Which One ?

13 Sep 2011353

Twelve timeless tracks, twenty years old next month. But which is the one song from Achtung Baby that will always have a special place in your life ?

The single releases from the album colonised the airwaves in the early 1990's while tracks like Ultraviolet  and Until The End of the World have become live mainstays.

The Fly will always signal the moment when The Joshua Tree started toppling, Mysterious Ways has that unforgettable groove and One... what else is there to say about One?

But there are twelve tracks on this album and maybe your own Achtung Baby moment is none of these.

Which one song will always make it onto your U2 greatest hits collection - and why does it means so much to you ?

Who does it make you think of? Where were you when you first heard it? What is it about for you...  and why can you never let it go?


Comments
353
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newlands_park
Sometimes I feel like I don't know...
...Ultraviolet is my favourite, but I have to say One. As you wrote: "One... what else is there to say about One?"
luiscanf
so cruel
..for its simplicity, lyricism and because it reflects the spirit of the band in those days
lxi
Hard to do job
Mysterious Ways ,for giving me thrills and dance wishes from the very first note,for the light mornings when I wake up hearing it in my head sounding like a nice day and for being composed around Adam's bass line.
shon
UV
Ultra Violet is a powerful song both musically and lyrically. It was amazing to hear on 360. It sounds better live than on the album but still is great in studio format.
PauloSilva
love this album
its the best album of u2,,i loved the whole..i listening every days..its on my blood this band,,u2 portugal
Jo Van de Vreken
Zoo Station
The first time I dropped "Achtung Baby" in my cd-player and "Zoo Station" kicked off, I thought either my player or the cd was broke. Of course this wasn't the case and after a few times it became clear what a true masterpiece this album was ... and still is!
yutero2009
Definetly: ACHTUNG BABY
If I should to choose one song from Achtung Baby, definetly I would choose the Achtung Baby, all the entire disc Achtung Baby is U2's Masterpiece, I think the 12 tracks of Achtung Baby are like 12 parts of one body, you need the 12 songs to make the Achtung Baby works perfectly!
Scott Cleaver
I kissed your lips and broke your heart.
It will always have to be Until The End Of The World for me...as I had a very low moment in my life...and at that time I was listening to AB...and the words from Judas to Jesus...just woke something up within me...and the repition of the word...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE...in the bridge...was what got me back on my feet again...and that will always remind me that life is ok...and we have to fight to make changes to move ahead...just as U2 did with this album...and I will always be greatful...keep the spirit coming guys... Waves of Regret...and waves of Joy...I reached out to the one I tried to detroy...you!!!
hbarany
So Cruel
This album has and will always touch me in ways i cant begin to describe...the emotion, the dark side of love, wow...its sensually dark and elegantly written...I truly believe this is a magnum opus. the weight of this album and its timing of a heavy period in my life dropped me to my knees. So Cruel is to me the epitome of pure, raw emotion and the lyrics are genuis, this song defines the albums message. Only God could have have written a better album/song.
catherineq
One and UTEOTW
Two of the best songs ever written, by anyone.
vege
baby baby baby light my way...
... that is the tatoo I have. It means many different things to me, so ultraviolet is among my favourite songs. Curiously, it was not love at first listen - when I got the album back in 91 my favourites were even better than the real thing, mysterious ways, one of course, zoo station - but slowly, with time and over the years ultraviolet somehow grew on me. It's dark and yet powerful - great to have it on 360!
akstarr
One, forever!
Love the whole album and it all has a lot of meaning to me and have been re-listening a ton lately, and am currently obsessed with "Until the End of the World." But, "One" has been my favorite song of all time since the first time I heard it. Like others have said, it can mean so many different things to different people and at different times. The only bad thing about it is that it always makes me cry so sometimes I can't listen to it because the emotions are too strong for the circumstances. It is just so beautiful and amazing, both on a deep, intellectual level, as well as a simple, visceral, purely emotional level. Music does not get any better than this!
BONOBOMUSIC
So Cruel
There's al little line between love and hate. This song got it all.
clau2dia
tough decision
I´ve got to say I was completely stunned when I listened to Who´s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses on the radio. It seemed they wrote it for me to make up my mind about my personal life. But again how can I forget Acrobat, Love is blindness ? What to say about One ? Well, seeing Bono fly around with the laser jacket singing HMTMKMKM in the 360 tour made me think of Batman + Acrobat = Bono Acrobatman. I Love these guys. They´ve got some big ideas and great hearts. Bless you yall.
ghinchley
Mysterious Ways, then Until the End of t
Achtung Baby was the first U2 album I listened to growing up and instantly caught my attention with the raw, powerful, emotional musical talent U2 offered the world. Mysterious Ways has become one of my favorite songs of all time - I've probably listened to it a thousand times and sung along at least several hundred times. Next in line are Until the End of the World and The Fly. That said, the entire album is a brilliant, timeless masterpiece that can be listened to over and over again which is the reason U2 has become my favorite band of all time.
utsa2004
Who´s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horsens
The most epic, emotional, underrated and better live Achtung Baby song ever played!! The lyrics just awesomed! Also special: Acrobat and Ultraviolet
SteveBest
Wish I could choose every song!
Still my favorite U2 record and what an opening track. Zoo Station defined the change. Thunderous sub bass, heavily processed vocals. U2 for a new decade alright. Close second, Love Is Blindness. Criminally under rated. But every song a gem.
badneighbor155
End
Until The End of the World.. if i have to pick a single piece.. but the entire album is so strong.. no weak links.
sofii
ONE!!
That song makes me feel something really special...it touches my heart every time I listen to it ♥ I love all the songs, it's my favourite cd, but One is the best, it's perfect...
jenng7
UltraViolet...Light My Way
Though this whole album is incredible, Light My Way has huge meaning to me personally. I was in such a horrible place emotionally when this album was released. Shortly after, I met someone who helped me to "light my way" out of my darkness. The line "feel like trash you make me feel clean" hits home with me in so many ways.
Matt_u2
If I can only pick one
Ultraviolet. I became a fan with Achtung Baby and that was my first favorite U2 song.
anapfitscher
One
I´ve heard this music a thousand times, but unbelievably everytime i feel something very strong inside my cheast. One is perfect.
U2Gator92
You're dangerous because you're honest
Wild Horses. You left my heart as empty as a vacant lot. Perfect...
One, And Three or Four More
For years One was my favorite song off the album, and pretty much ignored the rest as it was too dark and different for me to appreciate at the time. But after revisiting it I think the whole album actually tops Joshua Tree for U2's best. Not a weak song on the whole album. So after One, I would say Love Is Blindness, Acrobat, Ultraviolet, The Fly. They led off the July 23, 2011concert in Minneapolis with Even Better Than The Real Thing and it was the best I've ever heard it; they also did The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Ultraviolet and Until The End of the World - half the album at the one concert!
hand195
Zoo Station...
I was thirteen years old, and looking through my brothers tape collection. I did not know the first thing about music. I had previously heard Queen, Black Sabbath and The Smiths, but nothing had set my senses on fire. Then I heard the intro to Achtung Baby, which made my hair stand on end. Everybody has moments they will never forget. Hearing Achtung Baby for the first time is one of those moments for me. For that, I thank you.
rllanos
AB: The best U2 album by Far
I love all of U2's albums and I really do mean that, but the one album that I do not get tired of is this masterpiece called Achtung Baby. There are so many good songs on this album, how do I start? One: for it's balladic and introspectively melodic, yet defiant, mood. But I also have to thank Anton for the beautiful video done in Berlin. Until the End of the World: For it's spacial and atmospheric as well as energetic mood. It sends me to another place. Zoo Station: for its hopeful, industrial and rebellious decision to move away from it's prior self. To depart from the old (surrender the old) and travel towards the new. Even Better than The Real Thing: For both it's alarming and wavering simulacric intro and nose dive into a technological and sensational underworld. I'm sure you made William Gibson and Jean Baudrillard very proud. Bravo!
Shannon387
Not sure I can pick only one
If I had to pick just one song off of Achtung Baby it would be the song One. I just positively love that song. It's one of their masterpieces most definitely. But an honorable mention has to go to Love is Blindness with the superb and masterful guitar playing by Edge. I also can't leave out Acrobat. Also a really great song.
yardie
Even Better.........
......Than the Real Thing,the perfecto mix,or whatever is was;it was U2's first stab at doing dance mixes of their songs as the rave/dance/club scene was certainly taking a grip across the UK & Ireland around the same time. That one,coupled with 'Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World,beautiful little tune,still one of my all time favourites. The rasp of the Zoo Station intro,I remember hearing this on a BBC Radio 1 preview at the time of release thinking ...'this is good...this IS good.'
dexterkent
Like, "which is your favorite color in a
...but if I have to pick just one to cover the whole rainbow- it's probably best summed up by Acrobat. It's not just the perfection of the lyric "talk like this/act like that" that captures in a snap the whole era of the band, but the rage pouring through Edge's guitar in the solo- a feat he would continue on the epic, heartbreaking album closer. This is the greatest album in rock history, and I say that because of these shades of depth. It's not just about sex-- while still being all about sex. But it's also about death, about God, and about finding or holding on to faith "when the day is as dark as the night is long." I can never say enough to express my gratitude for Achtung Baby. These aching psalms have been my counsel and empathy at times no one else quite had the words. May God always bless you all.
ggen
One
I have to say that One was the song that really drew me into Actung Baby. I remember the exact moment when I first heard the song and exactly how it made me feel. I was communting home from work in Boston,MA. I was on the subway listening to a radio broadcast of the entire album via my Sony Walkman and I remember just stopping and just focusing on the words and the melody. I got chills and started crying. All the difference meaning the song has, for me, it reminded me of my relationship with my father and how we are not the same and we dont understand each other. To this date, that song takes me back to the first day I heard it. Actung Baby is my most favorite album/CD and I still listen to it from start to finish.
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