Unforgettable Single

10 Aug 2012541
Over on our Discography page you'll find dozens and dozens of singles the band have released over the years.

Starting with U23 way back in 1979 - Out of Control, Stories for Boys, Boy-Girl - the trail leads all the way to 'I'll Go Crazy', third single from No Line On The Horizon, in 2009.

Maybe you'd forgotten Lemon was a single. Or you've never listened to Fire. Or you just recently discovered Please. But there'll be a U2 single that's special to you in some way - the one that comes on the radio or arrives unnoticed when your iPod's on shuffle and suddenly a moment in your life comes back to you.

What was the U2 single that stopped you in your tracks - and still does ?

It might depend on where you were when you first heard it, what was happening in your life, how you first got into the band?

Remind yourself of the history of the band's single releases and look through the promotional videos on this page in our Video Gallery (set aside a week or two for this) -  find the one that reminds you of a time and place in your life.

In the comments below tell us why this song is special for you. Is there a story behind it - an anecdote from your life ?

What brings the track alive for you? What was happening to you at the time you first heard it that means you'll never get over this single?

We have prizes for the best, the funniest, the most moving or surprising entries. Add them in the comments below. Did we mention that ? (Don't forget - we're not talking about any U2 track but about those released as singles...)


Comments
541
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madlisa
The Fly.
I was 10. I'd heard The Joshua Tree album way back when I was in second grade, and still rock out to this day, but for some odd reason, The Fly is the single that always, no matter what mood I'm in, puts me in a happy mood. It is my go-to song. Totally. Of course, Discotheque is a close second - ESPECIALLY when driving. I get really into it, and driving I certainly get strange looks ;)
nataliebaker
Who's Going To Ride Your Wild Horses
Bono was at his poetic best on Achtung Baby, but for whatever reason, it has always been 'Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses' that has resonated the most with me. A song about a wild spirit who can't be tamed, it starts with that memorable guitar chord, and is followed by beautiful moody music with a real sense of yearning invoked throughout. While I may not understand all of the ambiguous lyrics, I love that about it, too.
Mofo
As soon as I saw this song on the PopMart Mexico concert I was hooked... and I was only 3 years old! I remember when I was little, I thought I was Bono, dressing up with the black hooded jacket and pulling off the mic stand moves to this song...great times. Such a danceable yet such a rocking song, and with such a deep meaning too. In my opinion, this is U2's greatest song... but it's a terrible shame it isn't played live no more.
bearsfan32
With or Without You
I was sitting in my College Cafeteria when the song came on over the sound system. I was sitting across from a buddy who was also a U2 fan. At the same time we looked at each other and said "is that U2"? Neither of us knew U2 had an album coming out. I left the cafeteria and drove an hour to the nearest place I could buy an album. I found the Joshua Tree on the rack bought it and drove the hour back to my dorm room and fell in love!
gcarson77
Things To Make And Do
When I first heard this B-side , I felt it showed a band ready to take on the challenges of the world of rock n roll, by a band in its youth creating haunting and emotional melodies , stories are told just by The Edge's guitar notes and Adam is a highlight on this track and even without Bono's vocals, the song allows the listener to be taken away a travel, I found many things to make and do over the years with this song as the inspiration.
ChristopherLind
Party Girl
There are lots - but I have a very clear memory of listening to this on an old Sony Walkman back in the early 80s as I boarded a train from Copenhagen down to Hamburg with my girlfriend to visit my brother.
Redwodka
Magnificent
When i and my wife heard the song for the first time we where amazed by it and on the spot we decided that this song was gonna be our anthem for lif. On the 21ste of december 2010 we played it at our wedding as we walked away after the ceremony. This year we decided to put a part of the lyrics on our body. My wife and i have the same text only we made a slight alteration of it. The text reads I was born to be wit Monique/Michel In this space and time. Mine tattoo apart from the lyrics is also fitted with the G-key made in a Maori style refering to the song One Tree hill witch also moves me to tears every time i play it,
luxstation
I Will Follow.
I remember being 12 yrs. old, I was hiding under my sisters bed because they were watching a movie by the name of (The Last American Virgin) not suited for my age. In the movie the song (I Will Follow) appeared .I had no idea who sung it, all I know is I had to have it . The rest is history. My first ever album. BOY.
Frederic
The Fly!!
I remember just sitting there completely grounded when I saw the video. Yes it did sound like the bad was chopping that Joshua Tree, but did it ever sound good (and raw)! Then eleven masterpieces followed (that's if you exclude the tracks that didn't make Achtung Baby). I knew that day no other band would come even close to matching U2.
kimtow
Discotheque
I love this song the first time i heard it. Seeing the video some people did'nt get it but watching u2 dress as the village people.How could you not not like the song. At the 360 tour, when u2 played discotheque this little boy was feeling it without embarrassment. 90,000 people dancing, sweating and just enjoying the moment. Everyday should be like your going to a u2 concert.
Erin Go Bragh-less
Walk On
Walk On has become my favorite choon since the first listen...before that it was Streets. My non-single favorite is Heartland :-D
z00ropa
When Loves Come to Town
I had no idea what B-sides were until a friend of mine asked me if I had heard the song Dancing Barefoot. This is when I discovered singles and B-sides, and thus my 20+year obsession with collecting U2 CDs.
NScoggins
If God Will Send His CDs
London, 1997. As an American citizen, for years I've only been able to buy U2 singles as imports. Now I'm in the UK, studying abroad, and damned if I'm going to miss the chance to actually buy a U2 CD single without having to fork over the extra money for it to be imported. December 8. The morning arrives. I jump out of bed. (Seriously, it's like Christmas for me.) Take a bus into Staines. Worm my way to the HMV. I have no idea what the B-sides are, I'm just thrilled to finally have the opportunity to buy a U2 CD single in the UK. There it is, shining irridescently -- If God Will Send His Angels. I eagerly snatch it off the shelf. B-sides -- aha! The fabled Slow Dancing with Willie Nelson! It's been rumored...and now, finally, it exists! And Two Shots of Happy! I've read about this song for years since buying Bill Flanagan's book! Yahoo! But then...what's this? If God Will Send His Angels...on tape? I snatch that up -- what's the B-side? (Or in this case, second track?) A "Romin Remix" of "Mofo"? What the what?! I'm picking it up too. And then...wha...? MOFO? A CD single? ANOTHER CD single? What fresh excellence is this? I check the tracklisting. More dance mixes? Of what is probably the most dance friendly track on the album? I HATE remixes with a passion, but it's U2, so I'm gonna look the other way. I eagerly pay my quid(s), and take the plastic wrappers off on the bus ride home. I throw in the CD and let "If God Will Send" wash over me. I think I know the song...but then...wha....they've re-recorded it or something. What I've always assumed is the bridge has been removed, replaced with the chorus...the entire song has been restructured! Can they DO that? Of course they can, they can do anything they want, they're F****ING U2. The rest of the songs follow in quick succession. Even the dance remixes. (Which, em, follow in quicker succession...though that Romin Remix is pretty stinking cool.) A knock at the door brings me out of my U2 reverie. It's my upstairs neighbor. "Uh, Mr. U2?" (This is literally how I am known in the dorm.) "What IS that, exactly?" "The new U2 single." "Ah. (then) Get it at HMV, did you?" "Yeah." "Great. Thanks." She heads out. Another converted U2 fan. I nod to myself, proud. There's only one way to celebrate this. And I push "play" again...
zoofly
Spanish Eyes
I love this song for the classic U2 sound...Edge's wah-wah guitar and fast playing, Bono's full vocal range, and Adam and Larry's driving beat. It has great lyrics and a powerful melodic tempo. Awesome song.
kimtow
Discotheque
Discotheque, so cheesy like your favorite pizza place. I Love the song and the video.U2 dress as the village people. At the 360 tour, they played this song and next to me was this eight year old boy dancing his little heart out. 90,000 people in Baltimore not embarrass to just enjoy the moment. Everyday should be a u2 concert.
colleenfan
Electrical Storm
Cause there's not enough Larry on film! What a great video.
adols
Walk On - helped my soul
My single is Walk On. One year earlier I had suffered the suicide of my best friend and such as a brother from childhood. Still today, no one knows why he took his father hunting Shotgun and committed suicide. The night before we partied together and looking back it was his way to say goodbye. A year after studying Erasmus in England, trying to recover myself of the lost... I listened at this single a sunny day... That day listening this marvelous song I felt better... Such a feeling I didn't have in a long time... To me it has a special meaning... Everyday I miss my football team mate, my friend, my brother...
GSL
Numb and Lemon!!
Cuando tenia 12 anos de edad estas fueron la primeras canciones que escuche de U2 y me encantaron, despues escuche el Achtung Baby y me marco de por vida, mi himno por asi decirlo es ONE, pero como dejar de lado canciones como BAD, WHERE THE STREETS, THE FLY, WALK ON, todas esas y muchas mas!!!
cidamary
About first contat with U2...
I was 15 when I saw U2 on TV. I remember that I marveled at the sound of Sunday Bloody Sunday, it was love at first chord of The Edge without telling Bono's distinctive voice, the drums of Larry marked the rhythm of my heart and bass guitar Adam enchanted me. I needed to know who were those guys! They were only 3 years older than me and able to express all feelings of our generation in songs like this, until today. Bjs Cida from São Paulo - Brazil
greydogblues
great question
Dancing Barefoot on the When Love Comes To Town single.... still just HAVE to stop everything and do the cool, close to the floor dance... can't explain properly...
shoottheimage
The Unforgettable Fire
I first heard the album 'The Unforgettable Fire' in 1987 when the Joshua Tree was released and U2 were suddenly the biggest band on the planet. As a pre teen it opened up a whole world of music and bands I never knew existed before such as Joy Division, The Smiths, New Order, Depeche Mode, My Bloody Valentine, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure etc. The actual song 'The Unforgettable Fire' is the reason I decided to learn how to play the guitar. Years later it was 'Stay (Far Away, So Close) that convinced me to never put it down for the rest of my life.
flypp
New Years Day on Top of the Pops
1983 - aged 11 and the New Years Day video was shown on Top of the Pops! I was hooked and couldn't wait until the following Sunday night to hear the song again on the Radio One's chart show. Whenever I hear the piano section, it always reminds me of that first time - I actually got my music teacher to help me learn the tune!
pfffff
walk to the water
I saw you that day Your lips were cherry red Your legs were crossed Your arms wide open Your hair was coloured gold Like a field of corn You were blown by the wind You were blown by the wind Need to say more?? The whole song is amazing beautiful and remebers me at the first time i saw my wife walking towards me.
hokmar76
Stay or If God Will Send His Angels
Either Sinatra and Bono singing together (not in the same room, but through the magic of technology) or Willie Nelson. I was going to go with the Lemon remixes but how do you ignore Sinatra or WIllie? You don't
oisin269
11 O'Clock Tick Tock.
I had been home to Ireland as usual for the summer holidays and kept hearing about this new band U2. On my return to England I went straight the HMV to see what they had. Came home with 11 O'Clock Tick Tock and was hooked. A few days later I went was going to see Rory Gallagher at Aylesbury Friars.The support band hadn't turned up and we were told over the pa that 'some friends of Rory's are going to play instead.Please welcome U2!'. So,four days after buying my first U2 record I saw them play it live (and the b-side!). Boy was released a month later and the rest,as they say,is history.
harrybro19
Sometimes You Cant Make It On Your Own
I can remember doing my GCSEs way back in 2005 and hearing this song on the home to donegal everyday while it was in the charts. This song always reminds me of how i got through my GCSEs and the summer after that.
vincent kearns
Stuck in a Moment you Can't get Out of
At the time this track was released my father was unwell after going through a bowel cancer operation. We did not get on to well leading up to his ill health. I purchesed this single for my Dad and asked him to listen really carfull to the words in the song. And to tell me what he taught of it. My Dad and i had a good chat about what it ment and it made us very close. We are like to brothers now and are their for one another.
petramaarten
Gloria
At that time 1981 I was not really a U2 fan. My brother bought the album October and I found it amazing. Gloria took my heart when I first heard it on the dutch radio. It inspired me a lot. Than they said this band will be great. Besides Ireland and the UK, Holland was the first country they conquered not far from this release. Later in 1983 Gloria appeared on Under A Blood Red Sky. I was loved by this incredable song and became a fan and still I am.
zoocat
With or Without You
I was really excited about The Joshua Tree release, and when I heard with or without you I knew there was something really special on the way, still my favourite song and album today. I have thought some of there other stuff was as good if not better on some occasions. But I was really kidding myself. The Joshua Tree and With or Without you are unbeaten in my book so far. catman.
mariomirabal96
sunday bloody sunday
this song single handed introduced me to rock
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