New Year's Day (U2 song)

"New Year's Day" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their 1983 album War and was released as the album's lead single in January 1983. With lyrics written about the Polish Solidarity movement, "New Year's Day" is driven by Adam Clayton's distinctive bassline and the Edge's piano and guitar playing. It was the band's first UK hit single, peaking at number 10, and was also their first international hit, reaching for number 9 in Norway, number 11 on the Dutch Top 40, number 17 in Sweden, and number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, becoming the band's first single to chart in the US.

"New Year's Day"
Standard European artwork (pictured variant used for 12-inch maxi-single and later CD editions)
Single by U2
from the album War
B-side"Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)"
Released10 January 1983[1]
RecordedSeptember–November 1982
StudioWindmill Lane Studios (Dublin)
Genre
Length
  • 5:36 (album version)
  • 5:40 (original 12" long version)
  • 4:17 (video version)
  • 3:53 (7" edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)U2
Producer(s)Steve Lillywhite
U2 singles chronology
"A Celebration"
(1982)		 "New Year's Day"
(1983)		 "Two Hearts Beat as One"
(1983)
Music video
"New Year's Day" on YouTube
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

In 2004, the song was ranked 427th on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It was also included in the Pitchfork 500.

The UK cover features a photograph of Peter Rowen, who grew up near the group's lead vocalist Bono in Ireland.[4]

Writing and composition

The lyric had its origins in a love song from Bono to his wife,[5] but was subsequently reshaped and inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement.[6] The bassline stemmed from bassist Adam Clayton trying to figure out the chords to the Visage song "Fade to Grey"[7] during a soundcheck.[8]

In 1983, Bono said of the song, "It would be stupid to start drawing up battle lines, but I think the fact that 'New Year's Day' made the Top Ten indicated a disillusionment among record buyers. I don't think 'New Year's Day' was a pop single, certainly not in the way that Mickie Most might define a pop single as something that lasts three minutes and three weeks in the chart. I don't think we could have written that kind of song."[9]

Music video

The video was one of their first to see heavy rotation on MTV. It was filmed in Sälen and Mora, Sweden in December 1982 and directed by Meiert Avis. The band only appeared in the performance scenes of the video as it was filmed in the dead of the Swedish winter. U2 guitarist Edge said in the official U2 biography that the four people riding on horseback in the video that appeared to be the four U2 members were in fact four Swedish teenage girls disguised as the members of U2 riding on horseback with masks over their faces, because the band were frozen from shooting the video in sub-freezing temperatures the day before. Their biography states that Bono refused to wear any headgear despite the cold weather and had a lot of trouble mouthing the lyrics.[10] The video also features footage of Soviet troops advancing in winter during World War II.

U2 allowed free-of-charge use of this song in a spot prepared by the European Commission. This clip published on YouTube shows a transformation of Poland in the last 20 years mixed with short scenes from today's Warsaw seen from a perspective of a 20-year-old woman.[11]

Live performances

"New Year's Day", U2's seventh-most frequently performed live song,[12] has been a standard on every U2 tour since its debut on 1 December 1982 at the first show of the War Tour's Pre-Tour. However, the Innocence + Experience tour only featured three performances of the song.

In concert, the Edge switches between piano and guitar during the song. In 1980s performances, he used a Fender Stratocaster and a Yamaha CP70 electric grand piano. During the 1990s and 2000s, he has alternated between a Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard. The Les Paul the Edge used to write this song was sold for charity. Until the Elevation Tour, Clayton normally used a chorus effect on his bass guitar for this song live. In the Top of the Pops performance, Bono is seen playing guitar.

"New Year's Day" has appeared on many of U2's concert video releases including 1983's U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky, Zoo TV: Live from Sydney, PopMart: Live from Mexico City, U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago, Live from Paris, and U2 3D.

U2 has never performed in concert the B-side of "New Year's Day", "Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop?)", although they played an early version known simply as "Pete the Chop" at some concerts in 1980.[13]

When the band played "New Year's Day" during the Vertigo Tour performance at Silesian Stadium in Poland, the crowd surprised the band when the lower sections waved red-coloured items while other sections waved white, creating the Polish flag.[14] This was repeated during the U2 360° Tour at the same venue.[15][16][17]

Reception

In 2004, Rolling Stone placed the song at number 427 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time";[18] the song was re-ranked to 435th on the magazine's 2010 version of the list.[19] The song was also included in the Pitchfork 500.[20]

Cash Box said in its contemporary review of the single that "an agitated yet steady rhythm lays the foundation for this stark, AOR-slanted single by a thinking man’s rock 'n' roll band."[21]

Formats and track listings
7" - Island / WIP 6848 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."New Year's Day" (Short version)3:53
2."Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)"3:24
7" - Island / 811 323-7 (France)
No.TitleLength
1."New Year's Day" (Edit)3:40
2."Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)"3:24
7" - Island / 7S-86 (Japan)
No.TitleLength
1."New Year's Day" (Special version)4:16
2."Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)"3:24
2x7" - Island / UWIP6848 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."New Year's Day" (Short version)3:53
2."Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)"3:24
3."Fire" (Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982)3:45
4."I Threw a Brick Through a Window"/"A Day Without Me" (Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982)6:58
12" - Island / 12 WIP 6848 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."New Year's Day" (Album version)5:35
2."Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)"3:24
3."Fire" (Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982)3:45
4."I Threw a Brick Through a Window"/"A Day Without Me" (Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982)6:58
12" - Island / 814 948-1 (France)
No.TitleLength
1."New Year's Day" (U.S. remix)4:30
2."Two Hearts Beat as One" (U.S. remix)5:40
CD - Island / 664 973 (Austria)
No.TitleLength
1."New Year's Day" (Album version)5:35
2."Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop)"3:24
3."Fire" (Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982)3:45
4."I Threw a Brick Through a Window"/"A Day Without Me" (Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982)6:58

Charts

Musique remix
"New Year's Dub"
Single by Musique vs. U2
Released21 May 2001 (2001-05-21)[37][38]
Length2:57 (radio edit)
LabelSerious
Songwriter(s)
  • U2
  • Moussa Clarke
  • Nick Hanson
Producer(s)
  • Nick Hanson
  • Moose

In May 2001, dance act Musique released a remix of the song, "New Year's Dub". The remix charted in some European countries, including in the UK and in Ireland, where it peaked at no. 15 and no. 13, respectively. It also charted in Australia, where it peaked at no. 74.

Track listings
CD-Maxi Serious 572 922-2
No.TitleLength
1."New Year's Dub" (7" Radio Edit)2:57
2."New Year's Dub" (Mauro Picotto Club Mix)8:38
3."New Year's Dub" (Hybrid Remix)6:59

Weekly charts
Weekly chart performance for "New Year's Day" by Musique vs. U2
Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[39] 74
Ireland (IRMA)[40] 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[41] 55
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 93
UK Singles (OCC)[43] 15

Year-end charts
2001 year-end chart performance for "New Year's Day" by Musique vs. U2
Chart (2001) Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[44] 64
2002 year-end chart performance for "New Year's Day" by Musique vs. U2
Chart (2002) Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[45] 131

See also

References
  1. "U2 > Discography > Albums > New Year's Day". U2.com. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. Barton, David (19 December 2015). "Rockin' harder than ever". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. D9.
  3. Zaleski, Annie (20 July 2018). "U2's 25 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  4. Perricone, Kathleen (19 October 2011). "Child who appeared on U2 album covers for 'Boy,' 'War' all grown up 31 years later". New York Daily News. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  5. Stokes, Niall (1996). Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song. HarperCollins.
  6. Hilburn, Robert (8 August 2004). "Where Craft Ends and Spirit Begins". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  7. Egan, Barry (16 January 2011). "Achtung baby, Adam is the proud father of a little boy". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  8. Stokes, Niall (29 November 2006). "U2: The Stories Behind Their Greatest Songs". Hot Press. Vol. 30, no. 23. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  9. Thrills, Adrian (26 February 1983). "War & Peace". NME. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  10. "'New Year's Day'". U2.com. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  11. "A spot prepared by the European Commission". YouTube.
  12. Mühlbradt, Matthias; Axver, André. "All songs U2 played without snippets - U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  13. Mühlbradt, Matthias; Axver, André (13 July 1980). "U2 London, 1980-07-13, Marquee Club, Early Days - U2 on tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  14. Mühlbradt, Matthias; Axver, André (5 July 2005). "U2 Chorzow, 2005-07-05, Slaski Stadium, Vertigo Tour - U2 on Tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  15. Mühlbradt, Matthias; Axver, André (6 August 2009). "U2 Chorzow, 2009-08-06, Slaski Stadium, 360° Tour - U2 on Tour". U2gigs.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  16. Lightbody, Gary (9 August 2009). "'Something I've Never Seen Before'". Goyb.u2.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  17. "U2 Chorzow 2009-08-06 New Years Day GA camera - U2gigs.com". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  18. "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (1-500)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 20 August 2006.
  19. "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 435 – U2, 'New Year's Day'". Rolling Stone. No. Special collectors edition. 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  20. Suddath, Claire (26 November 2008). "The Pitchfork 500". Time. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  21. "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 19 February 1983. p. 10. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  22. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989, part 2". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  23. "U2 – New Year's Day" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  24. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6323." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  25. "Accès direct aux Artistes (U)". InfoDisc (in French). Select "U 2" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – New Years Day". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – U2 - New Year s Day" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  28. "U2 – New Year's Day" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  29. "U2 – New Year's Day". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  30. "U2 – New Year's Day". VG-lista. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  31. "U2 – New Year's Day". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  32. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  33. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles: Week ending MAY 21, 1983". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012.
  34. "U2 – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  35. "50 Back Catalogue Singles – 2 October 2010". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  36. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  37. "New Releases – For Week Starting May 21, 2001: Singles". Music Week. 19 May 2001. p. 25.
  38. "New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 21st May 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 21 May 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  39. "Issue 587" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  40. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – New Years Dub". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  41. "Musique vs. U2 – New Years Dub" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  42. "Musique vs. U2 – New Years Dub". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  43. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  44. "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 January 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  45. "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
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