"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 Alison'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.

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, 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 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]

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 CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[61] Gold 35,000^
Sweden (GLF)[62] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] 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 [64]
United Kingdom 19 October 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
 [65][66]
Canada 20 October 1998 CD [65]
Japan 28 October 1998 Mini-CD [67]

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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
  3. 1 2 3 Sams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "The Sweetest Thing" (Single Mix) Video". U2songs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  4. ↑ Brunner, Rob (2 October 1998). "Hear and Now". Entertainment Weekly. No. 452. p. 74. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  5. ↑ McGee, Matt (2008). U2: A Diary. Omnibus Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-84772-108-2.
  6. ↑ "Sweetest Thing Chocolate Bar". U2 Collectibles and Memorabilia – Silver & Gold. U2Wanderer.org. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  7. ↑ "U2 Sweetest Thing – U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, Ireland". Google Maps.
  9. ↑ 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)
  10. ↑ 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)
  11. ↑ 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)
  12. ↑ 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)
  13. ↑ 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)
  14. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  15. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  16. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  17. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  18. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7041." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  20. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7024." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  21. 1 2 3 "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 47. 21 November 1998. p. 22. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  22. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 45. 7 November 1998. p. 14. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  23. ↑ "U2: Sweetest Thing" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  24. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in French). Les classement single.
  25. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  26. 1 2 "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 45. 7 November 1998. p. 16. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  27. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn (4.12–11.12. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 December 1998. p. 12. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  28. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweetest Thing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  29. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  30. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  31. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". Top 40 Singles.
  32. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". VG-lista.
  33. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  34. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  35. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". Singles Top 100.
  36. ↑ "U2 – Sweetest Thing". Swiss Singles Chart.
  37. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  38. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  39. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  40. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  41. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  42. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  43. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  44. ↑ "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. 14 December 1998. p. 20. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  45. ↑ "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved 30 April 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  46. ↑ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 51. 19 December 1998. p. 8. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  47. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  48. ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  49. ↑ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  50. ↑ "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.
  51. ↑ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 55.
  52. ↑ "Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 36.
  53. ↑ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved 30 April 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  54. ↑ "RPM 1999 Top Adult Contemporary". RPM. Retrieved 30 April 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  55. ↑ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. 24 December 1999. p. 47.
  56. ↑ "Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. 24 December 1999. p. 36.
  57. ↑ "The Best of '99: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. 24 December 1999. p. 38.
  58. ↑ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 July 2002. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  59. ↑ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)". Jam!. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004.
  60. ↑ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on 29 August 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  61. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  62. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  63. ↑ "British single certifications – U2 – Sweetest Thing". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  64. ↑ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1267. 25 September 1998. p. 37.
  65. 1 2 Sams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "Sweetest Thing" Single". U2songs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  66. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 17 October 1998. p. 29.
  67. ↑ "スイーテスト・シング | U2" [Sweetest Thing | U2] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
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