In October of 1980, the world of Rock and Roll was changed forever with the studio debut of the Irish post-punk, and later pop-rock, band, U2. 4 young men from the north side of Dublin used their anger, aggression, and frustration with the world to lead them through several of their early albums. Political upheaval in the homeland and the loss of beloved family members, including lead singer Bono's mother, fueled the band with passion and emotion. Later, progressive politics, human rights, live performance, special effects, and long, emotional ballads began to influence, and ultimately take over, the band. Through over 4 decades and 14 studio albums, U2 has without a doubt recorded numerous amazing songs. While they are a controversial group who is underrated by many people and overrated by many people, critically they are one of the greatest music groups of all time. So, whether you love them or you hate them, today you are going to read my take on the 10 best songs ever written and recorded by the band.
Prior to the list, I will be awarding 10 honorable mentions. I would just like to clarify that these 10 songs aren't there to complete a top 20 list, as most of the honorable mentions wouldn't make my top 20. Basically, the honorable mentions section is comprised of songs that are critically acclaimed, songs that I feel are underrated, or songs that I assume most fans of the band would have in their personal top 10 list.
The Honorable Mentions
With or Without You- The Joshua Tree, 1987
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For- The Joshua Tree, 1987
Beautiful Day- All That You Can't Leave Behind, 2000
Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of- All That You Can't Leave Behind, 2000
Walk On- All That You Can't Leave Behind, 2000
Stories for Boys- Boy, 1980
Mysterious Ways- Achtung Baby, 1991
Starring at the Sun- Pop, 1997
Stay(Faraway, So Close!)- Zooropa, 1993
Bad- The Unforgettable Fire, 1984
(10) Gloria- October, 1981
Coming in at number 10, we have Gloria, which in my opinion has flown under the radar since the mid-80's, being hidden behind the band's big radio hits and never making it on any greatest hits compilation album. The song was the leading track for the band's second album, October, in 1981. Although the song isn't as critically acclaimed as most of the band's hits, Gloria has a tremendous energy to it that is lacking in many of U2's more aggressive songs. The backing bass of Clayton and the drums of Mullen are at their best in this song, and the Edge's guitar part is one of my personal favorites in the history of the band. While the song is lacking in substance, the instrumentals, in addition to the Latin chorus of "Gloria, in te domine, gloria, exultate" are enough to interest the listening and have them hooked. Nothing about the song is boring, and at the very least, the song isn't even overrated or overhyped, because most non-fans of the band have never even heard of it! It doesn't even come close to songs closer to the top of the list, but it blows other songs like Vertigo and Get On Your Boots out of the water.
(9) I Will Follow- Boy, 1980
Coming in at number 9 is the leading track from the band's debut album, Boy, and that is I Will Follow. A song about childlike innocence and trying to grow up, Bono songs from the heart, being a 20 year old who lost his mother just 6 years prior. Although Edge's guitar is basic and repetitive, it is the most iconic riff in the band's history, and it still lights up the crowd 40 years later, as evidenced in the above video that I took at Madison quare Garden in 2018. While the song is far from perfect, these 20 year old kids set the bar high for themselves with this rocking hit. Much like Gloria, it doesn't compare to the band's classics, but it is enjoyable and exciting, and is ahead of nearly every other song in the band's history.
(8) The Little Things That Give You Away- Songs of Experience, 2017
At number 8, we switch gears in a major way. We move away from 1980 and 81 and find ourselves in December of 2017, on the band's 14th album. It saddens me that a majority of people have never heard The Little Things That Give You Away. It takes the pace and emotion of songs like With or Without You, Walk On, Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own, Stay, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, and Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, and perfects it. While a lot of U2 critics complain that the band is just emotional for the sake of being emotional, and that a lot of their lyrics are cliche and lack substance, that cannot be said for the Little Things That Give You Away. This song does slow and emotional the third best in the history of the band, in a style that truthfully is the band's niche. U2 is known for slow and deep songs, and this song is almost their greatest example of it. Both the Spotify piano version and the album's studio version feature excellent backing music, and Bono's words come right from the heart, as he sings with all of his experience in this world. This is a truly beautiful song that I believe deserves to be on every person's ranking of the best U2 songs.
(7) City of Blinding Lights- How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, 2004
In 2004, U2 debuted "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb", which would lead them to several Grammy Awards, the final ones of their career thus far. The album was lead by Vertigo, and was followed up by several upbeat rock songs including All Because of You and Crumbs From Your Table, as well as slow, emotional songs like Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own. In the middle of this beloved-at-the-time-but-looked-back-on-with-regret album, lies City of Blinding Lights. For a long time this was my favorite song. The instrumental intro followed by Bono's beautiful voice and insightful lyrics spoke to my soul. I used to have this song in my top 3, and, while most people would still think that I am overrating this song, I have come to my senses a little bit, mostly due to the dreadfully basic and unnecessary chorus of, simply, "Oh you look so beautiful tonight". The song is still a beautiful masterpiece, despite it's chorus, and is one of the band's best live performances. In my opinion, it is the group's best song since 2004 and their 2nd best song of the 21st century.
(6) Kite- All That You Can't Leave Behind, 2000
Kite is another song that flies under the radar. It is a song that you never hear on the radio, it is never playing in stores or restaurants, and the band doesn't even play it live. Appearing on the band's bounce back album of All That You Can't Leave Behind with pieces such as Beautiful Day, Elevation, Walk On, and Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of, it is easy to see how this song became overshadowed. It is a true shame, though, because the music and lyrics of this song easily make it the best U2 song of the 21st century, and the best song the band has released since 1991. Just listening to the song gives me the chills, adn I can honestly listen to it on repeat and never get bored. It truly is some of the band's finest work.
(5) Sunday Bloody Sunday- War, 1983
U2's third album, War, was where the group began to come into their own. Their passion, aggression, and talent came together for the first time and produced some of the band's most iconic songs to date. Sunday Bloody Sunday is no exception, as Bono is on high alert with his lyrics about the Revolution in Ireland and his antiwar message. Larry's drumming as good as ever and he is given the biggest opportunity to shine of his entire career, and Adam Clayton's bass does a perfect job in the background. While this is a polarizing song, as I do in fact know some die hard U2 fans who don't enjoy the song, I believe that it is clearly some of the band's best work, and is well deserving of its number 5 ranking.
(4) Where The Streets Have No Name- The Joshua Tree, 1987
In 1987, U2 changed forever. Following the release of the Joshua Tree, U2 officially made it. They became one of the biggest bands in the entire world. Listening to that album though, I honestly have no idea how it was the album that launched the group into superstardom. It is by no means a bad album, but it is certainly overrated. Frankly, as a fan of the band, I find it embarrassing that With or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For are the band's two most popular and iconic songs, because they both are immensely overrated. The one song on the record that isn't overrated, and, is in fact underrated, is Where The Streets Have No Name. A beautiful and almost perfect song, made even greater by the 9/11 tribute that the band used it for during the Super Bowl Half Time Show in 2002. Where The Streets Have No Name is one of the few songs on the Joshua Tree that I find myself listening to more than just once a while, and it is because it is as good as anything the band has ever recorded.
(3) New Year's Day- War, 1983
For our number 3 spot, we return to War with New Year's Day. New Year's Day matches Sunday Bloody Sunday's intensity and passion, but adds in better lyrics, better melody, and prettier music. New Year's Day is basically Sunday Bloody Sunday's more attractive and more appealing older sibling. They are the same album, the same family, and they are both great, but one is just a little more polished and a little bit more fun to listen to. New Year's Day is almost a perfect song, and to this day remains a classic.
(2) One- Achtung Baby, 1991
Our number 2 spot belongs to the best slow song ever recorded by U2, and that's One. Bono's voice is angelic in this song, and the lyrics can be related to a multitude of situations. The guitar, drums, and bass are all beautiful and given a chance to shine, but the emphasis of this song is on the struggle of human relationships, something everyone can relate to. In terms of writing emotional lyrics, and in terms of singing, Bono did his best work by far with One. I honestly can't say enough good things about this song, but to avoid rambling on and repeating myself, I will leave it for you to listen for yourself to hear why the song is so amazing.
(1) Pride(In The Name Of Love)- The Unforgettable Fire, 1984
Here it is, the greatest song ever written and recorded by U2: Pride(In The Name of Love). Pride features arguably Edge's greatest guitar work, with Larry Mullen overachieving on the drums and Bono piping out lyrics about the Bible and racial equality in a song dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The best thing about Pride, though, is that it is versatile. It has amazing Rock and Roll music, but it isn't a basic rock song with pointless lyrics. It has tremendous emotion and societal context in the lyrics, but isn't dulled down by a boring melody or slow progression. The song has fantastic lyrics and the music behind them hypes me up every time I hear the song. If there is one song that I think every person should know and love by this band, even their most vocal haters, I think that song would have to be Pride. It is without a doubt the pinnacle of U2's work, and it comes in at number 1 on my list of the Top 10 U2 songs ever made.
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