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Well, I've been asked what my top 40 U2 songs are.. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/may/21/u2s-40-greatest-songs-ranked ... so I'll very quickly throw out the first 40 that come to mind.
1. Bad (live). The live version is practically levitational, built on a escalating structure, and with an often wildly extended ending. Here's a medley of "Bad", and Bowie's "Heroes" from London in 2017.
2. Lemon.
Very definitely in the we-are-weird phase of their career, here's a Talking Heads homage that's also a hymn to Bono's mother.
Very definitely in the we-are-weird phase of their career, here's a Talking Heads homage that's also a hymn to Bono's mother.
3. Where The Streets Have No Name.
Live, this song is like some kind of huge, six minute collective orgasm : the camera shake and euphoric plane flyover from Dublin in 2017 on this video captures exactly what its like to be there.
Live, this song is like some kind of huge, six minute collective orgasm : the camera shake and euphoric plane flyover from Dublin in 2017 on this video captures exactly what its like to be there.
4. The First Time, 1993.
"And for the first time, I feel love."
"And for the first time, I feel love."
5. Please, 1997
The band are always at their best when they're unashamedly trying to solve all the worlds problems with a guitar, and this track is a killer live.
The band are always at their best when they're unashamedly trying to solve all the worlds problems with a guitar, and this track is a killer live.
6. Miracle Drug, 2005.
Where do I even start? This is great.
Where do I even start? This is great.
7. No Line On The Horizon, 2009.
Dreamy, weird, a effortless hark back to the aspirational, questioning sound of the 90's.
Dreamy, weird, a effortless hark back to the aspirational, questioning sound of the 90's.
8. All I Want Is You, 1988.
https://vimeo.com/64413168
I was never brave enough to tell her she was all I wanted, but I think she knew/knows. I was/am a very lucky man.
https://vimeo.com/64413168
I was never brave enough to tell her she was all I wanted, but I think she knew/knows. I was/am a very lucky man.
9. Song For Someone, 2015.
Even as old men, U2 can write a love song that will tell everything you never knew about the world.
Even as old men, U2 can write a love song that will tell everything you never knew about the world.
10. Stay, 1993.
"And if you stay, the night will be enough."
This version was filmed in Berlin, in November 2018. I was there. A million memories.
"And if you stay, the night will be enough."
This version was filmed in Berlin, in November 2018. I was there. A million memories.
11. Love Is Blindness, 1991.
When my heart was broken, it sounded like this.
When my heart was broken, it sounded like this.
12. North And South Of The River, 1997
Baffling relegated to a b-side in their commercial failure era of "Pop", this is what "Sunday Bloody Sunday" sounded like when written by adults.
Baffling relegated to a b-side in their commercial failure era of "Pop", this is what "Sunday Bloody Sunday" sounded like when written by adults.
13. A Sort Of Homecoming, 1984.
Forget the terrible haircuts and experience the kind of optimistic, wordless reaching for the sky U2 specialised in once.
Forget the terrible haircuts and experience the kind of optimistic, wordless reaching for the sky U2 specialised in once.
14. One, 1991.
Yeah, that song. Here's the version with Mary J Blige, which isn't as good as the other one.
Yeah, that song. Here's the version with Mary J Blige, which isn't as good as the other one.
15. With Or Without You.
Less is more. This is version is the one where I knew I was *in*. I wasn't going back from here.
Less is more. This is version is the one where I knew I was *in*. I wasn't going back from here.
16. Invisible.
"You don't see me, but you will. I am not invisible."
I spent years feeling invisible. This song was those years, in pop form.
"You don't see me, but you will. I am not invisible."
I spent years feeling invisible. This song was those years, in pop form.
17. The Blackout, 2017.
Sometimes the band give you exactly what you need, even if you don't know you need it. It's clear. Who you are will appear.
Sometimes the band give you exactly what you need, even if you don't know you need it. It's clear. Who you are will appear.
18. Crazy Tonight (remix).
This absolutely bonkers monster remix, played live, was great to dance to, and the bit where the drums kick in, the lasers go off, and Bono sings "Discotheque" was a highlight of every show on that tour.
This absolutely bonkers monster remix, played live, was great to dance to, and the bit where the drums kick in, the lasers go off, and Bono sings "Discotheque" was a highlight of every show on that tour.
19. Beautiful Day.
Though dulled slightly by being played a lot, there's that soaring bit where Bono sings "Touch me. Take me to that other place."
And that's what I want EVERY song by EVERY band EVER to do.
Though dulled slightly by being played a lot, there's that soaring bit where Bono sings "Touch me. Take me to that other place."
And that's what I want EVERY song by EVERY band EVER to do.
20. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, 2005.
"and its you when I look in the mirror.
and its you when I pick up the phone."
"and its you when I look in the mirror.
and its you when I pick up the phone."
21. Zoo Station, 1991.
Young Gods and Bon Jovi have a fight in a car park, and The Young Gods win.
Young Gods and Bon Jovi have a fight in a car park, and The Young Gods win.
22. The Fly, 1991.
23. 40, 1983.
If U2 close a show with this, you know you've had a great gig.
If U2 close a show with this, you know you've had a great gig.
24. Miss Sarajevo, 1995.
From the bonkers, experimental, and often song free "Passengers" album, here comes U2 doing weird postmodern opera.
From the bonkers, experimental, and often song free "Passengers" album, here comes U2 doing weird postmodern opera.
25. City of Blinding Lights, 2004.
A great song, with the last embers of mystery. Video is from the Top Of The Pops performance, which I was at, and was the first time the band played the song.
A great song, with the last embers of mystery. Video is from the Top Of The Pops performance, which I was at, and was the first time the band played the song.
26. Zooropa, 1993.
27. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way, 2017.
Hey, Mark, you don't like much from their Eighties output, do you?
Hey, Mark, you don't like much from their Eighties output, do you?
28. The Unforgettable Fire, 1984.
Yeah, I do.
Yeah, I do.
29. Gloria, 1981.
Here's a live version from 2018. The kind of wordless, spiritual stuff that the band can just *do*.
Here's a live version from 2018. The kind of wordless, spiritual stuff that the band can just *do*.
30. I Will Follow, 1980.
Look at how young they are, how raw this is, how fresh.
Look at how young they are, how raw this is, how fresh.
31. I feel I should post some obscure b-side to win cred points, but nah. I like what I like, and that's who I am. Here's "Moment Of Surrender". A calm, meditative moment in a world of madness. 2009.
32. "Magnificent", 2009.
"I was born to sing for you."
"I was born to sing for you."
33. "Mofo", 1997. A busy, dense, and dark lyric matched by a now-of-its-time musical backing, but somehow still a search for an answer.
34. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, 1987.
35. Iris, 2014.
Free yourself
to be yourself
if only you could see yourself.
Free yourself
to be yourself
if only you could see yourself.
36. October, 1981
U2 don't just do bombast, you know.
U2 don't just do bombast, you know.
37. Ultraviolet, 1991.
"When I was all messed up... your love was a lightbulb, hanging over my head."
"When I was all messed up... your love was a lightbulb, hanging over my head."
38. Lady With The Spinning Head, 1992.
When U2 were so good, they put songs this strong as B-sides on the *third* single.
When U2 were so good, they put songs this strong as B-sides on the *third* single.
39. Out Of Control, 1979.
Most bands never write a song as good as this, U2 wrote about 40 at least as good.
Most bands never write a song as good as this, U2 wrote about 40 at least as good.
40. Numb, 1993.
Don't.
Don't.
That took 85 minutes. Yikes. Longer than I thought!
