Desire (U2 song)

"Desire" is a song by Irish rock band U2 and the third track on their 1988 album, Rattle and Hum. It was released as the album's lead single on 19 September 1988, and became the band's first number-one single in Australia and on the United Kingdom Singles Chart. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and topped both the Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, making it the first song to reach number one on both charts simultaneously. It reached number two on the Dutch Top 40. At the 31st Annual Grammy Awards, "Desire" won the 1989 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.^[2]

"Desire"
Single by U2
from the album Rattle and Hum
B-side	"Hallelujah Here She Comes" "Desire" (Hollywood Remix)
Released	19 September 1988
Studio	STS (Dublin)
Genre	Rock and roll[1]
Length	2:59
Label	Island
Composer(s)	U2
Lyricist(s)	Bono
Producer(s)	Jimmy Iovine
U2 singles chronology
"One Tree Hill" (1988) "Desire" (1988) "Angel of Harlem" (1988)
Music video
Official Video on YouTube Hollywood Remix on YouTube
Audio sample
file help

History

U2 cite the Stooges' song "1969" as the primary influence on "Desire",^[3][4][5][6] which is an interpolation of the Bo Diddley beat.^[7] The band originally recorded a demo of the song at STS Studios in Dublin. After re-recording it at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, they agreed it sounded "tighter and more accurate", but according to guitarist the Edge, "it lacked feel". As a result, they abandoned the re-recording in favour of the original demo.^[8] The Edge later praised the song, saying it was "a rock & roll record – not a pop song".^[9]

Cash Box said of it that "Bono and U2 go for the groove, a 'Magic Bus'-like throb that harkens back to who knows Who."^[10]

"Desire" debuted live on the first night of the Lovetown Tour on 21 September 1989, and appeared at almost every concert on that tour.^[11] It segued into a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower".

On the 1992-1993 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 alter egos Mirror Ball Man and MacPhisto.^[12] On the 1997-1998 PopMart Tour, Bono and the Edge would play the song acoustically.^[13] For the 2001 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, Jr. played along on a single drum.

On 15 October 2004, at an appearance on the British television series Top of the Pops promoting the How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb album, Bono and Edge performed a rough electric version.^[14] On the Vertigo Tour, "Desire" was not played at all on the first three legs, and appeared just once in an acoustic form on the 2006 fourth leg in response to a fan's request in São Paulo.^[15] It made a full electric debut at the beginning of the fifth leg at the second show in Sydney;^[16] this performance was ramshackle and it was refined before appearing at four subsequent concerts. "Desire" was played sporadically during the 2009-2011 U2 360° Tour, usually played in a semi-acoustic form. On one occasion,^[17] it was combined with Bruce Springsteen's "She's the One". It was played semi-regularly on the 2015 Innocence + Experience Tour during their B-stage set, often with Bono bringing someone from the crowd to play guitar with the band.

The song was not performed at all on The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 tour, making it the first tour on which the song was not performed. It returned to the setlist for the 2019 tour, being played to close the main set in rotation with "Angel of Harlem". The song was played at every date of the North American leg of the 2018 Experience + Innocence Tour in a remixed form, taking influences from the Hollywood Remix.^[18]

"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".^[19]

"Desire" has appeared on two U2 compilation albums, The Best of 1980–1990 (1998) and U218 Singles (2006).

An early version of the song appears in the form of a studio performance in the 1988 film Rattle and Hum. "Desire" has furthermore appeared on 1994's Zoo TV: Live from Sydney (as a bonus track from a different concert), PopMart: Live from Mexico City (1998), Elevation 2001: Live from Boston, and U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland (2003).

Music video

The music video for "Desire" was filmed in Hollywood, California and directed by Richard Lowenstein and Lynn-Maree Milburn. It is the Hollywood remix version of the song, with band members and local people in assorted places in the city, supplemented by random images pertaining to references in the song.

Track listings

MC: Island / CISX400 (promotional cassette)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Desire" (Hollywood remix)	9:23

MC: Island / 99250-4

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Desire"	2:59
2.	"Hallelujah (Here She Comes)"	4:12

12": Island / 12ISX400 (promotional 12")

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Desire" (Hollywood remix)	9:23

7": Island / IS400 and ISG400

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Desire"	2:59
2.	"Hallelujah (Here She Comes)"	4:12

12": Island / 12IS400 and 12ISG400

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Desire"	2:59
2.	"Hallelujah (Here She Comes)"	4:12
3.	"Desire" (Hollywood remix)	5:23

CD: Island / CIDP400

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Desire"	2:59
2.	"Hallelujah (Here She Comes)"	4:12
3.	"Desire" (Hollywood remix)	5:23

Personnel

• Bono – lead vocals, harmonica
• The Edge – guitar, backing vocals
• Adam Clayton – bass guitar
• Larry Mullen Jr. – drums, percussion
• Alexandra Brown – backing vocals on Hollywood Remix
• Edna Wright – backing vocals on Hollywood Remix

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Desire" Chart (1988) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[20] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 7 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 2 France (SNEP)[26] 37 Greece (IFPI)[27] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[28] 1 Italy (Musica e dischi)[29] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 5 Spain (AFYVE)[34] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 9 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 3 US Cashbox Top 100[39] 2 US Album Rock Tracks[38] 1 US Hot Dance Music/Club Play[38] Remix 37 US Modern Rock Tracks[38] 1 West Germany (GfK)[40] 9

Year-end charts 1988 year-end chart performance for "Desire" Chart (1988) Position Australia (ARIA)[41] 28 Belgium (Ultratop)[42] 52 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[43] 5 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[44] 49 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 14 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[46] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[47] 45 US Billboard Hot 100[48] 56 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[49] 3

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Desire"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[50]	Gold	50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51]	Gold	10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[52]	Silver	250,000^
United States (RIAA)[53]	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of covers of U2 songs - Desire
• List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s
• List of number-one singles of 1988 (Ireland)
• List of number-one singles from the 1980s (New Zealand)
• List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK)
• List of Billboard Mainstream Rock number-one songs of the 1980s
• List of Billboard number-one alternative singles of the 1980s

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (16 March 2023). "U2's 40 greatest songs, ranked". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
2. "Winners: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". Grammy.com. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
3. U2 (2006). McCormick, Neil (ed.). U2 by U2. London: HarperCollins. p. 217. ISBN 0-00-719668-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
4. Graham, Bill; Van Oosten De Boer, Caroline (2004). U2: The Complete Guide to Their Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0711998868.
5. Stokes, Niall (2005). U2: Into The Heart: The Stories Behind Every Song. Da Capo Press. p. 81. ISBN 1560257652.
6. Kootnikoff, David (2010). U2: A Musical Biography. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313365232.
7. Ratliff, Ben (3 June 2008). "Bo Diddley: The Beat That Will Go On". The New York Times (New York ed.). p. E1. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
8. Stokes, Niall (29 November 2006). "U2: The Stories Behind Their Greatest Songs". Hot Press. Vol. 30, no. 23. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
9. "U2's 50 Greatest Songs". Rolling Stone. 30 November 2019.
10. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. October 1, 1988. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
11. U2gigs.com, Lovetown Tour, accessed 22 May 2007
12. U2gigs.com, 1992-02-29, Lakeland Arena, accessed 22 May 2007
13. U2gigs.com, 1997-09-11, Estadio Jose Alvalade, accessed 22 May 2007
14. U2gigs.com, 2004-10-15, BBC carpark, accessed 22 May 2007
15. U2gigs.com, 2006-02-21, Morumbi, accessed 22 May 2007
16. U2gigs.com, 2006-11-11, Telstra Stadium, accessed 22 May 2007
17. "U2 East Rutherford, 2009-09-23, Giants Stadium, 360° Tour - U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
18. "U2's Tulsa setlist, 02/05/18". 3 May 2018.
19. U2gigs.com, Setlist Of The Week #7: B-Sides Live, accessed 22 May 2007
20. "U2 – Desire". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
21. "U2 – Desire" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
22. "U2 – Desire" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
23. "RPM 100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 5. 19 November 1988. p. 6.
24. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 42. 15 October 1988. p. 26. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
25. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
26. "U2 – Desire" (in French). Les classement single.
27. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 44. 29 October 1988. p. 26. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
28. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Desire". Irish Singles Chart.
29. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 45. 5 November 1988. p. 28. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
30. "Nederlandse Top 40 – U2" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
31. "U2 – Desire" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
32. "U2 – Desire". Top 40 Singles.
33. "U2 – Desire". VG-lista.
34. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
35. "U2 – Desire". Singles Top 100.
36. "U2 – Desire". Swiss Singles Chart.
37. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
38. "Billboard Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 48, no. 100. 26 November 1988. pp. 86–88. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
39. "Cashbox Top 100 Singles: November 26, 1988". Cashbox. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
40. "Offiziellecharts.de – U2 – Desire" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
41. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1988". ARIA. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
42. "Jaaroverzichten 1988" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
43. "Top 100 Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 9.
44. "1988 Year End Eurocharts – Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 30. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
45. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
46. "End of Year Charts 1988". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
47. Scaping, Peter, ed. (1991). "Top 100 Singles: 1988". BPI YearBook 1989/90. London, England: British Phonographic Industry. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0-9061-5410-6.
48. "No. 1 Awards – Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
49. "No. 1 Awards – Top Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-22. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
50. "Canadian single certifications – U2 – Desire". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
51. "New Zealand single certifications – U2 – Desire". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
52. "British single certifications – U2 – Desire". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
53. "American single certifications – U2 – Desire". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 April 2020.