| "Atomic City" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by U2 | ||||
| Released | 29 September 2023 | |||
| Studio | Sound City (Los Angeles) | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:30 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Composer(s) | ||||
| Lyricist(s) | Bono | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| U2 singles chronology | ||||
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"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 Live concert residency at 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; co-writing credits for "Atomic City" were given to Debbie Harry and Moroder due to its chorus sharing similarities with Blondie's "Call Me".[1] Lyrically, the song makes references to Las Vegas, with the title taken from the city's nickname from the 1950s when it was a destination for nuclear tourism.[2][3] It was U2's first new song since "Your Song Saved My Life" from the soundtrack of the animated musical Sing 2 in 2021.
Despite being absent from the residency in order to recuperate from surgery, 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. It was nominated for the 2024 MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video.
- ^ Starkey, Arun (29 September 2023). "U2 release new single 'Atomic City'". Far Out. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (29 September 2023). "U2 Share New Song "Atomic City" Ahead of Las Vegas Concerts: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Taysom, Joe (29 September 2023). "U2 reveal 'Atomic City' video "took its toll" on Larry Mullen Jr". Far Out. Retrieved 29 September 2023.