What would you pick to be the first single from each album?

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the tourist

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Doesn't have to actually have been a single. What would you choose?

Boy: The Electric Co.
October: Gloria
War: New Year's Day
The Unforgettable Fire: Pride
The Joshua Tree: Where The Streets Have No Name
Rattle & Hum: Heartland
Achtung Baby: Until The End Of The World
Zooropa: title track.
Pop: Last Night On Earth
All That You Can't Leave Behind: Beautiful Day
The Bomb: City Of Blinding Lights
 
Boy: I Will Follow
October: Gloria
War: New Year's Day
UF: Pride
JT: With Or Without You
RAH: Desire
Achtung: The Fly
Zooropa: Dirty Day, though it would need a better vocal track
Pop: Gone
ATYCLB: Beautiful Day
HTDAAB: Native Son
 
Boy: The Electric Co.
October: With A Shout
War: New Year's Day
TUF: Indian Summer Sky
TJT: Red Hill Mining Town (with a different video :wink: )
R&H: When Love Comes To Town
AB: Acrobat
Zooropa: Zooropa
Pop: Do You Feel Loved?
ATYCLB: When I Look At The World
Bomb: COBL (Though it would still be cheating the fans)
 
Well, I'm sure my personal picks for a first single wouldn't do well commercially or anything, and that's really the reason for them, but here they are anyway.

Boy: Out of Control
October: I Fall Down
War: Sunday Bloody Sunday
The Unforgettable Fire: A Sort of Homecoming
The Joshua Tree: Where The Streets Have No Name
Rattle and Hum: Heartland
Achtung Baby: Even Better Than The Real Thing
Zooropa: Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
Pop: Discotheque
All That You Can't Leave Behind: Beautiful Day
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb: Xanax and Wine or City of Blinding Lights
 
All of my picks were those that I thought would do the best commercially, keeping in mind the market and U2's status at the relevant time. I think that on the whole, especially 1983-91, U2 were very good at choosing the right song as their lead single.

However, if my tastes were representative of the market, the ideal lead singles to get the public of Axvers into the music would be:

Boy: The Electric Co.
October: Gloria
War: New Year's Day
UF: Wire
JT: Spanish Eyes
RAH: God Part II
Achtung: The Fly
Zooropa: Zooropa
Pop: Gone
ATYCLB: ... uh ... When I Look At The World? Who knows. Who cares. A market of Axvers would have turned this into a spectacular flop anyway.
HTDAAB: Native Son
 
I echo Axver in the sense that I'm picking based on songs that I think would have been commerically viable, in terms of selling and chart position

1. A Day Without Me
2. Gloria
3. Like A Song
4 The Unforgettable Fire
5. Where The Streets Have No Name
6. Heartland
7. One
8. Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
9. Staring At the Sun
10. Elevation
11. City of Blinding Lights
 
I Will Follow
Gloria
New Year's Day
Pride
Where The Streets Have No Name
Angel Of Harlem
Acrobat (If you're going to cut down the Joshua Tree, go all out) or The Fly
Stay or Zooropa
Gone
Beautiful Day
City Of Blinding Lights
 
U2isthebest said:
I echo Axver in the sense that I'm picking based on songs that I think would have been commerically viable, in terms of selling and chart position

In which case, I'm surprised you picked Heartland. I see that as the absolute opposite of a good single, let alone a lead single. Desire is just the ideal lead single - immensely radio friendly, catchy, and memorable.
 
Axver said:


In which case, I'm surprised you picked Heartland. I see that as the absolute opposite of a good single, let alone a lead single. Desire is just the ideal lead single - immensely radio friendly, catchy, and memorable.

'Tis true. I went off my own criteria and picked my favorite track just because in an ideal world people would see it's genius. Of course I live in the country that made a song with the lyrics "Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur, the whole club was looking at her" the number 1 song, so that's clearly wishful thinking on my part.:happy:
 
U2isthebest said:
'Tis true. I went off my own criteria and picked my favorite track just because in an ideal world people would see it's genius. Of course I live in the country that made a song with the lyrics "Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur, the whole club was looking at her" the number 1 song, so that's clearly wishful thinking on my part.:happy:

Holy shit, that's bad.

But even if everybody in the world had good taste, I'm not sure I'd want to see Heartland as a single. I think it works really well on the album - it's just so beautiful, evocative, and atmospheric. I'm not so sure it would come across so well on radio.

That said, if I turned on the radio right now and heard Heartland, I'd love the station playing it forever.
 
Axver said:
Boy: I Will Follow
October: Gloria
War: New Year's Day
UF: Pride
JT: With Or Without You
RAH: Desire
Achtung: The Fly
Zooropa: Dirty Day, though it would need a better vocal track
Pop: Gone
ATYCLB: Beautiful Day
HTDAAB: Native Son

Almost entirely agreed except for Zooropa: I'd've gone Stay instead.

Native Son :shrug: Dunno, I'd say COBL or Vertigo work equally well as first singles. Bearing in mind that the only U2 album I've properly experienced coming out was HTDAAB, I'd say that Vertigo was a stupendously excellent choice - it got me into U2...
 
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this thread only reminds me of how weird and strangely brave that the first single from the TJT was with or without you
 
Boy - I Will Follow
October - Gloria
War - Sunday Bloody Sunday
Unforgettable Fire - Pride
Joshua Tree - Streets
Rattle And Hum - Desire
Achtung Baby - The Fly
Zooropa - Lemon
Pop - Last Night On Earth
ATYCLB - Beautiful Day
HTDAAB - Vertigo
 
Axver said:


Holy shit, that's bad.

But even if everybody in the world had good taste, I'm not sure I'd want to see Heartland as a single. I think it works really well on the album - it's just so beautiful, evocative, and atmospheric. I'm not so sure it would come across so well on radio.

That said, if I turned on the radio right now and heard Heartland, I'd love the station playing it forever.

You haven't heard the genius of Flo Rida's "Low" yet?:sad:


[Chorus:]
Shawty had them Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans]
Boots with the fur [With the fur]
The whole club was lookin at her
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

Them baggy sweat pants
And the Reeboks with the straps [With the straps]
She turned around and gave that big booty a smack [Ayy]
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

[Verse 1:]
I ain't never seen nuthin that'll make me go,
this crazy all night spendin my dough
Had a million dollar vibe and a bottle to go
Dem birthday cakes, they stole the show
So sexual, she was flexible
Professional, drinkin X and ooo
Hold up wait a minute, do i see what I think I
Whoa
Did I think I seen shorty get low
Ain't the same when it's up that close
Make it rain, I'm makin it snow
Work the pole, I got the bank roll
Imma say that I prefer them no clothes
I'm into that, I love women exposed
She threw it back at me, I gave her more
Cash ain't a problem, I know where it goes

She had them

[Chorus:]
Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans]
Boots with the fur [With the fur]
* * *
Complimentary
"Low"
Ringtone!
* * *
Download Flo Rida Ringtones











The whole club was lookin at her
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

Them baggy sweat pants
And the Reeboks with the straps [With the straps]
She turned around and gave that big booty a smack
[Ayy]
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

[Verse 2:]
Hey
Shawty what I gotta do to get you home
My jeans full of gwap
And they ready for Shones
Cadillacs Maybachs for the sexy grown
Patrone on the rocks that'll make you moan

One stack (come on)
Two stacks (come on)
Three stacks (come on, now that's three grand)
What you think I'm playin baby girl
I'm the man, I'll bend the rubber bands

That's what I told her, her legs on my shoulder
I knew it was ova, that Henny and Cola
Got me like a Soldier
She ready for Rover, I couldn't control her
So lucky oo me, I was just like a clover
Shorty was hot like a toaster
Sorry but I had to fold her,
Like a pornography poster
She showed her

[Chorus:]
Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans]
Boots with the fur [With the fur]
The whole club was lookin at her
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
[these lyrics are found on http://www.songlyrics.com]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

Them baggy sweat pants
And the Reeboks with the straps [With the straps]
She turned around and gave that big booty a smack [Ayy]
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

[Verse 3:]
Whoa
Shawty
Yea she was worth the money
Lil mama took my cash,
and I ain't want it back,
The way she bit that rag,
got her them paper stacks,
Tattoo Above her crack,
I had to handle that,

I was on it, sexy woman, let me shownin
They be want it two in the mornin
I'm zonin in them rosay bottles foamin
She wouldn't stop, made it drop
Shorty did that pop and lock,
Had to break her off that gwap
Gah it was fly just like my glock

[Chorus:]
Apple Bottom Jeans [Jeans]
Boots with the fur [With the fur]
The whole club was lookin at her
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

Them baggy sweat pants
And the Reeboks with the straps [With the straps]
She turned around and gave that big booty a smack [Ayy]
She hit the flo [She hit the flo]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low

C'mon
 
Not to interrupt the gouging of eyes, but...

Boy: I Will Follow
October: Gloria
War: New Year's Day
UF: Pride (In the Name of Love)
JT: With or Without You
RAH: Desire
AB: The Fly
Zooropa: Zooropa (Single Edit)
Pop: Gone
ATYCLB: Beautiful Day
HTDAAB: Vertigo
 
U2isthebest said:
Can I join you?:crack:

No, I'm already starting to miss my eyes. Keep yours in their sockets, painful as it might be to see those lyrics. :wink:

major_panic said:
Almost entirely agreed except for Zooropa: I'd've gone Stay instead.

Native Son :shrug: Dunno, I'd say COBL or Vertigo work equally well as first singles. Bearing in mind that the only U2 album I've properly experienced coming out was HTDAAB, I'd say that Vertigo was a stupendously excellent choice - it got me into U2...

Stay is a good choice, but I'm inclined to think it would be better as the second single.

I used to think Vertigo was superior to Native Son, but I played the two of them for the first time in over a year back in December and the first thing I thought was "wow, Native Son is so much better". Hence my choice of Native Son rather than Vertigo. Given the context of 2004, I think a punchy, infectious single in the style of Vertigo/Native Son would work better as a lead single than COBL. To be radio-friendly, COBL has to have too much of its intro and outro ripped out.
 
The only album that U2 really fucked up the first single was Pop. The fun song wasn't the way to go on that album, Vertigo worked for Bomb, but Gone of Mofo would have been much better choices for Pop.

And I didn't think Numb was a great choice, it highlighted their experimentation, but would have made for a much greater 2nd single. I agree with those that said Zooropa... I remember when Numb got released and the rock stations in my city said, what are we suppose to do with this?
 
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If you just cut out the piano stuff on Zooropa, you call that the Single Edit ... perfect lead single.
 
Yeah, the intro is why I didn't pick Zooropa as the lead single. The intro totally destroys its radio potential, and I don't believe in butchering songs for the sake of radio edits. Zooropa needs its intro.
 
I actually think Zooropa is one of the few cases where a single edit would actually work, because there's such a definitive point between the intro and the second portion of the song.
 
Yeah, I believe they even considered putting the intro in its own track called Babel, but I think Babel is essential for the song to make its full impact and I wouldn't like to water that down. It's part of the reason why it failed live. Zooropa's intro would have been a great way to start a concert, alternating with Zoo Station.
 
Axver said:
Yeah, I believe they even considered putting the intro in its own track called Babel, but I think Babel is essential for the song to make its full impact and I wouldn't like to water that down. It's part of the reason why it failed live. Zooropa's intro would have been a great way to start a concert, alternating with Zoo Station.

damn I never thought of that before...Ax, that is such a good idea! Zooropa's beginning played like it is on the album gradually getting more intense live would be the greatest opening to any concert period...wow that would be awesome...just imagine the crowd as it gains!

Ax, any chance of that happening next tour? :wink:
 
Rob33 said:


damn I never thought of that before...Ax, that is such a good idea! Zooropa's beginning played like it is on the album gradually getting more intense live would be the greatest opening to any concert period...wow that would be awesome...just imagine the crowd as it gains!

Ax, any chance of that happening next tour? :wink:

He'll offer Paul McGuinness a muffin. It'll happen.

:wink:
 
Axver said:

Zooropa: Dirty Day, though it would need a better vocal track

I've never really liked Dirty Day, the outro is the best part, but I've always felt it's lacked energy, especially in the drumming. Normally I'm a pretty staunch defender of Larry but on this occasion not so much. Live it was better yes, but the album version always leaves me empty.

My choices:

The Electric Co.
Gloria
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Pride (could it be anything else??)
Streets
Angel of Harlem
Stay
Elvis Ate America
Gone
Beautiful Day
Vertigo
 
Rob33 said:
Ax, any chance of that happening next tour? :wink:

Get me a job as U2's setlist designer and I promise you that awesomeness shall be done on the opening night. :wink:

major_panic said:
He'll offer Paul McGuinness a muffin. It'll happen.

:wink:

Or, yeah, that. :lmao:

COBL_04 said:
I've never really liked Dirty Day, the outro is the best part, but I've always felt it's lacked energy, especially in the drumming. Normally I'm a pretty staunch defender of Larry but on this occasion not so much. Live it was better yes, but the album version always leaves me empty.

Have you heard either the Junk Day or Bitter Kiss versions? They're substantial improvements on the album version - really, I can't grasp quite why they put that shocking version on the album. It's a great song, and would serve well as a single, but is poorly represented on the album.
 
Boy - A Day Without Me
October - Rejoice
War - Like A Song
UF - Pride
JT - Streets
R&H - Angel Of Harlem
AB - The Fly
Zooropa - Lemon
Pop - Mofo
ATYCLB - B.Day
HTDAAB - LAPOE
 
Axver said:


Get me a job as U2's setlist designer and I promise you that awesomeness shall be done on the opening night. :wink:


I wish :shrug:

Speaking of setlist designer, and setlists :wink: , how exactly does U2 come up with their setlists? Do Bono, Adam, Larry and Edge all decide on it alone? Or what? I'm clueless...and since you are obsessed with U2 setlists, I thought you would be the one to ask this question :)

btw, I appreciate your obsession :lol:
 
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