Top 10: U2

Here we are today to talk about U2 and the songs I prefer from the catalogue of the huge Irish Rock band. 

As always, I try and pick up songs from as many albums as possible, to give you some variety. Saying that, sorry in advance if your favourite song is not in this, the discography of the band is huge and it's almost impossible to pick up only 10 songs! One last thing: when there is no video under the song, click on the link to make it appear (on another page).  

Here you can find the video version of this top 10, in case you want to see my face. If you are not interested, keep scrolling down.


Ok, you prefer to avoid my face, I understand, don't worry. Let's get started!

10) Where the streets have no name (from The Joshua Tree)
My favourite song from one of the most successful albums of the band. Below is the beautiful video with Bono & C playing on the roof just like The Beatles, many years before. This song represents perfectly The edge guitar style. In fact, here he is in the video preview.


9) Mysterious ways (from Achtung baby)
Another song taken from another very popular album of the band, Achtung baby, released in 1991. This was the second single and the song was born after an improvisation called "Sick Puppy", starting from bass part that bassist Adam Clayton composed. Strange, isn't it? It's alright, It's alright... Click on the title to see the video. 

8) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me (from Batman Forever Soundtrack)
You may not know this one as it appears on a (beautiful) soundtrack, from a not very successful Batman chapter, called Batman Forever. I remember watching this video continuously on MTV and I really liked the pure Rock n' roll riff with hypnotic vocals by Bono Vox. It's the kind of song that I would like to hear from U2.

7) Beautiful day (from All That You Can’t Leave Behind)
Maybe there are better songs to put in this top 10 but Beautiful day always put me in a good mood and I never say no to listen to the song whenever and whenever I hear it, radio or compilations, this is why it is in this top 10. The video was filmed in August 2000 at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris (just to add some questionable info)


6) Vertigo (from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
It's the opening track on their eleventh studio, album of 2004 - How to dismantle an atomic bomb - and it puts me in a good mood exactly like the position above. Also, it's a pure Rock n' roll song, so it's a perfect combination for my taste. I've never understood why Bono says "Unos dos tres catorce!" at the beginning of the song but... You know what? I like it this way.

5) Pride (in the name of love) (from The unforgettable fire)
A super-classic by U2 and one of the most recognisable songs by the band, from the album The unforgettable fire. Pride is catchy, amazingly sang by Bono and contains all the distinctive elements of the band. It has to be in a U2 top 10.

Taken from the first album of the band I bought, when I was a kid, Zooropa (even thanks to the first single Numb, which intrigued me). This is a great ballad and one of the songs I listen to - and with an intact pleasure - from the band. "Miami, New Orleans, London, Belfast and Berlin". I love that part of the song.

3) I will follow (from Boy)
The first song of the U2 discography and (below) the first video promo of the band, of course, taken from the first album, called Boy. It's a great tune and always put me in a good mood (I repeated that quite frequently, I am aware of that, sorry). Also, it's one of those songs I will never say no, to listen to again and again. Enjoy the video when Bono & C. were kids.


Song with slightly different vibes, classic Rock like Rolling Stones mixed to a tribute to a specific sound, with wind instruments. It' doesn't sound like classic U2 to me, but it's one of the songs that I enjoy the most of their catalogue, very classy and catchy at the same time.

1) One (from Achtung baby)
Forget the version that you maybe know with Mary J. Blige. To me, it's a shame that it's got 40 million views more than the original version, taken from Achtung baby. One is, in my opinion, one of the best Rock ballads of all time and definitely my favourite song by the band. Enjoy the song by clicking on the player below and don't forget to let me know your preferences.

Giovanni Gagliano

Passionate about music I wrote my first article for "Given To Rock" in 2012, reaching now 30K global followers. I am also a musician, gigging around London.

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