Top 10 U2 songs (All About Music)

Member Name: shanecahill

Product:	All About Music
Date:	02/11/01 (399 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I picked them

Disadvantages: Wrong category, only 10

First a note on the location of the opinion. I apologise, because I would have put this in U2 in General or Top 10 singles, but I already have opinions in both. So please rate according to the opinion and not location. Thanks.

An extremley difficult task, but I've managed to narrow down my top 10 U2 songs to this fine list of songs. I've probably made horrible exclusions and the order is thrown together but I hope it makes for interesting reading. So as to completely eliminate suspense we'll start with the number one song, called, appropriately enough:
One
From the album Achtung Baby
Quite simply the best song ever (well in my little world anyway). From the simply tapping of the drumsticks at the start to the stunning vocal display by Bono at the end, this is a truly astonishing song. Light guitar gelled with silky vocals turing harsh at times, this sends shivers down my spine every time. It has been my favourite song for a few years now and I had the pleasure of seeing it live this summer at Slane, and I can honestly say it was one of the greatest moments of my life. Have any of you seen your favourite song live? Comment if you have, I'd like to hear how it was for you, so to speak! Anyway on to number two:

Bad
From the album The Unforgettable Fire and Live on Wide Awake In America
Has there ever been a less accurate title? I mean, it's not like The Beatles went around calling their songs Shite or Fucking Awful, is it? But anyway, this song is truly beautiful. Soulful vocals backed by the slightest of guitars, this is a true epic. It has always been one of the highlights of U2's live performances, so much so they recorded it on the 4-track live album Wide Awake In America, and it is that version that is my favourite of the two. Absolutely outstanding, a classic.

Sunday Bloody Sunday
From the album War and Live on Wide Awake In America
Early? Yes. Raw? Yes. One o
f U2's greatest songs? Hell YEAH! Sorry about that, went a bit crazy for a second there. As Bono put it on Wide Awake In America "There's been a lot of talk about this next song, maybe, maybe too much talk. This song is NOT a rebel song, this song is Sunday Bloody Sunday"
And it is. Plain and simply, it is U2's biggest anthem and one of their best songs. From the strong drumming to the huge but very raw vocals from Bono, this was the song that really launched U2. Tremendous stuff.

With Or Without You
From the album The Joshua Tree
What a song. Probably one of the few songs that appeal to people who dislike U2 (Grrrrr...!) this was THE love song for an entire generation, and in my opinion one of the best love songs of all-time (I await your out-cry!). Beautiful vocals, soothing guitars and amazing lyrics. What more could you ask for? From the album that really made U2, this was always the key track from the album. Surrounded on either side by Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Bullet The Blue Sky and Running To Stand Still, it still manages to chart higher on my list than any of 'em, although the next song is:

Bullet the Blue Sky
From the album The Joshua Tree and Live on Rattle And Hum
Oooohhhhhhhhhh yes! Every time I hear the superb opening drums, I get that feeling of a classic. Y'know the one where you start tapping you foot, bobbing your head and/or singing depending on the song. Bono takes breaks in between singing to say a few typically Bono words, such as "And I can see those fighter planes" and "Outside it's America" etc. I chose the studio version over the live version, for no particular reason, it just seemed like the right thing to do.

If You Wear That Velvet Dress
From The album Pop
If With Or Without You is U2's greatest love song, then this is certain
ly a very close second. With whispery vocals bursting into slow sensual shakings, backed up by outstanding guitar from our man Edge. It all glues together perfectly, and this is the best song on an tremendously under-rated album. At one time I preferred this to With Or Without You, but times change and classics emerge. That's life I guess. That takes nothing from this gem of a song, a shining example of the talent of U2.

Desire
From The album Rattle And Hum
The highest entry from Rattle And Hum on my list (not including the live version of Bullet The Blue Sky) this is another of U2's classic live songs, which became apparent on the Popmart video, where the boys performed a stunning rendition of this. Lively guitar, closely followed by Bono's vocals, forcing anyone who knows the song to shout (join in) "DES-IIII-IIII-IIII-RE". Brilliant, a touch of class.

Lemon
From the album Zooropa
Very un-U2ish (cool, I just made my own word!), yet still up ther with the best of them, Lemon barges in at number 8. From the album Zooropa, which has been compared to what Radiohead did with Kid A, this has lots of electronic noises and beeps and stuff, but what makes this song is the high-pitched vocals from Bono as he warbles "Lemooon... see through in the sunlight" etc. Don't try sing-along, you may found you lose the ability to use your larynx. Another slice of U2 masterpiece pie.

Running To Stand Still
From the album The Joshua Tree
So soulful it hurts. This song is made by the union between the amazing guitar and melancholy keyboard all topped off with a light sprinkling of Bono's voice (one of my favourite toppings). Of course, nothing can be said of this song without mentioning one of the best lines U2 have written (if a little lacking in meaning) "Ha-La-La-La-Dey-Day". Yes, it may sound a little stupid, but if you're not singing it by songs end you
9;ve obviously lost your larynx to Lemon, God bless you.
And last but not least...
All I Want Is You
From the album Rattle and Hum
"You say... you want... a diamond on a ring of gold,
You say...you want... your story to remain untold"
So starts the very last entry on my list to end all lists. Basically Bono with an acoustic guitar for 6 minutes 30 seconds, and that perhaps is the reason it's so good. A simple song, good guitar and great vocals. That's what music is all about I suppose.

And so it ends. You've been a great audience and sorry for keeping you so long.
Until next time, take care of yourself...and each other

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