Original of the Species

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"Original of the Species"
Single by U2
from the album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Released	November 2005
Format	Digital download
Genre	Rock
Length	4:41 (album) 4:29 (single)
Label	Island / Interscope
Producer	Steve Lillywhite with additional production by Jacknife Lee
U2 singles chronology
"All Because of You" (2005) "Original of the Species" (2005) "One" (with Mary J. Blige) (2006)

"Original of the Species" is a song by rock band U2 and the tenth track from their 2004 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The song was released as the album's fifth and final single in November 2005.

Contents 1 Promotion 2 Live performances 3 Reception 4 Track listing 5 References

[edit] Promotion

A live video clip of this song from the DVD Vertigo 2005: Live From Chicago is featured in a television commercial promoting the video capable Apple iPod. During that performance, Bono dedicates it to his two daughters. He also said he believes this to be the best song on their latest album. In concerts in December 2005, Bono has said the song is one of many influenced by John Lennon's music. The music video for the single utilised animated computer-generated imagery by Spontaneous, something unprecedented for U2 videos.

[edit] Live performances

In concert form during the Vertigo Tour, the song was played with The Edge on piano, often accompanied by Bono on acoustic guitar. On rare occasions, it was played with The Edge on electric guitar, in a performance which was accompanied by a pianist and full orchestra, much similar to the performance of the album, and one of those performances was at their show in Milan, Italy in July 2005, which appeared on the Vertigo 05: Live from Milan bonus DVD for U2's 2006 compilation U218 Singles.

[edit] Reception

The song was added to the playlists of thirteen alternative rock radio stations. However, it failed to break the top 40, thus not charting on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Instead it hovered around #60, rising to #55 in mid-January. However, it never gained enough airplay to enter the chart, continuing a trend set by "City of Blinding Lights", which also failed to chart. It was slated for a UK release and was playlisted by Xfm London, Virgin Radio, and made the B-List of BBC Radio 2.

[edit] Track listing

The U.S. promo was released in late 2005, while the U.K. promo was released in early 2006.

[edit] References

All That You Can't Leave Behind No Line on the Horizon How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb track listing
"Vertigo"  • "Miracle Drug"  • "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"  • "Love and Peace or Else"  • "City of Blinding Lights"  • "All Because of You"  • "A Man and a Woman"  • "Crumbs from Your Table"  • "One Step Closer"  • "Original of the Species"  • "Yahweh"  • "Fast Cars"

v • d • e U2's singles discography 1980s 1980: "Another Day" • "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" • "A Day Without Me" • "I Will Follow" • 1981: "Fire" • "Gloria" • 1982: "A Celebration" • 1983: "New Year's Day" • "Two Hearts Beat as One" • "Sunday Bloody Sunday" • 1984: "Pride (In the Name of Love)" • 1985: "The Unforgettable Fire" • 1987: "With or Without You" • "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" • "Where the Streets Have No Name" • "In God's Country" • 1988: "One Tree Hill" • "Desire" • "Angel of Harlem" • 1989: "When Love Comes to Town" (with B.B. King) • "All I Want Is You" 1990s 1991: "The Fly" • "Mysterious Ways" • 1992: "One" • "Even Better Than the Real Thing" • "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" • 1993: "Numb" • "Lemon" • "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" • 1995: "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" • "Miss Sarajevo" (as Passengers) 1997: "Discothèque" • "Staring at the Sun" • "Last Night on Earth" • "Please" • "If God Will Send His Angels" • "Mofo" • 1998: "Sweetest Thing" 2000s 2000: "Beautiful Day" • 2001: "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" • "Elevation" • "Walk On" • 2002: "Electrical Storm" • 2004: "Take Me to the Clouds Above" (LMC vs. U2) • "Vertigo" • 2005: "All Because of You" • "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" • "City of Blinding Lights" • "Original of the Species" • 2006: "One" (with Mary J. Blige) • "The Saints Are Coming" (with Green Day) • 2007: "Window in the Skies" • 2008: "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" (with The Dubliners, Kíla, and A Band of Bowsies) • 2009: "Get on Your Boots" • "Magnificent" • "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight"