The Unforgettable Fire (song)

Infobox Single
Name = The Unforgettable Fire


Artist = U2
from Album = The Unforgettable Fire
Released = April 1985
Format = Vinyl (7" and 12"), cassette, CD single
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 4 m 56 s
Label = Island - IS220
Producer = U2, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois
Chart positions =

• #6 (UK Singles Chart)

Reviews =
*AMG [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:pec8b594psqh link]
Last single = "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (1984)
This single = "The Unforgettable Fire" (1985)
Next single = "With or Without You" (1987)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = The Unforgettable Fire
Type = studio
prev_track = "Wire"
prev_no = 3
this_track = "The Unforgettable Fire"
track_no = 4
next_track = "Promenade"
next_no = 5Extra tracklisting
Album = The Best of 1980-1990
Type = compilation
prev_track = "I Will Follow"
prev_no = 8
this_track = "The Unforgettable Fire"
track_no = 9
next_track = "Sweetest Thing"
next_no = 10"The Unforgettable Fire" is the fourth track on U2's 1984 album of the same name and was released as the album's second single. The song was inspired by an art exhibition of the same name by victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The song became the band's third Top 10 hit in the UK, reaching #6 on the UK Singles Chart and #8 on the Dutch singles chart, but it was yet to break them into the U.S. The track's string arrangement was by Irish jazz musician Noel Kelehan.

History

"The Unforgettable Fire" made its live debut at the fourth show of the Unforgettable Fire Tour on start date|1984|9|2, in Auckland, New Zealand. It was subsequently played at almost all Unforgettable Fire Tour shows, usually early in the setlist. On the first European leg of the tour, "MLK" was placed immediately before it in the setlist and this pairing lasted for the rest of the live career of "The Unforgettable Fire". It was played at the majority of Joshua Tree Tour shows and the song appeared at approximately every third concert of 1989's Lovetown Tour. Its last performance to date was on start date|1990|1|6. It was used, however, as the outro music after the band left the stage at their concert filmed for "" on start date|2001|9|1; the song had been recorded at Slane Castle.

There is some confusion about the b-sides, as a variety of versions of some of the tracks exist. There exists, for example, three versions of the track "Love Comes Tumbling", even though the label simply states "Love Comes Tumbling". Two versions are identical except for a false start at the beginning. The false start mix is on the Canadian cassette and vinyl and The Best of 1980-1990 album. The non-false start mix is on the German CD single. The third mix, featuring an alternate vocal, can be found on the Australia 12".

There are also two mixes of the live performance of "A Sort of Homecoming". Identical in length, the Australian 12" features a mix that includes The Edge's background vocals and somewhat different vocals by Bono.

Track listings

7": Island / IS220 flagicon|UK

#"The Unforgettable Fire" - 4:56
#"A Sort of Homecoming" (Live from Wembley) - 4:06

The most common 7" release. A shaped picture disc was issued with this tracklisting.

7": Island / K-9561 flagicon|Australiaflagicon|NZ

#"The Unforgettable Fire" - 4:56
#"MLK" (Album Version) - 2:32

2x7": Island / ISD220 flagicon|UK

#"The Unforgettable Fire" - 4:56
#"A Sort of Homecoming" (Live from Wembley) - 4:06

#"Love Comes Tumbling" - 4:45
#"The Three Sunrises" - 3:52
#"Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Come" - 3:15
* also released in Ireland (CBS / DA 6185)

12": Island / 12IS220 flagicon|UK

#"The Three Sunrises" - 3:52
#"The Unforgettable Fire" - 4:56
#"A Sort of Homecoming" (Live from Wembley) - 4:06
#"Love Comes Tumbling" - 4:45
#"Bass Trap" - 5:17
* also released as German CD (Island / 664 974), Canadian MC (Island / ISMC-1026).
* The Canadian edition had a false start at the beginning of "Love Comes Tumbling".

12": Island / L18002 flagicon|Australia

#"The Three Sunrises" - 3:52
#"The Unforgettable Fire" - 4:56
#"A Sort of Homecoming" (Live from Wembley Different Mix) - 4:06
#"Love Comes Tumbling" (Alternate Vocal) - 4:37
#"Bass Trap" - 5:17

12" issued in Australia. Both "A Sort Of Homecoming" and "Love Comes Tumbling" were different versions.

External links

*youtube|2yiNqwEAtpk|"The Unforgettable Fire" video
* [http://www.u2-vertigo-tour.com/song171.html The Unforgettable Fire's live history at U2-Vertigo-Tour.com] - Lists all known performances of "The Unforgettable Fire".