Gloria (U2 song)

"Gloria"
UK/Irish cover, also used for the Australian limited edition release
Single by U2
from the album October
Released5 October 1981[1]
RecordedJuly–August 1981
StudioWindmill Lane Studios (Dublin)
GenreRock, post-punk
Length4:12
Label
Songwriter(s)U2
Producer(s)Steve Lillywhite
U2 singles chronology
"Fire"
(1981)
"Gloria"
(1981)
"A Celebration"
(1982)
Alternative cover
2021 Record Store Day edition of Gloria
Music video
"Gloria" on YouTube

"Gloria" is a song by rock band U2. It is the opening track and second single from the band's 1981 album, October.

It features a chorus sung in Latin, from the liturgical "Gloria in Excelsis Deo". It was one of their lowest-charting singles on the UK singles chart,[2] peaking at #55 but was more successful in Ireland and New Zealand, reaching the Top 20.

AllMusic cited the song as an example of "when U2 marry the message, melody, and sound together... the results are thoroughly impressive",[3] while Pitchfork said the song "displays some musical dynamism, but its Latin-language chorus tempers its anthemic qualities."[4]

  1. ^ Sams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "Gloria" Single". U2songs.com. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  2. ^ "U2: Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "October – U2". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  4. ^ Tangari, Joe (24 July 2008). "U2: Boy / October / War". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 February 2014.