'These are some of the songs that saved my life,' writes Bono, as he shares a special birthday playlist titled '60 Songs That Saved My Life'. 'The ones I couldn't have lived without… the ones that got me from there to here, zero to 60… through all the scrapes, all manner of nuisance, from the serious to the silly… and the joy, mostly joy.'
The four hour plus playlist stretches from the formative 45s of his teenage years to later collaborations with some of his heroes, as well as tracks by younger artists like Billie Eilish, the same age now, 18, as Bono when he wrote his first song.
Long before he was making music, he was a music fan and along with these 60 songs he's penning a series of letters to their creators and family members.
'I wanted to thank the artists and everyone who helped make them… They were doing the same for me… I am writing a fan letter to accompany each song to try and explain my fascination…'
Bono is sharing the first six letters today, with more coming in the week ahead.
Writing about ‘Miserere' to Alice, daughter of Luciano Pavarotti he says, 'I can hardly remember what it was about... other than forgiveness that is… and a toast to being alive.’
To Billie Eilish (and Finneas) he says, of ‘everything i wanted’, ‘I step inside your song and it’s a black beauty, achingly awesomely vulnerable and terrifying, fearliess and worrisome… but you are not worried by all that.’
Writing to Duncan, son of David Bowie, he recalls, 'When I heard your Dad's song LIFE ON MARS? on the radio in 1973, I was hiding under the covers of my bed in 10 Cedarwood Roadlistening to a pirate radio station called Radio Caroline. I wasn't thinking about the question mark in the title… I wasn't bothered about the dramatic inquiry “is there life on Mars?”… The song was answering a much more important question when I was 13… Is there intelligent life on earth? It was proof as far as I'm concerned.'
To the members of Kraftwerk, who lost Florian this week, Bono recounts how 'The Man Machine' stole his heart and mind as a teenager. 'I gave Ali a copy to romance her on her 17th birthday in 1978… NEON LIGHTS is a song that brought into being a future that has now become so familiar, it is easy to forget just how strange it was.'
'You wrote songs so you could be in them,' he writes to Nile Rodgers. 'And that light touch is never better than on this one', referring to Daft Punk's Get Lucky featuring Rodgers and Pharrell. 'You are a reason to believe in what's possible,' he writes to Pharrell, 'You are a reason to believe in THE IMPOSSIBLE.'
And to Shara Nelson and Massive Attack, he sends gratitude for Safe From Harm, 'Thanks for giving me permission to not fully let go of the rage behind all vulnerability… it can propel.'
Read each letter in full in our gallery above - we'll be adding to it over the next few days.
60 Songs That Saved My Life 1. Luciano Pavarotti, Bono & Zucchero - Miserere 2. Sex Pistols - Anarchy In the UK 3. Kanye West - Black Skinhead 4. Billie Eilish - everything i wanted 5. David Bowie - Life on Mars? 6. The Beatles - I Want to Hold your Hand 7. Ramones - Swallow My Pride 8. The Clash - Safe European Home 9. Public Enemy - Fight The Power 10. Patti Smith - People Have the Power 11. John Lennon - Mother 12. The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday 13. Elton John - Daniel 14. Andrea Bocelli- Con Te Partiro 15. Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel 16. Johnny Cash - Hurt 17. This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren 18. Kraftwerk - Neon Lights 19. The Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song 20. Prince - When Doves Cry 21. Daft Punk feat Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers - Get Lucky 22. Madonna - Ray of Light 23. JAY-Z feat Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind 24. Talking Heads - Love Goes to Building on Fire 25. Lou Reed - Satellite of Love 26. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony 27. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart 28. New Order - True Faith 29. R.E.M. - Nightswimming 30. Adele - Chasing Pavements 31. Arcade Fire - Wake Up 32. Pixies - Monkey Gone to Heaven 33. Oasis - Live Forever 34. Iggy Pop - Lust for Life 35. Gavin Friday - Angel 36. Massive Attack - Safe From Harm 37. Kendrick Lamar feat U2 - XXX 38. Bob Marley & The Walers - Redemption Song 39. Echo and the Bunnymen - Rescue 40. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit 41. Pearl Jam - Jeremy 42. Bob Dylan - Most of the Time 43. Beyoncé feat Kendrick Lamar - Freedom 44. Depeche Mode - Walking In My Shoes 45. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms 46. Simon & Garfunkel - The Sounds of Silence 47. Coldplay - Clocks 48. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart 49. New Radicals - You Get What You Give 50. Angélique Kidjo - Agolo 51. Lady Gaga - Born This Way 52. Frank Sinatra & Bono - Under My Skin 53. David Bowie - Heroes 54. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) 55. Sinéad O'Connor - You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart 56. Van Morrison - A Sense of Wonder 57. Bruce Springsteen - There Goes My Miracle 58. Daniel Lanois - The Maker 59. Peter Frampton - Show Me The Way 60. Bee Gees - Immortality - Demo Version
The soul to sing and dance
The crowds from near and far
Vibrate color, cheerful wonders
U2 the people's band
Happy Birthday Bono
dominicmoloney
10 May, 2020
Dom Moloney
Blimey , terrific choices especially Peter Frampton and Madonna ,who would have guessed those as they are mine also .. Happy birthday Bono and see you on the Achtung Baby 30th anniversary tour...
Termie
10 May, 2020
Happy birthday
Happy birthday, thanks for all the good things you give me with the music
dva_belgium
10 May, 2020
Over the years from Werchter to Dublin
Happy birthday Bono, and thanks a lot for the songs that you and the band gave us over more than 40 years.
I saw U2 the 1st time in Werchter (were I lived) in 1982 and the last time in Dublin 2018. And on the long way between those to dates we met a lot of nice people during all the concerts. Like Donal, Alan, Ken and AJ from Dalkey.
Enjoy your 60th birthday,
Dirk, Belgium
fabricem1567
10 May, 2020
Bon et Heureux Anniversaire Bono
Merci pour ces 40 ans de bonheur à chaque fois que j'entends le groupe et plus encore lors des concerts d'anthologie trop vite passés, même après la fin les gens chantaient en sortant dans la rue.
Que de souvenirs inoubliables.
Merci pour tous ces frissons
keithdr02
10 May, 2020
Happy Birthday #60 Bono
Happy birthday Bono.
May you live forever, our national treasure.
Great songs there - thanks for sharing...nice letters to their makers too!
KeithD.
badbranki
10 May, 2020
Branki
Happy 60th Birthday Bono!
Thanks for being my light, my guide, my star and why not my mate for the last 34 years!
Oh sing your song, let your song be sung and I will follow ever!
Best wishes from Italy,
Hope to see you soon on the road of life and music!
Sonia09
10 May, 2020
Happy birthday Bono!!
Nanaa
10 May, 2020
Feliz aniversário, Bono!
Muita saúde e felicidade. Obrigada por tudo. Your songs saved my life so many times.
xxx
jely85
10 May, 2020
Happy birthday!
What a great day for a wonderful man! Thanks to be what you are since 60 years! Enjoy you day with you family! See you soon!
captainbono2050
10 May, 2020
Bono and U2 saved my life
I will always remain indebted to the band, how they came into my life and changed it completely and saved me. Thank you so much and Happy Birthday to the MAN, the legend, the greatest showman Bono
Helo_u2
10 May, 2020
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR B! ❤️
I am so grateful to have you in my life every day! Best wishes!!! ❤️
dreamchaser
10 May, 2020
I had no idea we had such similar taste!
I confess, I always assumed I had more in common with Edge insofar as musical taste. I don't know why really... Maybe because I attribute (perhaps wrongly?) a lot of his influence over some of my favorite U2 albums (AB, Z, Pop, Passengers). But now that I've read this whole list, damn, this could easily be my Apple Favorites Playlist!! Will you DJ my next birthday party?
yobrian
10 May, 2020
BONO'S 60TH
First I want to wish you Bono big happy Birthday have most amazing day with your family. And a big thank you for the many years off happiness you & U2have given the world in your songs concerts and love you have shared with us all hers to many more happy years
cloni
10 May, 2020
Joyeux Anniversaire, Bono
At least 3 U2 songs saved my Life and I would like to thank you for that... ULTRA VIOLET when I was a teenager. WALK ON when I was a young adult and ORIGINAL OF THE SPECIES.
Merci, Merci, Merci
Nicolas Moissakis (from Paris)
PatyMelina
10 May, 2020
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday B. You also saved our lives! Thanks for existing and for being this wonderful human being. Love you! Love from Brazil!
PatyMelina
10 May, 2020
Happy birthday
Heeey B. You also saved our lives! Thanks for existing and for being this wonderful humano being. Love you! Love from Brazil!
fannyflores
10 May, 2020
Feliz cumpleaños Bono
Best wishes for you always...
Bono que la vida te siga bendiciendo, que te dé la inspiración para que nos sigas inspirando muchos años más, con tus letras, tus melodías, que tengas todo el amor y compañia de las personas que amas, que el sol ilumine por siempre tu camino, te amo por siempre, Happy Birthday my love Bono!!!!
delabroussejulien
10 May, 2020
happy 60
Happy 60
see you soon we miss you guys!!!!
Clarold
10 May, 2020
Happy 60th Birthday, Bono! ♥
U 2 saved my life...since I was 12 years old.
Thanks for sharing this list, what a beautiful gift for fans!
From Cádiz (Spain), all my best wishes for you and yours and Happy Birthday to Jordan too.
God bless you, big man, and please, stay safe! ♥
PERYVANO
10 May, 2020
Feliz cumpleaños Paul
Tus canciones han salvado la mía y lo seguirán haciendo!!... que sean muchas vueltas más al sol!!
PERYVANO
10 May, 2020
Feliz cumpleaños Paul
Todas tus canciones han salvado mi vida y lo seguirán haciendo!!
Clarold
10 May, 2020
Happy 60th Birthday, Bono! ♥
U 2 saved my life, since I was 12 years old.
Thanks for sharing this list, what a beautiful gift for your fans!
My best wishes for you and yours and happy birthday to Jordan too.
God bless you and please, stay safe!
gabriabis
10 May, 2020
Grazie Bono
Happy birthday dear Bono, your voice and your music is part of my life..Love from Sardinia
dominickeogh1
10 May, 2020
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday Bono,
Thanks for sharing this list and for sharing the beautiful intimate thoughts in your letters. Please, please, please share the remaining letters. The words are so touching and inspirational, I would love to read them. Thank you for them and for all of the music, joy, and emotions you and the boys have evoked over the years. I look forward to many more,
Breithlá sona duit,
Dominic
JPVaziri
10 May, 2020
Happy 60th trip around the Sun Bono!!
Hope your day is filled with Love, light and joy! Love to you for sharing your
life, love and passion with me for the past 40 years of mine
Xoxo
Janice from NY
mssarajevo
10 May, 2020
Hip hip hooray for Bono -
Dear Bono - today we celebrate YOU rightfully-! You have touched many lives through your music and activism being a public figure! I want to thank you for helping me through rough time during Sarajevo siege
petramaarten
10 May, 2020
Happy birthday
Happy birthday Bono. Great list of songs. Some are also in mine. Like Patti Smith, Bowie, R.E.M. and Pearl Jam. Hope you have a nice day at home with your family. Cheers from Amsterdam.
bono16
10 May, 2020
Happy birthday, Bono.
Great list of tunes you have picked.
I could probably pick 60 of your songs that saved my life ;)
Thank you for your inspiration and how each song hits us individually aswell as uniting people.
I am so glad to have had the opportunity to see you live, it is an experience that will always be with me.
Rock on Bman, you made it ;)
padrepio
10 May, 2020
HB BONO
Happy birthday to the main man, here`s a 25 year old Bono gieing it laldy ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvBgRSSlVBA......all the best from Glasgow