Best Songs From the Band U2

Consisting of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., this Irish rock band is arguably the greatest rock band in the world. In their 20 years of awesome success, U2 has sold over 140 million albums, has had six #1 albums in the U.S. and nine in the U.K. While it is hard to pick the top ten from a band that has earned 22 Grammy awards, this list is an attempt to do just that. So with no further delay, here are the top ten sings from the force that is U2. Don't agree with the list? Vote for an existing item you think should be ranked higher or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on or create your own version of this list.

The Top Ten

1With or Without You
Great song! #1 I absolutely love it, full of emotion & very original song! Go on with your incredible songs... !
This was a hard choice. Good list by the way.

michaelhughes

Effing awesome song!
all time favourite and a very original one. By far the best composition by U2
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2One
"the song is really fantastic, it moves people... Such an inspiring song... "
If I had to pick one song to listen to for all of eternity, it would either be this or Born to Run. This song makes me want to cry every time I listen to it and the message is absolutely beautiful. Bono and his friends really outdid themselves.
The best song EVER!
But the cover feat Mary is amazing, better than the original!
Never let a bad taste in your mouth
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3Beautiful Day
the dynamic of this song is outstanding, close call, but I think it's the top one for U2
The beat and song structure brings this song together.
This is the best U2 song by far because it sounds epic and and it is structured so well and the edges guitar playing is legendary and bono's vocals are sick as but all round the song is awesome
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4Sunday Bloody Sunday
This is not a protest song... This is the best song ever. If this doesn't make you want to change the world, you need to get your pulse checked.
This song is just amazing. Honestly, how is this not unanimously #1? The almost military-esque drumbeat, the beautiful lyrics, the catchy guitar riff. And to top it all off, the live version is just as amazing. Woo!
Takes everything great U2's done before and puts it into one song, but it's free of a lot of the mistakes they've made before and has elements they've never had before, with an important message.
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5I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
For me, this song is about having got religion, having got dogma, and the soul still yearns for something more real, that thing, whatever it is, that burns deep within us; forever pushing us to keep exploring, to keep searching, to keep living in the moment, to keep evolving spiritually; forever moving forward and breaking boundaries, both within us, and without us; because in Truth, God has no boundaries and you can't put God in a book or a box and say, "Well, here it is! By George, I think we got it!
What? Are you kiding me?
This song deserves at least a TOP 5!
Come on, people, vote more this song, is the best song ever!
And yes, I Still haven't found what I'm looking for, this song at top 5! ;)
Agree with you what the hell your song number 8 are you kidding me people. This is song is so good. I love this is song.

Jhosen_cool

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6Where the Streets Have No Name
If this song doesn't chills down your spine, you have no soul.

juke1

I was born to the sound of U2 - no joke. And I've never turned back. This song may have been released years before I first entered the world, but it is by far the greatest thing I've ever heard. This is not U2's best song; this is the world's greatest song. 5th place is not good enough for this masterpiece!
This is one of the greatest songs ever made.

"I wanna reach out, and touch the flame. "
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7Pride (In the Name of Love)
One BAND come in the name of love, one BAND named U2.

BKAllmighty

this has to be at least in top 5!
1/pride
2/one
3/beatiful day
4/vertigo
5/new years day

andres101

just can beat it. this song is almost anthem of rock history
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8Vertigo

I don't know I just think its a really good song, its upbeat and different, keeps the blood pumping

I think this song is all about just screaming jumping up and down and being in a better place they call that place vertigo.

Ultimate song for me at least! Awesome music, excellent vocals! Can listen to this song over and over again! Seriously should be much higher on the list..

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9New Year's Day
This is classic U2 that really demonstrates how good they really are - musically and vocally. Their best song ever!
Yes, we can break through. We can begin again. There is hope for the human race. U2 is about hope, and this is their best song.

Wow what an intro can't be mistaken for any other song um who sang this
Doesn't happen.
Has a great air of mystery like all great songs means all things to all people.
Crashed my car to this on... On a icy New years day.
Singing me chops off lived to tell the tale unlike the car.
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10City of Blinding Lights
Huh... I can NOT believe this is 10th
COME ON PEOPLE! Check it out on youtube-listen to the whole thing and be AMAZED
The promotional video is cool and the music is great. The song for sept 11 victims

ronluna

10th?! How in the name of all that's Holy did this end up so low?
It's got literally everything going right for it. I'm in a different world when I listen to this song.
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The Contenders

11Mysterious Ways

How can this be all the way down here this is one of their best songs

The chorus can literally send such powerful emotions down one's spine!

What kind of craziness is this? Scroll down, people and vote this song! The song is rocking! The only thing better than hearing this on a radio is hearing it live.

 Listen to sample

12Walk On
Are you people serious? This song should be top 10 have any of you even heard it. The embodiment of rock
HOW in the name of God is this #31?!?!? Are you people serious? Go and listen to this song right now and tell me it shouldn't be in the top 10.
THis song is inspiring! U2 at its best!
 Listen to sample

13Elevation

An epic, epic song with clever lyrics and awesome melody

14 best song? You gotta be kidding me!
One of their best...

One of their best and a personal fav. of mine.

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14I WIll Follow
Classic! First big U2 hit! How could this song be out of the top 10?
This one could replace Vertigo or City of Blinding Lights which came very late on U2's career!
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15Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Why? Haven't anyone listened this song?
It is far better than most other songs, at least it deserves a healthy position in top five, doesn't it?
I like stuck in a moment because the end when egde sings
A very great, oh no it is awesome!
just give it a hear and feel the magic, uplifting song
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16Bad
I've been a huge fan of U2 since forever and as much as I like many of their songs I only love 2 beyond words: All I want is you and this one. Every time I hear Bad I demand silence, and I do get very emotional listening to it. There's only another song in music history that makes me feel like that, and it's Pink Floyd's Wish you were here. That's how great this song is.

Esteluki

The message of this song is just so powerful... Never surrender... Just let it go all that bad feelings and make your best effort. This is the song of my life... A song that takes me out of my body into an incredible place... Better than any drug.
The n°1 in history.
A corrosive ballad about heroin - such emotion, can't get any better than this...
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17Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Makes me cry every time I listen to it. Maybe music is the light at the end of the tunnel... It is the only thing that keeps me going sometimes.
awesome lyrics and one of the best songs... must be higher in the list
One Of The Best Songs Ever Written In THe Muisic world
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18The Fly
Such a great sonf my favorite u2 song so awesome from the insanely awesome effects edge uses to the distorted vocals by bono not to forget the awesome guitar solo definitely one of their best and it's so origanal man there is just so many good things to say about the fly not to mention it's underrated and has a kick butt drum beat
Probably one of U2's most original sounding songs. For many Rock fans who claim all of U2s work sounds the same, bono cant write, or the edge cant play, this is a disappointment because its such an amazingly written original sounding song with probably the greatest post-70s guitar solo.
This song is seriously under rated, one of the great rock songs. It's original as hell, dark, mysterious, and it rocks. They've done great stuff since, still, nothing on quite on the same trajectory as this was.
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19Magnificent
awesome song... just listen to it guys only once and am sure you gona vote for it... should be in top 3...
Such a beautiful flowing song. ONLY LOVE... ONLY LOVE CAN... LEAVE SUCH A MARK... MAGNIFICENT... I WAS BORN... I WAS BORN... TO BE WITH YOU... IN THIS SPACE AND TIME
Epic

Epic! Epic! Epic! The best song at the groups! Congratulations!
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20Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

Something to headbang to that throws a sprinkle of disturbing material in there.

CinemaZebra

I like this song alot and agree that it is on the top ten.

 Listen to sample

21Moment of Surrender
best song of u2, as good as one, with or without you and I still h... surprised to see it was not in the list already, so I had to add it. the ending is especially good and gives me goose pimples. the entire song is billiant musically and lyrically. bono's vocals are as good as ever. this takes the crown. I listen to it everyday.

niamja12345

Also suprised it is on 20th position. For me it's one of best and most loved songs ever. It's got so much power, emotion, experiences. Should be in top 5 if not first.
This chart shows that people do not listen to entire albums and vote just for fun... This is absolutely one of their best even better than one and with or without you!
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22The Unforgettable Fire

Very under-rated. It deserves to be in the top ten at the very least.
"Ice
Your only rivers run cold
These city lights
They shine as silver and gold
Dug from the night
Your eyes as black as coal"
The song is gripping from the very start with its profound lyrics and ambient guitar play

This song makes me get two kinds of emotion.
First, there is this emotion of being on a party but going outside, a feeling not to explain, just to feel on parties or anything.
On the other hand, there is this emotion of pure feelings rising up, so hard they sometimes make me cry.

I'm finally old enough to understand this song. I didn't get it when I was young, I do now! This is very beautiful and brings tears to my eyes...

 Listen to sample

23Even Better Than the Real Thing Listen to sample

24Discotheque Listen to sample

25Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
I have been listening to U2 for A LONG TIME and I always come back to this one. Actung Baby gave us many great songs and Ultraviolet, although not everyones favourite, is a stand out for me. It is great in all of it's incarnations. I absolutely love the 360 degree dvd version, stoked that it made it on to U22!
the undercover gem of "Achtung baby"
U2 themselves have said this is their most complete song
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26Desire

Classic song with an addictive sound that deserves to be much higher on the list.

I do not have a favourite U2 song, so I am voting for this one because it is the most deserving to be higher than it is right now.

So much energy and passion, to dance to this song is to do what everyone else in the world should be doing. Quality tune.

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27I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight

This song is gold! Absolute magic when heard live as well...
Arguably there best song on there 'No Line On The Horizon' Album.

Please vote for it people! It deserves a place in the top 5! Epic song..1

Great tune, definitely worth listening too. Top chorus and should be way higher

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28Angel of Harlem Listen to sample

29Miss Sarajevo
This is Bono's favourite song! How can it be so low! The melody in the song is pretty awesome! Definitely one of the greatest rock songs I have ever heard
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30Kite Listen to sample

31Running to Stand Still

A lot to choose from, but this should really be in the top three. The lyrics work so well on two levels: they are poetic AND full of realism.

How can this some be so far down the list? U2's best ever lyric, a haunting portrayal of drug addiction in Ballymun. Played Live and acoustic this song is almost spiritual, always gives me a tingle when I hear it.

Their best ever track from what is easily their definitive album. Just perfect, no words can express my love for this track.

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32Lemon

such a beautiful song. only discovered it recently

i think this is problably th best song of u2 is just simply peacefully..

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33Miracle Drug Listen to sample

34Bullet the Blue Sky

It appears to have been inspired by the Hendrix style. The tones are all over the place and yet it is cohesive and emotional. Hendrix would have covered this piece.

mgenet

Man this song is the BEST OF OF U2, I don't understand why it is not at the top of the list

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35Mothers of the Disappeared Listen to sample

36Get On Your Boots
Defines the late 2000s mainstream rock feel.
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37Until the End of the World

The lyrics for the song... fabulous, beautiful. And it's dark in such a crazy way. Every instrument is beautifully played.

forget 'smells like teen spirit'this song has the best riff of the 90's,Bono's lyrics are genius

Love the jungle opening until the Edge moves in and takes over the song. Fantastic layering and production.

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38Heartland

Sends shivers down your spine when you listen to it... U2 at their very best.

thanks to Rattle and Hum, makes me think of how great Elvis was

englishradio

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39No Line On the Horizon Listen to sample

40If God Will Send His Angels

Iris got all the attention, but listen to the album again. This is by far the best song from the City of Angels soundtrack, a soundtrack that ranks among the best ever.

I love this song... it's always been one of my favorites by this band... and not many people are familiar with it... just a beautiful piece of work!

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41Window In the Skies

The shackles are undone
The bullets quit the gun
The heat that's in the sun
Will keep us when there's none
The rule has been disproved
The stone it has been moved
The grave is now a groove
All debts are removed

Oh can't you see what love has done?
Oh can't you see what love has done?
Oh can't you see what love has done?
What it's done to me?

Love makes strange enemies
Makes love where love may please
The soul and its striptease
Hate brought to its knees
The sky over our head
We can reach it from our bed
You let me in your heart
And out of my head, head

Oh can't you see what love has done?
Oh can't you see what love has done?
Oh can't you see what love has done?
What it's done to me?

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Please don't ever let me out of you

I've got no shame, oh no, oh no

Oh can't you see what love has done?
Oh can't you see?
Oh can't you see what love has done?
What it's doing to me?

I know I hurt you and I made you cry
Did everything but murder you and I
But love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodize
To every broken heart
For every heart that cries
Love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodize

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42Sweetest Thing
How is this not in the top ten? This song is beautiful, and everyone would be able to relate to it.
"I'm losing you... Oh... I'm losing you... Ain't love the sweetest thing? "
Love the music video.. Very good song. Makes you proud to be Irish:)
 Listen to sample

43Xanax and Wine (Demo of Fast Cars)

44The Electric Co.

45Fast Cars

46Love Is Blindness

Beautiful song, can't understand why its so low. It contains a lot of emotion in it. The solo version of the edge is also magnificent. He broke up with his wife and played this song, broke 2 times the strings but replaced them and kept going on.

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47So Cruel

The most touching, heartfelt song I've ever listened to. Although the melody might be simplistic, the piano and lyrics have such good chemistry, that the passion just flows out of the song.

Personally the best U2 song. Probably the best and most touching lyrics that Bono ever wrote.

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48Red Hill Mining Town

simply the best...great emotion and lyrically well written

This song has great lyrics and brilliant music.. Everybody pLeaSe LISTEN 2 THIS SONg! Its aMAZING

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49Stay (Faraway, So Close!)

No way this song is not inside the top 10.. Personally I consider this as good as One for sure. The melody and the music is great and it's creating a great atmosphere!

Just the bang and the clatter when an angel hits the ground... Wow
Best story song by them.. So sad... Yet hopeful

I consider this by far the best song of U2 and in general the period was one of the most artistic or original for the band, love the "berlin-era". cobain and vedder described what was in the hearts of one part of USA generation, 2pac of the hidden US generation and U2 how we felt in Europe in the same period.

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50Electrical Storm

Can't get this song outta my head. So haunting, and the video is a work of art as well

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51Love Comes Tumbling

52Smile Listen to sample

53The Saints Are Coming

Definitely not the best song by them, but it really does deserve a better spot. It was for New Orleans ffs

abhishekgupta

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54Unknown Caller

Love that guitar solo, and such a melodic beat, pure class!

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55One Tree Hill

This is a great song... this should be in the top ten..!

This is an amazing song from the Joshua Tree. You know, when I always listen to it, I think of the ocean and its view, the peacefulness and... Everything!

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56White As Snow Listen to sample

57Original of the Species

My favourite Amazing battery rythm and such a great musical experiment indeed.

Moving, gripping, and filled with the emotion of a lasting group

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58In a Little While
Oh! So nice! Lovely voice and lyrics )
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59Love You Like Mad

60Exit
The very best song of U2. A great climax building.
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61Zoo Station

How can this be so low on this list
crazy

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62Hawkmoon 269

Probably their best song to date. Best bit is when Larry first comes in with the drums on top of the organ. Should be a Top 5 track.

Probably one of their most unknown songs. I love it.

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63Zooropa
One of their less conventional ones, but one of my favorites
So much work put into it.
What an intro to this track superb. Brings me back to summer 93 in paris
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64Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

Not my absolute fave but can't believe how low this song is. Top 20-25 at least!
great words and fab chorus!

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65Two Hearts Beat As One
Love this song... Needs some recognition
One of their better than the best song... How ever it's xtremely underrated. Wish this song would have known to many...

66In God's Country

fantastic when done live and acoustic

englishradio

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67Acrobat

68When Love Comes to Town

I am a big fan of bb king and U2 and I love the way they joined just to make this quick and enjoyable song and it is my favorite. I am born in England and I am born close to Bono and his mates

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69The Hands That Built America

"Best song ever... I just can't get enough of it... It makes me feel different, it reminds me the history of mankind and how we've evolved!

The most beautiful song, I'd say!

70Dancing Barefoot

71Helter Skelter

First heard watching the rattle and hum movie.
So good!

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72Do You Feel Loved

It feels better and better every time I listen to it.

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73Gloria

74Is That All? Listen to sample

7511 O'Clock Tick Tock

76Party Girl

77Drowning Man Listen to sample

78Cedars of Lebanon

This song is so great with the broken chords and the fantastic bass. It is my favorite song on No Line on the Horizon and I can't believe it's so low on this list! It's excellent!

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79Silver and Gold

80Fire

81Tomorrow Listen to sample

82Elvis Presley & America

83Breathe Listen to sample

84Mofo
Brings Good memories of nice times. Is not the common U2 song and that is another of its pros. It sounds Great and I'm sure that will be more appreciated in the future.
I like the dance music that they have done to this song and I like it when they do something new. This song also has a good beat ti this song even though don't really like this type of music.
 Listen to sample

85Holy Joe

86Souls

87New York Listen to sample

88Numb Listen to sample

89Out of Control
Their first single (track 5 on their debut album) and Edge's greatest guitar riff. Play this song right now and turn it up LOUD. This is one of U2's greatest anthems. They also played a decent rendition of this at the Slane Castle show where Bono talks about their beginnings and thanks their parents for loaning them money for their demo.
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90Indian Summer Sky

91Love Rescue Me Listen to sample

92I Fall Down

93I Threw a Brick Through a Window

94October

95Seconds Listen to sample

96The Refugee Listen to sample

97Red Light Listen to sample

98No Line of the Horizon 2

99Please Listen to sample

100Always

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      List Info

      This list was created 6 years, 348 days ago and has been voted on over 6,000 times. This top ten list contains 116 items, has been remixed 27 times and has been blogged about 1 times.

      Updated Friday, May 17, 2013

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