But....it is filler. First single or not, it's the worst song on the album. I enjoy the playlist I made without it better than the original album.
I strongly disagree with that. There are several songs on the album that I dislike far, FAR more than GOYB.
Also, as I listened to the album in the car yesterday, I was actually happy to hear GOYB. It really brightened a somewhat somber album. "Crazy" and "Stand Up" also give the album "life" as well and hopefully those will be singles.
When one says "The Fly" was a much better song, that is also subjective. I like both songs quite a bit and feel that GOYB is similar to "The Fly" in that it doesn't exactly indicate what the album is overall.
I am very surprised to keep hearing how much hate there is for GOYB from so many U2 fans. It just seems that everyone can't wait to rip on this song - a fun rocking song that is not only sonically interesting but has multiple interpretations of its lyrics.
But all that is beside the point - should U2 have released this first?
And this brings up two issues - a personal and business perspective. And we must separate the two.
As so many fans *personally* don't like GOYB, they may feel it's not a good single, but it may have been viewed so from a business perspective. And while the song hasn't crossed-over, it is a big hit on alternative radio - the stations that are most hip and current for the younger market. And it may be that U2 recognize that this song wouldn't really cross-over, but should still recognition in the "hip" crowd.
At this point in U2's career, I'm not sure what song would work well. They could have released a radio-edit of "Magnificent" or "Stand Up" or "Crazy" and still have received the exact amount of airplay that they have had for GOYB. I asked people what they thought of the new U2 song and most people simply haven't heard it! Unlike "Discotheque", mainstream radio isn't playing U2 at all. In other words, this isn't a case of a song being a hit, but quickly turning off casual fans. It's a case of people not hearing it (and not everyone watches the Grammy awards or saw the opening minutes).
Despite the success of "Beautiful Day" and "Vertigo", U2 had to fight to get songs like "Stuck...", "Sometimes...", COBL, "All Because of You", "Walk On", etc. played. Two big albums with two big first singles, yet the second and third single barely are recognized. "Walk On" won the frickin' "Record of the Year" Grammy award (the second most prestigous award after "Album of the Year") and it wasn't even a Top 100 hit (which was one of the few times that occurred). In other words, even if U2 released a more "radio-friendly" song from NLOTH, I don't think it would have made any difference in terms of airplay these days.
Sadly, U2 is like a new group that really needs to promote, promote, promote in order to get their music heard. It boggles my mind, but that's the way it is. So they appear on the Grammy Awards and Letterman and make iPod commercials.
I still hope that a second or third single take off and cross-over, but we'll see.
Still, as it's clear that GOYB isn't a huge cross-over hit, I would highly recommend that U2 start getting single #2 ready now. Treat GOYB like "The Fly". It was out there, it let fans know about new U2 and a change in style, now move on. Get that second song that should be more accessible ready for air time. The "one-two" punch of "Mysterious Ways" and "One" is what kept AB going strong for months. U2 need to do that now if they want NLOTH going for months. A "one-two" punch of "Magnificent" (radio edit) followed by "Crazy" could keep NLOTH going strong. U2 waited FAR too long to get "Staring at the Sun" out, which I felt hurt "Pop". Hopefully they will start getting a second single ready now to keep NLOTH going strong.
If there is a weakness, it's not always the song selection, but the time issue. I think sometimes the band feels too close to a song or is still a bit old school in trying to see a song "grow on the charts", when that world is gone. I would recommend that a second single should be thrown out with the album's release so that radio stations can play the next U2 single. Letterman could even advertise it as "the new single from U2's new album" to help spark more interest. I would also recommend that U2 open Letterman's show that way and save GOYB for a second or third night performance.
No it doesn't. Actually I think it's the most beautiful song on the album. I love this song to death. It will never be released as a single or played live, but that's fine for me. NLOTH could be a great album for me just because of that song.
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