to work in a pit,” Bono told Niall Stokes. The song is a masterful composition of despair and helplessness; the anguish in the vocals in that last bridge is truly heartrending. It’s worth noting that this song came into being from Bono’s first encounter with Bob Dylan, which took him in the direction of folk music, to this unbelievable version of Peggy Seeger’s “Springhill Mining Disaster.”

Original Comment - A simple song, well constructed and its considered among the worst 3 songs on the Joshua Tree. I much prefer this song to songs I ranked ahead of it. Another song that none of us really love or really hate.

Total Points - 1530.90

Rankers - 31

Average Points per rank - 49.38 (Approximately a 27th rank).

Ranks - 26th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 5

Lowest Rank - 152

Previous Rank - 45-24

Special Version Requested - (45) - 24 - Red Hill Mining Town (Remastered 2017)

Ranking Comments - 5 top 10 entries surprises me a little, but its a good song. The meat of the rankings is 15 to 31 where there are 15 rankings. It takes a big leap up the rankings because of the volume and consistency of the rankings. Would love to hear from the top 10 rankers here as many if us have 4-5 TJT tracks in our top 10, but it is spread through about 6-8 different tracks.

Love this song. Perfectly positioned on TJT between Running to Stand Still and In God’s Country. Mrs APK had it at 19, I’m at 25. This song is part of what I consider the heart of TJT, songs 5-9.

 

[Anarchy99]

Huh. Ain't that a hoot with Red Hill. I never would have guessed it would end up this high. I had it at 74. Along with Mothers, those are the two songs I don't typically seek out from TJT. IMO, it's better as an album track when listening to the entire album than it is as a standalone song. I'll listen to TJT straight through and enjoy it. But I won't be compelled to go searching just for Red Hill because I'm really dying to hear it.

 

[krista4]

I'm similarly puzzled by Red Hill shooting up the rankings, though I did have it at #34. It's a song I often forget exists, and if re-ranking I'd likely put it lower. The vocals are outstanding, though, and that's what draws me.

ETA: I just looked at the progress of this song in my rankings and, as is often the case, am befuddled. I had it ranked between 38 and 45 on every iteration, and in my last set of notes before my "final" rankings told myself I should move it down. Then it ended up at #34. Go figure. Maybe I'm like Binky and don't understand what "down" means.

 

[simey]

(45) - 24 - Red Hill Mining Town

I ranked this song #5. It is my second favorite song on the TJT. This song has my favorite Bono vocal on it. His voice just soars in it. I especially love him singing "love, slowly stripped away, love, has seen its better day."

The song also makes me think of my grandfather Paw Paw. He and my grandmother were mill workers (different mills). He oversaw the knitting machines and did the dye formulas for socks. He also flipped cars on the side as a hobby. The arthritis in his hands made fixing the knitting machines hard, but he did it. He left the mill for a bit and opened a soda shop, but eventually went back to the mill. He had a very tough upbringing, and he had clinical depression, and back then there wasn't much they could do for it, but he always hung on. His episodes of depression were hard on his marriage sometimes, but they made it through the bumps. Anyway, I was very close to him. He died on Dec. 12th, 1986 when I was a junior in college. It was during my final exams. He got sick and quickly died. It was undetermined on what made him sick. He was 72. He is/was the nicest person I have ever known.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

I'm at 9 on Red Hill Mining Town. It's an emotional connection.

I seek it out, I sing it strong. I often cry when I do. Because it's a beautiful song, deep and relatable, to me at least.

Despair and love. If you know, you know. This song and its number 9 ranking is dedicated to my wife. She saved me. And a lot of times, I am hanging on, and she is what's left to hold on to.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

(26) - 23 - In God’s Country

Vulture.com ranking and comment -80/218 - A dream of America, one beyond cities and tour-bus windows, the music is as expansive as the sun rising over the horizon. And yet, there’s possibly unintentional commentary that’s almost hidden: “Sad eyes, crooked crosses / In God’s country.” It’s not accidental that a record inspired by America would end up being a fantastic road-trip record. Time this one right and you’ll think you’re flying.

Original Comment - Searching for the 4th single was such a difficult task. This ended up it in the US, but you have your top 3 obvious singles and then fantastic album tracks. It was such a surprise to see Red Hill Mining Town almost released as the second single. This sort just fills out the album nicely. Not really single material, but it deserves its place on the monster that is The Joshua Tree

Total Points - 1536.95

Rankers - 30

Average Points per rank - 51.23 (Approximately a 25th rank).

Ranks - 24th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 4

Lowest Rank - 111

Previous Rank - 26-23

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - Only 4 top 10 rankings for this one. Then a whole lot between 11 and 30. Would love to hear from the top rankers here. To me its in the bottom 3 tracks on the album.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

In God’s Country = 33.

Melodic and well-crafted. Indeed a good road trip song.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

With 22 tracks left, we have 6 left from Achtung Baby and 6 left from Joshua Tree. Next up we see one of them. Is it finally Bullet the Blue Sky?
The track at 21 is not from these 2 albums. That leaves only 10 tracks as possibles. It was top 20 last time, so that leaves 9 possibilities. It was a mainstream single so that leaves 8 possibilities. It was recorded before 2000 so that leaves 7 possibilities. Out if this group it drops in rankings so that leaves 6 possibilities.

 

[simey]

(26) - 23 - In God’s Country

I ranked this song #24. I like a lot of things about the song. Some of my favorite things about it is the pace, the imagery in the lyrics, Edge's sound kicking it off and heard throughout, the bass, and the melody of the chorus.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

(26) - 23 - In God’s Country

I'm at 31 on In God's Country. It's a big tune from a big album. Definitely earned points on the recognition, importance to the band history, and album dimensions. It's a pretty good song, in retrospect there are others I might place above it today. I might skip it on an album listen, but there are times I'll sing along, at least to parts of it. The Edge does some really nice work here.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

(26) - 23 - In God’s Country

I particularly enjoyed hearing it during the Three Kings closing credits.

 

[krista4]

(26) - 23 - In God’s Country

I ranked this song #24. I like a lot of things about the song. Some of my favorite things about it is the pace, the imagery in the lyrics, Edge's sound kicking it off and heard throughout, the bass, and the melody of the chorus.

I had it at #26 and sign on to all of simey's comments above.

 

[krista4]

Next up we see one of them. Is it finally Bullet the Blue Sky?

Given the number of times you've said this, and each time it is not, I'm starting to think BtBS will be #1.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

(26) - 23 - In God’s Country

Vulture.com ranking and comment -80/218 - A dream of America, one beyond cities and tour-bus windows, the music is as expansive as the sun rising over the horizon. And yet, there’s possibly unintentional commentary that’s almost hidden: “Sad eyes, crooked crosses / In God’s country.” It’s not accidental that a record inspired by America would end up being a fantastic road-trip record. Time this one right and you’ll think you’re flying.

Original Comment - Searching for the 4th single was such a difficult task. This ended up it in the US, but you have your top 3 obvious singles and then fantastic album tracks. It was such a surprise to see Red Hill Mining Town almost released as the second single. This sort just fills out the album nicely. Not really single material, but it deserves its place on the monster that is The Joshua Tree

Total Points - 1536.95

Rankers - 30

Average Points per rank - 51.23 (Approximately a 25th rank).

Ranks - 24th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 4

Lowest Rank - 111

Previous Rank - 26-23

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - Only 4 top 10 rankings for this one. Then a whole lot between 11 and 30. Would love to hear from the top rankers here. To me its in the bottom 3 tracks on the album.

#4 ranking for both Mrs APK and me. I like it far better than 2 of the 3 "obvious singles" on the album. Thinking about the title I'm reminded yet again that the Mrs never thought of U2 as a religious band. simey and Pip already said it all. Oh, I also love the brief Beatles riff in the middle....(@krista4 )

 

[Nemesis]

For me, Red Hill and IGC came in at #20 & #6 respectively and have been long time favorites of mine. I could listen to them on repeat & not get tired of them. Both songs have a certain “sing-able” quality to them (not that I’ve ever done that while in my car ).

IGC: its the 1 song where I feel like all 4 parts of the band are contributing at an extremely high level while not stepping on any of the others. Like a moth to a flame (or a fly if we’re using U2 terminology)…..it always hooks me & reels me in. The unique-ness of it….I can’t name any other song in their catalog that sounds like it.

 

[Nemesis]

24 Red Hill it was originally intended to the 2nd SINGLE RELEASED and the band even filmed a video for it BEFORE the album was even released. But rehearsals showed that Bono could not hit the high notes consistently & worried they would be unable to play it live every night. As a result, RHMT was dropped from the live set list of the JT tour & for 30 yrs it was known as the only song from TJT never to be played live.

23 In God's Country was a difficult song for the band to record, which they attributed to not being trained musicians. Was the 4th single released.....but only in North America.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Next up we see one of them. Is it finally Bullet the Blue Sky?

Given the number of times you've said this, and each time it is not, I'm starting to think BtBS will be #1.

Who can tell lol?
With 12 tracks left from TJT and AB, it is one of them. Its not the next one

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

(16) - 22 - Ultraviolet (Light My Way)

Vulture.com ranking and comment -14/218 - “Ultraviolet” is the epic of the album because it is the moment of catharsis. It is the place where our heroes stand together and acknowledge the imperfections of love and each other and decide they’re going to keep moving forward together: “Baby, baby, baby, light my way.” It’s the most Mancunian (think Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets) of all of the songs on the album from a rhythmic perspective, despite the band’s claims that other tracks should claim that honor. On the other hand, the structure of the composition is larger than that: that monumental key change before the last verse, that slight downshift, and Bono’s voice just roaring. The Edge is almost a guitar machine, consistent and unstoppable, and the rhythm section is the backseat driver.

All of this is why the 2017 live application of “Ultraviolet” to women of power in current and past history just did not fit, did not work. It’s a dark and disturbed song that can’t just be shoved into a new context.

Original Comment - This song has such a great build up. Almost the perfect album track. It is perhaps surprising that this is the third highest ranked track from Achtung Baby, but it really is a magnificent song.

Total Points - 1600.50

Rankers - 29

Average Points per rank - 55.19 (Approximately a 20th rank).

Ranks - 20th on average points per ranker

Highest Rank - 2

Lowest Rank - 61

Previous Rank - 16-22

Special Version Requested - None

Ranking Comments - This is the last track with less than 30 rankers and its a cracker. It has 3 top 5 rankings, including a #2. Three other top 10 rankings. 16 other rankings between 13 and 29. It only has 1 ranking outside the top 50.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

UV = 47. Barely avoided being the second ranker outside the top 50. It's great but so is everything else I had above it. It's just not one I felt as strongly about as some of the others on AB.

In my college days, my friend and I went to a Friday's after a concert -- may have been U2, don't remember. Our waitress was incredibly hot. After her first visit to our table, after she walked away, my friend and I looked at each other and said simultaneously "Baby, baby, baby, light my way."

 

[Nemesis]

22 Ultraviolet..................The word "Ultraviolet" represents an unseen wavelength beyond the visible spectrum. And the song is about a relationship threatened behind the scenes by personal or spiritual crisis. Easy speculation is that it was written with Edge's marital situation in mind, especially with lyrics like:
You bury your treasure, Where it can’t be found
But your love is like a secret, That’s been passed around
There is a silence that comes to a house...Where no one can sleep
I guess it’s the price of love....I know it’s not cheap

I remember When we could sleep on stones
Now we lie together ...............In whispers and moans
When I was all messed up......And I had opera in my head
Your love was a light bulb.......Hanging over my bed
(click the link for the entire lyrics)

Recording the song took quite a bit of work, with at one point in the process it being split into: "Ultraviolet" and "The Fly". Brian Eno helped to get the song across the finish line after the band added too many layers. During the recording, Larry Mullen dropped a drumstick midway through......they decided to use the take to preserve it's spontaneity. ~ at the 3:10 - 3:14 point