GEN
Active topics
  1. Originally posted by aussiemofo:Right now in Australia, Beautiful Day is clearly the most played and arguably the most popular U2 song followed by One. Probably because it's uplifting and suits nearly every occasion.

    People aroud my age and older would throw JT's trio of hits and Pride into the mix.

    I don't know how big Vertigo is elsewhere but it hasn't stood the test of time down here I would argue.

    I'd say that if anyone heard Vertigo, they'd recognise it as a U2 song here, but I think it was very much a short-lived hit, like I say when I mention U2, people generally go for Beautiful Day (and much of that is probably due to the generation thing, what with BD being released at the turn of the millenium in what was a pretty memorable period the world over and so people associate with its timing as much as anything).
  2. ...plus the fact Beautiful Day (or certain elements of it) are still being used for ITV Sport's awful football coverage.Remember Andy Townsend's Tactics Truck when ITV covered the Premiership.....anyway I digress.But this week on the radio I've woken up at 5.15am to Sunday Bloody Sunday and Even Better Than The Real Thing.....but.yeah,I'd more than likely go with Beautiful Day.
  3. Beautiful Day was the song most played during the Olympic Games Broadcasts in 2000.


  4. I believe it to be the same as the song people in general think is best. It's the most popular, they like it the most, they think it's the best.
  5. Originally posted by carlibengarli:[..]

    I believe it to be the same as the song people in general think is best. It's the most popular, they like it the most, they think it's the best.


    Popular and best are completely different. Britney spears is popular ..............
  6. Originally posted by carlibengarli:[..]

    I believe it to be the same as the song people in general think is best. It's the most popular, they like it the most, they think it's the best.


    My answer to the U2 song that is best is not the same as the answer to the question which is most popular.

    For example I think that Acrobat is one of U2's very best songs. But it is in no way popular to the broader public.

    Originally posted by The
    popular |ˈpäpyələr|
    adjective
    1 liked, admired, or enjoyed by many people or by a particular person or group : she was one of the most popular girls in the school | these cheeses are very popular in Europe.
    2 [ attrib. ] (of cultural activities or products) intended for or suited to the taste, understanding, or means of the general public rather than specialists or intellectuals : the popular press.
    • (of a belief or attitude) held by the majority of the general public : many adult cats, contrary to popular opinion, dislike milk.
    3 [ attrib. ] (of political activity) of or carried on by the people as a whole rather than restricted to politicians or political parties : a popular revolt against colonial rule.
    DERIVATIVES
    popularism |-ˌrizəm| |ˈpɑpjələˈrɪzəm| noun
    ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense [prevalent among the general public] ): from Latin popularis, from populus ‘people.’ Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent.


    Originally posted by The
    best |best| superlative of good .
    adjective
    of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality : the best pitcher in the league | how to obtain the best results from your machine | her best black suit.
    • most enjoyable : some of the best times of my life.
    • most appropriate, advantageous, or well advised : do whatever you think best | it's best if we both go.
    adverb
    superlative of well 1 .
    • to the highest degree; most : the one we liked best | you knew him best | well-drained soil suits it best.
    • most excellently or effectively : the best-dressed man in Hollywood | the things we do best.
    • most suitably, appropriately, or usefully : this is best done at home | jokes are best avoided in essays.
    noun (usu. the best)
    that which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable : buy the best you can afford | Sarah always had to be the best at everything | a theory embodying the best of both socialism and capitalism.
    • the most meritorious aspect of a thing or person : he brought out the best in people.
    • ( one's best) the peak of condition; the highest standard or level that a person or thing can reach : this is jazz at its best | try to look your best.
    • ( one's best) one's finest or most formal clothes : she dressed in her best.
    • (in sports) a record of a specified kind, esp. a personal one : achieving a lifetime best of 12.0 seconds | a personal best.
    verb [ trans. ] informal
    outwit or get the better of (someone) : she refused to allow herself to be bested.
    PHRASES
    all the best said or written to wish a person well on ending a letter or parting.
    as best one can (or may) as effectively as possible under the circumstances : I went about my job as best I could.
    at best taking the most optimistic or favorable view : signs of recovery are patchy at best.
    at (or in) the best of times even in the most favorable circumstances : his memory is poor at the best of times.
    be best friends be mutually closest friends : he's best friends with Eddie.
    be for (or all for) the best be desirable in the end, although not at first seeming so.
    one's best friend one's closest or favorite friend.
    the best of friends very good friends.
    the best of three (or five, etc.) victory achieved by winning the majority of a specified (usually odd) number of games.
    the best part of most of : it took them the best part of 10 years.
    best wishes an expression of hope for someone's future happiness or welfare : we sent our best wishes for a speedy recovery. • written at the end of a letter : Best wishes, Celia.
    one's best years the most vigorous and productive period of one's life; one's prime : he had spent the best years of his life working at the stables.
    do (or try) one's best do all one can : Ruth did her best to reassure her.
    get the best of overcome (someone) : his drinking got the best of him and he was fired.
    had best do something find it most sensible or well advised to do the thing mentioned : I'd best be going.
    make the best of derive what limited advantage one can from (something unsatisfactory or unwelcome) : you'll just have to make the best of the situation. • use (resources) as well as possible : he tried to make the best of his talents.
    to the best of one's ability (or knowledge) as far as one can do or know : the text is free of factual errors, to the best of my knowledge.
    with the best of them as well or as much as anyone : he'll be out there dancing with the best of them.
    ORIGIN Old English betest (adjective), betost, betst (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German best, also to better 1 .

  8. Originally posted by haytrain:I'm siding with Dan on this one. I think that different generations are going to list songs that define "U2 hit" in different ways. I've noticed that a lot of the people replying that "Beautiful Day" and "Vertigo" are big U2 hits are generally in the "20 and under" crowd. When I first saw the question, I immediately thought "Streets," and am somewhat surprised that no one else (besides Harry mentioning it as a great musical song) thinks so. Dan and I might be considered a part of the "older" generation here on U2start, and therefore we go back to the earlier classics off of Joshua Tree and War. That's my 2 cents.





    Certainly don't hear it much on radio now you come to mention it. I did a quick straw poll at work yesterday and of the 13 people I asked 2 said 'I don't know any' and the other 11 all said Beautiful Day.

    Depressing. I think the song sucks
  9. I think One is the historically most popular, since it's from the early 90's, and therefore it's known by young (-30) and not so young (+30) people, even though Pride is very well known among the +30 people, and Beautiful Day has become very very popular since 2000... I'd say One overall.
  10. Originally posted by djrlewis:[..]

    My answer to the U2 song that is best is not the same as the answer to the question which is most popular.

    For example I think that Acrobat is one of U2's very best songs. But it is in no way popular to the broader public.

    [..]

    [..]



    Exactly. It's not the best to you, but it is[/b currenly] the best by popular opinion - it's the most popular song.

  11. It's still not what you asked for lol...but besides, we've already covered that best does not equal popular or vice versa. Best is a very subjective thing, but in an objective way I think one can only genuinely be at liberty to determine what they feel is best if they actually know the subject, i.e. I think someone can only really judge what is the best U2 song if they know the majority, if not ALL of them. A song doesn't have to be the best to be popular, popularity in a wider context can be down to many things - in this case, I think the songs we've mentioned such as Beautiful Day and One are popular because they've had the most coverage. Personally, I think UTEOTW is by far a better song than Beautiful Day but I wouldn't call it the most popular because it's never had as much coverage - Beautiful Day, One (in whatever version) etc. have had the coverage a) because they've been released as singles and b) because of their success as singles (because they came at a time when U2's popularity and success was on the rise, and thus many people wanted to tag along with the bandwagon) and the timing of their releases has seen them become very popular songs. But as we keep saying, popularity and "bestness" (someone throw me a real word that I can replace bestness with lol) are 2 very different things.


  12. lol...if we're gonna talk that way then Akon and Ne-Yo are good artists

    IMO there's only one way to see if an artist is good or not: live performances. No edits, no intervening of computers etc., just a few microphones, some instruments and the artist himself. Then you'll really know if an artist is good.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.