The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)

"The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track from their thirteenth studio album, Songs of Innocence, and was released as its lead single. It was produced by Danger Mouse, Paul Epworth, and Ryan Tedder. It was first unveiled by the band at an Apple Inc. product launch event on 9 September 2014, coinciding with an announcement that Songs of Innocence would be released digitally to iTunes Store customers free of charge. The song's title refers to American musician Joey Ramone, lead singer of influential punk rock band, the Ramones.

Writing and recording

"The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)" originated from U2's recording sessions with Danger Mouse in 2010, initially consisting of a drum loop and acoustic guitar.^[2] Under the input of producers Ryan Tedder and Paul Epworth, it evolved into a rockier song called "Siren" , with one lyric comparing the music of the punk rock band Ramones to a siren song.^[2] The band settled on the final melody and lyrics with Epworth during the album's final two months of sessions.^[2]

The song pays tribute to Joey Ramone, the lead singer of Ramones, who had a strong influence on Bono.^[3] During their teenage years, U2 snuck into a Ramones concert,^[4] and the experience of watching Joey perform made Bono feel less self-conscious about his own singing.^[5]

Release

U2 performing "The Miracle" at 9 September 2014 Apple Inc. product launch

In the days leading to an Apple Inc. product launch event on 9 September 2014 in Cupertino, California, reports began to circulate that U2 would be involved,^[6] which were promptly denied by a spokesperson for the band.^[7] Nonetheless, towards the end of the event U2 appeared and performed a new song titled "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)", the lead single from their thirteenth studio album Songs of Innocence, with Apple CEO Tim Cook announcing that the album would be released digitally in its entirety at no cost to all iTunes Store customers.^[8] The presentation concluded with the unveiling of an Apple advertisement featuring U2 performing the song.^[9]

"The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)" was subsequently released to United States adult album alternative (triple A) radio stations on 15 September 2014^[10] and modern rock stations on 16 September.^[11] Ahead of its official radio release, it had already been added to the playlists of several stations and subsequently debuted at numbers 19 and 38 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs and Rock Airplay charts, respectively.^[12]^[13]

Music video

The official music video for the song was launched on 14 October 2014, first in the iTunes store^[14] and later on the band's official website.^[15]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)^[16]	13
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)^[17]	6
Canada Rock (Billboard)^[18]	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[19]	33
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)^[20]	42
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)^[21]	12
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[22]	1
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[23]	22

Year-end charts

Chart (2014)	Position
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[24]	36

References

↑ Lukowski, Andrzej (15 September 2014). "Album Review: U2 - Songs of Innocence". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
1 2 3 Hiatt, Brian (6 November 2014). "Trying to Throw Their Arms Around the World". Rolling Stone (1221): 54–61.
↑ Reed, James (10 September 2014). "U2, ‘Songs of Innocence’". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
↑ MacNeil, Jason (9 September 2014). "U2 Are Giving Away Their Surprise New Album 'Songs Of Innocence' For Free On iTunes". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
↑ "Exclusive: Bono Reveals Secrets of U2's Surprise Album 'Songs of Innocence'". Rolling Stone. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
↑ Sisario, Ben (8 September 2014). "U2 Said to Play Role at Apple Event". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved 12 September 2014.
↑ "U2's new album will not be launched as iPhone 6 tie-in". Hot Press. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
↑ Ingraham, Nathan (9 September 2014). "U2 releases its new album for free today exclusively on iTunes". The Verge (Vox Media). Retrieved 16 September 2014.
↑ Lipshitz, Jason (9 September 2014). "U2 Releases Free Album 'Songs of Innocence' at Apple Event". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
↑ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
↑ "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
↑ "U2 'The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)'". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
↑ Trust, Gary (15 September 2014). "Chart Highlights: Nico & Vinz Ascend To No. 1 On Adult Contemporary With 'Am I Wrong'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
↑ "'The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)' Music Video Premieres on iTunes". @U2: Independent Site for U2 Fans. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
↑ http://www.u2.com/media/index/mediaplayer/mediaId/1167/type/video/setId/1
↑ "Ultratop.be – U2 – The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
↑ "Ultratop.be – U2 – The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
↑ "U2 – Chart history" Billboard Canada Rock for U2. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 33, 2014" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved December 14, 2014.
↑ "U2 – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for U2. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
↑ "U2 – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for U2. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
↑ "U2 – Chart history" Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for U2. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
↑ "U2 – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for U2. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
↑ "Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.

U2 singles discography

1980s	1980 "Another Day" "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" "A Day Without Me" "I Will Follow" 1981 "Fire" "Gloria" 1982 "A Celebration" "I Will Follow" (live recorded by Veronica's Countdown) 1983 "New Year's Day" "Two Hearts Beat as One" "Sunday Bloody Sunday" 1984 "I Will Follow" (live, from Under a Blood Red Sky) "Pride (In the Name of Love)" 1985 "The Unforgettable Fire" 1987 "With or Without You" "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" "Where the Streets Have No Name" "In God's Country" 1988 "One Tree Hill" "Desire" "Angel of Harlem" 1989 "When Love Comes to Town" (feat. B.B. King) "All I Want Is You"

1990s	1991 "The Fly" "Mysterious Ways" 1992 "One" "Even Better Than the Real Thing" "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" 1993 "Numb" "Lemon" "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" 1995 "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" "Miss Sarajevo" (as Passengers) 1997 "Discothèque" "Staring at the Sun" "Last Night on Earth" "Please" "If God Will Send His Angels" "Mofo" 1998 "Sweetest Thing"

2000s	2000 "Beautiful Day" 2001 "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" "Elevation" "Walk On" 2002 "Electrical Storm" 2004 "Vertigo" 2005 "All Because of You" "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" "City of Blinding Lights" "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (live, with Paul McCartney) 2006 "One" (with Mary J. Blige) "The Saints Are Coming" (feat. Green Day) 2007 "Window in the Skies" 2008 "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" (with The Dubliners, Kíla, and A Band of Bowsies) 2009 "Get On Your Boots" "Magnificent" "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight"

2010s	2011 "I Will Follow" (live from Glastonbury) 2013 "Ordinary Love" 2014 "Invisible" "The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)" "Every Breaking Wave" 2015 "Song for Someone"

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