U2's Longest Wait: New Single Drops After Nine Years

U2 has unveiled "Street of Dreams," their first single in nearly nine years, signaling the imminent arrival of a new studio album. This release establishes a new record for the longest period between studio albums for the band. The previous album, Songs of Experience, was released in 2014.

The single precedes the band's upcoming LP. In light of this new release, an analysis ranks all of U2's prior leadoff singles. This ranking considers both the musical quality of each track and its effectiveness in setting the stage for the subsequent album. The assessment spans their entire discography, offering a historical perspective on their career.

Rankings from prior albums include "Get On Your Boots" (2009) at number 15, noted for not matching the album's quality, and "The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)" (2014) at 14, a tribute to Bono's hero. Earlier singles like "Fire" (1981) and "A Day Without Me" (1980) also feature, with "Fire" being deemed uninspired by the band itself.

Moving up the list are "You're the Best Thing About Me" (2017) at 11, a love ballad from Songs of Experience, and "Vertigo" (2004) at 10, which gained popularity through an iPod commercial. "Numb" (1993) is ranked ninth, featuring The Edge's unique vocal performance, while "Desire" (1988) from Rattle and Hum is eighth.

Further down the list are "Miss Sarajevo" (1995) at seventh, from a collaboration album, and "Discothèque" (1997) at sixth, an experimental track from the Pop album. "Beautiful Day" (2000) secured the fifth spot, marking a successful comeback. "New Year's Day" (1983) is fourth, a politically charged anthem that heralded a new era.

"Pride (In the Name of Love)" (1985) is ranked third, a pop classic inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. "With or Without You" (1987) takes the second position, recognized as a masterpiece. The top spot is awarded to "The Fly" (1991), lauded for its bold departure from the band's established sound and its role in defining their Nineties direction.