3 Underrated U2 Songs That Could Have Been Hits

2025-08-18

Rock band U2.

U2 has delivered countless rock hits. But, some of their songs could have been bigger, so we’re giving them attention. – Author: Cat Badra, photo via Sam Jones

U2 is a band known for their hits, because Bono and company obviously have countless chart-toppers to their name. It’s difficult to think of another band that has achieved the reach and popularity of U2 in the rock movement for such a sustained amount of time. They also bucked the ’80s trend of hair metal to emerge with their anthemic, socially-conscious rock during a time when that seemed near impossible.

So, U2 have numerous hits, but not all of their songs got as much attention. As with any band that’s made it big and has a large catalog of music, some of U2’s best songs were never released as singles and could have been much bigger.

While songs such as “Where The Streets Have No Name,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” are nothing short of legendary, U2 has so many more tracks that deserve attention. In honor, we present our tally of three underrated U2 songs that could have been hits.

Underrated U2 Songs That Should Have Been Bigger

‘So Cruel,’ off 1991’s ‘Achtung Baby’

“Achtung Baby” was a massive album for U2, and five of the record’s tracks were released as singles, adding to its commercial success. But, that leave a bevy of songs that were never released as singles but could have been much more successful. As the story goes, U2 guitarist The Edge wrote “So Cruel” after going through a divorce, so it’s a very personal and intimate representation of how he was feeling at the time. U2 wrote “So Cruel” on all acoustic instruments, so it stood out from the other songs on “Archtung Baby,” which were more rocked out. At the time, the band wanted it to fit with the electronic vibe of the record, so they added some more production, and as a result, U2 created an epic masterpiece with some acoustic sounds but a more layered, produced style.

‘Running to Stand Still,’ off 1987’s ‘The Joshua Tree’

As with “Achtung Baby,” U2’s “The Joshua Tree” is obviously a huge album and comes packed with chart-toppers. If there’s one album that really defines U2 as a band, it’s “The Joshua Tree.” But, aside from the obvious tracks to spin on here, the record has plenty of underrated songs that could have been bigger. One of them is “Running to Stand Still,” which is possibly the most underrated U2 song of all time. This is simply a gorgeous song, featuring twangy guitar, delicate piano and passionate vocals. It’s a song about drug addiction, and in it, Bono really gets across the turmoil and disaster that comes with addiction. But, even with it being such a dark theme, there’s a true beauty that comes out in “Running to Stand Still.” Did we mention there’s a harmonica solo in here? This is the kind of song that proves U2 can do anything.

‘Luminous Times (Hold On to Love),’ Single

Not every song made the cut to be featured on a U2 album, and “Luminous Times (Hold On to Love)” is one of those hidden gems that didn’t make it onto “The Joshua Tree.” It’s an emotional and glorious song that features complex layers and textures, but it just didn’t fit the release. But, U2 released it as a B-side to “With or Without You,” so some people heard it in that context. Today, thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to find, and listening to “Luminous Times” is like finding a diamond in the rough.

Cat Badra
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Posted by Cat Badra | Music, Rock, Rock News

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