"Atomic City"
Single by U2
Released29 September 2023
StudioSound City (Los Angeles)
GenreRock
Length3:30
LabelIsland
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Bono
Producer(s)
U2 singles chronology
"Your Song Saved My Life"
(2021)		 "Atomic City"
(2023)

"Atomic City" is a song by Irish rock band U2, released as a single on 29 September 2023 through Island Records. It was produced by Jacknife Lee and Steve Lillywhite, and was recorded at Sound City Studios. The song was written as a promotional tie-in to the band's U2:UV Achtung Baby concert residency at the Sphere in the Las Vegas Valley, and it was released the same day the residency began.

The band described the track as a musical homage to artists such as Blondie, Giorgio Moroder, and the Clash as well as post-punk music of the 1970s, while the lyrics reference Las Vegas. Debbie Harry and Moroder received credit as composers of the song due to the similarities between its chorus with "Call Me".[1] The title is a reference to the city's nickname from the 1950s when it was a destination for nuclear tourism.[2][3] It was the first new song to be released by U2 since "Your Song Saved My Life" from the soundtrack of the animated musical Sing 2 in 2021.

Despite being unable to perform during the residency due to planned surgeries and a period of recuperation, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. performed on the track and was filmed for its music video,[4] which was shot in Las Vegas and directed by Ben Kutchins.

Release

"Atomic City" was released digitally on 29 September 2023, the same day their residency at the Sphere began. It will also be released on limited-edition CD and 7-inch vinyl formats.[5]

Music video

The Plaza Hotel & Casino, where U2's video shoot for the Las Vegas-themed single "Atomic City" culminated

The music video was directed by Ben Kutchins and shot in Las Vegas. U2 began filming it on 16 September 2023; with the band members set up on a moving flatbed truck, the shoot began at the 3rd Street Stage on Fremont Street and culminated at midnight at the Carousel Bar in front of the Plaza Hotel & Casino, where the group were met by a crowd that included 250 extras. In addition to several takes of "Atomic City", U2 performed "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", whose music video had been filmed on Fremont Street in 1987. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. participated in the video shoot, despite his plans to be absent from the concert residency.[6]

Reception

Ultimate Classic Rock ranked "Atomic City" the 28th-best rock song of 2023.[7]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Atomic City" garnered 1.1 million official streams and 3,329 copies sold in its first week, according to Luminate. It debuted at number one on Billboard's Alternative Digital Song Sales chart, U2's first time atop the chart since its inception in 2011.[8][9]

"Atomic City" also appeared on other Billboard charts to set or extend several records for U2. On the Alternative Airplay chart, the song peaked at number 15,[10] extending the group's record for songs on the chart to 43; this made U2 just the third act to appear on the Alternative Airplay chart in every decade since its inception in 1988, alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers and Depeche Mode.[9] The song also peaked at number 35 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart,[10] extending U2's record of songs on the chart to 51; this made U2 the seventh act to appear on the chart in every decade since its inception in 1981.[9]

"Atomic City" reached number one on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart, the band's 14th song to do so, surpassing Coldplay for the most ever.[10] It was also U2's 27th song to reach the top ten of the chart, setting a new record,[11] and it was their 32nd song overall to appear on the chart, the second-most ever.[9] On the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, the song debuted at number five, U2's highest peak on the chart since its inception in 2009; the song accrued 3.7 million impressions from radio audiences during the week of 29 September to 5 October, according to Luminate.[9]

Personnel

U2

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Atomic City"
Chart (2023–2024) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 64
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[13] 11
Netherlands (Single Tip)[14] 30
Netherlands (Tipparade)[15] 20
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[16] 33
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[17] 82
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[18] 10
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[19] 11
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[20] 21
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 38

References

  1. ↑ Starkey, Arun (29 September 2023). "U2 release new single 'Atomic City'". Far Out. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Minsker, Evan (29 September 2023). "U2 Share New Song "Atomic City" Ahead of Las Vegas Concerts: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  3. ↑ McCormick, Neil (29 September 2023). "U2's Atomic City: a sinfully good mash-up of glam rock and stadium belter". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  4. ↑ Taysom, Joe (29 September 2023). "U2 reveal 'Atomic City' video "took its toll" on Larry Mullen Jr". Far Out. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "U2 tease video for new single 'Atomic City'". Hot Press. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  6. ↑ Katsilometes, John (16 September 2023). "U2 premiers new single in surprise downtown Las Vegas show". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Rapp, Allison (29 November 2023). "Top 30 Rock Songs of 2023". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  8. ↑ McIntyre, Hugh (11 October 2023). "U2 Hits No. 1 On A Billboard Chart They've Never Ruled Before". Forbes. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Rutherford, Kevin (12 October 2023). "U2 Extends Alternative, Mainstream Rock Airplay Records With 'Atomic City'". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 Rutherford, Kevin (10 November 2023). "U2 Retakes Sole Possession of Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1s Record Thanks to 'Atomic City'". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (19 October 2023). "U2 Retakes Sole Possession of Adult Alternative Airplay Top 10 Record". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  12. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of October 18, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  14. ↑ "Dutch Single Tip 07/10/2023". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 42, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20241 into search. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "U2 Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
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