Sweetest Thing

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
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length
  • 3:03 (single mix)
  • 3:06 (original version)
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)U2
Producer(s)Steve 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

The song was written by Bono as an apology to his wife, Ali Hewson, for forgetting her birthday during The Joshua Tree sessions.[2][3]

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.[4]

At Ali's request, profits from the single went to her favoured charity, Chernobyl Children International.[3]

Release

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.[5]

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 collectors item among U2 fans during the 2000s.[6] 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

The song made its live debut on the opening night of the Elevation Tour, and was played occasionally over the first and second legs.[7] It was then not played again until the 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 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

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,[8] 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).[3]

Track listings

UK cassette single and European CD single[9][10]
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[11]
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[12]
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[13]
No.TitleLength
1."Sweetest Thing" (single mix)3:00
2."With or Without You"4:55

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Sweetest Thing"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Gold 35,000^
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

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

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