I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
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| "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" | |||||
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| Single by U2 | |||||
| from the album The Joshua Tree | |||||
| Released | May 1987 | ||||
| Format | 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, CD, cassette | ||||
| Recorded | Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland; 1986 | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 4:37 | ||||
| Label | Island | ||||
| Producer | Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois | ||||
| U2 singles chronology | |||||
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| The Joshua Tree track listing | |||||
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| Rattle and Hum track listing | |||||
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| The Best of 1980-1990 track listing | |||||
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| U218 Singles track listing | |||||
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"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is the second track from U2's 1987 album The Joshua Tree, and was released as the album's second single. It became the band's second #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 after "With or Without You", the first single from the album, and peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart and at #6 on the Dutch Top 40. It was named the 93rd greatest song by Rolling Stone on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
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[edit] Recording
The song grew from another song called "Under the Weather Girls". A rough version was taped. However, Joshua Tree co-producer Daniel Lanois didn't like it — except for Larry Mullen, Jr.'s drum track and Adam Clayton's bass line, which the band used as the foundation of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". The development of the song saw the addition of such things as a subtle auto-pan effect added to one of The Edge's guitar overdubs and Bono singing in the upper register of his range to add to the feeling of spiritual yearning. Both Bono and Edge have, in fact, called it a gospel song on numerous occasions. Daniel Lanois says he is very attached to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and has, on occasion, joined U2 on stage to perform it.
An early version, titled "Desert of Our Love", appeared on the 2-disc 2007 remastered version of The Joshua Tree.
[edit] Music video
The music video for the song was filmed on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, and featured the band members wandering around while The Edge played an acoustic guitar.
[edit] Live performances
A live version of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was recorded on September 28, 1987 at Madison Square Garden in New York, during the group's Joshua Tree Tour. This live performance, which features the New Voices of Freedom, appears on U2's 1988 album Rattle and Hum. A rehearsal for this live performance is featured in the rockumentary film of the same name. A live performance of the song appears in the concert film Vertigo 05: Live from Milan.
[edit] Reception
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine placed the song at #93 of its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In the same year, Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn said it was U2's "Let It Be".[1] The staff of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selected "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" as one of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[2]
[edit] Appearances in popular culture
The song also appeared in the 1999 film Runaway Bride, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.
[edit] Track listing
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" | 4:38 |
| 2. | "Spanish Eyes" | 3:16 |
| 3. | "Deep in the Heart" | 4:31 |
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1987) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 16 |
| Canada | 6 |
[edit] Cher's version
Singer/actress Cher has used this song as her opening track during her last three tours, including her Farewell Tour and is currently using the song to open her Las Vegas show, Cher at the Colosseum. Cher's live version is noticeably faster than the original version, and the singer usually puts more emphasis on the line, "...And yes I'm still running," although it is typically done in a subtle manner.
Her version can be seen on the commercial releases of two of her tours. Her version was also seen on two televised concerts, including her Emmy Award winning Farewell Tour, watched by 17 million people. It can also be heard on her album, "Live! The Farewell Tour".
Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Hilburn, Robert (December 2, 2004). "Ask the Critic: Robert Hilburn". http://www.calendarlive.com/music/hilburn/cl-wk-ask2dec02,0,136800.htmlstory. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
- ^ "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs-tv/. Retrieved on 2009-07-07.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "Shakedown" by Bob Seger |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single August 8, 1987- August 15, 1987 |
Succeeded by "Who's That Girl" by Madonna |
