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.
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]
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 BillboardModern Rock Tracks chart, and number 31 on the BillboardMainstream 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
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 three members of U2—The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.—Norman Hewson (Bono's brother) and Dik Evans (The Edge's brother) also appear in the video.[3]
^Brian Galindo, Alex Naidus & Ryan Creed (5 November 2023). "37 Alt Rock Songs You Haven't Thought About Since The Late '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
^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
^ abcSams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "The Sweetest Thing" (Single Mix) Video". U2songs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
^Brunner, Rob (2 October 1998). "Hear and Now". Entertainment Weekly. No. 452. p. 74. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
^McGee, Matt (2008). U2: A Diary. Omnibus Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-84772-108-2.
^"Sweetest Thing Chocolate Bar". U2 Collectibles and Memorabilia – Silver & Gold. U2Wanderer.org. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
^"U2 Sweetest Thing – U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
^"Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, Ireland". Google Maps.
^Sweetest Thing (UK cassette single sleeve). U2. Island Records. 1998. CIS 727, 572 464-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Sweetest Thing (European CD single liner notes). U2. Island Records. 1998. CIDT 727, 572 468-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Sweetest Thing (UK & Australian CD1 liner notes). U2. Island Records. 1998. CID 727, 572 466-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Sweetest Thing (UK & Australian CD2 liner notes). U2. Island Records. 1998. CIDX 727, 572 464-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Sweetest Thing (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). U2. Island Records. 1998. PHDR-953.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
^"U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
^"U2 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
^"U2 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
^"U2 Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
^"ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
^"RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. 14 December 1998. p. 20. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
^"RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved 30 April 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^"Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 51. 19 December 1998. p. 8. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
^"Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
^"Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
^"Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
^"Najlepsze single na UK Top 40-1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
^"Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 55.
^"Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 36.