Beautiful Day - wikipedia Beautiful Day This article is about the song by U2. For other uses, see Beautiful Day ( disambiguation ). `` Beautiful Day '' Single by U2 from the album All That You Ca n't Leave Behind B - side `` Summer Rain '' `` Always '' Released 9 October 2000 Format CD cassette 12 '' Recorded 2000, HQ in Dublin Genre Rock Length 4 : 06 Label Interscope Songwriter ( s ) U2 ( music ) Bono ( lyrics ) Producer ( s ) Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno with additional production by Steve Lillywhite U2 singles chronology `` Sweetest Thing '' ( 1998 ) `` Beautiful Day '' ( 2000 ) `` Stuck in a Moment You Ca n't Get Out Of '' ( 2001 ) `` Sweetest Thing '' ( 1998 ) `` Beautiful Day '' ( 2000 ) `` Stuck in a Moment You Ca n't Get Out Of '' ( 2001 ) Music video `` Beautiful Day '' on YouTube Audio sample file help `` Beautiful Day '' is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the first track from their 2000 album, All That You Ca n't Leave Behind, and it was released as the album 's lead single. It was a commercial success, helping launch the album to multi-platinum status, and is one of U2 's biggest hits to date. Like many tracks from All That You Ca n't Leave Behind, `` Beautiful Day '' harkens back to the group 's past sound. The tone of the Edge 's guitar was a subject of debate amongst the band members, as they disagreed on whether he should use a sound similar to that from their early career in the 1980s. Lead singer Bono explained that the upbeat track is about losing everything but still finding joy in what one has. The song received positive reviews, and it became their fourth number one single in the United Kingdom and their first number one in the Netherlands. It also reached the top of the charts in Australia, Canada, Finland, their native Ireland, Italy, Norway and Spain. The song peaked at number 21 in the United States, the band 's highest position since `` Discothèque '' in 1997. In 2001, the song won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The group has played `` Beautiful Day '' at every one of their concerts since the song 's 2001 live debut on the Elevation Tour. Contents 1 Writing and recording 2 Composition 3 Release 4 Music video 5 Live performances 6 Critical reception 6.1 Accolades and legacy 7 Formats and track listings 8 Personnel 9 Charts and certifications 9.1 Weekly charts 9.2 Year - end charts 9.3 Certifications 10 See also 11 References 12 External links Writing and Recording `` Beautiful Day '' was written in several stages, originating from a composition called `` Always '' ( later released as a B - side ) that the band created in a small room at Hanover Quay Studio. However, they were initially unimpressed with it, as guitarist the Edge said, `` As a straight rock song, it was pretty ho - hum. '' After lead vocalist Bono came up with the `` beautiful day '' lyric, the song went in a different direction. The Edge 's backing vocals for the chorus were improvised one night with co producer Daniel Lanois, an addition he called `` the key '' to the chorus and its new lyrics. During the recording process for the All That You Ca n't Leave Behind album, the band decided to distance themselves from their 1990s experimentation with electronic dance music in favour of a `` return to the traditional U2 sound ''. At the same time, the band was looking for a more forward looking sound. This led to debate amongst the band when the Edge was playing the song on his Gibson Explorer guitar with a tone used in much of their early material up to their 1983 album War. Bono was particularly resistant to the guitar tone the Edge was playing with, but the Edge ultimately won the disagreement. As he explains, `` It was because we were coming up with some innovative music that I felt a license to use some signature guitar sounds. '' Although the group wished to establish a more stripped - down, conventional sound, one of the song 's breakthroughs came after co producer Brian Eno provided `` electronification of the chords with a beat box '' and a synthesised string part to the beginning. The Edge believes the contrast between these more electronic qualities of the track and his backing vocals with Lanois benefited the song. The mixing process proved difficult, lasting two weeks. Several changes were made during this period ; Bono added a guitar part that played the song 's chord progression to double the bass, an addition that `` solidified everything '', according to the Edge. The Edge also changed the bass line in the chorus and converted a keyboard idea of Bono 's into a guitar part that added a `` sour quality '' to balance the track 's positivity. Lanois described the completed song as `` one of those little gifts where you think, my god, we 've got it ! '' Composition `` Beautiful Day '' is played at a tempo of 136 beats per minute in a 4 / 4 time signature. The song opens with a reverberating electric piano playing over a string synthesiser, introducing the chord progression of A -- Bm -- D -- G -- D -- A. This progression continues throughout the verses and chorus, the changes not always one to a bar. After the opening line, `` The heart is a bloom '', the rhythm enters, comprising repeated eighth notes on bass guitar and a drum machine. In the first verse, Bono 's vocals are in the front in the mix and their production is dry. At 0 : 29, a guitar arpeggio pattern by the Edge first appears, echoing across channels. The verses are relatively quiet until the chorus, when the Edge begins playing the song 's guitar riff and Mullen 's drums enter. During the chorus, Bono sings in a restrained manner, contrasting with the Edge 's `` loud, bellowing '' background vocals, a sustained cry of `` day ''. After the second chorus, a bridge section begins at 1 : 55, playing the chord progression F ♯ m -- G -- D -- A, heightening the track 's emotion as Bono sings `` Touch me / Take me to that other place ''. The bridge links to the middle eight with a section in which the Edge repeats a modulated two note phrase on guitar, beginning at 2 : 08. After seven seconds, the rhythm breaks and the middle eight begins. The chords in this section follow a progression of Em -- D -- Em -- G -- D -- Em -- G -- D -- A, implying a key of D major. The bass plays a G note beneath the Em chord, implying a chord change does not occur. The lyrics for this section are set in space above Earth and describe the sights that one witnesses, including China, the Grand Canyon, tuna fleets, and Bedouin fires. After the third chorus and a return of the bridge section, the song suddenly ends in a `` low - key '' fashion ; most of the instrumentation stops and a regeneration of a guitar signal drifts back and forth between channels before fading out. According to Bono, `` Beautiful Day '' is about `` a man who has lost everything, but finds joy in what he still has. '' Blender interpreted the song and the line `` it 's a beautiful day '' as `` a vision of abandoning material things and finding grace in the world itself ''. In his 2001 book Inside Classic Rock Tracks, Rikki Rooksby described the lyrics as having a `` fuzzy '' quality and covering an `` ambiguous subject area between religion and romance ''. He found `` grace and salvation '' in the verses ' lyrics and believed that despite not explicitly explaining how to emotionally persevere, the song has `` so many suggestive images that it 's enough ''. In an episode of the Sundance Channel 's Iconoclast, R.E.M. 's lead singer Michael Stipe said, `` I love that song. I wish I 'd written it, and they know I wish I 'd written it. It makes me dance ; it makes me angry that I did n't write it. '' Release `` Beautiful Day '' was the first single released from the album All That You Ca n't Leave Behind. The song reached number one on the singles charts in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and also boosted sales of All That You Ca n't Leave Behind. `` Beautiful Day '' is included on the compilations The Best of 1990 - 2000 and U218 Singles. A version of the song known as the Quincy and Sonance Mix appears on U2 's EP 7. Music video The song 's video showed the band walking around in Paris ' Charles de Gaulle Airport, with scenes of the band playing on a runway interspliced with large jets taking off and landing overhead. An alternative video for the song, shot in Èze, France, was featured on U2 Exclusive CD !, the bonus DVD from The Best of 1990 -- 2000, and the U218 Videos DVD. A month before the album release, a live version of the song was filmed in Dublin on the rooftop of The Clarence Hotel. It is featured on the extra features of the Elevation 2001 : Live from Boston DVD ( although it is marked on the DVD as `` Toronto, Canada '' ). Live performances A video of astronaut Mark Kelly was featured prior to the song at concerts on the final leg of the U2 360 ° Tour. Ever since its tour debut at the first date of the Elevation Tour on 24 March 2001 in Miami, `` Beautiful Day '' has been played at every single full tour concert as well as a number of promotional appearances and concerts not connected with a tour. On the Elevation Tour, `` Beautiful Day '' was normally the second song played, though it did open one show, and was played late in the set list at two concerts. During the Vertigo Tour, it appeared in the first half of the main set. On the U2 360 ° Tour, it typically appeared early in the main set, it also opened some concerts in the early 2011 shows. For the final leg of the tour it was moved back to the midpoint of the show and featured a video of astronaut Mark Kelly. On the Innocence + Experience Tour it has either appeared late in the main set or during the encore. It is featured on the live films Elevation 2001 : Live from Boston, U2 Go Home : Live from Slane Castle, and Vertigo 2005 : Live From Chicago. The song was also performed on stage during U2 's set at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park in London. with slightly different lyrics in the bridge that mentioned the different cities where the Live 8 concerts took place. It was performed live in New Orleans for Super Bowl XXXVI and for the New Orleans Saints first game in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. During the band 's five - night stand on the Late Show with David Letterman to promote their album No Line on the Horizon in March 2009, `` Beautiful Day '' was the only song not from that album that was played. The song was also played during every show of the 360 ° Tour. During the final leg of the tour in 2011, a recorded video from NASA astronaut Mark Kelly was used as a lead - in to the song. Kelly had previously chosen the song for a wake up call on Space Shuttle flight STS - 134. Critical reception `` Beautiful Day '' received mostly positive reviews from critics. Olaf Tyaransen of Hot Press called the song `` surprisingly straightforward but still infectiously catchy '', while the magazine 's Peter Murphy said the track broke the band 's trend of releasing lead singles that broke new sonic ground but were not the best songs from their respective albums. Murphy called the song a `` patented U2 cavalry charge from U2 3 through The Joshua Tree to Jubilee 2000 ''. The Guardian said the song `` strikes an appropriate note of putting the past behind you and getting on with the rest of your life ''. The review praised the track for its `` bustling beat '', `` contagious chorus and vintage guitar chimes from Edge ''. Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times called the track proof that the band 's music had once again been `` graced by the glorious textures of Edge 's guitar, and ( that ) Bono has dropped the masks ''. Rolling Stone called the song `` poised, then pouncing '' and said it was one of many from the album that has a `` resonance that does n't fade with repeated listening ''. The Philadelphia Inquirer was critical of the song, saying it was not `` driven by the fire of true believers '', but rather by the band 's need for a hit, and that it was `` a move to solidify a base that may already have slipped away ''. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly was very receptive to `` Beautiful Day '', noting that the chorus `` erupts into a euphoric bellow so uplifting '' that it was played during a television broadcast of the 2000 Summer Olympics. Browne called the `` classic U2 arrangement '' of the song `` corny '', but said, `` damn if it is n't effective ''. He said the song made him reminiscent of the band 's glory days in the late 1980s when so much popular music sought to be `` sonically and emotionally uplifting ''. Edna Gundersen of USA Today was enthusiastic about the song, calling it `` euphoric '' and suggesting it was `` breathing fresh air into playlists choking on synthetic pop and seething rap - rock ''. The Detroit Free Press was critical of the album for being pedestrian but called `` Beautiful Day '' one of the album 's `` flashes of triumph '', describing it as `` a gloriously busy, layered song that recalls Bono 's lyrically astute Achtung Baby days ''. NME published a negative review of the song after its single release that suggested John Lennon 's assassin, Mark David Chapman, should be released from prison to shoot Bono, a statement that Hot Press called `` poisonous '' and `` tasteless ''. The publication was more receptive to the song after the release of All That You Ca n't Leave Behind, saying the album `` eas ( es ) in with the heat - hazy optimism '' of the track. Accolades and legacy `` Beautiful Day '' finished in fourth place on the `` Best Singles '' list from The Village Voice 's 2000 Pazz & Jop critics ' poll. The song won three Grammy Awards in 2001 -- Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 2003, a special edition issue of Q, titled `` 1001 Best Songs Ever '', placed `` Beautiful Day '' at number 747 on its list of the greatest songs. In 2005, Blender ranked the song at number 63 on its list of `` The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born ''. The Labour Party subsequently made extensive use of the song during its successful re election campaign in 2005, though an unresolved dispute with and within the band prevented it being used in party political broadcasts. In 2009, in an end of decade rankings list, Rolling Stone listed `` Beautiful Day '' as the ninth - best song and readers ranked it as the third - best single for the decade of the 2000s. In 2010, Rolling Stone updated its list of `` The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' and placed `` Beautiful Day '' at number 345, making it one of eight U2 songs on the list. In 2011, VH1 listed `` Beautiful Day '' at number 15 on its list of The 100 Greatest Songs of ' 00s. A version of the song was used as the theme tune to the ITV football highlights television show The Premiership, broadcast from 2001 to 2004. Kurt Nilsen, the Norwegian Idol winner sang it during the World Idol competition on 25 December 2003 and won the competition with the song. This was the only World Idol title and was not repeated in consequent years. In 2004, Sanctus Real recorded a version on the album In the Name of Love : Artists United for Africa. In 2007, the German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell recorded his version on his album Diamonds Unlocked. In 2008, the song was chosen to play over the end titles of the children 's film Nim 's Island, starring Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster and Gerard Butler. The song was also played after John Kerry gave his acceptance speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in July 2004. In 2010, a cover of `` Beautiful Day '' was released by Lee DeWyze as his first single following his victory in the ninth season of American Idol. DeWyze commented `` I like that song a lot (... ) Is it something that is necessarily in my genre ? No. There were songs on the table, and I went with the one I thought would represent the moment the best. '' The cover reached number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Canadian Hot 100. `` Beautiful Day '' was also covered by 2010 X Factor Australia winner Altiyan Childs for his self - titled debut album. Formats and track listings All music composed by U2. 12 '' vinyl No. Title Length 1. `` Beautiful Day '' 4 : 06 2. `` Beautiful Day '' 4 : 06 Total length : 8 : 12 UK cassette No. Title Length 1. `` Beautiful Day '' 4 : 06 2. `` Summer Rain '' 4 : 06 Total length : 8 : 12 CD 1 No. Title Length 1. `` Beautiful Day '' 4 : 06 2. `` Summer Rain '' 4 : 06 3. `` Always '' 3 : 46 Total length : 11 : 58 CD 2 No. Title Length 1. `` Beautiful Day '' 4 : 06 2. `` Discothèque '' ( Live in Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, 3 December 1997 ) 5 : 10 3. `` If You Wear That Velvet Dress '' ( Live in Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, 3 December 1997 ) 2 : 43 Total length : 11 : 59 Australian CD 1 No. Title Length 1. `` Beautiful Day '' 4 : 06 2. `` Summer Rain '' 4 : 06 3. `` Always '' 3 : 46 4. `` Last Night on Earth '' ( Live in Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, 3 December 1997 -- video version ) 6 : 30 Total length : 18 : 28 Australian CD 2 No. Title Length 1. `` Beautiful Day '' 4 : 06 2. `` Discothèque '' ( Live in Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, 3 December 1997 ) 5 : 10 3. `` If You Wear That Velvet Dress '' ( Live in Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, 3 December 1997 ) 2 : 43 4. `` Last Night on Earth '' ( Live in Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, 3 December 1997 ) 6 : 30 Total length : 18 : 29 Japan CD No. Title Length 1. `` Beautiful Day '' 4 : 06 2. `` Summer Rain '' 4 : 06 3. `` Always '' 3 : 46 4. `` Discothèque '' ( Live in Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, 3 December 1997 ) 5 : 10 5. `` If You Wear That Velvet Dress '' ( Live in Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico, 3 December 1997 ) 2 : 43 Total length : 19 : 53 Personnel Bono -- lead vocals The Edge -- guitar, backing vocals Adam Clayton -- bass guitar Larry Mullen, Jr. -- drums Brian Eno -- synthesizers Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 2000 -- 01 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 7 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 8 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) 6 Brazilian Singles Chart ( ABPD ) 12 Canada ( Canadian Singles Chart ) Canadian RPM Rock Report Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) France ( SNEP ) 17 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 7 Ireland ( IRMA ) Italy ( FIMI ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 7 Norway ( VG - lista ) Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 7 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 6 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 21 US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) 19 US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) 5 US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) 14 Year - end charts Chart ( 2000 ) Position Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 85 Chart ( 2001 ) Position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 75 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Australia ( ARIA ) Platinum 70,000 Brazil ( ABPD ) Platinum 100,000 Italy ( FIMI ) Gold 25,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Gold 400,000 United States ( RIAA ) Gold 500,000 shipments figures based on certification alone sales + streaming figures based on certification alone See also List of covers of U2 songs -- Beautiful Day List of number - one singles in Australia in 2000 List of RPM Rock / Alternative number - one singles ( Canada ) Dutch Top 40 number - one hits of 2000 List of number - one singles of 2000 ( Ireland ) List of number - one hits of 2000 ( Italy ) List of number - one singles from the 2000s ( UK ) List of number - one dance singles of 2001 ( U.S. ) References Footnotes ^ Jump up to : Crandall, Bill ( 27 October 2000 ). `` U2 Hope to Reawaken America ''. Rolling Stone. ^ Jump up to : McCormick ( 2006 ), pp. 296, 299 -- 300 ^ Jump up to : `` The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born ''. Blender ( 41 ). October 2005. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 07 - 02. Jump up ^ `` U2 -- Beautiful Day Sheet Music ''. Musicnotes. Retrieved 2010 - 04 - 29. ^ Jump up to : Rooksby ( 2001 ), pp. 161 -- 162 ^ Jump up to : Tyaransen, Olaf ( 26 October 2000 ). `` The Final Frontier ''. Hot Press. Jump up ^ Lamb, Bill. `` Top 40 Pop Songs of All Time -- The Top 40 Songs That Make Pop Music Great ''. About.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 2009 - 06 - 15. Jump up ^ `` 5 - Track EP ''. eil.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Jump up ^ `` NASA Commander Mark Kelly Appears at U2360 ° in Seattle ''. NASA. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011. Jump up ^ Murphy, Peter ( 26 October 2000 ). `` One from the Heart ''. Hot Press. Jump up ^ Sweeting, Adam ( 27 October 2000 ). `` All That You Ca n't Leave Behind ''. The Guardian. Jump up ^ Hilburn, Robert ( 29 October 2000 ). `` Far Down the Road, a Sudden U-Turn ''. Los Angeles Times. section Calendar, p. 1. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 19. Jump up ^ Hunter, James ( 26 October 2000 ). `` U2 : All That You Ca n't Leave Behind ''. Rolling Stone ( 853 ). Retrieved 2010 - 04 - 15. Jump up ^ Moon, Tom ( 29 October 2000 ). `` U2 's Latest : ' Behind ' the Times ''. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I15. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 19. Jump up ^ Browne, David ( 3 November 2000 ). `` All That You Ca n't Leave Behind ''. Entertainment Weekly ( 567 ). Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 19. Jump up ^ Gundersen, Edna ( 30 October 2000 ). `` 10th Album : A Beautiful Day For Us All ''. USA Today. section Life, p. 1D. Jump up ^ McCollum, Brian ( 29 October 2000 ). `` Et Tu, U2 ? ''. Detroit Free Press. Jump up ^ Long, April ( 28 October 2000 ). `` Even Better Than the Surreal Thing ! ''. NME. Jump up ^ `` The 2000 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll ''. robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2011 - 03 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Grammy Award Winners : Beautiful Day in 2000 ''. Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 13. Jump up ^ Trynka, Paul ( editor - in - chief ) ( 2003 ). `` 1001 Best Songs Ever ''. Q ( Special edition ). Jump up ^ `` Beautiful Day turns ugly for Labour ''. theguardian.com. 11 April 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Decade 's Best Songs & Albums ''. Rolling Stone ( 1094 / 1095 ) : 85. 24 December 2009. Jump up ^ `` 500 Greatest Songs of All Time : U2, ' Beautiful Day ' ''. Rolling Stone ( Special collectors edition ). 2010. Jump up ^ `` VH1 's 100 Greatest Songs of ' 00s ''. VH1. 29 September 2011. Jump up ^ BBC News - ITV kicks off soccer coverage Jump up ^ `` Kurt Nilsen performance of `` Beautiful Day '' during World Idol competition ``. YouTube. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 19. Jump up ^ Lopez, Korina ( 28 May 2010 ). `` ' Idol ' winner Lee DeWyze : ' I 'm free to do what I want now ' ''. USA Today. Retrieved 3 June 2010. Jump up ^ Trust, Gary ( 3 June 2010 ). `` Chart Beat Thursday : Lee & Crystal Rock On ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ Beautiful Day ( Vinyl ). U2. United States : Island Records. 2000. 314 -- 562 972 - 1. Jump up ^ Beautiful Day ( Cassette ). U2. United Kingdom : Island Records. 2000. CIS766. Jump up ^ Beautiful Day ( CD ). U2. Europe : Island Records. 2000. CID766. Jump up ^ Beautiful Day ( CD ). U2. Canada : Island Records. 2000. 314 -- 562 946 - 2. Jump up ^ Beautiful Day ( CD ). U2. Australia : Island Records. 2000. 562 998 - 2. Jump up ^ Beautiful Day ( CD ). U2. Australia : Island Records. 2000. 562 994 - 2. Jump up ^ Beautiful Day ( CD ). U2. Japan : Island Records. 2000. UICI 5002. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- U2 -- Beautiful Day ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- U2 -- Beautiful Day '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- U2 -- Beautiful Day '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- U2 -- Beautiful Day '' ( in French ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Brazil '' ( PDF ). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014. Jump up ^ `` U2 : Charts and Awards ''. Allmusic. Archived from the original on 21 November 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2010. Jump up ^ `` RPM Top 30 Rock Report ''. RPM. 71 ( 21 ). 25 September 2000. Retrieved 2015 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` U2 : Beautiful Day '' ( in Finnish ). Musiikkituottajat -- IFPI Finland. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- U2 -- Beautiful Day '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- U2 Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Chart Track : Week 41, 2000 ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Italiancharts.com -- U2 -- Beautiful Day ''. Top Digital Download. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- week 43, 2000 '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- U2 -- Beautiful Day '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- U2 -- Beautiful Day ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- U2 -- Beautiful Day ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Spanishcharts.com -- U2 -- Beautiful Day '' Canciones Top 50. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- U2 -- Beautiful Day ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- U2 -- Beautiful Day ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2014. 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Jump up ^ `` Italian single certifications -- U2 -- Beautiful Day '' ( in Italian ). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 9 January 2015. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- U2 -- Beautiful Day ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 June 2014. Enter Beautiful Day in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- U2 -- Beautiful Day ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 7 June 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Bibliography Rooksby, Rikky ( 2001 ). Inside Classic Rock Tracks. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87930 - 654 - 0. U2 ( 2006 ). McCormick, Neil, ed. U2 by U2. London : HarperCollins. ISBN 0 - 00 - 719668 - 7. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by No Boundaries American Idol winner 's singles Succeeded by I Love You This Big All That You Ca n't Leave Behind track listing `` Beautiful Day '' `` Stuck in a Moment You Ca n't Get Out Of '' `` Elevation '' `` Walk On '' `` Kite '' `` In a Little While '' `` Wild Honey '' `` Peace on Earth '' `` When I Look at the World '' `` New York '' `` Grace '' `` The Ground Beneath Her Feet '' Pop How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb 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 ) `` 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 '' `` With or Without You '' `` I Still Have n't Found What I 'm Looking For '' `` Where the Streets Have No Name '' `` In God 's Country '' `` One Tree Hill '' `` Desire '' `` Angel of Harlem '' `` When Love Comes to Town '' ( feat. B.B. King ) `` All I Want Is You '' 1990s 1991 `` The Fly '' `` Mysterious Ways '' `` One '' `` Even Better Than the Real Thing '' `` Who 's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses '' `` Numb '' `` Lemon '' `` Stay ( Faraway, So Close ! ) '' 1995 `` Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me '' `` Miss Sarajevo '' ( as Passengers ) `` 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 Ca n't Get Out Of '' `` Elevation '' `` Walk On '' 2002 `` Electrical Storm '' `` Vertigo '' 2005 `` All Because of You '' `` Sometimes You Ca n'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 Do n'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 '' 2017 `` You 're the Best Thing About Me '' Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1959 − 1980 `` Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu ( Volare ) '' by Domenico Modugno ( 1959 ) `` Mack the Knife '' by Bobby Darin ( 1960 ) `` Theme from A Summer Place '' by Percy Faith ( 1961 ) `` Moon River '' by Henry Mancini ( 1962 ) `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' by Tony Bennett ( 1963 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' by Henry Mancini ( 1964 ) `` The Girl from Ipanema '' by Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz ( 1965 ) `` A Taste of Honey '' by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass ( 1966 ) `` Strangers in the Night '' by Frank Sinatra ( 1967 ) `` Up, Up and Away '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) ( 1968 ) `` Mrs. Robinson '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) ( 1969 ) `` Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) ( 1971 ) `` It 's Too Late '' by Carole King ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' by Roberta Flack ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' by Roberta Flack ( 1974 ) `` I Honestly Love You '' by Olivia Newton - John ( 1975 ) `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' by Captain & Tennille ( Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille ) ( 1976 ) `` This Masquerade '' by George Benson ( 1977 ) `` Hotel California '' by Eagles ( Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh ) ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' by Billy Joel ( 1979 ) `` What a Fool Believes '' by The Doobie Brothers ( Jeffrey Baxter, John Hartman, Keith Knudsen, Michael McDonald, Tiran Porter, Patrick Simmons ) ( 1980 ) 1981 − 2000 `` Sailing '' by Christopher Cross ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' by Kim Carnes ( 1982 ) `` Rosanna '' by Toto ( Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, Steve Porcaro ) ( 1983 ) `` Beat It '' by Michael Jackson ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' by Tina Turner ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' by USA for Africa ( 1986 ) `` Higher Love '' by Steve Winwood ( 1987 ) `` Graceland '' by Paul Simon ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' by Bobby McFerrin ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' by Bette Midler ( 1990 ) `` Another Day in Paradise '' by Phil Collins ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' by Eric Clapton ( 1993 ) `` I Will Always Love You '' by Whitney Houston ( 1994 ) `` All I Wanna Do '' by Sheryl Crow ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' by Seal ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' by Eric Clapton ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' by Shawn Colvin ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' by Celine Dion ( 1999 ) `` Smooth '' by Santana ( Rodney Holmes, Tony Lindsay, Karl Perazzo, Raul Rekow, Benny Rietveld, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson ) featuring Rob Thomas ( 2000 ) 2001 − present `` Beautiful Day '' by U2 ( Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. ) ( 2001 ) `` Walk On '' by U2 ( Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. ) ( 2002 ) `` Do n't Know Why '' by Norah Jones ( 2003 ) `` Clocks '' by Coldplay ( Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion, Phil Harvey, Chris Martin ) ( 2004 ) `` Here We Go Again '' by Ray Charles and Norah Jones ( 2005 ) `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' by Green Day ( Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Frank Edwin Wright III ) ( 2006 ) `` Not Ready to Make Nice '' by Dixie Chicks ( Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison ) ( 2007 ) `` Rehab '' by Amy Winehouse ( 2008 ) `` Please Read the Letter '' by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant ( 2009 ) `` Use Somebody '' by Kings of Leon ( Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill ) ( 2010 ) `` Need You Now '' by Lady Antebellum ( Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood ) ( 2011 ) `` Rolling in the Deep '' by Adele ( 2012 ) `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' by Gotye featuring Kimbra ( 2013 ) `` Get Lucky '' by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers ( 2014 ) `` Stay with Me '' ( Darkchild version ) by Sam Smith ( 2015 ) `` Uptown Funk '' by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars ( 2016 ) `` Hello '' by Adele ( 2017 ) `` 24K Magic '' by Bruno Mars ( 2018 ) Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1959 − 1980 `` Volare '' -- Domenico Modugno ( songwriter ) ( 1959 ) `` The Battle of New Orleans '' -- Jimmy Driftwood ( songwriter ) ( 1960 ) `` Theme from Exodus '' -- Ernest Gold ( songwriter ) ( 1961 ) `` Moon River '' -- Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ( songwriters ) ( 1962 ) `` What Kind of Fool Am I ? '' -- Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley ( songwriters ) ( 1963 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' -- Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ( songwriters ) ( 1964 ) `` Hello, Dolly ! '' -- Jerry Herman ( songwriter ) ( 1965 ) `` The Shadow of Your Smile '' -- Paul Francis Webster & Johnny Mandel ( songwriters ) ( 1966 ) `` Michelle '' -- John Lennon & Paul McCartney ( songwriters ) ( 1967 ) `` Up, Up, and Away '' -- Jimmy Webb ( songwriter ) ( 1968 ) `` Little Green Apples '' -- Bobby Russell ( songwriter ) ( 1969 ) `` Games People Play '' -- Joe South ( songwriter ) ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' -- Paul Simon ( songwriter ) ( 1971 ) `` You 've Got a Friend '' -- Carole King ( songwriter ) ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' -- Ewan MacColl ( songwriter ) ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' -- Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox ( songwriters ) ( 1974 ) `` The Way We Were '' -- Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch ( songwriters ) ( 1975 ) `` Send in the Clowns '' -- Stephen Sondheim ( songwriter ) ( 1976 ) `` I Write the Songs '' -- Bruce Johnston ( songwriter ) ( 1977 ) `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' -- Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams ( songwriters ) / `` You Light Up My Life '' -- Joe Brooks ( songwriter ) ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' -- Billy Joel ( songwriter ) ( 1979 ) `` What a Fool Believes '' -- Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald ( songwriters ) ( 1980 ) 1981 − 2000 `` Sailing '' -- Christopher Cross ( songwriter ) ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' -- Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon ( songwriters ) ( 1982 ) `` Always on My Mind '' -- Johnny Christopher, Mark James & Wayne Carson ( songwriters ) ( 1983 ) `` Every Breath You Take '' -- Sting ( songwriter ) ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' -- Graham Lyle & Terry Britten ( songwriters ) ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' -- Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie ( songwriters ) ( 1986 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' -- Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager ( songwriters ) ( 1987 ) `` Somewhere Out There '' -- James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil ( songwriters ) ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' -- Bobby McFerrin ( songwriter ) ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' -- Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar ( songwriters ) ( 1990 ) `` From a Distance '' -- Julie Gold ( songwriter ) ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' -- Irving Gordon ( songwriter ) ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' -- Eric Clapton & Will Jennings ( songwriters ) ( 1993 ) `` A Whole New World '' -- Alan Menken & Tim Rice ( songwriters ) ( 1994 ) `` Streets of Philadelphia '' -- Bruce Springsteen ( songwriter ) ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' -- Seal ( songwriter ) ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' -- Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Tommy Sims ( songwriters ) ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' -- Shawn Colvin & John Leventhal ( songwriters ) ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' -- James Horner & Will Jennings ( songwriters ) ( 1999 ) `` Smooth '' -- Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas ( songwriters ) ( 2000 ) 2001 − present `` Beautiful Day '' -- Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson ( songwriters ) ( 2001 ) `` Fallin ' '' -- Alicia Keys ( songwriter ) ( 2002 ) `` Do n't Know Why '' -- Jesse Harris ( songwriter ) ( 2003 ) `` Dance with My Father '' -- Richard Marx & Luther Vandross ( songwriters ) ( 2004 ) `` Daughters '' -- John Mayer ( songwriter ) ( 2005 ) `` Sometimes You Ca n't Make It on Your Own '' -- Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson ( songwriters ) ( 2006 ) `` Not Ready to Make Nice '' -- Emily Burns Erwin, Martha Maguire, Natalie Maines Pasdar & Dan Wilson ( songwriters ) ( 2007 ) `` Rehab '' -- Amy Winehouse ( songwriter ) ( 2008 ) `` Viva la Vida '' -- Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion & Christopher Martin ( songwriters ) ( 2009 ) `` Single Ladies ( Put a Ring on It ) '' -- Thaddis `` Kuk '' Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart ( songwriters ) ( 2010 ) `` Need You Now '' -- Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott ( songwriters ) ( 2011 ) `` Rolling in the Deep '' -- Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth ( songwriters ) ( 2012 ) `` We Are Young '' -- Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess ( songwriters ) ( 2013 ) `` Royals '' -- Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor ( songwriters ) ( 2014 ) `` Stay with Me '' ( Darkchild version ) -- James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith ( songwriters ) ( 2015 ) `` Thinking Out Loud '' -- Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge ( songwriters ) ( 2016 ) `` Hello '' -- Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin ( songwriters ) ( 2017 ) `` That 's What I Like '' -- Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip ( songwriters ) ( 2018 ) American Idol Episodes Season 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Finalists Winners Kelly Clarkson Ruben Studdard Fantasia Barrino Carrie Underwood Taylor Hicks Jordin Sparks David Cook Kris Allen Lee DeWyze Scotty McCreery Phillip Phillips Candice Glover Caleb Johnson Nick Fradiani Trent Harmon Runners - up Justin Guarini Clay Aiken Diana DeGarmo Bo Bice Katharine McPhee Blake Lewis David Archuleta Adam Lambert Crystal Bowersox Lauren Alaina Jessica Sanchez Kree Harrison Jena Irene Clark Beckham La'Porsha Renae Winners ' singles `` A Moment Like This '' `` Flying Without Wings '' `` I Believe '' `` Inside Your Heaven '' `` Do I Make You Proud '' `` This Is My Now '' `` The Time of My Life '' `` No Boundaries '' `` Beautiful Day '' `` I Love You This Big '' `` Home '' `` I Am Beautiful '' `` As Long as You Love Me '' `` Beautiful Life '' `` Falling '' Concert tours 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Related programming Idol ( franchise ) American Juniors Idol Christmas Idol Extra Idol Gives Back Idol Rewind World Idol Related articles Alumni album sales Alumni awards and nominations Alumni in film, television and theater Alumni single sales Compilation series Controversies Discography Finalists Hot 100 singles `` Judge Me Tender '' The American Idol Experience Video game Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beautiful_Day&oldid=823273382 '' Categories : 2000 singles U2 songs Island Records singles Billboard Dance Club Songs number - one singles Canadian Singles Chart number - one singles Dutch Top 40 number - one singles Single Top 100 number - one singles European Hot 100 Singles number - one singles Grammy Award for Record of the Year Grammy Award for Song of the Year Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia Number - one singles in Italy Number - one singles in Norway UK Singles Chart number - one singles Music videos directed by Jonas Åkerlund Song recordings produced by Brian Eno Song recordings produced by Daniel Lanois Songs written by Bono Songs written by the Edge Songs written by Adam Clayton Songs written by Larry Mullen Jr. Lee DeWyze songs Compositions in A major 2000 songs Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from October 2016 Articles with permanently dead external links CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Use dmy dates from June 2012 Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2011 Articles with unsourced statements from October 2013 Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart usages for Finland Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Italy Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Spain Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardalternativesongs Singlechart usages for Billboarddanceclubplay Singlechart usages for Billboardadultpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock Certification Table Entry usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Euskara فارسی Français Galego Italiano ქართული Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Slovenčina Suomi Svenska Українська Tiếng Việt 10 more Edit links This page was last edited on 31 January 2018, at 07 : 21. 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Question: meaning of the song beautiful day by u2
Answer: about losing everything but still finding joy in what one has