Mysterious Ways (song)
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| “Mysterious Ways” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by U2 from the album Achtung Baby |
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| Released | November 25, 1991 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format | CD, cassette, 7", 12" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 4:04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Label | Island | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | Daniel Lanois with Brian Eno | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U2 singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Mysterious Ways" is the eighth track on U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby and was released as the album's second single.
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[edit] History
The song reached #9 on the Hot 100 (the previous single, "The Fly", had only managed to reach #61) making it one of the band's highest-charting singles in the U.S.; only three other U2 singles ("With or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and "Desire") have reached higher positions. "Mysterious Ways" also topped both the Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
When played live on the Zoo TV Tour, this song featured a belly dancer on stage. The version played was extended, including a longer introduction with a piano part from The Edge. Also, a slide solo is featured after what was the end of the studio version of the song. Both the added intro and outro features added lyrics from Bono, much of which is sung in the falsetto. One of the dancers, Morleigh Steinberg, later married The Edge. It has been played on every tour since it debuted, appearing on every live video release since except for Elevation 2001: Live from Boston. Edge has always used a Rickenbacker 330-12 for this song.
When the covers to "Even Better Than the Real Thing", "The Fly", "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses", and "Mysterious Ways" are arranged, a picture of the band members driving a Trabant is formed.
The video had a belly dancing theme and was filmed by Stephane Sednaoui in Morocco.
tobyMac & Sarah Kelly covered this song for In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa. It was also covered for In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 by Angelique Kidjo.
Industrial metal band KMFDM covered the song for the Shut Up Kitty compilation album.
[edit] Track listings
[edit] Version 1
- "Mysterious Ways" (Album Version) – 4:04
- "Mysterious Ways" (Solar Plexus Magic Hour Remix) – 8:14
7" and cassette releases.
[edit] Version 2
- "Mysterious Ways" (Album Version) – 4:04
- "Mysterious Ways" (Solar Plexus Extended Club Mix) – 7:00
- "Mysterious Ways" (Apollo 440 Magic Hour Remix) – 4:25
- "Mysterious Ways" (Tabla Motown Remix) – 4:27
- "Mysterious Ways" (Solar Plexus Club Mix) – 4:09
The most common CD and double cassette version.
[edit] Version 3
- "Mysterious Ways" (The Perfecto Mix) – 7:06
- "Mysterious Ways" (Ultimatum Mix) – 5:00
The bonus disc packaged with the Australian 5" CD release.
[edit] Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Australian Singles Chart | #3 |
| 1991 | UK Singles Chart | #13 |
| 1991 | US Billboard Hot 100 | #9 |
| 1991 | US Modern Rock Tracks | #1 |
| 1991 | US Mainstream Rock Tracks | #1 |
| 1992 | US Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #42 |
| 1992 | US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #29 |
| Preceded by "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana |
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single November 30, 1991 - January 25, 1992 |
Succeeded by "Sax and Violins" by Talking Heads |
