U2 Best of
Here is my Best of List for U2. It is long, and I had a hard time shortening it. These songs are ones I consider my favorites, as well as some hits. These are songs I would suggest for a first time listener that is interested in the band. For someone just starting to listen to the band, I would suggest the Best of CD’s (80-90 and 90-2000). They are very comprehensive and include B-sides. I would say the U2 Best of CD’s are about the best put together I have ever seen for a compilation CD.
I started listening to U2 in the late 80’s when I was in high school and was going through a “new wave” (or as they call it now – alternative) kick. I was into bands like The Cure, INXS, Suburbs and many others. I had heard U2 on the radio before, but never really got into them until I heard The Unfogettable Fire and War records. I became an instant fan. Soon after, The Joshua Tree was released. I saw them on the Joshua Tree tour and never turned back. Since then, I saw them on every tour except the recent Vertigo tour.
1. I Will Follow, Boy: This song was U2 first single that I know of. It is off their first record. I got into U2 later in their career, but soon backtracked and found this record. Good tune, from the era when they were a Christian rock band crossing over to secular music.
2. Sunday Bloody Sunday, War: A song about the religious wars in Ireland. As Bono says, “this song is not a rebel song.” Always a popular tune in concert.
3. New Years Day, War: I remember seeing this video on New Years Eve one time on Friday Night Videos. Remember that show? A U2 standby.
4. Bad, Unforgettable Fire/Wide Awake In America: Great song, was one of them that got me interested in U2. The live version off Wide Awake in American is actually the one that has gotten more airplay over the years.
5. Three Sunrises, Wide Awake in America: A song I stumbled upon when I bought Wide Away. I always loved the music and background vocals.
6. A Sort of Homecoming, The Unforgettable Fire/Wide Awake in America: To the best of my knowledge this song is about the Vietnam Vets coming home and not getting any respect.
7. Pride (In the Name of Love), The Unforgettable Fire: The old standby about Dr. Martin Luther King. Was always my favorite U2 song growing up. Still love hearing it today.
8. The Unforgettable Fire, The Unforgettable Fire: Not much to say about this song, but a catchy tune.
9. Wire, The Unforgettable Fire: Another catchy tune.
10. Where the Streets Have No Name, The Joshua Tree: A great live song. When this song comes on in concert it just has a certain power. It ‘s one of those songs that builds and builds and than Bam! They usually enhance it with the light show. It was done best on the Zoo TV (Achtung Baby) tour. The stage show was like no other back then. Also, the performance after 911 at the superbowl was unforgettable. The names of all the 911 victims scrolling down behind the band. Wow.
11. With or Without You, The Joshua Tree: One of those songs you don’t think is that great, but if you are in the right state of mind or mood, it is unreal.
12. In God’s Country, The Joshua Tree: Very Catchy tune. I remember instantly loving it when I bought The Joshua Tree.
13. Bullet the Blue Sky, The Joshua Tree: Great song, especially in concert. This is one that Bono usually goes on one of his rants and draws out a speech and extends the song. Usually cool imagery done in the live show. One of U2’s harder rock songs.
14. Running to Stand Still, The Joshua Tree: A song about a drug addict. Another good live song.
15. Silver and Gold, Where the Streets Have No Name B-Side: I remember buying the B-side during the Joshua Tree era and wondering why this song didn’t make it on the record.
16. Spanish Eyes, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for B-Side: See #15
17. Desire, Rattle and Hum: I remember when I first heard this song, I was amazed at how different it sounded from the U2 I was used to. I remember thinking when Rattle and Hum came out that U2 was really getting big. I mean, Rattle and Hum was being aired in movie theatres. I remember going to see it when it came out and being blown away. At that time seeing a movie/live show about your favorite band was unheard of on the big screen. I had no idea that this was just the start of something much bigger.
18. Angel of Harlem, Rattle and Hum: One of the hits from the Rattle and Hum era. Something different again.
19. Zoo Station, Achtung Baby: Great album opener and great live show opener. For a U2 fan, I again thought this was different than anything they had ever done, but that became a pattern over the years. I remember Bono elevating up from under the stage with all the big TV screens showing different images when I saw this tour at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI.
20. The Fly, Achtung Baby: Another different song for the time, but a great rockin song.
21. Even Better than the Real Thing, Achtung Baby: Great tune, a different video for it’s time.
22. Until The End of the World, Achtung Baby: Another great tune.
23. One, Achtung Baby: Well known slower tune that now shares the same name with Bono’s One Campaign. I remember thinking it was odd that the band made several different versions of the music video to this song. Every time I hear this, I think of watching Beavis and Butthead with Paul and saying, “Aunie, uno, uni, weanie.”
24. Mysterious Ways, Achtung Baby: A big hit from the Zoo TV era. The band had a belly dancer on stage for this song. The Edge ended up marrying her and they are still happily married today.
25. Beautiful Day, All That You Can’t Leave Behind: One of my favorite songs from the band. It just makes you feel good when you hear it. I gem hidden in a record that I never really latched onto.
26. City of Blinding Lights, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb: I would say this is my favorite U2 song right now. It’s modern, but also sounds a lot like the U2 era when I first got into them (Wide Awake/Unforgettable Fire). I highly recommend this song.
27. All Because of You, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb: A different style U2 song. Heavy distortion in the guitar – not much like the usual sound The Edge creates.
Here is my Best of List for U2. It is long, and I had a hard time shortening it. These songs are ones I consider my favorites, as well as some hits. These are songs I would suggest for a first time listener that is interested in the band. For someone just starting to listen to the band, I would suggest the Best of CD’s (80-90 and 90-2000). They are very comprehensive and include B-sides. I would say the U2 Best of CD’s are about the best put together I have ever seen for a compilation CD.
I started listening to U2 in the late 80’s when I was in high school and was going through a “new wave” (or as they call it now – alternative) kick. I was into bands like The Cure, INXS, Suburbs and many others. I had heard U2 on the radio before, but never really got into them until I heard The Unfogettable Fire and War records. I became an instant fan. Soon after, The Joshua Tree was released. I saw them on the Joshua Tree tour and never turned back. Since then, I saw them on every tour except the recent Vertigo tour.
1. I Will Follow, Boy: This song was U2 first single that I know of. It is off their first record. I got into U2 later in their career, but soon backtracked and found this record. Good tune, from the era when they were a Christian rock band crossing over to secular music.
2. Sunday Bloody Sunday, War: A song about the religious wars in Ireland. As Bono says, “this song is not a rebel song.” Always a popular tune in concert.
3. New Years Day, War: I remember seeing this video on New Years Eve one time on Friday Night Videos. Remember that show? A U2 standby.
4. Bad, Unforgettable Fire/Wide Awake In America: Great song, was one of them that got me interested in U2. The live version off Wide Awake in American is actually the one that has gotten more airplay over the years.
5. Three Sunrises, Wide Awake in America: A song I stumbled upon when I bought Wide Away. I always loved the music and background vocals.
6. A Sort of Homecoming, The Unforgettable Fire/Wide Awake in America: To the best of my knowledge this song is about the Vietnam Vets coming home and not getting any respect.
7. Pride (In the Name of Love), The Unforgettable Fire: The old standby about Dr. Martin Luther King. Was always my favorite U2 song growing up. Still love hearing it today.
8. The Unforgettable Fire, The Unforgettable Fire: Not much to say about this song, but a catchy tune.
9. Wire, The Unforgettable Fire: Another catchy tune.
10. Where the Streets Have No Name, The Joshua Tree: A great live song. When this song comes on in concert it just has a certain power. It ‘s one of those songs that builds and builds and than Bam! They usually enhance it with the light show. It was done best on the Zoo TV (Achtung Baby) tour. The stage show was like no other back then. Also, the performance after 911 at the superbowl was unforgettable. The names of all the 911 victims scrolling down behind the band. Wow.
11. With or Without You, The Joshua Tree: One of those songs you don’t think is that great, but if you are in the right state of mind or mood, it is unreal.
12. In God’s Country, The Joshua Tree: Very Catchy tune. I remember instantly loving it when I bought The Joshua Tree.
13. Bullet the Blue Sky, The Joshua Tree: Great song, especially in concert. This is one that Bono usually goes on one of his rants and draws out a speech and extends the song. Usually cool imagery done in the live show. One of U2’s harder rock songs.
14. Running to Stand Still, The Joshua Tree: A song about a drug addict. Another good live song.
15. Silver and Gold, Where the Streets Have No Name B-Side: I remember buying the B-side during the Joshua Tree era and wondering why this song didn’t make it on the record.
16. Spanish Eyes, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for B-Side: See #15
17. Desire, Rattle and Hum: I remember when I first heard this song, I was amazed at how different it sounded from the U2 I was used to. I remember thinking when Rattle and Hum came out that U2 was really getting big. I mean, Rattle and Hum was being aired in movie theatres. I remember going to see it when it came out and being blown away. At that time seeing a movie/live show about your favorite band was unheard of on the big screen. I had no idea that this was just the start of something much bigger.
18. Angel of Harlem, Rattle and Hum: One of the hits from the Rattle and Hum era. Something different again.
19. Zoo Station, Achtung Baby: Great album opener and great live show opener. For a U2 fan, I again thought this was different than anything they had ever done, but that became a pattern over the years. I remember Bono elevating up from under the stage with all the big TV screens showing different images when I saw this tour at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI.
20. The Fly, Achtung Baby: Another different song for the time, but a great rockin song.
21. Even Better than the Real Thing, Achtung Baby: Great tune, a different video for it’s time.
22. Until The End of the World, Achtung Baby: Another great tune.
23. One, Achtung Baby: Well known slower tune that now shares the same name with Bono’s One Campaign. I remember thinking it was odd that the band made several different versions of the music video to this song. Every time I hear this, I think of watching Beavis and Butthead with Paul and saying, “Aunie, uno, uni, weanie.”
24. Mysterious Ways, Achtung Baby: A big hit from the Zoo TV era. The band had a belly dancer on stage for this song. The Edge ended up marrying her and they are still happily married today.
25. Beautiful Day, All That You Can’t Leave Behind: One of my favorite songs from the band. It just makes you feel good when you hear it. I gem hidden in a record that I never really latched onto.
26. City of Blinding Lights, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb: I would say this is my favorite U2 song right now. It’s modern, but also sounds a lot like the U2 era when I first got into them (Wide Awake/Unforgettable Fire). I highly recommend this song.
27. All Because of You, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb: A different style U2 song. Heavy distortion in the guitar – not much like the usual sound The Edge creates.
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