Well, I certainly was wrong about BD being the only song that charted Globally off of ATYCLB. It's easy to criticize U2's singles strategy, but from a worldwide standpoint, they have done quite well, actually, and they are certainly a Global Band with a Global audience to consider. The Global Chart from media traffic only has album archives for 2004 and 2005, but they have singles archives from 1998-2005.
Vertigo has been U2's most successful single during this time period on the charts, but BD is probably the most accessible and recognizable single from this same time period (maybe ever). Here is how the singles have done since 1998:
^ = Over 2,000,000 points amassed on Global Chart scoring system based on sales and airplay around the world.
Best of 1980 – 1990 – the single
Sweetest Thing (1998 data missing) ^
Week 51 – 1998: Sweetest Thing was @ #6 on Global Singles Chart, no prior data
Known Global Chart Run: 6*-7**-8-9-11-15-15-23-34-40-out (Week 9 – Mar 6, 1999)
18 weeks in the Global Top 40; *already 8 weeks in Top 40; **Week 52 of 1998
Million Dollar Hotel & All that you can’t leave behind – the singles
The Ground beneath Her Feet (Million Dollar Hotel; ATYCLB bonus track)
Week 17 – April 29, 2000: The Ground beneath Her Feet debuts at #38
Chart Run: 38-37-38-out (Week 20 – May 20, 2000)
3 weeks in the Global Top 40
All that you can’t leave behind – the singles
Beautiful Day ^
Week 40 - Oct 7, 2000: BD debuts at #39
Chart Run: 39-24-21-2-2-2-3-4-4-4-8-8*-8-10-13-17-19-27-37-out (Week 8 – Feb 24, 2001); 19 weeks in the Global Top 40; *Week 52 of 2000
2000 Top 40: BD at #23 with 3,627,000 points; Peak position #2 for three weeks
Stuck in a Moment ^
Week 4 – Jan 27, 2001: Stuck debuts at #37
Chart Run: 37-30-23-9-9-9-9-10-10-13-13-16-24-27-32-out (Week 19 – May 12, 2001)
15 weeks in the Global Top 40
Elevation
Week 29 – July 21, 2001: Elevation debuts at #40
Chart Run: 40-21-8-7-9-9-12-9-10-18-21-37-out (Week 41 – Oct 13, 2001)
12 weeks in the Global Top 40
Walk On
Week 49 – Dec 8, 2001: Walk On debuts at #35
Chart Run: 35-27-25-30*28-27-27-24-23-26-26-32-out (Week 9 – Mar 2, 2002)
12 weeks in the Global Top 40; *Week 52 of 2001
Best of 1990 – 2000 – the singles
Electrical Storm
Week 42 – Oct 10, 2002: Electrical Storm debuts at #35
Chart Run: 40-24-17-6-6-6-8-10-10-13-17*-21-21-24-40-out (Week 5 – Feb 1, 2003)
18 weeks in the Global Top 40; *already 8 weeks in Top 40; **Week 52 of 1998
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb – the singles
Vertigo ^ ^
Week 43 - Oct 23, 2004: Vertigo debuts at #36
Chart Run: 36-27-28-13-10-2-3-3-2-2-2*-2-2-2-4-7-6-10-14-20-25-31-36
23 weeks in the Global Top 40; *Week 53 of 2004
2004 Top 40: Vertigo at #22 with 3,126,000 points; Peak position #2 for seven weeks
Sometimes you can’t make it on your own
Week 8 – Feb 26, 2005: Sometimes debuts at #26
Chart Run: 26-15-15-13-11
Vertigo has been U2's most successful single during this time period on the charts, but BD is probably the most accessible and recognizable single from this same time period (maybe ever). Here is how the singles have done since 1998:
^ = Over 2,000,000 points amassed on Global Chart scoring system based on sales and airplay around the world.
Best of 1980 – 1990 – the single
Sweetest Thing (1998 data missing) ^
Week 51 – 1998: Sweetest Thing was @ #6 on Global Singles Chart, no prior data
Known Global Chart Run: 6*-7**-8-9-11-15-15-23-34-40-out (Week 9 – Mar 6, 1999)
18 weeks in the Global Top 40; *already 8 weeks in Top 40; **Week 52 of 1998
Million Dollar Hotel & All that you can’t leave behind – the singles
The Ground beneath Her Feet (Million Dollar Hotel; ATYCLB bonus track)
Week 17 – April 29, 2000: The Ground beneath Her Feet debuts at #38
Chart Run: 38-37-38-out (Week 20 – May 20, 2000)
3 weeks in the Global Top 40
All that you can’t leave behind – the singles
Beautiful Day ^
Week 40 - Oct 7, 2000: BD debuts at #39
Chart Run: 39-24-21-2-2-2-3-4-4-4-8-8*-8-10-13-17-19-27-37-out (Week 8 – Feb 24, 2001); 19 weeks in the Global Top 40; *Week 52 of 2000
2000 Top 40: BD at #23 with 3,627,000 points; Peak position #2 for three weeks
Stuck in a Moment ^
Week 4 – Jan 27, 2001: Stuck debuts at #37
Chart Run: 37-30-23-9-9-9-9-10-10-13-13-16-24-27-32-out (Week 19 – May 12, 2001)
15 weeks in the Global Top 40
Elevation
Week 29 – July 21, 2001: Elevation debuts at #40
Chart Run: 40-21-8-7-9-9-12-9-10-18-21-37-out (Week 41 – Oct 13, 2001)
12 weeks in the Global Top 40
Walk On
Week 49 – Dec 8, 2001: Walk On debuts at #35
Chart Run: 35-27-25-30*28-27-27-24-23-26-26-32-out (Week 9 – Mar 2, 2002)
12 weeks in the Global Top 40; *Week 52 of 2001
Best of 1990 – 2000 – the singles
Electrical Storm
Week 42 – Oct 10, 2002: Electrical Storm debuts at #35
Chart Run: 40-24-17-6-6-6-8-10-10-13-17*-21-21-24-40-out (Week 5 – Feb 1, 2003)
18 weeks in the Global Top 40; *already 8 weeks in Top 40; **Week 52 of 1998
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb – the singles
Vertigo ^ ^
Week 43 - Oct 23, 2004: Vertigo debuts at #36
Chart Run: 36-27-28-13-10-2-3-3-2-2-2*-2-2-2-4-7-6-10-14-20-25-31-36
23 weeks in the Global Top 40; *Week 53 of 2004
2004 Top 40: Vertigo at #22 with 3,126,000 points; Peak position #2 for seven weeks
Sometimes you can’t make it on your own
Week 8 – Feb 26, 2005: Sometimes debuts at #26
Chart Run: 26-15-15-13-11