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Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of

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"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"
Single by U2
from the album All That You Can't Leave Behind
B-side"Big Girls Are Best"
Released29 January 2001 (2001-01-29)
StudioHQ (Dublin, Ireland)
GenreRock
Length
Label
Composer(s)U2
Lyricist(s)Bono and the Edge
Producer(s)
U2 singles chronology
"Beautiful Day"
(2000) 		"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"
(2001) 		"Elevation"
(2001)
Music video

"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track on their tenth studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000), and was released as the album's second single on 29 January 2001. The band's lead vocalist Bono has said the song was inspired by a fictional conversation with his friend Michael Hutchence about suicide. The song peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Canada, their native Ireland, and Italy, while reaching the top 10 in Australia, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom. In 2002, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony.

Writing and composition

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"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" originated from a gospel-influenced chord progression that guitarist the Edge composed on a piano in a Japanese hotel room.[1][2] He said: "I suppose I was consciously looking for something in that [gospel] tradition. Having been through that whole experimentation period during Pop—with techno and dance ideas and dance aesthetics—it seemed like I wanted to get back to something a bit more earthy."[1] During the recording sessions for All That You Can't Leave Behind, the Edge played the piano piece in a music sequencer, after which co-producer Brian Eno removed every first and second note, leaving every third note. Eno then set it into a different keyboard with extensive treatments, resulting in what the Edge called an "otherworldly effect" on top of his "traditional gospel piano sequence".[2]

Co-producer Daniel Lanois said the recorded version of the song was essentially a live take performed by the band with him and Eno. On guitar, Lanois played "the harmony to The Edge's part". The Edge achieved a clean guitar tone by plugging his 1950s Fender Stratocaster guitar directly into a Fender Bassman amplifier.[3] The song ends with a "choral chant" written by the Edge; Lanois said they had always wanted to compose such a part before. The group tried several variations of it before settling on the version that appears on record. The vocals were sung by the Edge, Lanois, and Eno; Lanois said it was easy to imagine hiring a choir to sing the part but "if you want it to sound like a U2 record, then you use the team".[4] Mick Jagger and his daughter Elizabeth recorded backing vocals for the song, although these did not make the final mix.[5]

U2's lead singer Bono wrote the lyrics about the suicide of his close friend Michael Hutchence, lead singer of the band INXS. The song is written in the form of an argument about suicide in which Bono tries to convince Hutchence of the act's foolishness. Bono characterised the song as a fight between friends, which he felt guilty for never having with Hutchence. As Bono said in 2005, "It's a row between mates. You're kinda trying to wake them up out of an idea. In my case it's a row I didn't have while he was alive. I feel the biggest respect I could pay to him was not to write some stupid soppy song, so I wrote a really tough, nasty little number, slapping him around the head. And I'm sorry, but that's how it came out of me."[6][7] New York magazine's Caryn Rose wrote in Vulture that it was "a gospel song at its heart... The last three stanzas are heart-wrenching."[8]

Release

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"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" was released in the UK on 29 January 2001,[9][10] in Japan on 7 February,[11] in Australia on 12 February,[12] in the United States on 6 August,[13] and in Canada on 30 October.[14]

Live performances

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The song was performed at every show on the Elevation Tour in 2001.[15] The song was not played again until the third leg on the Vertigo Tour in 2005 in an acoustic form by Bono and The Edge. The full band electric version was revived for the sixth leg of the Vertigo Tour in 2006. The song was performed on the U2 360° Tour, again in an acoustic form by Bono and The Edge.[16] The song was played five times on the Innocence + Experience Tour.[17] These performances were by the full band and featured The Edge on the piano. The song was not performed on the Experience + Innocence Tour in 2018, but was played during many promotional shows for the Songs of Experience album. It made two appearances on The Joshua Tree Tour 2019.[18] Both performances were in Sydney and were dedicated to Michael Hutchence.[19]

Music videos

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Three official music videos were filmed for the song. The first video (known as the US version) is directed by Joseph Kahn, features an American football game between the "Flys" [sic] and the "Lemons" filmed at the Houston Astrodome (named The Unforgettable Fire Dome in the video), and contains various inside jokes and references to the band's past—such as the team names themselves, which were the titles of two U2 singles released in the 1990s. The video features a brief cameo in the beginning from John Madden, whose lines also feature several U2 references. The main part of the video shows a placekicker named Paul Hewson—Bono's real name—forced to relive a field goal he missed that cost his team the game.[20]

The second video, directed by Kevin Godley and aimed at an international audience, shows Bono being thrown out of a van several times, as if "stuck in a moment". At the end of the video, the rest of the band helps him up.

The third and final video is the "Eze version", filmed in Eze, France, and features live footage of the band recording All That You Can't Leave Behind, intercut with footage of the band roaming the streets of Eze.[21]

All three videos were remastered in high definition and uploaded to the band's YouTube channel in 2020.

B-sides

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The "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" singles were backed with the following B-sides:

  • "Big Girls Are Best" – produced by Flood and Howie B, this song was recorded after the PopMart Tour. Its lyrics include a reference to the Copacabana Palace hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ("Avenue Atantico, 1702"), where U2 stayed when they played in Rio in 1998.
  • "Beautiful Day" (Quincey and Sonance Remix) – this remix was released, in a shorter version, in a promotional CD along with an issue of Q magazine.
  • "Beautiful Day" and "New York" (Live from Farmclub.com) – this was a performance on 27 October 2000 for the American TV show, during U2's promotional tour of the All That You Can't Leave Behind album.
  • "All I Want Is You" and "Even Better Than the Real Thing" (Live from Manray) – the first public listening of All That You Can't Leave Behind in the famous Paris nightclub was capped with an impromptu performance by U2, the first since the end of the PopMart Tour. These two songs were lifted from that performance.
  • "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" (Live from Toronto) – this performance from the Elevation Tour was transmitted live for the We Know Where You Live, Live! TV special, which was later released in DVD.
  • "Elevation" (Vandit Club Remix) this remix was done by Paul Van Dyk.

Alternative versions

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There are three versions of this song:

  • The album version, which appears on All That You Can't Leave Behind. This is the original version of the song.
  • The acoustic version, which appears on the single, as well as in the "Walk On" single and the 7 EP. The same vocal track is used with a different, stripped-down arrangement.
  • The radio edit, which was used in the promotional radio singles in the US. Part of the first verse and the outro are edited out, leaving the song with about three and a half minutes.

Formats and track listings

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All music is composed by U2

Version 1
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (Album version)Bono and The Edge4:33
2."Big Girls Are Best"Bono and The Edge3:37
3."Beautiful Day" (Quincey and Sonance remix)Bono7:55
4."Beautiful Day" (Perfecto mix)Bono7:48
Total length:24:01

Note

  • Track 4 only available on the Australian limited edition CD
Version 2
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (Album version)Bono and The Edge4:33
2."Beautiful Day" (Live on Farmclub.com)Bono4:48
3."New York" (Live on Farmclub.com)Bono6:01
4."Beautiful Day" (David Holmes remix)Bono5:34
Total length:20:58

Note

  • Track 4 only available on the Australian limited edition CD
Version 3
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (Album version)Bono and The Edge4:33
2."Big Girls Are Best"Bono and The Edge3:37
3."All I Want Is You" (Live at Manray, Paris)Bono5:26
4."Even Better Than the Real Thing" (Live at Manray, Paris)Bono3:55
Total length:17:33

Note

  • Only available in France
Version 4
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (Album Version)Bono and The Edge4:33
2."Beautiful Day" (Live on Farmclub.com)Bono4:48
3."New York" (Live on Farmclub.com)Bono6:01
4."Big Girls Are Best"Bono and The Edge3:37
5."Beautiful Day" (Quincey and Sonance remix)Bono7:55
Total length:18:19

Note

  • Released only in Japan, featuring most B-sides from both regular CD releases
Version 5
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (Radio edit)Bono and The Edge3:42
2."Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (Acoustic version)Bono and The Edge3:42
3."Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" (Live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada)Bono5:39
4."Elevation" (Vandit club remix)Bono8:54

Note

  • A Canada-only release on late October 2001, also available on CD

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Silver 200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom 29 January 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
 Island [9][10]
Japan 7 February 2001 CD [11]
Australia 12 February 2001 [12]
United States 6 August 2001
Interscope [13]
7 August 2001
[13]
Canada 30 October 2001 CD [14]

Covers

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Somalian-Canadian rapper K'naan performed the song live in July 2010 for iHeartRadio.[64]

Actress Scarlett Johansson covered the song for the soundtrack to the 2021 animated film, Sing 2, in which U2 frontman Bono appears in a voice role.

See also

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References

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Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Heath, Chris (17 August 2000). "U2: 'It's About Self Respect'". Rolling Stone. No. 847. pp. 43+.
  2. ^ a b McCormick (2006), p. 296
  3. ^ Fox, Darrin (January 2001). "Basic Instincts: The Edge Brings the U2 Sound Full Circle". Guitar Player. Vol. 35, no. 1. pp. 100–108.
  4. ^ Stokes (2005), pp. 148–149
  5. ^ Gundersen, Edna (29 September 2010). "Rock Hall of Fame shows get a three-disc set for the ages". USA Today.
  6. ^ Wenner, Jann S. (3 November 2005). "Bono: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone. No. 986. pp. 48–67, 102–103.
  7. ^ "INXS Singer Had Discussed Suicide With U2's Bono". Reuters. 27 December 2000.
  8. ^ Rose, Caryn (22 October 2022). "All 234 U2 Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b Kootnikoff, David (2010). U2: A Musical Biography. ABC-CLIO. pp. xxvii. ISBN 9780313365232.
  10. ^ a b "New Releases – For Week Starting January 29, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 January 2001. p. 39. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  11. ^ a b "新譜発売日一覧 2月分" [New Release Date List for February] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on 14 April 2001. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. ^ a b "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 12th February 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 12 February 2001. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1413. 3 August 2001. pp. 82, 92, 106, 111. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  14. ^ a b "'Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of' – U2". u2songs.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  15. ^ "U2 Elevation Tour - U2 on tour".
  16. ^ "U2 360° Tour - U2 on tour".
  17. ^ "U2 Innocence + Experience Tour - U2 on tour".
  18. ^ "U2 Joshua Tree Tour 2019 - U2 on tour".
  19. ^ "U2's Sydney #1 setlist, 22/11/19". 22 November 2019.
  20. ^ U2 - Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of (US Version), 19 November 2020, retrieved 28 April 2021
  21. ^ U2 - Stuck In A Moment (Eze Version), 27 October 2020, retrieved 28 April 2021
  22. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  23. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  24. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  25. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  26. ^ "U2 Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Canadian Top 20 in 2001" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  28. ^ "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 22 March 2001. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  29. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". Tracklisten. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  30. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 8. 17 February 2001. p. 8. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  31. ^ "U2: Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  32. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  33. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  34. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  35. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  36. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  37. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  38. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  39. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". VG-lista. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  40. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 10. p. 11. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  42. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  43. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  44. ^ "U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  45. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  46. ^ "U2 Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  47. ^ "U2 Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  48. ^ "U2 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  49. ^ "U2 Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  50. ^ "U2 Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  51. ^ "U2 Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  52. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001". ARIA. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  53. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 January 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  54. ^ "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 July 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  55. ^ "Ireland – Top Singles For 2001". Allcharts. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  56. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  57. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  58. ^ "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. 21 December 2001. p. 54.
  59. ^ "America's Best: 2001 – Most-Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. 21 December 2001. p. 45.
  60. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". Jam!. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  61. ^ "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. 20 December 2002. p. 16.
  62. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  63. ^ "British single certifications – U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  64. ^ "Two New iheartradio Videos: Robyn Strips Down Alicia Keys, K'naan Goofs Around for U2 – Cover Me". 18 August 2010.

Bibliography

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