| "Desire" | |||||
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| Single by U2 from the album Rattle and Hum |
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| Released | September 1988 | ||||
| Format | CD, cassette, 12" | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 2:59 | ||||
| Label | Island | ||||
| Producer | Jimmy Iovine | ||||
| U2 singles chronology | |||||
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| Rattle and Hum track listing | |||||
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| The Best of 1980-1990 track listing | |||||
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| U218 Singles track listing | |||||
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"Desire" is the lead single from U2's 1988 album, Rattle and Hum. It was also their first #1 single in the UK and their first #1 on the newly-instated Modern Rock Tracks.
Contents |
Song
"Desire" debuted live on the first night of the Lovetown Tour on 21 September 1989, and appeared at almost every concert on that tour.[1] It segued into a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower", and the Lovetown performances of this song are considered by fans to be far superior to the one found on Rattle and Hum. On the Zoo TV Tour, "Desire" was re-invented with different effects on The Edge's guitar, and it opened most encores. Bono would use the song to accentuate characteristics of his onstage alteregos Mirrorball Man and MacPhisto.[2] On the PopMart Tour, Bono and Edge would play the song acoustically.[3] For the Elevation Tour, it was a stripped-down electric version played at the tip of a heart-shaped walkway that extended into the audience. Adam Clayton would join in with bass just before the bridge, and Larry Mullen played along on a single drum. On 15 October 2004 at an appearance on British television promoting the How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb album, Bono and Edge performed a rough electric version.[4] On the Vertigo Tour, "Desire" was not played at all on the tour's first three legs, and appeared just once in an acoustic form on the fourth leg in response to a fan's request in São Paulo.[5] It made a full electric debut at the beginning of the fifth leg at the second show in Sydney;[6] this performance was ramshackle and it was refined before appearing at four subsequent concerts. "Desire"'s B-side "Hallelujah (Here She Comes)" has never been played in full live by U2 but was debatably snippeted once during "Bullet the Blue Sky".[7] "Desire" has appeared on two U2 compilation albums, The Best of 1980-1990 and U218 Singles. An early version of the song appears in the form of a studio performance in the Rattle and Hum film.
Track listings
MC: Island / 99250-4 (US)
- "Desire" (2:59)
- "Hallelujah (Here She Comes)" (4:12)
MC: Island / CISX400 (UK)
- "Desire (Hollywood Remix)" (9:23)
- Promo cassette
7": Island / IS400 (UK)
- "Desire" (2:59)
- "Hallelujah (Here She Comes)" (4:12)
- also available in a gatefold sleeve (ISG400)
12": Island / 12IS400 (UK)
- "Desire" (2:59)
- "Hallelujah (Here She Comes)" (4:12)
- "Desire (Hollywood Remix)" (5:23)
- also available in a gatefold sleeve (12ISG400)
12": Island / 12ISX400 (UK)
- "Desire (Hollywood Remix)" (9:23)
- Promo 12"
CD: Island / CIDP400 (UK)
- "Desire" (2:59)
- "Hallelujah (Here She Comes)" (4:12)
- "Desire (Hollywood Remix)" (5:23)
Chart positions
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Desire" | Australian Singles Chart | #1 |
| 1988 | "Desire" | UK Singles Chart | #1 |
| 1988 | "Desire" | US Billboard Hot 100 | #3 |
| 1988 | "Desire" | US Modern Rock Tracks | #1 |
| 1988 | "Desire" | US Mainstream Rock Tracks | #1 |
| 1988 | "Desire" | US Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #37 |
| Preceded by "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Hollies |
UK number one single October 2 1988 |
Succeeded by "One Moment in Time" by Whitney Houston |
| Preceded by "All That Money Wants" by The Psychedelic Furs |
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number one single November 5, 1988 - November 19, 1988 |
Succeeded by "Orange Crush" by R.E.M. |
Covers
- An orchestral version of Desire was covered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on their 1999 album Pride: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays U2.
References
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, Lovetown Tour, accessed 22 May 2007
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, 1992-02-29, Lakeland Arena, accessed 22 May 2007
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, 1997-09-11, Estadio Jose Alvalade, accessed 22 May 2007
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, 2004-10-15, BBC carpark, accessed 22 May 2007
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, 2006-02-21, Morumbi, accessed 22 May 2007
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, 2006-11-11, Telstra Stadium, accessed 22 May 2007
- ^ U2-Vertigo-Tour.com, Setlist Of The Week #7: B-Sides Live, accessed 22 May 2007
External links
- Desire's performance history at U2-Vertigo-Tour.com - Lists all concerts at which "Desire" has been performed.
- Discography entry at U2 Wanderer - Comprehensive details on various editions, cover scans, lyrics, and more.
