Staring at the Sun (U2 song)

Last updated

"Staring at the Sun"
Sats.jpg
Single by U2
from the album Pop
B-side
Released14 April 1997 (1997-04-14)
Genre Alternative rock
Length4:37
Label Island
Composer(s) U2
Lyricist(s) Bono and The Edge
Producer(s) Flood, with additional production by Steve Osborne
U2 singles chronology
"Discothèque"
(1997)		"Staring at the Sun"
(1997)		"Last Night on Earth"
(1997)
Music videos

"Staring at the Sun" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fifth track on their 1997 album, Pop , and was released by Island Records as the album's second single on 14 April 1997. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, number one in Canada and Iceland and number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the US, it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and Adult Alternative Songs charts. It also reached the top 10 in Finland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and Norway.

Contents

Background

The song was written with the line "Stuck together with God's glue", which was taken directly from the title of the album by the Irish band Something Happens, who are good friends with U2. [1] The band felt the song was a potential "anthem to rival 'One'." [2] [3] A new mix of "Staring at the Sun" was released for the compilation, The Best of 1990–2000 . [2] During the mid-2002 recording sessions in which "Electrical Storm" and "The Hands That Built America" were recorded, parts for four U2 songs were re-recorded, including "Staring at the Sun". The song has been compared to the work of Oasis. [4] [5]

A kaleidoscope bearing the single's logo in gold was distributed to promote the single. [6]

Critical reception

Kevin Courtney from Irish Times commented, "Could this be U2's riposte to "Champagne Supernova", an overt attempt to steal some thunder back from Oasis and regain their rightful place as anthem makers supreme? "Staring at the Sun" has shades of psychedelia, lazy sunny afternoons watching a Waterloo sunset, and it's as big, bold and Beatlesque as anything Noel Gallagher has ever knocked out. The Edge picks out pictures of matchstick men on his guitar, while Bono sings of "Summer stretching on the grass ... Summer dresses pass . .." A front runner for U2's big Summer 97 hit." [7] British magazine Music Week gave it top score with five out of five and named it Single of the Week, writing, "Possibly the most obvious single on Pop , this track is awash with a melancholy that's amplified by The Edge's plangent, keening guitar signature. Big." [8] David Sinclair from The Times said, "God is good, but will He listen? Bono asks in this solid return to traditional U2 territory. Does He have a choice?" [9]

Live performances

"Staring at the Sun" was played at most of the PopMart Tour shows. However, during the first concert at Las Vegas, U2 failed to time the song correctly and had to start over. Bono singing at the wrong tempo was to blame for the mistake. The song was performed acoustically for most of the rest of that tour. [2] It had several appearances on the Elevation Tour, being the only Pop song to be performed on all three legs of the Elevation Tour. Sometimes it also appeared as a snippet in "Discothèque". It was performed as a live staple of the North American leg of the 2018 Experience + Innocence Tour." [10] [11]

It appeared in the live videos/recordings Please: PopHeart Live EP , "Please" single, PopMart: Live from Mexico City , Hasta la Vista Baby! and U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland .

Formats and track listings

7-inch and cassette release
No.TitleLength
1."Staring at the Sun"4:37
2."North and South of the River"4:38
CD release 1
No.TitleLength
1."Staring at the Sun"4:37
2."North and South of the River"4:38
3."Your Blue Room"5:28
CD release 2
No.TitleLength
1."Staring at the Sun" (Monster Truck mix)5:06
2."Staring at the Sun" (Sad Bastards mix)6:19
3."North and South of the River"4:38
4."Staring at the Sun" (Lab Rat mix)5:05

Charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United States11 March 1997 Contemporary hit radio Island [47]
United Kingdom14 April 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
 [48]
Canada15 April 1997CD [49]
United States
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
Japan25 April 1997CD [50]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iris (song)</span> 1998 song by Goo Goo Dolls

"Iris" is a song by the American alternative rock band Goo Goo Dolls. Written for the soundtrack of the 1998 film City of Angels, it was included on the sixth Goo Goo Dolls album, Dizzy Up the Girl, and released as a single on April 1, 1998. No character named Iris appears in the film, and the title never appears in the lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discothèque (song)</span> 1997 single by U2

"Discothèque" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track on their 1997 album, Pop, and was released as its lead single on 3 February 1997 by Island Records. The song exhibits influences from electronic dance music, characteristic of the band's musical direction in the 1990s. The music video, directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, was set inside of a mirrorball and featured the band members dressed as members of the disco group the Village People.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Building a Mystery</span> 1997 single by Sarah McLachlan

"Building a Mystery" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan from her fourth studio album, Surfacing (1997). At a live performance, Sarah explains the song as being "basically about the fact that we all... have insecurities to hide, and we often do that by putting on a facade." She also goes on to say that "unfortunately, if we just be who we are, that's usually the more attractive and beautiful thing".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U2 discography</span>

The discography of the Irish rock band U2 consists of 15 studio albums, one live album, three compilation albums, 84 singles, and nine extended plays (EPs). The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in 1976 as teenagers. In 1979, the group issued their first release, the EP U2-3, which sold well in Ireland. The following year, the group signed to Island Records and released their debut album, Boy. It reached number 52 in the UK and number 63 in the US. They followed it up with the release of October (1981) and War (1983). War was a commercial success, becoming the band's first number-one album in the UK while reaching number 12 in the US. The album yielded the singles "Two Hearts Beat As One", "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day", the latter two have since become among the band's most popular songs. On the subsequent War Tour, the group recorded the live album Under a Blood Red Sky and concert film U2 Live at Red Rocks, both of which sold well and helped establish them globally as a live act.

<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">Even Better Than the Real Thing</span> 1992 single by U2

"Even Better Than the Real Thing" is a song by Irish rock band U2, and is the second track on their seventh album, Achtung Baby (1992). It was released as the album's fourth single on 8 June 1992, and it reached number three in Ireland and Canada while becoming a top-ten hit in Austria, New Zealand, and Sweden. A remixed version of the song released the same year peaked at number eight in the United Kingdom and number 10 in Ireland. In 1997, readers of Mojo named the song the 71st-best track of the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Because of You (U2 song)</span> 2005 single by U2

"All Because of You" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the sixth track on their eleventh studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004). The song was released as the album's second single in North America on 8 February 2005 and as the fourth single in other territories on 10 October 2005. The song was released for airplay in the United States concurrently with the album release date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly (Sugar Ray song)</span> 1997 single by Sugar Ray

"Fly" is a song by American rock band Sugar Ray. It appears on their 1997 album Floored twice: one version with reggae artist Super Cat and the other without. The song was serviced to US radio in May 1997.

<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">Please (U2 song)</span> 1997 single by U2

"Please" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the eleventh track on their ninth album, Pop (1997), and was released as its fourth single on 22 September 1997 by Island Records. As with "Sunday Bloody Sunday", the song is about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The single cover for this song features pictures of four Northern Irish politicians – Gerry Adams, David Trimble, Ian Paisley, and John Hume. Two months before the release of the single, live versions of "Please" and three other songs from the PopMart Tour were released on the Please: PopHeart Live EP in September 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me</span> 1995 single by U2 from Batman Forever soundtrack

"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was released as a single from the soundtrack album for the film Batman Forever on 5 June 1995 by Atlantic and Island. A number-one single in their home country of Ireland, as well as in seven other countries, it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, number sixteen on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts. The song received Grammy Award nominations for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Song. The song is included on the compilation album The Best of 1990–2000 and the live album From the Ground Up: Edge's Picks from U2360°. Its music video was directed by Kevin Godley and Maurice Linnane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses</span> 1992 single by U2

"Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fifth track on their 1991 album Achtung Baby, and was released as its fifth and final single in November 1992.

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

"Desire" is a song by Irish rock band U2 and the third track on their 1988 album, Rattle and Hum. It was released as the album's lead single on 19 September 1988, and became the band's first number-one single in the United Kingdom and Australia. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and topped both the Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, making it the first song to reach number one on both charts simultaneously. It reached number two on the Dutch Top 40. At the 31st Annual Grammy Awards, "Desire" won the 1989 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bittersweet Me</span> Song by R.E.M

"Bittersweet Me" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from their 10th studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). Like much of the album, the song originated while the band were on the road for the Monster tour, although the song was only ever soundchecked and has never been played live as part of a concert. The song was a bigger hit in the United States than the first single from the album, "E-Bow the Letter", except on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, where the first single's number-two peak bested the number-six peak of "Bittersweet Me".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elegantly Wasted (song)</span> 1997 single by INXS

"Elegantly Wasted" is the title track and first single released from the album Elegantly Wasted by Australian band INXS. The single was released in Europe, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday Is a Winding Road</span> 1996 single by Sheryl Crow

"Everyday Is a Winding Road" is the second single from American singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow's 1996 eponymous album. Neil Finn, lead singer of Crowded House, provides backing vocals. Paul Hester, another member of Crowded House, was the inspiration for the song. The single was issued in the United Kingdom in November 1996 and was released in the United States the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Headlight</span> 1997 single by the Wallflowers

"One Headlight" is a song by American rock band the Wallflowers. The song was written by lead singer Jakob Dylan, and produced by T Bone Burnett. It was released in January 1997 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walkin' on the Sun</span> 1997 single by Smash Mouth

"Walkin' on the Sun" is a song by American rock band Smash Mouth from their first album, Fush Yu Mang (1997). Released as their debut single in June 1997, the song was Smash Mouth's first major single, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. It was also a success abroad, peaking at No. 3 in Canada and Iceland, No. 5 in Italy and Spain, and No. 7 in Australia, where it is certified platinum for shipments exceeding 70,000 units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swallowed (song)</span> 1996 single by Bush

"Swallowed" is a song by British rock band Bush, released on 15 October 1996 as the lead single from the band's 1996 album, Razorblade Suitcase. It was later included on the remix album Deconstructed, the live album Zen X Four, and the Bush greatest hits compilation. The release of "Swallowed" followed the fifth and final single off of the band's 1994 debut album Sixteen Stone, "Machinehead", by only six months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Difference (The Wallflowers song)</span> 1997 single by The Wallflowers

"The Difference" is a song by American rock band the Wallflowers. It was released in 1997 as the third single from their second album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996). The song spent eight weeks at number three on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number five on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1998. "The Difference" also peaked at number 12 in Canada, topping the RPM Alternative 30 chart.

References

  1. ↑ "U2: U2faqs.com - Songs / Lyrics FAQ". 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Greene, Andy (14 March 2017). "U2's 'Pop': A Reimagining of the Album 20 Years Later". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media LLC . Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  3. ↑ Power, Ed (30 October 2018). "PopMart: Were U2 Making a Joke or was the Joke on Them?". The Irish Times . Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "Stylus Magazine".
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pop Review". AllMusic . Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "..:: U2 Collectibles and Memorabilia - Silver & Gold". U2wanderer.org. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Courtney, Kevin (21 February 1997). "U2 Goes Pop". Irish Times .
  8. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 5 April 1997. p. 28. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Sinclair, David (19 April 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times .
  10. ↑ Greene, Andy (3 May 2018). "U2 Dig Deep at Transcendent 'Experience' Tour Opener in Tulsa". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Olivier, Bobby (26 June 2018). "Hits be damned, U2 doubles down on spectacle for tech-heavy new tour: review". NJ.com . Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3203." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3211." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  17. ↑ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3195." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  18. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 14, no. 18. 3 May 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "U2: Staring at the Sun" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  22. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 213 Vikuna 20.3. '97 – 26.3. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 21 March 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Staring at the Sun". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  24. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 14, no. 21. 24 May 1997. p. 14. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  25. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  26. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  27. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  28. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun". VG-lista. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  29. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  30. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  31. ↑ "U2 – Staring at the Sun". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  32. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  33. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  34. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  35. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  36. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  37. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  38. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  39. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  40. ↑ "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM . 15 December 1997. Retrieved 23 January 2019– via Library and Archives Canada.
  41. ↑ "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks". RPM . 15 December 1997. Retrieved 23 January 2019– via Library and Archives Canada.
  42. ↑ "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1998. p. 25. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  43. ↑ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  44. 1 2 "The Year in Music 1997". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. YE-73.
  45. ↑ "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 5, no. 52. 26 December 1997. p. 38.
  46. ↑ "Best of '97: Triple A Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. 26 December 1997. p. 28.
  47. ↑ "New Releases". Radio & Records . No. 1187. 7 March 1997. p. 90.
  48. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 12 April 1997. p. 41. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  49. ↑ "'Staring at the Sun' – U2". u2songs.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  50. ↑ "ステアリング・アット・ザ・サン | U2" [Staring at the Sun | U2] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 30 August 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.