Desire (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Desire" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by U2 | ||
| from the album Rattle and Hum | ||
| Released | September 1988 | |
| Format | CD, cassette, 12" | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 2:59 | |
| Label | Island | |
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Iovine | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| U2 singles chronology | ||
| "One Tree Hill" (New Zealand only) (1987) |
"Desire" (1988) |
"Angel of Harlem" (1988) |
| Rattle and Hum track listing | ||
| "Van Diemen's Land" (2) |
"Desire" (3) |
"Hawkmoon 269" (4) |
| The Best of 1980-1990 track listing | ||
| "Sweetest Thing" (10) |
"Desire" (11) |
"When Love Comes To Town" (12) |
| U218 Singles track listing | ||
| "One" (12) |
"Desire" (13) |
"Walk On" (14) |
"Desire" is the lead single from U2's 1988 album, Rattle And Hum. It was also their first #1 single in the UK.
Contents |
[edit] 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. 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. On the Popmart Tour, Bono and Edge would play the song acoustically. For the Elevation Tour, it was a stripped-down electric version, with Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton coming down to the ellipse, where Adam would join in with bass just before the bridge, and Larry 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. 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. It made a full electric debut at the beginning of the fifth leg at the second show in Sydney; 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 live by U2.
Desire has appeared on two U2 compilation albums, The Best of 1980-1990 and U218 Singles.
[edit] Track listings
[edit] MC: Island / 99250-4 (US)
- "Desire" (2:59)
- "Hallelujah (Here She Comes)" (4:12)
[edit] MC: Island / CISX400 (UK)
- "Desire (Hollywood Remix)" (9:23)
- Promo cassette
[edit] 7": Island / IS400 (UK)
- "Desire" (2:59)
- "Hallelujah (Here She Comes)" (4:12)
- also available in a gatefold sleeve (ISG400)
[edit] 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)
[edit] 12": Island / 12ISX400 (UK)
- "Desire (Hollywood Remix)" (9:23)
- Promo 12"
[edit] CD: Island / CIDP400 (UK)
- "Desire" (2:59)
- "Hallelujah (Here She Comes)" (4:12)
- "Desire (Hollywood Remix)" (5:23)
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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.
