I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Last updated

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
Still havent found cover.jpg
7-inch vinyl variant of the standard artwork
Single by U2
from the album The Joshua Tree
B-side
  • "Spanish Eyes"
  • "Deep in the Heart"
Released25 May 1987 [1]
Recorded1986
Studio Danesmoate House (Dublin)
Genre
Length4:37
Label Island
Composer(s) U2
Lyricist(s) Bono
Producer(s)
U2 singles chronology
"With or Without You"
(1987)
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
(1987)
"Where the Streets Have No Name"
(1987)
Music video
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" on YouTube

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band's second consecutive number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 while peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart.

Contents

The song originated from a demo the band recorded on which drummer Larry Mullen Jr. played a unique rhythm pattern. Like much of The Joshua Tree, the song was inspired by the group's interest in American music. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" exhibits influences from gospel music and its lyrics describe spiritual yearning. Lead singer Bono's vocals are in high register and lead guitarist the Edge plays a chiming arpeggio. Adding to the gospel qualities of the song are choir-like backing vocals provided by the Edge and producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois.

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was critically acclaimed and received two nominations at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988, for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It has subsequently become one of the group's most well-known songs and has been performed on many of their concert tours. The track has appeared on several of their compilations and concert films. Many critics and publications have ranked "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" among the greatest tracks in music history, including Rolling Stone which ranked the song at number 93 of its 2010 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". [3]

Writing and recording

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" originated from a demo variously titled "The Weather Girls" and "Under the Weather" that the band recorded during a jam session. [2] [4] [5] Bassist Adam Clayton called the demo's melody "a bit of a one-note groove", while an unconvinced The Edge, the band's guitarist, compared it to "'Eye of the Tiger' played by a reggae band". However, the band liked the drum part played by drummer Larry Mullen Jr. [6] Co-producer Daniel Lanois said, "It was a very original beat from Larry. We always look for those beats that would qualify as a signature for the song. And that certainly was one of those. It had this tom-tom thing that he does and nobody ever understands. And we just didn't want to let go of that beat, it was so unique." [4] Lanois encouraged Mullen to continue developing the weird drum pattern beyond the demo. [6] Mullen said the beat became even more unusual, and although Lanois eventually mixed most of the pattern out to just keep the basics, the rhythm became the root of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". [6]

"I've always liked gospel music and I encouraged Bono to take it to that place ... It was a very non-U2 thing to do at the time, to go up the street of gospel. I think it opened a door for them, to experiment with that territory ... [Bono]'s singing at the top of his range and there is something very compelling about somebody pushing themselves. It's like hearing Aretha Franklin almost. It jumps on you and you can't help but feel the feeling."

 Daniel Lanois [7]

The group worked on the track at the studio they had set up at Danesmoate House in Dublin. [4] Lanois compared the creation of the song to constructing a building, first laying down the drums as the foundation, then adding additional layers piece by piece, before finally "putting in furniture". [7] Lead singer Bono was interested in the theme of spiritual doubt, which was fostered by Eno's love for gospel music, and by Bono's listening to songs by The Swan Silvertones, The Staple Singers, and Blind Willie Johnson. [8] After the Edge wrote a chord sequence and played it on acoustic guitar "with a lot of power in the strumming", the group attempted to compose a suitable vocal melody, [6] trying out a variety of ideas. [4] During a jam session, Bono began singing a "classic soul" melody, and it was this addition that made the Edge hear the song's potential. [6] At that point, he remembered a phrase he had written in a notebook that morning as a possible song title, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for". He suggests it was influenced by a line from the Bob Dylan song "Idiot Wind": "You'll find out when you reach the top you're on the bottom". [6] He wrote the phrase on a piece of paper and handed it to Bono while he was singing. The Edge called the phrase's fit with the song "like hand in glove". [6] From that point on, the song was the first piece played to visitors during the recording sessions. [6]

As recording continued, a number of guitar overdubs were added, including an auto-pan effect and a chiming arpeggio to modernise the old-style "gospel song". [7] While the Edge was improvising guitar parts one day, Bono heard a "chrome bells" guitar hook that he liked. [6] It was added as a counter-melody to the song's "muddy shoes" guitar part, [6] and it is this hook that the Edge plays during live performances of the song. Bono sang in the upper register of his range to add to the feeling of spiritual yearning; in the verses he hits a B-flat note, and an A-flat in the chorus. [7] Background vocals were provided by the Edge, Lanois, and co-producer Brian Eno, their voices being multi-tracked. Lanois suggests that his and Eno's involvement in the track's creation helped their vocals. He stated, "You're not going to get that sound of, 'Oh they brought in some soul singers' if you know what I mean. Our hearts and souls are already there. If we sing it'll sound more real." [6] Lanois also played a percussive guitar part, which is heard in the introduction. [9] The song's writing was completed relatively early during the band's time at Danesmoate House. The mix took longer to complete, though, with most of the production team contributing. The final mix was completed by Lanois and the Edge in a home studio set up at Melbeach, a house purchased by the Edge. They mixed it on top of a previous Steve Lillywhite mix, which gave the song a phasing sound. [6] The final version of the song is composed in the key of D-flat major. [10]

Lanois says he is very attached to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and has, on occasion, joined U2 on stage to perform it. [7] The original "Weather Girls" demo, re-titled "Desert of Our Love", was included with the 2007 remastered version of The Joshua Tree on a bonus disc of outtakes and B-sides. [5]

Release

Initially, "Red Hill Mining Town" was planned for release as the second single. However, Bono was unable to sing the song during pre-tour rehearsals and the band were reportedly unhappy with the video shot by Neil Jordan, so "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" became a late choice for the second single. [11] The single was released in May 1987. On the US Billboard Hot 100, the song debuted at number 51 on 13 June 1987. After nearly 2 months on the chart, the song reached number one on 8 August 1987, becoming the band's second consecutive number-one hit in the United States. The song spent two weeks in the top spot, and remained on the chart for 17 weeks. [12] On other Billboard charts, the song peaked at number 16 on the Adult Contemporary chart, [13] and number two on the Album Rock Tracks chart. [14] The song also topped the Irish Singles Chart, [15] while peaking at number six on the Canadian RPM Top 100 [16] and the UK Singles Chart. [17] In New Zealand, the song peaked at number two on the RIANZ Top 40 Singles Chart, while reaching number six on the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 on the Swedish Singles Chart. [18]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was filmed on Fremont Street in Las Vegas on 12 April 1987 following their Joshua Tree Tour concert in that city. [11] It features the band members wandering around while the Edge plays an acoustic guitar. The music video was later re-released on The U218 Videos compilation DVD. Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas's official event organization, credits the group's video with improving the city's image among musicians. "The whole perception of Vegas changed with that video," Christenson said, adding, "Now all the big names come here, some of them five, six times a year." [19]

B-sides

"Spanish Eyes" was created early during The Joshua Tree sessions. It began as a recording made in Adam Clayton's house of Clayton, the Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr. playing around with several different elements. [20] The piece evolved substantially over the course of an afternoon, but the cassette and its recording was subsequently lost and forgotten. The Edge found the cassette towards the end of the album sessions and played it to the rest of the group. The band realised that it was a good track, but did not have enough time to complete it prior to The Joshua Tree's release. [20]

"Deep in the Heart" stemmed from a three-chord piano piece Bono composed on the piano about the last time he had been in the family home on Cedarwood Road in Dublin, which his father had just sold. [20] The memories of his time living there gave rise to many of the lyrical ideas on the song. [20] The Edge and Adam Clayton reworked the piece extensively, with Bono later describing the finished result as "an almost jazz-like improvisation on three chords", also noting that "the rhythm section turned it into a very special piece of music." [20] The song was recorded in a similar manner to the song "4th of July" from U2's 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire ; the Edge and Clayton were playing together in a room and unaware that they were being recorded on a 4-track cassette machine by the band's assistant, Marc Coleman. [20]

Reception

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" received widespread critical acclaim. Hot Press journalist Bill Graham described the song as on the one-hand as a "smart job of pop handwork, pretty standard American radio rock-ballad fare" but that "the band's rhythms are far more supple and cultivated than your average bouffant HM band of that period". [21] The Sunday Independent suggested that the song was proof the band could be commercially accessible without resorting to rock clichés. [22] NME remarked that the song showed that the band cared about something, which made them "special". [23] The Rocket noted that Bono's lyrics about needing personal spirituality resulted in a "unique marriage of American gospel and Gaelic soul" and that the "human perspective he brings to this sentiment rings far truer than the rantings of, say, the born-again Bob Dylan". [24] Cash Box said that "Typically drenched in Bono-esque pathos and Edge-guitar atmospherics, 'Still' has the power of spiritual conviction delivered from the perspective of the desert sojourn rather than the comfort of the Promised Land." [25] Several publications, including The Bergen Record and The Boston Globe , called the track "hypnotic" and interpreted it as depicting the band on a spiritual quest. [26] [27] [28] The song finished in 18th place on the "Best Singles" list from The Village Voice 's 1987 Pazz & Jop critics' poll. [29]

Live performances

The song is U2's 9th most played live song, and has been played on every tour except for the eXPERIENCE+iNNOCENCE Tour in 2018. [30] It was played at every date of The Joshua Tree and Lovetown Tours, typically early in the main set. It was played at most of the 1992 legs of the Zoo TV Tour, typically rounding out the main set or being played acoustically on the B-Stage mid set. For most of the 1993 Zooropa shows however, the song was dropped. It returned to be played at each of the PopMart Tour's 93 shows, usually being played midway through the set. On the Elevation Tour it initially was very rare, only appearing once over the first and second legs. However, it became a regular again on the 3rd leg, being played late in the main set replacing the song "Mysterious Ways", which was used in that spot on the previous two legs. It was played at the majority of both the Vertigo and U2 360° Tours, typically early-to-mid main set. It was used as the closing song at just under half of the shows on the Innocence + Experience Tour, rotating with "One" and "40".

Island Records commissioned New York choir director, Dennis Bell, to record a gospel version of the song, and Island intended to release it after U2's single. However, Island boss Chris Blackwell vetoed the plan. Bell subsequently formed his own label. [31] While in Glasgow in late July 1987 during the Joshua Tree Tour, Rob Partridge of Island Records played the demo that Bell and his choir, the New Voices of Freedom, had made. [32] In late September, U2 rehearsed with Bell's choir in Greater Calvary Baptist Church in Harlem for a performance together in a few days at U2's Madison Square Garden concert. The Edge's guitar was the only instrument that U2 brought to the church although Mullen borrowed a conga drum. The rehearsal was done with the church's audio system and footage was used in the Rattle and Hum motion picture. Several performances were made with a piano player; however, the version used in the film includes only Bono, the Edge, Mullen, and the choir. Audio from the Madison Square Garden performance appears on the accompanying album. [33]

A live performance of the song appears in the concert films PopMart: Live from Mexico City , Vertigo 05: Live from Milan , Live from Paris and the most recent U2 360° at the Rose Bowl . The versions on the Mexico City and Milan concert films consist of just Bono's voice and the Edge's guitar until after the first chorus where the drum and bass parts kick in. Digital live versions were released through iTunes on the Love: Live from the Point Depot and U2.COMmunication albums.

Legacy

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" has been acclaimed by many critics and publications as one of the greatest songs of all time. In 2001, the song was ranked at number 120 on the RIAA's list of 365 "Songs of the Century" a project intended to "promote a better understanding of America's musical and cultural heritage" despite the group's Irish origins. [34] In 2003, a special edition issue of Q , titled "1001 Best Songs Ever", placed "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" at number 148 on its list of the greatest songs. [35] In 2005, Blender ranked the song at number 443 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". [36] In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the song 93rd on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"; [37] the song remained in that position on the magazine's 2010 version of the list, [3] but was re-ranked to 321st on the 2021 version. [38] In 2022, New York Magazine's Vulture.com ranked the song at number four in its list of all 234 U2 songs. [39]

Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn called it U2's "Let It Be", in reference to the Beatles song. [40] The staff of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selected "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" as one of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. [41]

The song was covered by Scottish band the Chimes in 1990 [42] and was featured on their self-titled debut album. The rendition peaked at number six in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand charts. [43] [44] It also peaked into number twelve in the Netherlands chart. [45] Singer Cher used to open her shows with a cover of the song during her 1990s and 2000s concerts. The cast of TV series Glee , led by Chord Overstreet, Kevin McHale, Darren Criss and Jenna Ushkowitz, covered the song in the eleventh episode of the fifth season, "City of Angels", as a tribute for Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) in their national competition.

A re-recorded version of the song was included on U2's 2023 album Songs of Surrender .

Track listing

All tracks are written by U2

No.TitleProducerLength
1."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois 4:38
2."Spanish Eyes"U23:16
3."Deep in the Heart"U24:31
Total length:11:25

Personnel

U2

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [69] Gold50,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [70] Platinum90,000
Germany (BVMI) [71] Gold250,000
Italy (FIMI) [72]
sales since 2009
Platinum70,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [73] Platinum600,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The Chimes version

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (The Chimes song).jpg
Single by the Chimes
from the album The Chimes
ReleasedMay 1990
Genre R&B
Length4:02
Label CBS
Composer(s) U2
Lyricist(s) Bono
Producer(s) The Chimes
The Chimes singles chronology
"Heaven"
(1989)
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
(1990)
"True Love"
(1990)
Music video
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" on YouTube

Scottish band the Chimes released a cover version of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" in May 1990 by CBS. It was released as the third single from their only album, The Chimes (1990), and reached No. 2 in Norway and No. 6 in the United Kingdom, [74] Ireland, and New Zealand. Bono from U2 commented that the Chimes' version was the "only cover version he had heard that he enjoyed and did the original justice", adding, "at last someone's come along to sing it properly".[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

Stewart Mason from AllMusic described the song as "gospel-tinged", noting that it "finds new levels of power in that overplayed song, and its inclusion makes perfect thematic and musical sense instead of being the desperate plea for chart attention it might have been in less capable hands." [75] Bill Coleman from Billboard declared it as the "perfect cover version", and a "tasteful, contemporary R&B treatment of a pop favorite [that] may be this U.K. threesome's key to a stateside breakthrough. Multiformat exposure is well-deserved." [76] Dave Haynes from Calgary Herald complimented it as a "sultry reworking" and the "most interesting cut" of the album. [77] Ernest Hardy from Cashbox viewed it as "a moving cover", that "should be their entry into the big time." [78]

Chris Roberts from Melody Maker wrote, "I still don't realise it's that horrible U2 song because I'm enjoying it immensely. Somehow the Chimes, gradually evolving into the most consistent of Brit soul bands, have transformed the sub-Dylan turkey into a smoochy summery thing that claws into your spinal cord and hangs there like a first kiss, purring." [79] David Giles from Music Week stated, "This is a luxurious cover which wraps a huge voice in a Soul II Soul style backing to heart-stirring effect." [80] Miranda Sawyer from Smash Hits noted Pauline Henry's "remarkable voice", describing the song as "classy" [81] and "a lovely, lazy Soul II Soul-style groover." She added that it's "the sort of tune that makes you think of sappy summer things. Warm sea, sandy shores, coasting about on your bike down leafy lanes." [82]

Track listing

7-inch single, UK (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"4:01
2."No Need to Pretend"3:19
12-inch single, UK (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (Boom Mix)5:33
2."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (Manasseh Mix)5:27
3."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (Boom Dub Mix)5:18
CD single, UK (1990)
No.TitleLength
1."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"4:01
2."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (Manasseh Mix)5:27
3."I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (Street Mix)6:17
4."No Need to Pretend"3:19

Charts

Scarlett Johansson and Bono duet version

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
Song by Scarlett Johansson and Bono
from the album Sing 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released17 December 2021 (2021-12-17)
Genre
Label Republic
Composer(s) U2
Lyricist(s) Bono

In 2021, American actress Scarlett Johansson (under the role of Ash) and U2 frontman Bono (under the role of Clay Calloway) performed a duet of the song for the soundtrack of the American computer-animated jukebox musical comedy film Sing 2 . The film also features two other classic songs by U2, "Where the Streets Have No Name" (also from The Joshua Tree album) (performed by the cast, the same lineup also perform the Prince song "Let's Go Crazy" earlier in the film), "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (performed by Johansson), and the original song "Your Song Saved My Life", which was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on 3 November 2021. [95] The duet was released as the nineteenth and final track on the soundtrack album on 17 December 2021. [96] It was also featured in the trailer of the film.

Charts

Chart performance for "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (Scarlett Johansson and Bono duet version)
Chart (2022)Peak
position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [97] 48

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U2</span> Irish rock band

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin, formed in 1976. The group consists of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.. Initially rooted in post-punk, U2's musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic quality built on Bono's expressive vocals and the Edge's chiming, effects-based guitar sounds. Bono's lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group have staged several elaborate tours over their career.

<i>The Joshua Tree</i> 1987 studio album by U2

The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and was released on 9 March 1987 on Island Records. In contrast to the ambient experimentation of their 1984 release, The Unforgettable Fire, the band aimed for a harder-hitting sound within the limitation of conventional song structures on The Joshua Tree. The album is influenced by American and Irish roots music, and through sociopolitically conscious lyrics embellished with spiritual imagery, it contrasts the group's antipathy for the "real America" with their fascination with the "mythical America".

<i>Rattle and Hum</i> 1988 studio/live album and documentary film by U2

Rattle and Hum is a hybrid live/studio album by Irish rock band U2, and a companion rockumentary film directed by Phil Joanou. The album was produced by Jimmy Iovine and was released on 10 October 1988, while the film was distributed by Paramount Pictures and was released on 27 October 1988. Following the breakthrough success of the band's previous studio album, The Joshua Tree, the Rattle and Hum project captures their continued experiences with American roots music on the Joshua Tree Tour, further incorporating elements of blues rock, folk rock, and gospel music into their sound. A collection of new studio tracks, live performances, and cover songs, the project includes recordings at Sun Studio in Memphis and collaborations with Bob Dylan, B. B. King, and Harlem's New Voices of Freedom gospel choir.

<i>The Unforgettable Fire</i> 1984 studio album by U2

The Unforgettable Fire is the fourth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and released on 1 October 1984 by Island Records. The band wanted to pursue a new musical direction following the harder-hitting rock of their previous album, War (1983). As a result, they employed Eno and Lanois to produce and assist in their experimentation with a more ambient sound. The resulting change in direction was at the time the band's most dramatic. The album's title is a reference to "The Unforgettable Fire", an art exhibit about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of</span> 2001 single by U2

"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track on their tenth studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000), and was released as the album's second single on 29 January 2001. The band's lead vocalist Bono has said the song was inspired by a fictional conversation with his friend Michael Hutchence about suicide. The song peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Canada, their native Ireland and Italy, while reaching the top 10 in Australia, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom. In 2002, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony.

The Chimes were a British dance music trio, which consisted of Pauline Henry with Mike Peden and James Locke from Edinburgh, Scotland. They are best known for their hits "Heaven" and a remake of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", which became a UK top 10 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where the Streets Have No Name</span> 1987 single by U2

"Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's third single in August 1987. The song's hook is a repeating guitar arpeggio using a delay effect, played during the song's introduction and again at the end. Lead vocalist Bono wrote the lyrics in response to the notion that it is possible to identify a person's religion and income based on the street on which they lived, particularly in Belfast. During the band's difficulties recording the song, producer Brian Eno considered erasing the song's tapes to have them start from scratch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In God's Country</span> 1987 single by U2

"In God's Country" is a song by the rock band U2. It is the seventh track from their fifth studio album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's fourth single in November 1987 in North America only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With or Without You</span> 1987 single by U2

"With or Without You" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their fifth studio album, The Joshua Tree (1987), and was released as the album's lead single on 16 March 1987. The song was the group's most successful single at the time, becoming their first number-one hit in both the United States and Canada by topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and the RPM national singles chart for one week, with a further three weeks at number two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Day</span> 2000 single by U2

"Beautiful Day" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the first track on their tenth studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000), and was released as the album's lead single on 9 October 2000. The song was a commercial success, helping launch the album to multi-platinum status, and is one of U2's biggest hits to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweetest Thing</span> 1998 single by U2

"Sweetest Thing" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was originally released as a B-side on the "Where the Streets Have No Name" single in 1987. The song was later re-recorded and re-released as a single in October 1998 for the band's compilation album The Best of 1980–1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mysterious Ways (song)</span> 1991 single by U2

"Mysterious Ways" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the eighth track from their 1991 album, Achtung Baby, and was released as the album's second single on 2 December 1991. The song began as an improvisation called "Sick Puppy", with the band liking only the bass part that bassist Adam Clayton composed. The band struggled to build a song from it, with vocalist Bono and producer Daniel Lanois arguing intensely during one songwriting session. The song's breakthrough came after guitarist the Edge began experimenting with the Korg A3 effects unit. "Mysterious Ways" features a danceable beat, funky guitar hook, and conga-laden percussion, as well as mystical lyrics by Bono about romance and women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fly (U2 song)</span> 1991 single by U2

"The Fly" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the seventh track from their 1991 album, Achtung Baby, and it was released as the album's first single on 21 October 1991. "The Fly" introduced a more abrasive-sounding U2, as the song featured danceable hip-hop beats, industrial textures, distorted vocals, and an elaborate guitar solo. Lead vocalist Bono described the song as "the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree", due to its departure from the sound that had traditionally characterised the band in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Unforgettable Fire (song)</span> 1985 single by U2

"The Unforgettable Fire" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the title track of their fourth album (1984), and was released as the album's second single in April 1985. The band cited an art exhibition by victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that was held at The Peace Museum in Chicago as the lyrical inspiration for the song. It became U2's first number one single in Ireland, their third top-ten hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number six on the UK Singles Chart, and reached number eight on the Dutch singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria (U2 song)</span> 1981 single by U2

"Gloria" is a song by rock band U2. It is the opening track and second single from the band's 1981 album, October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Hill Mining Town</span> 1987 song by U2

"Red Hill Mining Town" is a song by the rock band U2. It is the sixth track from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. A rough version of this song was worked on during the early Joshua Tree album writing sessions in 1985. The focus of the song is on the National Union of Mineworkers' 1984 strike in Great Britain that occurred in response to the National Coal Board's campaign to close unprofitable mines. A music video was produced in February 1987 for the song and was directed by Neil Jordan. The song was planned for release as the album's second single, but it was ultimately shelved in favour of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For".

<i>Live from Paris</i> (U2 album) 2007 concert video and live album by U2

Live from Paris is a concert video and live album by Irish rock band U2. It was recorded during the band's concert at Hippodrome de Vincennes in Paris, France, on 4 July 1987 during the Joshua Tree Tour. The concert was originally released in video form on the bonus DVD that was included in the remastered box set of The Joshua Tree, released on 20 November 2007. The following year, the concert was released as a digital music download exclusively in the iTunes Store on 21 July 2008.

"Exit" is a song by rock band U2. It is the tenth track on their 1987 album The Joshua Tree. "Exit" was developed from a lengthy jam that was recorded in a single take and edited down to a shorter arrangement. The lyrics, which portray the mind of a serial killer, were inspired by lead singer Bono's reading of Norman Mailer's 1980 novel The Executioner's Song, and other related works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Tree Hill (song)</span> 1988 single by U2

"One Tree Hill" is a song by Irish rock band U2 and the ninth track on their 1987 album The Joshua Tree. In March 1988, it was released as the fourth single from the album in New Zealand and Australia, while "In God's Country" was released as the fourth single in North America. "One Tree Hill" charted at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart and was the country's second-most-successful hit of 1988.

References

Footnotes

  1. Sams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" Single". U2songs.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 Dalton, Stephen (October 2003). "How the West Was Won". Uncut . No. 77.
  3. 1 2 "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: U2, 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'". Rolling Stone . No. Special collectors edition. 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 O'Hare, Colm (28 November 2007). "The Secret History of 'The Joshua Tree'". Hot Press . Vol. 31, no. 23. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  5. 1 2 The Edge (2007). The Joshua Tree (20th anniversary edition box set). U2.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 McCormick 2006 , pp. 181–182
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 King, Philip, and Nuala O'Connor (directors) (1998). Classic Albums: U2 The Joshua Tree (Television documentary). Eagle Rock Entertainment.
  8. Stokes (2005), p. 65
  9. Prendergast, Mark (September 1987). "The Magic of Daniel Lanois (Part II)". Sound on Sound . Vol. 2, no. 11. pp. 42–46.
  10. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Musicnotes.com. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  11. 1 2 McGee (2008), p. 103
  12. "Hot 100 – Week of August 08, 1987". Billboard . Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  13. 1 2 "U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  14. 1 2 "U2 Chart History: Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard . Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Irish Singles Chart". The Irish Charts. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009. Note: U2 must be searched manually.
  16. 1 2 "Top Singles". RPM . Vol. 46, no. 20. 22 August 1987. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  17. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  18. 1 2 "U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  19. Clarke, Norm (12 April 2002). "U2 Video Helped Make Vegas An Entertainment Mecca". Las Vegas Review-Journal .
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hutchinson, John (October 1987). "Luminous Times: U2 Wrestle with Their Moment of Glory". Musician .
  21. Graham (2004), pp. 30-31
  22. Hand, Lisa (8 March 1987). "'Joshua Tree' blooms". Sunday Independent .
  23. McCready, John (14 March 1987). "Out of Little Acorns ...". NME .
  24. Boyd, Glen (1 April 1987). "The Joshua Tree". The Rocket .
  25. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 6 June 1987. p. 11. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  26. Jaeger, Barbara (17 March 1987). "'Joshua Tree' Lifts U2 to an Even Loftier Level". The Bergen Record .
  27. Morse, Steve (1 March 1987). "The Joshua Tree". The Boston Globe .
  28. Harrington, Richard (22 March 1987). "U2 Can Be Famous; Breaking Into the Big Time With 'Joshua Tree'". Washington Post .
  29. "The 1987 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". robertchristgau.com . Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  30. "All songs U2 played live by count – U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  31. McGee (2008), p. 104
  32. McGee (2008), p. 109
  33. McGee (2008), pp. 110-111
  34. "Songs of the Century". CNN.com . Cable News Network. 7 March 2001. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  35. Trynka, Paul (editor-in-chief) (2003). "1001 Best Songs Ever". Q . No. Special edition.{{cite magazine}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  36. "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". Blender . No. 41. October 2005. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  37. "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone . No. 963. 9 December 2004. p. 112. Archived from the original on 31 December 2004. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  38. "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone . No. 1356. October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  39. Rose, Caryn (26 October 2022). "All 234 U2 Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  40. Hilburn, Robert (2 December 2004). "Ask the Critic: Robert Hilburn" . Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  41. "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  42. Blackstock, Russell (22 May 1990). "Blackstock's Rock". Evening Times . Glasgow. p. 22.
  43. "Chimes". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  44. "Discography – The Chimes". charts.nz. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  45. "Discografie – The Chimes". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  46. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 317. ISBN   0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
  47. "U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  48. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-31-2503-3.
  49. "U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  50. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "U2".
  51. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  52. "U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  53. "U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  54. "SA Charts 1965 – March 1989" . Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  55. "U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  56. "U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  57. "U2 Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  58. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. LI, no. 8. 15 August 1987. p. 4 via World Radio History.
  59. "Offiziellecharts.de – U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  60. "U2 Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  61. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  62. "European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  63. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  64. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  65. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART.
  66. "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles". Record Mirror . 23 January 1988. p. 36.
  67. "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. 26 December 1987. p. Y-22.
  68. "Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. LI, no. 27. 26 December 1987. p. 24 via World Radio History.
  69. "Canadian single certifications – U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Music Canada . Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  70. "Danish single certifications – U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  71. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (U2; 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  72. "Italian single certifications – U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 15 November 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  73. "British single certifications – U2 – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  74. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  75. Mason, Stewart. "The Chimes – The Chimes". AllMusic . Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  76. Coleman, Bill (28 April 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 73. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  77. Haynes, Dave (5 June 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald .
  78. Hardy, Ernest (26 May 1990). "Pop Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Cashbox . p. 20. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  79. Roberts, Chris (12 May 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  80. Giles, David (19 May 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 23. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  81. Sawyer, Miranda (30 May 1990). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits . No. 300. p. 60. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  82. Sawyer, Miranda (16 May 1990). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits . No. 299. p. 54. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  83. "The Chimes – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  84. "The Chimes – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  85. "The Chimes – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  86. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 23. 9 June 1990. p. IV. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  87. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "The Chimes". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 46. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  88. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  89. "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Chimes" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  90. "The Chimes – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  91. "The Chimes – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  92. "The Chimes – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". VG-lista. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  93. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Chimes – I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  94. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  95. Willman, Chris (4 November 2021). "U2 Releases Original Song from 'Sing 2,' 'Your Song Saved My Life'". Variety. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  96. "'Sing 2' soundtrack features U2, Tori Kelly, Elton John & others". The Music Universe. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  97. "Bono Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 January 2022.

Bibliography