Original of the Species

Last updated
"Original of the Species"
U2 original of the species.jpg
Cover for the promotional release
Promotional single by U2
from the album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
ReleasedNovember 2005
Genre Rock
Length
  • 4:41 (album)
  • 4:29 (edit)
Label Island / Interscope
Composer U2
Lyricist Bono
Producer Steve Lillywhite with additional production by Jacknife Lee

"Original of the Species" is a song by rock band U2 and the tenth track from their 2004 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb .

Contents

Promotion

A live video clip of this song from the DVD Vertigo 2005: Live From Chicago is featured in a television commercial promoting the video capable Apple iPod. During that performance, Bono dedicates it to his two daughters. The image of Bono singing this song from the live recording in Chicago was used as the icon Apple used for the artist tab in the music app on their devices until 2015. Bono has also said he believes this to be the best song on How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb . In concerts in December 2005, Bono has said the song is one of many influenced by John Lennon's music. The music video for the single utilised animated computer-generated imagery by Spontaneous, something unprecedented for U2 videos.

Live performances

In concert form during the Vertigo Tour, the song was played with the Edge on piano, often accompanied by Bono on acoustic guitar. On rare occasions, it was played with the Edge on electric guitar, in a performance which was accompanied by a pianist and full orchestra, much similar to the performance of the album, and one of those performances was at their show in Milan, Italy in July 2005, which appeared on the Vertigo 05: Live from Milan bonus DVD for U2's 2006 compilation U218 Singles .

Reception

The song was added to the playlists of thirteen alternative rock radio stations in the US. However, it failed to break the top 40, thus not charting on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Instead it hovered around #60, rising to #55 in mid-January. However, it never gained enough airplay to enter the chart. It was slated for a UK release and was playlisted by Xfm London, Virgin Radio, and made the B-List of BBC Radio 2.

Track listing

The U.S. promo was released in late 2005, while the U.K. promo was released in early 2006.

U.S. Promotional Single / Interscope INTR-11595-2
No.TitleLength
1."Original of the Species" (album version)4:41
Total length:4:41
U.K. Promotional Single / Island U2PRO6
No.TitleLength
1."Original of the Species" (single version)4:29
Total length:4:29

Personnel

Personnel taken from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb CD booklet. [1]

U2

Additional personnel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Original of the Species"
Chart (2005–06)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [2] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [3] 15
Netherlands S2 (Dutch Charts) [4] 15
US Adult Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [5] 4
Year-end chart rankings for "Original of the Species"
Chart (2006)Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [3] 154

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Original of the Species"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
United StatesNovember 28, 2005Hot AC radio Interscope [6]

References

  1. ↑ How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (CD booklet). U2. Island Records. 2004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ "U2 – Original of the Species" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Jaargang 42, 2006" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "U2 - Original Of The Species" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Radio & Records" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 25 November 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
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