I really feel like the song itself is underrated. Perhaps they might have tightened it up if the POP sessions went on longer, or perhaps it takes too long for Larry to come in with the full drums for most listeners.
I'm wondering if this had been released instead of Staring at the Sun, would POP have had a better shot? SATS isn't a bad song, but it's the least interesting song on the album (you might hate Miami, but it's definitely something you won't forget), and ranks pretty low on the list of U2 ballad singles (WOWY, One, Stuck, SYCMIOYO, Stay). I'd say it's at the bottom.
Angels is a song that probably needs to be met halfway, and doesn't seem like a good summer single, but who knows? It's one of the few songs on the album that actually does have a hip-hop/trip-hop beat, and may have left some heads bobbing (especially on the outro). Plus the video is SO MUCH better than the generic clip for SATS, which probably killed any small chance the song had.
Does anyone think this video could have got IGWSHI (single mix) on the airwaves, and saved POP in the process? I think the video is one that people would have dug, because you don't usually see a whole band in close up like that for a whole video. It's entrancing, especially with Bono.
laz
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