1. Well, I'm bored again but have got U2 on the brain. So I was thinking about how my personal favourite songs on the albums have changed from my first listenings to now, and I was curious to see how other fans have changed over the years with this band - especially those of you who have been fans much, much longer than I have!

    So I was thinking, if you wanna play, for each album (or one at a time, or whatever) list:

    Your first favourite: what was your favourite track the first few times you listened to the album?

    Your current favourite: what is your favourite track now?

    Biggest step forward: what track has had the biggest improvement in your rankings, between the first few listens and now? This should be one that maybe you weren't very fond of at first but now love, one that has really grown on you.

    Biggest step back: what track has had the biggest fall in your rankings, between the first few listens and now? Not necessarily one you don't like, but perhaps a track that was once one of your favourites on the album but now is one you'll skip/rarely play.


    (if this already exists someplace, just relocate/exterminate/whatever this thread)
  2. Here's my attempt:

    Boy
    First favourite: I Will Follow
    Current favourite: Another Time, Another Place
    Biggest step forward: Shadows and Tall Trees
    Biggest step back: A Day Without Me

    October
    First favourite: Stranger In a Strange Land
    Current favourite: Tomorrow
    Biggest step forward: Tomorrow
    Biggest step back: October

    War
    First favourite: Two Hearts Beat As One
    Current favourite: Like a Song...
    Biggest step forward: Red Light
    Biggest step back: none - this is one of only two albums where I have never come to like a song less than the first few times I heard it

    The Unforgettable Fire
    First favourite: Indian Summer Sky
    Current favourite: Indian Summer Sky
    Biggest step forward: A Sort of Homecoming
    Biggest step back: Bad (just the STUDIO version!)

    The Joshua Tree
    First favourite: Where the Streets Have No Name
    Current favourite: Exit (or Where the Streets Have No Name... it's everyone's real favourite, isn't it?)
    Biggest step forward: One Tree Hill
    Biggest step back: With or Without You

    Rattle and Hum
    First favourite: Heartland
    Current favourite: Heartland
    Biggest step forward: Hawkmoon 269
    Biggest step back: Desire

    Achtung Baby
    First favourite: The Fly
    Current favourite: The Fly
    Biggest step forward: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around the World
    Biggest step back: One

    Zooropa
    First favourite: Lemon
    Current favourite: Lemon
    Biggest step forward: Some Days Are Better Than Others
    Biggest step back: Numb

    Pop
    First favourite: Discothèque
    Current favourite: Mofo
    Biggest step forward: If You Wear That Velvet Dress
    Biggest step back: Miami

    All That You Can't Leave Behind
    First favourite: Wild Honey
    Current favourite: Wild Honey
    Biggest step forward: New York
    Biggest step back: Elevation

    How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
    First favourite: A Man and a Woman
    Current favourite: A Man and a Woman
    Biggest step forward: One Step Closer
    Biggest step back: All Because of You (especially because the version on Unreleased and Rare is WAY better than the album version, in my opinion)

    No Line On the Horizon
    First favourite: Get On Your Boots
    Current favourite: Cedars of Lebanon
    Biggest step forward: White As Snow
    Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots

    Songs of Innocence
    First favourite: Iris
    Current favourite: Iris
    Biggest step forward: This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now
    Biggest step back: none - this is the second album where I have not come to like a song less than the first few times I heard it
  3. Nothing better to do at the office right now.

    Boy
    First favourite: I Will Follow
    Current favourite: Twilight
    Biggest step forward: Stories For Boys
    Biggest step back: An Cat Dubh

    October
    First favourite: October
    Current favourite: Gloria
    Biggest step forward: Fire
    Biggest step back: Scarlet

    War
    First favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Current favourite: Seconds
    Biggest step forward: Seconds
    Biggest step back: The Refugee

    The Unforgettable Fire
    First favourite: A Sort of Homecoming
    Current favourite: The Unforgettable Fire
    Biggest step forward: Wire
    Biggest step back: Elvis Presley & America

    The Joshua Tree
    First favourite: Bullet the Blue Sky
    Current favourite: Red Hill Mining Town
    Biggest step forward: Trip Through Your Wires
    Biggest step back: I Still Haven't Found...

    Rattle and Hum
    First favourite: God Part II
    Current favourite: Hawkmoon 269
    Biggest step forward: All I Want Is You (just something magical about the album version)
    Biggest step back: Desire

    Achtung Baby
    First favourite: The Fly
    Current favourite: Acrobat
    Biggest step forward: Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
    Biggest step back: Zoo Station

    Zooropa
    First favourite: Numb
    Current favourite: Lemon
    Biggest step forward: Some Days...
    Biggest step back: Daddy's Gonna Pay...

    Pop
    First favourite: Discotheque
    Current favourite: Do You Feel Loved
    Biggest step forward: Playboy Mansion
    Biggest step back: Miami

    All That You Can't Leave Behind
    First favourite: Elevation
    Current favourite: Wild Honey
    Biggest step forward: Grace
    Biggest step back: Elevation

    How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
    First favourite: City of Blinding Lights
    Current favourite: One Step Closer
    Biggest step forward: Man & A Woman
    Biggest step back: Vertigo

    No Line On the Horizon
    First favourite: Crazy Tonight
    Current favourite: Crazy Tonight
    Biggest step forward: Magnificent
    Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots

    Songs of Innocence
    First favourite: This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now
    Current favourite: The Troubles
    Biggest step forward: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
    Biggest step back: California (Love it live, can't stand the Bar-bar-barbara intro on the album)
  4. I'm including least favourite too


    Boy
    First favourite: I Will Follow
    Current favourite: I Will Follow
    Biggest step forward: Shadows and Tall Trees
    Biggest step back: Into The Heart
    Least favourite: Into The Heart


    October
    First favourite: October
    Current favourite: Tomorrow
    Biggest step forward: Tomorrow
    Biggest step back: I Threw A Brick Through A Window
    Least favourite: Is That All?


    War
    First favourite: Like A Song
    Current favourite: Like a Song...
    Biggest step forward: Drowning Man
    Biggest step back: Two Hearts Beat As One
    Least favourite: The Refugee


    The Unforgettable Fire
    First favourite: Bad
    Current favourite: bad
    Biggest step forward: A Sort of Homecoming
    Biggest step back: MLK
    Least favourite: 4th Of July


    The Joshua Tree
    First favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
    Current favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
    Biggest step forward: One Tree Hill
    Biggest step back: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
    Least favourite: Trip Through Your Wires


    Rattle and Hum
    First favourite: Heartland
    Current favourite: Heartland
    Biggest step forward: Hawkmoon 269
    Biggest step back: Desire
    Least favourite: Angel Of Harlem


    Achtung Baby
    First favourite: Who's Gonna RIde Your Wild Horses
    Current favourite: Love Is Blindness
    Biggest step forward: Love Is Blindness
    Biggest step back: The Fly
    Least favourite: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World


    Zooropa
    First favourite: Zooropa
    Current favourite: Stay
    Biggest step forward: Dirty Day
    Biggest step back: Numb
    Least favourite: Numb


    Pop
    First favourite: Please
    Current favourite: If You Wear That Velvet Dress
    Biggest step forward: If You Wear That Velvet Dress
    Biggest step back: Discothèque
    Least favourite: The Playboy Mansion


    All That You Can't Leave Behind
    First favourite: Walk On
    Current favourite: Kite
    Biggest step forward: In A Little While
    Biggest step back: Elevation
    Least favourite: Grace


    How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
    First favourite: Miracle Drug
    Current favourite: Original Of The Species
    Biggest step forward: A Man and a Woman
    Biggest step back: City Of Blinding Lights
    Least favourite: One Step Closer


    No Line On the Horizon
    First favourite: Breathe
    Current favourite: Breathe
    Biggest step forward: Fez - Being Born
    Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots
    Least favourite: Get On Your Boots


    Songs of Innocence
    First favourite: Cedarwood Road
    Current favourite: Cedarwood Road
    Biggest step forward: The Crystal Ballroom
    Biggest step back: The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
    Least favourite: Song for Someone
  5. It's 5:00am and I can't sleep. Ah, who am I kidding, I'd do this in the middle of the day. I love stuff like this!

    Boy
    First favourite: I Will Follow
    Current favourite: I Will Follow
    Biggest step forward: Another Time, Another Place
    Biggest step back: Shadows and Tall Trees
    Least favourite: Shadows and Tall Trees


    October
    First favourite: Gloria
    Current favourite: October
    Biggest step forward: Tomorrow
    Biggest step back: I Fall Down
    Least favourite: Is That All?


    War
    First favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Current favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Biggest step forward: Drowning Man
    Biggest step back: Two Hearts Beat As One
    Least favourite: The Refugee


    The Unforgettable Fire
    First favourite: Pride
    Current favourite: Bad
    Biggest step forward: A Sort of Homecoming
    Biggest step back: Elvis Presley and America
    Least favourite: 4th Of July


    The Joshua Tree
    First favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
    Current favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
    Biggest step forward: One Tree Hill
    Biggest step back: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
    Least favourite: Trip Through Your Wires


    Rattle and Hum
    First favourite: All I Want Is You
    Current favourite: All I Want Is You
    Biggest step forward: Heartland
    Biggest step back: Hawkmoon 269
    Least favourite: When Love Comes to Town


    Achtung Baby
    First favourite: One
    Current favourite: Ultra Violet
    Biggest step forward: Even Better Than The Real Thing
    Biggest step back: Mysterious Ways
    Least favourite: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World


    Zooropa
    First favourite: The FIrst Time
    Current favourite: Stay
    Biggest step forward: The Wanderer
    Biggest step back: Numb
    Least favourite: Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car


    Pop
    First favourite: Staring At The Sun
    Current favourite: Please
    Biggest step forward: If You Wear That Velvet Dress
    Biggest step back: Discothèque
    Least favourite: The Playboy Mansion


    All That You Can't Leave Behind
    First favourite: Walk On
    Current favourite: Kite
    Biggest step forward: In A Little While
    Biggest step back: Elevation
    Least favourite: Grace


    How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
    First favourite: Original Of The Species
    Current favourite: Original Of The Species
    Biggest step forward: Yahweh
    Biggest step back: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
    Least favourite: Love and Peace or Else


    No Line On the Horizon
    First favourite: Magnificent
    Current favourite: No Line on The Horizon
    Biggest step forward: Fez - Being Born
    Biggest step back: I Know I'll Go Crazy...
    Least favourite: Get On Your Boots


    Songs of Innocence
    First favourite: California
    Current favourite: Cedarwood Road
    Biggest step forward: Volcano
    Biggest step back: The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
    Least favourite: Lucifer's Hands
  6. Boy:
    First favourite: I Will Follow
    Current favourite: A Day Without Me
    Biggest step forward: Another Time, Another Place
    Biggest step back: Into The Heart

    October:
    First favourite: October
    Current favourite: Rejoice
    Biggest step forward: I Fall Down
    Biggest step back: Scarlet

    War:
    First favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Current favourite: Two Hearts Beat As One
    Biggest step forward: Two Hearts Beat As One
    Biggest step back: Sunday Bloody Sunday

    Unforgettable Fire:
    First favourite: Pride
    Current favourite: Bad
    Biggest step forward: A Sort Of Homecoming
    Biggest step back: Pride

    Joshua Tree:
    First favourite: Bullet The Blue Sky
    Current favourite: Red Hill Mining Town
    Biggest step forward: Trip Through Your Wires
    Biggest step back: One Tree Hill

    Rattle And Hum:
    First favourite: Helter Skelter
    Current favourite: Hawkmoon 269
    Biggest step forward: Heartland
    Biggest step back: Van Diemens Land

    Achtung Baby:
    First favourite: The Fly
    Current favourite: The Fly
    Biggest step forward: Acrobat
    Biggest step back: Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

    Zooropa:
    First favourite: Lemon
    Current favourite: Stay
    Biggest step forward: The Wanderer
    Biggest step back: Numb

    Pop:
    First favourite: Discotheque
    Current favourite: Last Night On Earth
    Biggest step forward: Wake Up Dead Man
    Biggest step back: Miami

    All That You Can't Leave Behind:
    First favourite: Elevation
    Current favourite: Elevation
    Biggest step forward: Grace
    Biggest step back: In a Little While

    How To Dismantle an Atomic bomb:
    First favourite: Vertigo
    Current favourite: City Of Blinding Lights
    Biggest step forward: Miracle Drug
    Biggest step back: A Man And A Woman

    No Line On The Horizon:
    First favourite: Get On Your Boots
    Current favourite: Moment Of Surrender
    Biggest step forward: I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
    Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots

    Songs Of Innocence:
    First favourite: The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
    Current favourite: Raised By Wolves
    Biggest step forward: This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now
    Biggest step back: The Troubles
  7. Boy
    First favourite: The Electric Co.
    Current favourite: Shadows And Tall Trees
    Biggest step forward: A Day Without Me
    Biggest step back: Another Time, Another Place

    October
    First favourite: I Threw A Brick Through A Window
    Current favourite: I Threw A Brick Through A Window
    Biggest step forward: Rejoice
    Biggest step back: Tomorrow

    War
    First favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Current favourite: New Year's Day
    Biggest step forward: Surrender
    Biggest step back: Like A Song

    The Unforgettable Fire
    First favourite: The Unforgettable Fire
    Current favourite: A Sort Of Homecoming
    Biggest step forward: Elvis Presley And America
    Biggest step back: The Unforgettable Fire

    The Joshua Tree
    First favourite: Bullet The Blue Sky
    Current favourite: Exit
    Biggest step forward: Running To Stand Still
    Biggest step back: Mothers Of The Disappeared

    Rattle And Hum
    First favourite: Helter Skelter
    Current favourite: Heartland
    Biggest step forward: All Along The Watchtower
    Biggest step back: God Part II

    Achtung Baby
    First favourite: Until The End Of The World
    Current favourite: Love Is Blindness
    Biggest step forward: Zoo Station
    Biggest step back: Mysterious Ways

    Zooropa
    First favourite: Lemon
    Current favourite: Lemon
    Biggest step forward: Some Days Are Better Than Others
    Biggest step back: The Wanderer

    Pop
    First favourite: Mofo
    Current favourite: Gone
    Biggest step forward: Staring At The Sun
    Biggest step back: Discotheque

    All That You Can't Leave Behind
    First favourite: Beautiful Day
    Current favourite: New York
    Biggest step forward: Kite
    Biggest step back: Walk On

    How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
    First favourite: City Of Blinding Lights
    Current favourite: City Of Blinding Lights
    Biggest step forward: Love And Peace Or Else
    Biggest step back: Original Of The Species

    No Line On The Horizon
    First favourite: Magnificent
    Current favourite: Breathe
    Biggest step forward: Fez/Being Born
    Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots

    Songs Of Innoncence
    First favourite: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
    Current favourite: Cedarwood Road
    Biggest step forward: Volcano
    Biggest step back: Every Breaking Wave
  8. this is how I see it
    Boy
    First favourite: I Will Follow
    Current favourite: Stories For Boys
    Biggest step forward: Twilight
    Biggest step back: Into The Heart
    Least favourite: Shadows and Tall Trees


    October
    First favourite: Gloria
    Current favourite: Gloria
    Biggest step forward: I Fall Down
    Biggest step back: Scarlet
    Least favourite: Scarlet


    War
    First favourite: New Years Day
    Current favourite: Like A Song
    Biggest step forward: Seconds
    Biggest step back: Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Least favourite: The Refugee


    The Unforgettable Fire
    First favourite: Pride
    Current favourite: The Unforgettable Fire
    Biggest step forward: Bad
    Biggest step back: Pride
    Least favourite: Elvis Presley and America


    The Joshua Tree

    First favourite: Bullet The Blue Sky
    Current favourite: Exit
    Biggest step forward: Where The Streets Have No name
    Biggest step back:I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
    Least favourite: With Or Without You


    Rattle and Hum
    First favourite: When Love Comes to Town
    Current favourite: God Part II
    Biggest step forward: Hawkmoon 269
    Biggest step back: Angel of Harlem
    Least favourite: Love Rescue Me


    Achtung Baby
    First favourite: Zoo Station
    Current favourite: The Fly
    Biggest step forward: Acrobat
    Biggest step back: One
    Least favourite: So Cruel


    Zooropa

    First favourite: Lemon
    Current favourite: Dirty Day
    Biggest step forward: Zooropa
    Biggest step back: Babyface
    Least favourite: The Wanderer


    Pop
    First favourite: Last Night On Earth
    Current favourite: Please
    Biggest step forward: Mofo
    Biggest step back: If God Will Send His Angels
    Least favourite: The Playboy Mansion


    All That You Can't Leave Behind
    First favourite: Beautiful Day
    Current favourite: Elevation
    Biggest step forward: Kite
    Biggest step back: Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
    Least favourite: Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of


    How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
    First favourite: Vertigo
    Current favourite: Love And Peace Or Else
    Biggest step forward: All Because Of You
    Biggest step back: City Of Blinding Lights
    Least favourite: Crumbs From Your Table


    No Line On the Horizon
    First favourite: Fez/Being Born
    Current favourite: Breathe
    Biggest step forward: Unknown Caller (just don't like that "Sunshine, Sunshine" at the start)
    Biggest step back: Get on Your Boots
    Least favourite: White as Snow


    Songs of Innocence
    First favourite: Cedarwood Road
    Current favourite: The Troubles
    Biggest step forward:
    Biggest step back: Song For Someone
    Least favourite: California
  9. Very good topic... and I'm including also, the first least favourite

    Boy
    First Favourite: I Will Follow
    Current Favourite: A Day Without Me
    Biggest step forward: A Day Without Me
    Biggest step back: I Will Follow
    First least favourite: Shadows And Tall Threes
    Current least favourite: The Ocean

    October
    First Favourite: I Threw A Brick Trough A Window
    Current Favourite: Gloria
    Biggest step forward: With A Shout
    Biggest step back: Rejoice
    First least favourite: Scarlet
    Current least favourite: Is That All?

    War:
    First Favourite: Sunday Bloody Sunday
    Current Favourite: Like A Song
    Biggest step forward: Two Hearts Beat As One
    Biggest step back: New Year's Day
    First least favourite: Red Light
    Current least favourite: Red Light

    The Unforgettable Fire:
    First Favourite: Pride
    Current Favourite: Bad
    Biggest step forward: A Sort Of Homecoming
    Biggest step back: Pride
    First least favourite: Elvis Presley And America
    Current least favourite: Elvis Presley and America

    The Joshua Tree
    First Favourite: Where The Streets Have No Name
    Current Favourite: One Tree Hill
    Biggest step forward: Red Hill Mining Town
    Biggest step back: In God's Country
    First least favourite: Mothers of Disappeared
    Current least favourite: In God's Country

    Rattle And Hum
    First Favourite: All I Want Is Yoy
    Current Favourite: Heartland
    Biggest step forward: Hawkmoon 269
    Biggest step back: Desire
    First least favourite: Helter Skelter
    Current least favourite: Helter Skelter

    Achtung Baby
    First Favourite: One
    Current Favourite: So Cruel
    Biggest step forward: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World
    Biggest step back: Mysterious Ways
    First least favourite: Even Better Than The Real Thing
    Current least favourite: Even Better Than The Real Thing

    Zooropa
    First Favourite: Numb
    Current Favourite: The Wanderer
    Biggest step forwardhe Wanderer
    Biggest step back: Stay
    First least favourite: Lemon
    Current least favourite: Lemon

    Pop:
    First Favourite: Staring At The Sun
    Current Favourite: Please
    Biggest step forward: Miami
    Biggest step back: Mofo
    First least favourite: Discotheque
    Current least favourite: Playboy Mansion

    All That You Can't Leave Behind
    First Favourite: Kite
    Current Favourite: Kite
    Biggest step forward: When I Look At The World
    Biggest step back: New York
    First least favourite: Wild Honey
    Current least favourite: Elevation

    How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
    First Favourite: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your On
    Current Favourite: Original Of The Species
    Biggest step forward: Crumbs From Your Table
    Biggest step back: City Of Blinding Lights
    First least favourite: A Man And A Woman
    Current least favourite: Vertigo

    No Line On The Horizon
    First Favourite: Moment Of Surrender
    Current Favourite: Unknown Caller
    Biggest step forward: Magnificent
    Biggest step back: Get On Your Boots
    First least favourite: Cedars Of Lebanon
    Current least favourite: Cedars Of Lebanon

    Songs Of Innocence
    First Favourite: Every Breaking Wave
    Current Favourite: Iris
    Biggest step forward: Cedarwood Road
    Biggest step back: Volcano
    First least favourite: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
    Current least favourite: Sleep Like A Baby Tonight