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Well, I& #39;ve been asked what my top 40 U2 songs are.. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/may/21/u2s-40-greatest-songs-ranked">https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2... ... so I& #39;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& #39;s a medley of "Bad", and Bowie& #39;s "Heroes" from London in 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLXwB2sDH_E">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
2. Lemon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZTNBdKNUek">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
Very definitely in the we-are-weird phase of their career, here& #39;s a Talking Heads homage that& #39;s also a hymn to Bono& #39;s mother.
Very definitely in the we-are-weird phase of their career, here& #39;s a Talking Heads homage that& #39;s also a hymn to Bono& #39;s mother.
3. Where The Streets Have No Name. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oATpspZ-OO8">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgpmMBxbI8g
"And">https://www.youtube.com/watch... for the first time, I feel love."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgpmMBxbI8g
"And">https://www.youtube.com/watch... for the first time, I feel love."
5. Please, 1997
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxG2UWhvXJI
The">https://www.youtube.com/watch... band are always at their best when they& #39;re unashamedly trying to solve all the worlds problems with a guitar, and this track is a killer live.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxG2UWhvXJI
The">https://www.youtube.com/watch... band are always at their best when they& #39;re unashamedly trying to solve all the worlds problems with a guitar, and this track is a killer live.
6. Miracle Drug, 2005.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu-tsQn-M1Q
Where">https://www.youtube.com/watch... do I even start? This is great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu-tsQn-M1Q
Where">https://www.youtube.com/watch... do I even start? This is great.
7. No Line On The Horizon, 2009.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oKwnkYFsiE
Dreamy,">https://www.youtube.com/watch... weird, a effortless hark back to the aspirational, questioning sound of the 90& #39;s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oKwnkYFsiE
Dreamy,">https://www.youtube.com/watch... weird, a effortless hark back to the aspirational, questioning sound of the 90& #39;s.
8. All I Want Is You, 1988.
https://vimeo.com/64413168
I">https://vimeo.com/64413168&... 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">https://vimeo.com/64413168&... 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFjcd_d2PhY
Even">https://www.youtube.com/watch... as old men, U2 can write a love song that will tell everything you never knew about the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFjcd_d2PhY
Even">https://www.youtube.com/watch... as old men, U2 can write a love song that will tell everything you never knew about the world.
10. Stay, 1993.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYKBnwWDnEM
"And">https://www.youtube.com/watch... if you stay, the night will be enough."
This version was filmed in Berlin, in November 2018. I was there. A million memories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYKBnwWDnEM
"And">https://www.youtube.com/watch... 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRRFyXkO9WI
When">https://www.youtube.com/watch... my heart was broken, it sounded like this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRRFyXkO9WI
When">https://www.youtube.com/watch... my heart was broken, it sounded like this.
12. North And South Of The River, 1997
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueqt_KY1YlU">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueqt_KY1YlU">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZoX7yiTpiU
Forget">https://www.youtube.com/watch... the terrible haircuts and experience the kind of optimistic, wordless reaching for the sky U2 specialised in once.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZoX7yiTpiU
Forget">https://www.youtube.com/watch... the terrible haircuts and experience the kind of optimistic, wordless reaching for the sky U2 specialised in once.
14. One, 1991.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpDQJnI4OhU
Yeah,">https://www.youtube.com/watch... that song. Here& #39;s the version with Mary J Blige, which isn& #39;t as good as the other one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpDQJnI4OhU
Yeah,">https://www.youtube.com/watch... that song. Here& #39;s the version with Mary J Blige, which isn& #39;t as good as the other one.
15. With Or Without You.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9NwxYtpMow
Less">https://www.youtube.com/watch... is more. This is version is the one where I knew I was *in*. I wasn& #39;t going back from here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9NwxYtpMow
Less">https://www.youtube.com/watch... is more. This is version is the one where I knew I was *in*. I wasn& #39;t going back from here.
16. Invisible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngXvnq3cX4I
"You">https://www.youtube.com/watch... don& #39;t see me, but you will. I am not invisible."
I spent years feeling invisible. This song was those years, in pop form.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngXvnq3cX4I
"You">https://www.youtube.com/watch... don& #39;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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaJCFHXcWmM
Sometimes">https://www.youtube.com/watch... the band give you exactly what you need, even if you don& #39;t know you need it. It& #39;s clear. Who you are will appear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaJCFHXcWmM
Sometimes">https://www.youtube.com/watch... the band give you exactly what you need, even if you don& #39;t know you need it. It& #39;s clear. Who you are will appear.
18. Crazy Tonight (remix).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llHlZ9FT7VU
This">https://www.youtube.com/watch... 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llHlZ9FT7VU
This">https://www.youtube.com/watch... 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRgvYd1NYYA">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
Though dulled slightly by being played a lot, there& #39;s that soaring bit where Bono sings "Touch me. Take me to that other place."
And that& #39;s what I want EVERY song by EVERY band EVER to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRgvYd1NYYA">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
Though dulled slightly by being played a lot, there& #39;s that soaring bit where Bono sings "Touch me. Take me to that other place."
And that& #39;s what I want EVERY song by EVERY band EVER to do.
20. Sometimes You Can& #39;t Make It On Your Own, 2005.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuDqHtAR6L8
"and">https://www.youtube.com/watch... its you when I look in the mirror.
and its you when I pick up the phone."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuDqHtAR6L8
"and">https://www.youtube.com/watch... its you when I look in the mirror.
and its you when I pick up the phone."
21. Zoo Station, 1991.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilSfOfpzlU
Young">https://www.youtube.com/watch... Gods and Bon Jovi have a fight in a car park, and The Young Gods win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilSfOfpzlU
Young">https://www.youtube.com/watch... Gods and Bon Jovi have a fight in a car park, and The Young Gods win.
22. The Fly, 1991. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlKffEJk_FI">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
23. 40, 1983.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axEyeurOMxw
If">https://www.youtube.com/watch... U2 close a show with this, you know you& #39;ve had a great gig.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axEyeurOMxw
If">https://www.youtube.com/watch... U2 close a show with this, you know you& #39;ve had a great gig.
24. Miss Sarajevo, 1995.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlmg0yzxKvQ
From">https://www.youtube.com/watch... the bonkers, experimental, and often song free "Passengers" album, here comes U2 doing weird postmodern opera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlmg0yzxKvQ
From">https://www.youtube.com/watch... the bonkers, experimental, and often song free "Passengers" album, here comes U2 doing weird postmodern opera.
25. City of Blinding Lights, 2004.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAwC4sCcqBI
A">https://www.youtube.com/watch... 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAwC4sCcqBI
A">https://www.youtube.com/watch... 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlPGIDm-Bvc">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
27. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki5keBCz8DQ
Hey,">https://www.youtube.com/watch... Mark, you don& #39;t like much from their Eighties output, do you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki5keBCz8DQ
Hey,">https://www.youtube.com/watch... Mark, you don& #39;t like much from their Eighties output, do you?
28. The Unforgettable Fire, 1984.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_rBqCxj3gU
Yeah,">https://www.youtube.com/watch... I do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_rBqCxj3gU
Yeah,">https://www.youtube.com/watch... I do.
29. Gloria, 1981.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhbncCOa_yk
Here& #39;s">https://www.youtube.com/watch... a live version from 2018. The kind of wordless, spiritual stuff that the band can just *do*.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhbncCOa_yk
Here& #39;s">https://www.youtube.com/watch... a live version from 2018. The kind of wordless, spiritual stuff that the band can just *do*.
30. I Will Follow, 1980.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nm9xD7FtqI
Look">https://www.youtube.com/watch... at how young they are, how raw this is, how fresh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nm9xD7FtqI
Look">https://www.youtube.com/watch... 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& #39;s who I am. Here& #39;s "Moment Of Surrender". A calm, meditative moment in a world of madness. 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6WAFy63RGQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
32. "Magnificent", 2009.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi52HjJbwVQ
"I">https://www.youtube.com/watch... was born to sing for you."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi52HjJbwVQ
"I">https://www.youtube.com/watch... 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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrb5EpMbvEw">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
34. I Still Haven& #39;t Found What I& #39;m Looking For, 1987. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-5YC_oHjE">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
35. Iris, 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d886O2j7iE4
Free">https://www.youtube.com/watch... yourself
to be yourself
if only you could see yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d886O2j7iE4
Free">https://www.youtube.com/watch... yourself
to be yourself
if only you could see yourself.
36. October, 1981
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSqO2As73V8
U2">https://www.youtube.com/watch... don& #39;t just do bombast, you know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSqO2As73V8
U2">https://www.youtube.com/watch... don& #39;t just do bombast, you know.
37. Ultraviolet, 1991.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iFT4TLx120
"When">https://www.youtube.com/watch... I was all messed up... your love was a lightbulb, hanging over my head."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iFT4TLx120
"When">https://www.youtube.com/watch... I was all messed up... your love was a lightbulb, hanging over my head."
38. Lady With The Spinning Head, 1992.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXZ3ATG-TJo
When">https://www.youtube.com/watch... U2 were so good, they put songs this strong as B-sides on the *third* single.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXZ3ATG-TJo
When">https://www.youtube.com/watch... U2 were so good, they put songs this strong as B-sides on the *third* single.
39. Out Of Control, 1979.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMeH28WHXUE">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
Most bands never write a song as good as this, U2 wrote about 40 at least as good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMeH28WHXUE">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
Most bands never write a song as good as this, U2 wrote about 40 at least as good.
40. Numb, 1993.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKtSuKTO9g
Don& #39;t.">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKtSuKTO9g
Don& #39;t.">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
That took 85 minutes. Yikes. Longer than I thought!
