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"City of Blinding Lights" is the third single from U2
U2

U2 are a rock music band from Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The band consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. .The band formed in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency....
's 2004 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is the eleventh studio album by Republic of Ireland rock music band U2, released in November 2004. Much like their previous album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was commercially successful and critically acclaimed and maintains a more traditional rock sound after t...
. The song was released as a single in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 on June 6, 2005 debuting at #2 and reaching #1 in Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
 and Portugal
Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Located in southwestern Europe, Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east....
. "City of Blinding Lights" was inspired by the band's first visit to New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 in 1980. Frequently used as a concert opener during the band's Vertigo Tour
Vertigo Tour

The Vertigo Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Republic of Ireland Rock music band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2004 in music album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the visited arenas and stadiums from 2005 through 2006....
, the song won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
 for "Best Rock Song".

ng an impromptu promo concert
Concert

A concert is a live performance, usually of music, before an audience. The music may be performed by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band....
 in New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
 underneath the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, stretches 5,989 feet over the East River, connecting the New York City borough s of Manhattan and Brooklyn ....
, Bono
Bono

Paul David Hewson , also known by his stage name Bono, is the main vocalist of the Ireland rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his future wife, Ali Hewson, and the future members of U2....
 talked about the band's first arrival in New York City in 1980, saying it was an "amazing, magical time in our life, when we didn't know how powerful it was not to know." "A song about innocence, naivety".






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Encyclopedia


"City of Blinding Lights" is the third single from U2
U2

U2 are a rock music band from Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The band consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. .The band formed in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency....
's 2004 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is the eleventh studio album by Republic of Ireland rock music band U2, released in November 2004. Much like their previous album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was commercially successful and critically acclaimed and maintains a more traditional rock sound after t...
. The song was released as a single in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 on June 6, 2005 debuting at #2 and reaching #1 in Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
 and Portugal
Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Located in southwestern Europe, Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east....
. "City of Blinding Lights" was inspired by the band's first visit to New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 in 1980. Frequently used as a concert opener during the band's Vertigo Tour
Vertigo Tour

The Vertigo Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Republic of Ireland Rock music band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2004 in music album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the visited arenas and stadiums from 2005 through 2006....
, the song won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
 for "Best Rock Song".

History

During an impromptu promo concert
Concert

A concert is a live performance, usually of music, before an audience. The music may be performed by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band....
 in New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
 underneath the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, stretches 5,989 feet over the East River, connecting the New York City borough s of Manhattan and Brooklyn ....
, Bono
Bono

Paul David Hewson , also known by his stage name Bono, is the main vocalist of the Ireland rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his future wife, Ali Hewson, and the future members of U2....
 talked about the band's first arrival in New York City in 1980, saying it was an "amazing, magical time in our life, when we didn't know how powerful it was not to know." "A song about innocence, naivety". He then introduced "City of Blinding Lights", saying "the chorus is set in New York City, looking at Brooklyn."

Bono
Bono

Paul David Hewson , also known by his stage name Bono, is the main vocalist of the Ireland rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his future wife, Ali Hewson, and the future members of U2....
 has also remarked he was inspired by a concert the band played in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 on their Elevation Tour
Elevation Tour

The Elevation Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Ireland Rock music band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2000 in music album All That You Can't Leave Behind, the tour visited arenas in 2001....
 following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It was the band's first time back in the city since the attacks occurred. When the lights went up during one of the songs, he could see tears streaming down the faces of fans. It was this passion and emotion of the city's fans that partially inspired the song.

The song is reminiscent of another U2
U2

U2 are a rock music band from Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The band consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. .The band formed in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency....
 single, "Where the Streets Have No Name
Where the Streets Have No Name

"Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by Irish rock music U2, from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. It was released August 1987 as the third single from The Joshua Tree....
." The style of both songs is uplifting and both have a similar crescendo. Both songs start quietly, but build up quickly, using a combination of keyboards (or organ, in the case of "Streets") and The Edge
The Edge

David Howell Evans , more widely known by his nickname and stage name The Edge , is a British people Irish people musician known best as the guitarist, keyboardist, and main backing vocalist for the Ireland rock band U2....
's signature ringing guitar.

This song was the most frequently used to open concerts during the Vertigo Tour
Vertigo Tour

The Vertigo Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Republic of Ireland Rock music band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2004 in music album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the visited arenas and stadiums from 2005 through 2006....
, with Adam Clayton
Adam Clayton

Adam Charles Clayton , is the Bass guitar of the rock music band U2. Clayton has resided in County Dublin since the time his family moved to Malahide when he was five years old in 1965....
 playing the keyboards in the song's introduction.

The song received considerable airplay on US alternative rock radio since mid-February 2005, especially on WBCN
WBCN

WBCN 104.1 FM, is a commercial radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts. WBCN is a modern rock/active rock station that mixes music that is popular in the modern rock, alternative rock and Classic rock genres....
 (Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the State capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region, and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England." Boston city proper had a 2007 est...
) and WOCL
WOCL

WOCL is a radio station broadcasting in Orlando, Florida. The station airs a Classic Hits format, focusing on music from 1964-1989 with the core being the 1970s....
 (Orlando
Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a major city in Central Florida, United States and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Florida. It is also the principal city of Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
). A promo single was issued in early June 2005, and the track was added to the playlist
Playlist

In its most general form, a playlist is simply a list of songs. The term has several specialized meanings in the realms of radio broadcasting and personal computers....
s of about 15 alternative rock stations. However, it failed to gain sufficient momentum to enter the Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks

Hot Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the forty most-played songs on modern rock radios, most of which are alternative rock songs....
 chart in July. Nevertheless, the song was able to debut on the Adult Top 40 chart on September 24, 2005. It reached #40. The song entered the Mega Top 100 in The Netherlands at #2, in the week starting at June 20, 2005.

In the UK
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
, the single spent nine weeks in the top 75 and also reached #16 on the download chart.

The song won "Best Rock Song" at the 2006 Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards of 2006

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards was a ceremony honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning September 15, 2004 and ending September 14, 2005....
.

"City of Blinding Lights" was used as the background theme of President
President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
 Barack Obama
Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the List of Presidents of the United States and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office....
's presidential candidacy announcement
Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008

On February 10, 2007, Barack Obama, then junior United States United States Senate from Illinois, announced his candidacy for President of the United States in Springfield, Illinois....
 in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois

Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County, Illinois with a population of 116,482 . Over 200,000 residents live in the Springfield Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area, which includes Sangamon County and adjacent Menard County, Illinois....
 on February 10, 2007 and was also played right before his acceptance speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention

The 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial United States presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States of the United States....
. It was also frequently used as a lead-in for Obama's campaign events during the 2008 presidential election. U2 sang the song at the "We Are One
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial

File:20090118 We Are One.jpgWe Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial was a public celebration of the then forthcoming Barack Obama 2009 presidential inauguration of President Barack Obama at the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on January 18, 2009....
" concert for Barack Obama on January 18, 2009, at the Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial is a Presidential memorials in the United States built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C....
.

Music video

A music video
Music video

A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a pop music or rock music song with lyrics. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings....
 for this song was shot during the Vertigo Tour at General Motors Place
General Motors Place

General Motors Place is an list of indoor arenas, located at 800 Griffiths Way in Downtown Vancouver Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Completed in 1995 at a cost of Canadian dollar160 million in private financing, the arena is home to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League, and was formerly home to the Memphis Grizzlies of...
 in Vancouver
Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal city and major seaport located in the Lower Mainland of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest city in British Columbia and the second largest metropolitan area in the Pacific Northwest region....
, British Columbia
British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's Provinces and territories of Canada and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu ....
. Most of it was shot on April 27, 2005, with members of the public invited into the venue for free in order to have a crowd on the video. The cameras also filmed at the two proper concerts that were held over the following two days.

Track listings


CD: Island / CID890 (UK)

  1. "City of Blinding Lights" (Radio Edit) (4:11)
  2. "All Because of You" (Killahurtz Fly Mix) (5:40)


CD: Island / CIDX890 (UK)

  1. "City of Blinding Lights" (Radio Edit) (4:11)
  2. "The Fly" (Live from "Stop Sellafield
    Sellafield

    Sellafield is a nuclear processing and former electricity generating site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England....
    ") (4:38)
  3. "Even Better Than the Real Thing
    Even Better Than the Real Thing

    "Even Better Than the Real Thing" is the second song from U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby and was released in 1992 as the fourth single from the album....
    " (Live from "Stop Sellafield") (3:50)


CD: Island / 987 193 3 (Germany)

  1. "City of Blinding Lights" (Radio Edit) (4:11)
  2. "Out of Control" (Live at Brooklyn Bridge
    Brooklyn Bridge

    The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, stretches 5,989 feet over the East River, connecting the New York City borough s of Manhattan and Brooklyn ....
    ) (5:05)


  • This is a 3" CD single
    CD single

    A CD single is a single in the form of a standard size compact disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor....


DVD: Island / CIDV890 (UK)

  1. "City of Blinding Lights" (Live at Brooklyn Bridge - Video) (6:53)
  2. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own
    Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own

    "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" is the second single from U2's 2004 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Originally titled "Tough", the song is about Bono's relationship with his dying father....
    " (Live Vocal Version Intro - Video) (4:40)
  3. "City of Blinding Lights" (Album Version) (5:46)


  • The album version of "City of Blinding Lights" is an audio track.


CD: Island / UICI-5020(JAPAN)

  1. "City of Blinding Lights" (Radio Edit) (4:11)
  2. "The Fly" (Live from "Stop Sellafield
    Sellafield

    Sellafield is a nuclear processing and former electricity generating site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England....
    ") (4:38)
  3. "Even Better Than the Real Thing
    Even Better Than the Real Thing

    "Even Better Than the Real Thing" is the second song from U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby and was released in 1992 as the fourth single from the album....
    " (Live from "Stop Sellafield") (3:50)
  4. "All Because of You" (Killahurtz Fly Mix) (5:40)


Chart performance

Chart (2005)Peak
position
Portugal1
Spain1
Mega Top 100 Singles - The Netherlands2
Denmark2
UK2
Canada2
Latvia5
Ireland8
Sweden8
Chile1
Australia31
USA: Billboard Adult Top 4040


External links

  • --Comprehensive details on various editions, cover scans, lyrics, and more.
  • --Lists all concerts at which "City of Blinding Lights" has been performed.