The Unforgettable Fire Songs Ranked

The Unforgettable Fire is the fourth studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and released on 1 October 1984 by Island Records. The band wanted to pursue a new musical direction following the harder-hitting rock of their previous album, War (1983). As a result, they employed Eno and Lanois to produce and assist in their experimentation with a more ambient sound. The resulting change in direction was at the time the band’s most dramatic. The album’s title is a reference to “The Unforgettable Fire”, an art exhibit about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The Unforgettable Fire received generally favourable reviews from critics and produced the band’s biggest hit at the time, “Pride (In the Name of Love)”, as well as the live favorite “Bad”. A 25th-anniversary edition of the album was released in October 2009. Here are all of The Unforgettable Fire songs ranked.

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10. Wire

“He talks about drugs, with anger, as opposed to Bad where the approach is more sweet and melancholy. In this piece there is a return to a harder rock where there is a scratchy guitar and an aggressive bass.”

9. Promenade

“It was written by Bono who was inspired by the scenarios he found in the new house he bought with War’s first earnings, on the waterfront near Dublin. Very romantic and atmospheric piece, music that always refers to something dreamlike. Always excellent guitar and elegant percussion.”

8. 4th of July

“It is an instrumental, and nothing special, but it is an interesting introduction and anticipation leading up to “Bad. Very interesting entirely instrumental piece.”

See more: U2 Albums Ranked

7. Elvis Presley and America

“It was probably written thinking of the last Elvis who, obese and bewildered, forgot the words of the songs. The text, however, is cryptic and a bit strange in my opinion. It would seem an experiment, the text seems in fact improvised; it is still an interesting track.”

6. Indian Summer Sky

“On this song Bono said in an interview: “Many American cities are built on the ashes of other civilizations. A friend of mine told me he felt weird once he was in Toronto, like he was divided into two, and in those parts there had been many massacres of Indians: he said he felt the presence of restless spirits. The song wanted to give a sense of the spirit trapped in the concrete jungle. These are very impressionistic songs, like quick glances. ” Another very interesting track always characterized by harmony and a melody that tends to “carry away”. Guitar and bass always at the highest levels.”

5. MLK

“Calm and relaxing piece dedicated to Martin Luther King, expresses the hope that dreams of peace and tolerance can come true. It almost sounds like a farewell “lullaby” to Dr. King.”

See more: U2 Songs Ranked

4. The Unforgettable Fire

“It’s the title track of the album. The title is taken from an exhibition of paintings made by the survivors of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima (6/8/45), even if the text then speaks of something else: a love story, it would seem a collage of apparently unrelated impressions Between them. This piece is also counted among U2’s masterpieces. Musically perfect and harmonious: Edge’s guitar is magical, Bono’s voice is harmonious, bass that always plays its part very well and perfect percussions that complete the work.”

3. Pride (In the Name of Love)

“As Bono often remembers live, this song is written in memory of Reverend Martin Luther King jr. This piece is also a U2 classic. Bono and Edge do the big voice on this piece.”

2. Bad

“During the 4/3/1985 concert in Los Angeles, Bono introduced “Bad” like this: “You know, we come from Dublin. Dublin is not always a peaceful city. This song is about one person in particular, but it’s probably about a lot more people, it’s probably about myself too … you know, I joined a rock & roll band, they got into the alms queue, and some of them don’t even make it to the end of the line. for those of them who fell in love with a dangerous lover – the lover is the heroine and the song is Bad. ” Another harmonious song that best combines the 4 elements voice, guitar, bass and drums, which in the end becomes more and more insistent, resuming the Sunday bloody sunday drum session.”

1. A Sort of Homecoming

“During the first American tour (1980/81) a friend lent Bono a book by Paul Celan, a German-speaking Jew born in Romania, who committed suicide in Paris in 1970. Among his verses is this maxim: “Poetry is a kind of homecoming”. During the concert on 9/4/1985 in Pittsburgh, Bono, introducing “A Sort of Homecoming” said: “The next song is not written about my country or any country. It is about the hope that one day we will be able to share it. same country. Maybe there will be no more flags, or maybe we will have only one flag. And maybe that flag will be white. ” Musically a change of direction is already perceived, the piece is very harmonious, the guitar delicate, the percussion not scratchy as in War.”