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This is NOT a thread on which to remind the world of how obnoxious or critical Bono is, or to make snide remarks about the band in general.
Indeed, I was once the world's biggest fan, but lost interest after Zooropa (1993). In the meantime, I agree with anyone who says:
a) The band should have packed it in years ago
b) The band was never the most technically accomplished in the world
c) Bono's public persona could stand with some adjustment
d) etc., etc., etc.,...
I would actually go further, but I don't actually know the guys or their motives, so I'll leave it at that.
Having said all that, they had a colossal impact on the 1980s (if not beyond), and in that time came up with some pretty impressive songs. So, I thought I would ask your opinion of what these might be.
My nomination?
11 o'clock Tick Tock, especially as performed on the 'Under A Blood Red Sky' album.
Other nominations?
I liked The Fly, One and The unforgettable fire
That one about losing his keys.
A sort of Homecoming
Bad (Wide awake in America)
I Will Follow. Or maybe Sunday Bloody Sunday
If I listen to a sort of homecoming on an autumn evening, with the light fading gracefully and the wind gently bristling the trees outside my window, I feel I can almost reach out and touch the faces of my mother and father, despite them being a thousand miles away.
Probably one of my alltime favourite ballads.
One.
Sunday Bloody Sunday
One Tree Hill
Red Hill Mining Town
But mostly Sunday Bloody Sunday, an important and great song.
Loads in truth. But a few that spring to mind are Bad, Numb, Angel of Harlem, One Tree Hill, Running to Stand Still, 40, October, New Year's Day.
Of those I'd have to say Bad
A Sort of Homecoming is a great call. Which brings to mind The Unforgettable Fire. Subtle and strangely beautiful.
It's looking like they peaked with Unforgettable Fire album
Vertigo
Ultraviolet or Acrobat both from the Achtung Baby album. Sadly, must agree with the OP that they lost it from here on.
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
On a side note my fave U2 cover is 2 Cellos With Or Without You live at Arena Pula
Last time i listened to them (about 1984) it was I Will Follow and probs Rejoice
Sunday, Bloody Sunday for me.
With or without you one of my favourite songs ever
Where the streets have no name . About the only u2 track I like though
Either The Unforgettable Fire or Bullet the Blue Sky for me.
All I want is you
Running to Stand Still
One
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Huge difference between concerts in '87 and '93
Not really a fan but think I recall andy weatherall doing a mid 90s mix of a track that was decent. Cant seem to find ="2020-10-04T17:35:45+00:00">
"All I want is you" is probably my favourite
Electric Co(mpulsive Therapy). I don't like U2 but grudgingly like the song in the sort of way I like Tempelhof airport.
I have a few ,Red hill mining town, Bad,Unforgettable Fire , All I want is you and New Years day .
When I first heard Bullet the blue sky I hated it but my reaction to that track changes when I saw it performed live and it took on a much rawer , angrier form.
Never liked them, but if I had to choose, New years day. Raw and rockin'
Not listened to U2 in any meaningful way since I saw them on the Zoo TV tour and instantly went off them. I was raging that I missed PJ Harvey as support the previous night because we went on the Sunday. Also I only really liked them because of a girl.
Anyhoo, put a gun to my head and the Achtung Baby still stands up, this is still a favourite:
Bullet the blue sky by an absolute mile!
As Nick and others have said, it's Bad.
Totally not a fan to be honest but I’ve just been scanning through 18 the singles album and I wouldn’t rush to turn most of the tracks off.
It's this isn't it?
I thought New Years day was their best, until they released Unforgettable Fire/Bad
Are we allowed to do Alan Partridge quotes? Oh well.
I'm not really a fan, the only song I really like is The Sweetest Thing, which isn't much like anything else I've heard by them. I like the video too.
Oh, and I like the Pet Shop Boys cover of Where The Streets Have No Name. Apparently when U2 heard it they sent the PSBs a message saying "What Have We, What Have We, What Have We Done to Deserve This?", which made me like it even more.
Their best performance of Bad, in my opinion, was at the Amnesty International 'Conspiracy of Hope' tour at Giants Stadium in 1986.
Pretty much anything from Joshua Tree, and Bad.
I agree with your comments, SR. I was a huge fan when they started out and saw them live 3 times. My favourite tracks:
With or Without You
Gloria
Drowning Man
One is a fantastic piece of songwriting.
On a similar vibe, I like Stay (Faraway, So Close!) too.
For me Its 'Bad' , I loved them up until the popmart pish. They were always good live but the final straw was forcing their bloody album on iphone users.
Bad, Sort of Homecoming and One.. but there are a few good tracks on the Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum.
I saw the live a couple of times in the early 90s - musically they were great but Bono trying to phone the Prime Minister live on stage ensured i never went to see them again.
I've no interest in anything post Rattle and Hum, but was properly obsessed in the late 80s - had the whole back catalogue on Vinyl, etc.
One and the story behind it as it was made in "From the sky down" at the Hansa studio, Berlin.
Sometimes you can't make it on your own.
Edit. Actually forget that- it hasn't aged well.
I used to play SbS repeatedly at work. When work was a barracks in Ulster. And I’d use the conflicts that that act invited to educate others on the nuances of the situation we were in. It was worth the bruises.
Not their best though, that’s unforgettable fire. Running to stand still always hits me too, due to a loss that way.