U2's second single struggles.....

[tottenhammattspurs]

After a physical release on multi formats, U2's innappropriatly titled "Magnificent" stalls at a mighty number 42 on the UK singles chart, their lowest charting official single since 1982!!!!

If the "mighty" U2 struggle to get top 50 with a second single with an arguably larger fanbase, with a single that wasnt given away with the first single as part of a digital bundle, or given away with the Sunday Mail, what chance has Did you see me coming? have?

Add to the fact that U2's lead single didnt go top 10 (first time thats happened to them), depeche mode's lead single barely troubling the top 30 for a week, and the Manic Street Preachers not even bothering to release a lead single AT ALL from thier new offering and it's a grim grim read indeed readers!

A top 15 placing for Did you see me coming? is going to look like world domination at this rate!!

[psblogan]

Let's hope the release isn't stuffed up like 'Yes'
Prediction No. 25

[Danimal]

Whilst still financially profitable for established bands with large global fan bases, I think that the relevancy of the single as a mainstream format is over. It's sad when you think about it; the 1990s was the most successful decade for singles in terms of sales ever. Then the RIAA (or whomever) come along and impose all kinds of weird and arbitrary format rules which essentially destroyed the single as the value-for-money format it had become in the 1990s. Yet another case of the record industry shooting itself in the foot (or perhaps head).

[Undertaker]

See the chart thread in the off-topic section.

[Patrick Bateman]

Bono's rifling A-Ha's back catalogue as we speak.

[Pacific707]

I guess that the people who bought the new U2 CD realized what crap it is and decided not to waist any more money on it. Its true that the single dynamics have changed but PSB always release a quality product and plenty of bonus tracks with a single. I can't stand how U2 can take a crap in a jewel case and send it out as an album and sell millions of copies because they are "the best band in the world" according to the media. I remember iven 7/11 had the new U2 CD sitting on the counter and my local HMV doesn't even have a PSB section now. total BS!!

[ChoonHound]

It's not the 80's any more guys, nor is it the 90's. Most chart music sucks. Who cares?

[sneakythesnake]

Best news I've heard today!

Can't stand Bono!

[Oznerol]

On the other hand, 'Magnificent' have on of the best remixes in the complete U2 history...the 'Redanka Remix' sonds almost like a PSB remix...and that's great for sure!

[df118junkie]

Ironically, "Magnificent" is the only good track on the album.
The Depeche Mode album is patchy, and "Wrong" isn't the best track on the album - but then neither is their next single....
It makes you wonder if there really is anybody at these record companies who "know" the general public...

As stated above - the record industry has killed itself - in so many ways.

[Danny C]

Bono's rifling A-Ha's back catalogue as we speak.

Pal Waaktaar should have sued the goggle-eyed c*nt for "Beautiful Day".

[whateverman42]

I think the only thing this is signifying is that U2's fans are like PSB's; older than most. Downloading isn't as big for the oldies, and singles are getting very irrelevant. Don't think it shows a big decline in popularity, although there is a big backlash against them right now for a variety of reasons.

Anyways, who cares if singles die? Always been a waste of space and material for a song you could get on the album. Theres many ways to get bonus tracks, such as Further Listenings, special editions, and downloadables. I've always thought putting a cd in to hear 3 songs was rather silly. I'm actually pleased to see this wasteful format die, and although chart placings is sort of fun (and I'm sure very nostalgic for some here) they have never been the best gauge of popularity. Anyone who bemoans its death is just used to its existence and hasn't considered its practicality.

[Ronald42]

I'm a BIG U2 fan perhaps as big as PSB or even bigger. But there are several reasons beyond the "CDsingles don't sell anymore" reason. BTW I got both CDsingles in Holland.

1 - U2's latest album isn't as good as people want you to believe. I didn't even play it, I have the MP3s
2 - Get on your boots was a desent leadsingle but sounded very much like, the much better, Vertigo.
3 - The B-sides to the single are 2 Live tracks (Of which 1 is crap) and a, not so good, remix of Get on your boots.
4 - They didn't release any of the, some, very good remixes of Magnificent
5 - There seems to be hardly any promotion done for this single
6 - Although for the edit mostly music is cut of, this song seems to work better with the longer up building intro from the album.
7 - The physical CDsingle of Get on your boots was crap although the version/remix of No Line On The Horizon kicks ass. This is the way it should have sounded on the album.

That said about U2 I must say that the next physical release of PSB is ace BUT they choose the wrong track for the single, they alread gave it away. B-sides, formats and mixes all looks Perfect.

[meiakitty]

I think there is some crisis in the industry...I predict the Did you see me coming? will go top 20.

[Fugitive1979]

U2's second single struggles?

It's a beautiful day.