The Best U2 Songs, Ranked

My top 5:

1.) I Will Follow
2.) Sunday Bloody Sunday
3.) Streets
4.) Pride
5.) New Years Day

 

Reading the quotes in that article has reminded me again how U2 themselves are such terrible judges of their own work; how much their own often inexplicable opinions, constant second guessing, and preoccupation with chart success have derailed them, especially over the last twenty years.

 

Great read. This guy gets it right much more often than he gets it wrong. And even when he’s wrong, he’s usually saying something compelling. Good stuff.

 

I was skeptical going in, but it was a good list (even if it did leave off 'The Little Things That Give You Away'. ) But am I the only one who's thoroughly weary of that oh-so-hip style of writing, which dictates that every compliment be a back-handed one? Why oh why must we be so afraid to simply say we like something? Sigh.

At least he put 'Streets' as #1. There's hope for the man.

 

“Pride” at number 26?
Really?

 

I was skeptical going in, but I gotta agree it's a solid list and matches my taste pretty well. His highest ranking b-side (Spanish Eyes at #40) is also my favorite b-side. And he even picked my favorite tracks from ATYCLB. Impressive.

85%-90% of my top 100 would also be from the first couple decades. That's where most of the gold lies for me.

I do agree with the poster who says the '87 Sweetest Thing beats the '98 version tho. Not even close. I've always loved how dry Bono's voice sounds when he sings "You know she wants a dry kind of love" on the '87 cut. It's just perfect.

 

I couldn't be arsed ttawling through the top 100 so I skipped to the top 10....and meh.
What a load of subjective cack.

 

subjectivity is the only measure by which such a list should be compiled

 

This list is much closer to mine than any list I've seen before. So much good stuff deeper in the catalog.

 

My Top 10 U2 Songs:

1) One
2) Where the Streets Have No Name
3) Until The End of the World
4) Zooropa
5) Kite
6) Stay
7) The Little Things That Give You Away
8) Ultraviolet
9) Pride
10) New Years Day

 

Me going through the first 90 songs: "Wow! Where Did It All Go Wrong! Lady With the Spinning Head! Do You Feel Loved! Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car! Some Days Are Better Than Others! This guy digs all the same deep cuts I do!"

Me after finishing the list completely: "No Elevation? No Vertigo? This guy doesn't know anything!"

 

Can change all the time, but right now:

1. Zoo Station
2. WTSHNN
3. Wild Horses (single version)
4. The Unforgettable Fire
5. Gloria
6. Zooropa
7. Always Forever Now
8. Real Thing (perfecto mix)
9. Running To Stand Still (Zoomerang version)
10. Bullet

 

New Year's Day ... by far their best song, IMO -- I have a great UK 12" four song EP which includes it!

Desire ... (Rattle and Hum version, which may be their only version [I don't know])
I Will Follow
Running To Stand Still
Where The Streets Have No Name
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
With or Without You


U2 left me after a couple of albums (for the most part)... someone might try to tell Mr. Edge that playing that similar jangling riff on almost every song grows old quickly.

 

I think "Mofo" should have made the list - especially live, that song is tremendous. One of Bono's deeper lyrics too.

 

I’ve just started this Radiohead book. He’s a really talented writer and that helps make this U2 listicle more valuable and less annoying than most of the species.

 

I think he figured that out, try listening to some of the later albums.

I think New Year's Day is one of their best too.

 

I do agree with a lot of his choices, even if my own rankings would be different.

BIG personal omission for me is "A Celebration". Love that track.