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Beautiful Day

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"Beautiful Day"
Song

"Beautiful Day" is a song by the Irish rock band U2.

Released as a single off the All That You Can't Leave Behind album in 2000. The song was very popular and helped launch the album to multi-platinum status. An early version of the song featuring different lyrics is named "Always" and was used as a b-side. An out-take from the All That You Can't Leave Behind sessions called "Summer Rain" and a collection of live songs from the Popmart Tour also appeared as b-sides.

The song itself is about a man who has lost everything finding joy in what he still has.

The song's film clip showed the band walking around an airport (actually Paris De Gaulle Terminal 2F), with scenes of the band playing on a runway interspliced.

Apparently, the Edge brought the song to the band, and Bono was unsure, given his explorations into electronic music, but there was a "look" exchanged, and the song was them.

Ever since its tour debut at the first date of the Elevation Tour on 24 March 2001 in Miami, "Beautiful Day" has been played at every single full tour concert, as well as a number of promotional appearances and concerts not connected with a tour. On the Elevation Tour, "Beautiful Day" was normally the second song played, though it did open one show and was played late in the setlist at two concerts. During the Vertigo Tour, it has appeared in the first half of the main set. It is featured on the live videos Elevation: Live From Boston, U2 Go Home: Live From Slane Castle, and Vertigo: Live From Chicago. Neither "Always" nor "Summer Rain" have been performed live. The song was also performed on stage, along with Vertigo and One, at Hyde Park in London for the Live 8 concerts.

In 2001 ITV used the song as the theme to their show "The Premiership"

The Christian rock band Sanctus Real covered "Beautiful Day" for In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa in 2004. The song reached No. 1 on Christian music charts.

Track Listings

Version 1

  1. "Beautiful Day" (Album Version) (4:06)
  2. "Summer Rain" (4:06)
  3. "Always" (3:46)

This is the common CD release. A cassette single was released with only "Summer Rain" as the B-side. The Australian CD edition also had an enhanced video of "Last Night on Earth" (Live from Mexico City).

Version 2

  1. "Beautiful Day" (Album Version) (4:06)
  2. "Discotheque" (Live from Mexico City December 3, 1997) (5:10)
  3. "If You Wear that Velvet Dress" (Live from Mexico City December 3, 1997) (2:43)

This is the "live" release. The Australian edition also had "Last Night on Earth" (Live from Mexico City) as an extra audio track.

Version 3

  1. "Beautiful Day" (Album Version) (4:06)
  2. "Summer Rain" (4:06)
  3. "Always" (3:46)
  4. "Discotheque" (Live from Mexico City December 3, 1997) (5:10)
  5. "If You Wear that Velvet Dress" (Live from Mexico City December 3, 1997) (2:43)

This CD version, with almost all available B-sides, was only released in Japan.

Chart positions

Year Single Chart Position
2000 "Beautiful Day" Norway Top 20 #1
2000 "Beautiful Day" UK Singles Chart #1
2000 "Beautiful Day" US Billboard Hot 100 #21
2000 "Beautiful Day" US Modern Rock Tracks #5
2000 "Beautiful Day" US Mainstream Rock Tracks #14
2000 "Beautiful Day" US Top 40 Mainstream #19
2000 "Beautiful Day" US Top 40 Tracks #15
2000 "Beautiful Day" US Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1
2000 "Beautiful Day" Canadian Singles Chart #1
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