Sunday Bloody Sunday

This article is about the song by U2. For the song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, see Sunday Bloody Sunday (John Lennon and Yoko Ono song). For other uses, see Sunday Bloody Sunday (disambiguation).

"Sunday Bloody Sunday"
European sleeve for one of 7-inch releases
Single by U2
from the album War
Released21 March 1983 (1983-03-21)[1]
RecordedSeptember–November 1982
StudioWindmill Lane Studios (Dublin)
GenrePost-punk[2]
Length4:40
Label
Songwriter(s)U2
Producer(s)Steve Lillywhite
U2 singles chronology
"Two Hearts Beat as One"
(1983) 		"Sunday Bloody Sunday"
(1983) 		"40"
(1983)
Music video
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" on YouTube

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1983 album War and was released as the album's third single on 21 March 1983 in the Netherlands and West Germany.[3] "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is noted for its militaristic drumbeat, harsh guitar, and melodic harmonies.[4] One of U2's most overtly political songs, its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the 1972 Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot and killed unarmed civil rights protesters. Along with "New Year's Day", the song helped U2 reach a wider listening audience. It was generally well received by critics on the album's release.[5][6]

The song has remained a staple of U2's live concerts.[7] During its earliest performances, the song created controversy. Lead singer Bono reasserted the song's anti-sectarian-violence message to his audience for many years. Today, it is considered one of U2's signature songs, and is one of the band's most performed tracks. Critics rate it among the best political protest songs,[8] and it has been covered by over a dozen artists.[9] In 2004, it was ranked 268th on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

  1. ^ Sams, Aaron; Kantas, Harry. "U2 – "Sunday Bloody Sunday" Single". u2songs.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  2. ^ Gimarc, George (1997). Post Punk Diary: 1980–1982. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 342.
  3. ^ "Sunday Bloody Sunday". U2 Songs. U2Wanderer.org. n.d. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  4. ^ Hillburn, Robert (8 August 2004). "The Songwriters – U2 – 'Where Craft Ends and Spirit Begins'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 October 2006.
  5. ^ Mackey, Liam (18 February 1983). "Review of War". Hot Press. Retrieved 22 October 2006.
  6. ^ Sullivan, Denise. "Song Review: "Sunday Bloody Sunday"". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 October 2006.
  7. ^ "Sunday Bloody Sunday". U2gigs.com. 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  8. ^ VH1 Editors (2004). VH1's 25 Greatest Political Protest Songs (Television series). VH1 television. Archived from the original on 11 December 2004.
  9. ^ "U2 Covers By Song Title". U2 Songs. U2Wanderer.org. n.d. Retrieved 31 July 2024.