Sweetest Thing

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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"
U2 Sweetest Thing.jpg
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
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 reportedly written by Bono as an apology to his wife Ali Hewson for having to work in the studio on 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 Alison's request, profits from the single went to her favoured charity, Chernobyl Children International.[2]

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.[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 collectors 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[]

The song made its live debut on the opening night of the Elevation Tour, and was played occasionally over the first and second legs.[6] 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.

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.

Music video[]

Bono's wife Ali Hewson appeared in the music video

The video was directed by Kevin Godley. It features Bono taking his wife Ali Hewson on a carriage ride along Fitzwilliam Place, and on to Upper Fitzwilliam Street in Dublin,[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 other three members of U2 — The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. — and Norman Hewson (Bono's brother) and Dik Evans (The Edge's brother) also appear in the video.[2]

Track listings[]

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[]

  • Bono – lead vocals
  • The Edge – piano, guitar, backing vocals
  • Adam Clayton – bass guitar
  • Larry Mullen Jr. – drums

Charts and certifications[]

Release history[]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 29 September 1998 (1998-09-29) Contemporary hit radio Island [54]
United Kingdom 19 October 1998 (1998-10-19)
  • CD
  • cassette
 [55][56]
Canada 20 October 1998 (1998-10-20) CD [55]

References[]

  1. ^ U2.com Backgrounder, "The Sweetest Thing" http://www.u2.com/discography/index/album/albumId/4051/tagName/singles
  2. ^ a b c Sams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "The Sweetest Thing" (Single Mix) Video". U2songs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  3. ^ Brunner, Rob (2 October 1998). "Hear and Now". Entertainment Weekly. No. 452. p. 74. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. ^ McGee, Matt (2008). U2: A Diary. Omnibus Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-84772-108-2.
  5. ^ "Sweetest Thing Chocolate Bar". U2 Collectibles and Memorabilia – Silver & Gold. U2Wanderer.org. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  6. ^ "U2 Sweetest Thing – U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, Ireland". Google Maps.
  8. ^ Sweetest Thing (UK cassette single sleeve). U2. Island Records. 1998. CIS 727, 572 464-4.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Sweetest Thing (European CD single liner notes). U2. Island Records. 1998. CIDT 727, 572 468-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Sweetest Thing (UK & Australian CD1 liner notes). U2. Island Records. 1998. CID 727, 572 466-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Sweetest Thing (UK & Australian CD2 liner notes). U2. Island Records. 1998. CIDX 727, 572 464-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Sweetest Thing (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). U2. Island Records. 1998. PHDR-953.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  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.
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  17. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7041." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7024." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  19. ^ a b c "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 47. 21 November 1998. p. 22. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 45. 7 November 1998. p. 14. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  21. ^ "U2: Sweetest Thing" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  22. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in French). Les classement single.
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  24. ^ a b "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 45. 7 November 1998. p. 16. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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  26. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweetest Thing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  28. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  29. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". Top 40 Singles.
  30. ^ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". VG-lista.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  32. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
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  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  36. ^ "U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
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  43. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  44. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 51. 19 December 1998. p. 8. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  45. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
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  54. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1267. 25 September 1998. p. 37.
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