"Where The Streets Have No Name," U2

By 1987, U2 was quickly establishing itself as the biggest rock band in the world.  The Joshua Tree had risen to the top of the charts along with the album’s first two singles, “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”

No surprise then that the band would want to emulate The Beatles – the biggest band in the world ever – for the album’s third single, “Where The Streets Have No Name.”

The video features the band performing the song on top of a rooftop in downtown Los Angeles.  The hype is almost as great as the song’s legendary introduction, as the video begins with radio reports estimating that 30,000 people are expected to show up for the performance.  The reality, of course, was much less – but it was enough to draw the ire of the Los Angeles Police Department. 

Indeed, much of the video focuses heavily on the tension between the police and the band’s crew and makes U2 look like a bunch of rock and roll renegades.  In actuality, the group followed police orders to shut down the video – and the recording that is heard on the video comes from the album, not the actual Los Angeles performance.

It does seem fitting, however, that the group chose a concert-like setting for the video, as “Where The Streets Has No Name” has become arguably its most popular song in concert.  Even as the band went through sound and image changes, “Where The Streets Have No Name” always remained true to the original.  Some would even say it sounds better live, as shown in the below clip from a 2001 Boston concert:

Though it’s been years since the glory days of The Joshua Tree, U2 remains the biggest touring band in the world and has the revenues to prove it.  The group will celebrate 20 years of its other landmark album – Achtung Baby – with a box set due for release later this year. 

Want more U2? Check out our throwback on “Discothèque.”

"Discotheque," U2

Once upon a time Bono had a sense of humor.  Unfortunately for him most people did not get it:

“Discotheque” was the first single from the heavily-hyped Pop album.  The rumor was that it marked a complete departure from U2’s rock roots – even more so than the experimentation on its other 1990s albums Achtung Baby and Zooropa.   Despite the advance warning, no one was prepared for the group to dress up like The Village People and dance around in disco lights with a stripper in “Discotheque.”  While Bono and The Edge seem into it, and bassist Adam Clayton remains unmoved as per his usual demeanor, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. looks visibly uncomfortable.  He symbolizes a lot of viewers thoughts at the time of “Discotheque” – he’s all dressed up in costume but he’s not yet ready to embrace the “boom cha” with the rest of his bandmates at the end of the video. 

It’s too bad, really.  Cause behind the hype, video, and that gigantic lemon that followed them around on tour, there was a really great song trying to get out.  Even today, “Discotheque” remains one of U2’s most divisive songs – it’s where some believe the band lost the plot and where others believe they took a genius chance they have yet to replicate.