Sweetest Thing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is about the 1987 song "Sweetest Thing" by Irish rock band U2. For other songs with similar titles, see Sweetest Thing (disambiguation).

"Sweetest Thing"
Single by U2
from the album The Best of 1980–1990
Released19 October 1998 (1998-10-19)
Recorded1986–1987, 1998
GenrePop rock
Length
  • 3:03 (single mix)
  • 3:06 (original version)
LabelIsland
SongwriterU2
ProducersSteve Lillywhite, with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno
U2 singles chronology
"Mofo"
(1997) 		"Sweetest Thing"
(1998) 		"Beautiful Day"
(2000)
Music video
"Sweetest Thing" on YouTube

"Sweetest Thing" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was originally released as a B-side on the "Where the Streets Have No Name" single in 1987. The song was later re-recorded and re-released as a single in October 1998 for the band's compilation album The Best of 1980–1990.

"Sweetest Thing" became a number-one hit in Ireland, Canada, and Iceland and reached the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Writing and recording

[edit | edit source]

The song was written by Bono as an apology to his wife, Ali Hewson, for forgetting her birthday during The Joshua Tree sessions.[1][2]

In 1998, a new version of the song was recorded for inclusion on the group's greatest hits compilation The Best of 1980–1990. Producer Steve Lillywhite spent five days with the band to re-record vocals and guitar parts.[3]

At Ali's request, profits from the single went to her favoured charity, Chernobyl Children International.[2]

Release

[edit | edit source]

A version by New York gospel choir, The New Voices of Freedom, appears on the soundtrack to the 1988 Bill Murray film Scrooged. It was recorded following U2's performance of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" with the choir at Madison Square Garden, which appears on the band's 1988 album Rattle and Hum.[4]

To promote the release of the single in 1998, Island Records distributed "Sweetest Thing" chocolate bars, wrapped to look like the single, throughout Europe. They have become a very valuable collector's item among U2 fans during the 2000s.[5] The song reached number one in Canada, Iceland, and Ireland, number three in the United Kingdom, number six in Australia, number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number 31 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Live performances

[edit | edit source]

The song made its live debut on the opening night of the 2001 Elevation Tour, and was played occasionally over the first and second legs.[6] It was then not played again until the 2015 Innocence + Experience Tour, where once again it only made occasional appearances over the course of the tour. It also made a few appearances in the acoustic section of the 2023–2024 Las Vegas residency U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.

Performances on the Elevation Tour featured Bono playing the piano parts while The Edge played electric guitar. On the Innocence + Experience Tour, it was played on the e-stage in a stripped-down version, with The Edge playing acoustic guitar and Bono joining in on the piano about halfway through the song. During the band's 2023–2024 concert residency U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, it was played with The Edge on acoustic guitar while Bono joined in halfway through the song on piano.

Music video

[edit | edit source]
Bono's wife, Ali Hewson, appears in the music video

The video was directed by Kevin Godley. It features Bono taking Hewson on a carriage ride along the Georgian mile in Dublin, from Fitzwilliam Place onto Upper Fitzwilliam Street,[7] enlisting various performers along the way in an effort to apologise to her. The performers featured include Riverdance, Boyzone, Steve Collins, the Artane Boys Band, Chippendales dancers, and the Celtic Knights. The other members of U2 — The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. — appear in the video, as do Norman Hewson (Bono's brother) and Dik Evans (The Edge's brother).[2]

Track listings

[edit | edit source]
UK cassette single and European CD single[8][9]
No.TitleLength
1."Sweetest Thing" (single mix)3:00
2."Stories for Boys" (live in Boston, Massachusetts, 6 March 1981)3:02
UK and Australian CD1[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Sweetest Thing" (single mix)3:00
2."Twilight" (live from Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado, 5 June 1983)4:29
3."An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart" (live from Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado, 5 June 1983)7:14

The back cover lists the third track simply as a live version of "An Cat Dubh".

UK and Australian CD2[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Sweetest Thing" (single mix)3:00
2."Stories for Boys" (live in Boston, Massachusetts, 6 March 1981)3:02
3."Out of Control" (live in Boston, 6 March 1981)4:25
Japanese mini-CD single[12]
No.TitleLength
1."Sweetest Thing" (single mix)3:00
2."With or Without You"4:55

Personnel

[edit | edit source]
U2
Additional personnel
  • (Uncredited musicians) - strings

Charts

[edit | edit source]

Certifications

[edit | edit source]
Certifications and sales for "Sweetest Thing"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[61] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62] Platinum 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[63] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Gold 400,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit | edit source]
Release dates and formats for "Sweetest Thing"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 29 September 1998 Contemporary hit radio Island [65]
United Kingdom 19 October 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
 [66][67]
Canada 20 October 1998 CD [66]
Japan 28 October 1998 Mini-CD [68]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ U2.com Backgrounder, "The Sweetest Thing" http://www.u2.com/discography/index/album/albumId/4051/tagName/singles Archived 5 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  17. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7041." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7024." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  20. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  21. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  22. ^ "U2: Sweetest Thing" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  23. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  24. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  25. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweetest Thing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  28. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  29. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  30. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  31. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". Top 40 Singles.
  32. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". VG-lista.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  34. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  35. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". Singles Top 100.
  36. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". Swiss Singles Chart.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  38. ^ "U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  39. ^ "U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  40. ^ "U2 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  41. ^ "U2 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  42. ^ "U2 Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  43. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  44. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  45. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  46. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  47. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  48. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  49. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  50. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  51. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  52. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  53. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  54. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  55. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  56. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  57. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  58. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  59. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  60. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  61. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  62. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). Type Sweetest Thing in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  63. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  64. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  65. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  66. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  67. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  68. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Retrieved from "http://70.231.62.181/index.php?title=Sweetest_Thing&oldid=10477603"