lazarus said:
I'd argue that U2 could have had much more success with POP by releasing Last Night on Earth as the second single (a reversal of AB's rock song then dance song strategy), to show people that Hey, this isn't just a techno album. If they would have put out LNOE as the first single, it would have been VERY misleading. But Staring at the Sun was so weak compared to previous (and subsequent ballads) that it was just too little, too late. People who were turned off by Discotheque should have been assaulted by the second single, not lulled by it. After that, it was over. POP wasn't a singles album to begin with (it's a damned OPERA!), but I'm amazed that they even bothered putting out singles for Please, If God, and MOFO. Simply horrible choices. I think Miami and Playboy Mansion may have reeled in more people.
As for ATYCLB, I think there was a misstep as well. Elevation (minus the lame-ass Tomb Raider remix and video) as the #2 single really would have pulled in more people, and got them psyched for the tour. Despite winning Grammys, I don't know that Stuck or Walk On did great promo work. 9/11 and the tour are what made this album go 4x platinum, not the singles. With the right strategies, it might have made even more. You wonder why Achung Baby did a couple million more in the U.S. when it was so much less accessible than ATYCLB; there might be part of the answer.
I also have some issues with Zooropa singles. Numb? Lemon? Why not Babyface or First time...
I think Gone would have been a great single for POP, maybe instead of Last night on earth. MOFO - those were only remixes right, not really a single..?
Otherwise I don't think they were bad choices (apart from Discotheque dress-up part of the video and LNOE video).
Actually, Stuck did make it to Billboard top 100, which neither Elevation or Walk on did. I would change the latter two with In a little while and Kite, as they are IMO better songs and show more versatility of the album. While 9/11 may have helped the album in US, the singles did good elsewhere in the world.
IMO Beautiful day has the credit for this album.
The difference between AB and ATYCLB times is also the rise of R&B/rap/pop in the charts, and the comparative fall of rock bands in the mainstream. It's much harder for them to break into the charts now.
As for HTDAAB singles, we can guess the singles by what they played on the promo tour: Vertigo, ABOY, MD, COBL, Sometimes, OOTS.
After Vertigo, ABOY and Sometimes, I'm guessing OOTS and MD. Keep COBL as the "hidden gem" on the album, like Gone or Kite or UTEOTW from the past.
Then again, they have lots to pick from: Love and peace, A man and a woman, Crumbs, One step closer...The two songs I immediately thought of as singles were ABOY and Crumbs.
*edit* Sometimes is the second single here, and I'm not complaining as it's my favorite on the album.