U2: Their 50 Best Songs, Ranked
U2 has been one of the biggest bands of the past 50 years and for good reason: Their catalog is a prime example of a band evolving and growing up…
U2 has been one of the biggest bands of the past 50 years and for good reason: Their catalog is a prime example of a band evolving and growing up before the eyes of the world.
So far, U2 has released 14 studio albums. Their catalog also features live releases, box sets, compilations and more. In total, they have sold over 175 million records worldwide.
The legend of U2 had humble beginnings. Its four members -- Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. -- were all students at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin.
One day in 1976, Mullen Jr. put a flyer on the school's bulletin board searching for musicians to start a band. He was only 14 at the time. Among the people who responded were Bono (16), The Edge (15) and Clayton (16). The band's first practice was on September 25, 1976 in the kitchen of Mullen Jr.'s childhood home.
RELATED: The Edge: 'Of Course Bono Gets Too Much For Me Sometimes!'
Who would've thought all of this success started with a just simple post on a bulletin board and a practice in a kitchen?!
U2's list of accolades is nothing short of insane. They've won 22 Grammy Awards out of 46 nominations. In 2005, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The band received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2022.
In addition to those awards, they've been a massive tour draw. Per Pollstar, U2 has sold over 26 million tickets since 1980. Their tours have grossed a staggering $2.12 million. The only other act to make more money on the road is the Rolling Stones with $2.16 million.
With all of this mind, we thought we'd take on the daunting task of ranking U2's best song. Scroll through the list below to see which songs from their vast catalog we think are their 50 best!
50. “City of Blinding Lights” - ‘How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ (2004)
UMG49. “Two Hearts Beat As One” - ‘War’ (1983)
UMG48. “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” - ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ (2000)
UMG47. “Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way” - ‘Songs of Experience’ (2017)
UMG46. “All Because of You” - ‘How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ (2004)
UMG45. “Mofo” - ‘Pop’ (1997)
UMG44. “Magnificent” - ‘No Line On the Horizon’ (2009)
UMG43. “Miss Sarajevo” - ‘Original Soundtracks 1’ (1995)
UMG42. “40 (live)” - ‘Under a Blood Red Sky’ (1983)
UMG41. “Salome” - ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing - EP’ (1992)’
UMG40. “The Saints Are Coming” - ‘U218 Singles’ (2006)
UMG39. “Electrical Storm (William Orbit mix)” - ‘The Best of 1990-2000’ (2002)
UMG38. “Staring at the Sun” - ‘Pop’ (1997)
UMG37. “Walk On” - ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ (2000)
UMG36. “The Blackout” - ‘Songs of Experience’ (2017)
UMG35. “The Wanderer (feat. Johnny Cash)” - ‘Zooropa’ (1993)
UMG34. “The Sweetest Thing” - ‘The Best of 1980-1990’ (1998)
UMG33. “Lady With The Spinning Head” - ‘One - EP’ (1992)
UMG32. “Dirty Day” - ‘Zooropa’ (1993)
UMG31. “When Love Comes to Town” - ‘Rattle and Hum’ (1988)
UMG30. “The Fly” - ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991)
UMG29. “Out of Control” - ‘Boy’ (1980)
UMG28. “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” - ‘How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ (2004)
UMG27. “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” - ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991)
UMG26. “All I Want Is You” - ‘Rattle and Hum’ (1988)
UMG25. “Bullet the Blue Sky” - ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987)
UMG24. “Red Hill Mining Town” - ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987)
UMG23. “Love Is Blindness” - ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991)
UMG22. “Elevation (Tomb Raider Mix)” - ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ (2001)
Elektra21. “Until the End of the World” - ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991)
UMG20. “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)” - ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991)
UMG19. “Please (Single Version)” - ‘Please - EP’ (1997)
UMG18. “Running to Stand Still” - ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987)
UMG17. “Last Night on Earth” - ‘Pop’ (1997)
UMG16. “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” - ‘Batman Forever’ (1995)
Atlantic15. “Even Better Than The Real Thing” - ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991)
UMG14. “Angel of Harlem” - ‘Rattle and Hum’ (1988)
UMG13. “Mysterious Ways” - ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991)
UMG12. “I Will Follow” - ‘Boy’ (1980)
UMG11. “New Year’s Day” - ‘War’ (1983)
UMG10. “Stay (Faraway, So Close!) - ‘Zooropa’ (1993)
UMG9. “Desire” - ‘Rattle and Hum’ (1988)
UMG8. “With or Without You” - ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987)
UMG7. “Beautiful Day” - ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ (2000)
UMG6. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” - ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987)
UMG5. “Pride (In The Name of Love)” - ‘The Unforgettable Fire’ (1984)
UMG4. “Bad” - ‘Live Aid (Live, 13th July 1985)’ (2018)
The Band Aid Trust3. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” - ‘War’ (1983)
UMG2. “One” - ‘Achtung Baby’ (1991)
UMG1. “Where the Streets Have No Name” - ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987)
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