New Year 's Day ( U2 song ) - wikipedia New Year 's Day ( U2 song ) `` New Year 's Day '' UK cover ( double 7 '' vinyl ) Single by U2 from the album War Released 10 January 1983 Format 7 '' vinyl 12 '' vinyl CD Studio Windmill Lane Studios ( Dublin ) Genre Post-punk Length 5 : 36 ( album version ) 3 : 53 ( radio edit ) Label Island Songwriter ( s ) U2 Producer ( s ) Steve Lillywhite U2 singles chronology `` A Celebration '' ( 1982 ) `` New Year 's Day '' ( 1983 ) `` Two Hearts Beat as One '' ( 1983 ) `` A Celebration '' ( 1982 ) `` New Year 's Day '' ( 1983 ) `` Two Hearts Beat as One '' ( 1983 ) War track listing `` Seconds '' ( 2 ) `` New Year 's Day '' ( 3 ) `` Like a Song... '' ( 4 ) Audio sample file help `` New Year 's Day '' is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is on their 1983 album War and it was released as the album 's lead single in January 1983. Written about the Polish Solidarity movement, `` New Year 's Day '' is driven by Adam Clayton 's distinctive bassline and the Edge 's piano and guitar playing. It was the band 's first UK hit single, peaking at no. 10, also becoming the band 's first international hit, reaching for example no. 9 in Norway, no. 11 on the Dutch Top 40, no. 17 in Sweden and charting on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States ( just missing the Top 50 ) for the first time in their career. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine placed the single at # 435 on their list of `` The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time ''. This song was also included in the Pitchfork 500. The UK cover features a photograph of Peter Rowen who grew up near Bono in Ireland. Contents 1 Writing and composition 2 Live performances 3 Music video 4 Formats and track listings 5 Personnel 6 Charts 7 Musique remix 7.1 Track listings 7.2 Charts 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Writing and composition The lyric had its origins in a love song from Bono to his wife, but was subsequently reshaped and inspired by the Polish Solidarity movement. The bassline stemmed from bassist Adam Clayton trying to figure out the chords to the Visage song `` Fade to Grey '' during a soundcheck. In 1983, Bono said of the song, `` It would be stupid to start drawing up battle lines, but I think the fact that ' New Year 's Day ' made the Top Ten indicated a disillusionment among record buyers. I do n't think ' New Year 's Day ' was a pop single, certainly not in the way that Mickie Most might define a pop single as something that lasts three minutes and three weeks in the chart. I do n't think we could have written that kind of song. '' Live performances `` New Year 's Day '' is U2 's seventh most frequently performed live song, with the Edge switching back and forth between piano and guitar during the song. It has been a standard on every U2 tour since its debut on 1 December 1982 at the first show of the War Tour 's Pre-Tour, however the recent Innocence + Experience tour only featured three performances of the song for the entire tour. During the 1980s, the Edge used a Fender Stratocaster to perform this song, along with a keyboard. During the 1990s and 2000s ( decade ), he has alternated between a Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard. The Les Paul the Edge used to write this song was sold for charity. Up until the Elevation Tour, Clayton normally used a chorus effect on his bass guitar for this song live. In the Top of the Pops performance, Bono is seen playing guitar. `` New Year 's Day '' has appeared on many of U2 's concert video releases including 1983 's U2 Live at Red Rocks : Under a Blood Red Sky, Zoo TV : Live from Sydney, PopMart : Live from Mexico City, U2 Go Home : Live from Slane Castle, Vertigo 2005 : Live from Chicago, Live from Paris, and U2 3D. The B - side of `` New Year 's Day '', `` Treasure ( Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop ? ) '', was never performed live. However, an early version known simply as `` Pete the Chop '' was played at some concerts in 1980. During the Vertigo Tour at Silesian Stadium in Poland a quite remarkable example of fan action occurred. During `` New Year 's Day '', the lower sections of the crowd waved red coloured items while other sections waved white, creating the Polish flag and stunning the band. This was repeated during the U2 360 ° Tour at the same venue. Music video The video was one of their first to see heavy rotation on MTV. It was filmed in Sälen, Sweden in December 1982 and directed by Meiert Avis. The band only appeared in the performance scenes of the video as it was filmed in the dead of the Swedish winter. U2 guitarist Edge revealed in the official U2 biography that the four people riding on horseback in the video that appeared to be the four U2 members were in fact four Swedish teenage girls disguised as the members of U2 riding on horseback with masks over their faces. This was done as the band were frozen from shooting the video in sub-freezing temperatures the day before. Their biography states that Bono refused to wear any headgear despite the cold weather and had a lot of trouble mouthing the lyrics. The video also features footage of Soviet troops advancing in winter during World War II. The video made its debut UK television broadcast on Friday 31 December 1982, on the Channel 4 music programme The Tube. U2 allowed free - of - charge use of this song in a spot prepared by the European Commission. This clip published on YouTube shows a transformation of Poland in the last 20 years mixed with short scenes from today 's Warsaw seen from a perspective of a 20 - year - old woman. Formats and track listings 7 '' - Island / WIP 6848 ( UK ) No. Title Length 1. `` New Year 's Day '' ( Short version ) 3 : 53 2. `` Treasure ( Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop ) '' 3 : 24 7 '' - Island / 811 323 - 7 ( France ) No. Title Length 1. `` New Year 's Day '' ( Edit ) 3 : 40 2. `` Treasure ( Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop ) '' 3 : 24 7 '' - Island / 7S - 86 ( Japan ) No. Title Length 1. `` New Year 's Day '' ( Special version ) 4 : 16 2. `` Treasure ( Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop ) '' 3 : 24 2x7 '' - Island / UWIP6848 ( UK ) No. Title Length 1. `` New Year 's Day '' ( Short version ) 3 : 53 2. `` Treasure ( Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop ) '' 3 : 24 3. `` Fire '' ( Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982 ) 3 : 45 4. `` I Threw a Brick Through a Window '' / `` A Day Without Me '' ( Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982 ) 6 : 58 12 '' - Island / 12 WIP 6848 ( UK ) No. Title Length 1. `` New Year 's Day '' ( Album version ) 5 : 35 2. `` Treasure ( Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop ) '' 3 : 24 3. `` Fire '' ( Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982 ) 3 : 45 4. `` I Threw a Brick Through a Window '' / `` A Day Without Me '' ( Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982 ) 6 : 58 12 '' - Island / 814 948 - 1 ( France ) No. Title Length 1. `` New Year 's Day '' ( U.S. remix ) 4 : 30 2. `` Two Hearts Beat as One '' ( U.S. remix ) 5 : 40 CD - Island / 664 973 ( Austria ) No. Title Length 1. `` New Year 's Day '' ( Album version ) 5 : 35 2. `` Treasure ( Whatever Happened to Pete the Chop ) '' 3 : 24 3. `` Fire '' ( Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982 ) 3 : 45 4. `` I Threw a Brick Through a Window '' / `` A Day Without Me '' ( Live from Werchter, 4 July 1982 ) 6 : 58 Personnel Bono -- vocals The Edge -- guitar, piano, backing vocals Adam Clayton -- bass guitar Larry Mullen Jr. -- drums Charts Chart ( 1983 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 36 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 17 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 41 France ( IFOP ) 17 Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 11 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 9 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 32 Norway ( VG - lista ) 9 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 17 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 10 US Cash Box Top 100 50 US Billboard Hot 100 53 US Billboard Top Tracks Chart ( 2010 ) Peak position Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Back Catalogue Singles Flanders ) 14 Musique remix `` New Year 's Dub '' Single by Musique vs. U2 Released 2001 Format Maxi single Genre Dance Length 2 : 57 ( radio edit ) Label Serious Songwriter ( s ) U2 Moussa Clarke Nick Hanson Producer ( s ) Nick Hanson Moose In 2001, dance act Musique released a remix of the song, `` New Year 's Dub ''. The remix charted in some European countries, including in the UK and in Ireland, where it peaked at no. 15 and no. 13, respectively. It also charted in Australia, where it peaked at no. 74. Track listings CD - Maxi Serious 572 922 - 2 No. Title Length 1. `` New Year 's Dub '' ( 7 '' Radio Edit ) 2 : 57 2. `` New Year 's Dub '' ( Mauro Picotto Club Mix ) 8 : 38 3. `` New Year 's Dub '' ( Hybrid Remix ) 6 : 59 Charts Chart ( 2001 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 74 Ireland ( IRMA ) 13 Italy ( FIMI ) 46 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 55 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 93 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 15 See also List of cover versions of U2 songs -- New Year 's Day References Jump up ^ `` U2 > Discography > Albums > New Year 's Day ''. U2.com. Retrieved 3 January 2018. Jump up ^ Reynolds, Simon ( 2006 ). Rip It Up and Start Again : Postpunk 1978 -- 1984. New York : Penguin Books. Jump up ^ `` 500 Greatest Songs of All Time : 435 -- U2, ' New Year 's Day ' ''. Rolling Stone ( Special collectors edition ). 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ Suddath, Claire ( 26 November 2008 ). `` The Pitchfork 500 ''. Pitchfork Media. Time. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ Perricone, Kathleen ( 19 October 2011 ). `` Child who appeared on U2 album covers for ' Boy, ' ' War ' all grown up 31 years later ''. New York Daily News. Retrieved 3 January 2018. Jump up ^ Stokes, Niall ( 1996 ). Into the Heart : The Stories Behind Every U2 Song. HarperCollins. Jump up ^ Hilburn, Robert ( 8 August 2004 ). `` Where Craft Ends and Spirit Begins ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 January 2014. Jump up ^ Egan, Barry ( 16 January 2011 ). `` Achtung baby, Adam is the proud father of a little boy ''. Sunday Independent. Retrieved 16 January 2010. Jump up ^ Stokes, Niall ( 29 November 2006 ). `` U2 : The Stories Behind Their Greatest Songs ''. Hot Press. Vol. 30 no. 23. Retrieved 20 July 2017. Jump up ^ Thrills, Adrian ( 26 February 1983 ). `` War & Peace ''. NME. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2017. Jump up ^ Mühlbradt, Matthias ; Axver, André. `` All songs U2 played without snippets - U2 on tour ''. U2gigs.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017. Jump up ^ Mühlbradt, Matthias ; Axver, André. `` U2 London, 1980 - 07 - 13, Marquee Club, Early Days - U2 on tour ''. U2gigs.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ Mühlbradt, Matthias ; Axver, André. `` U2 Chorzow, 2005 - 07 - 05, Slaski Stadium, Vertigo Tour - U2 on Tour ''. U2gigs.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ Mühlbradt, Matthias ; Axver, André. `` U2 Chorzow, 2009 - 08 - 06, Slaski Stadium, 360 ° Tour - U2 on Tour ''. U2gigs.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ Lightbody, Gary ( 9 August 2009 ). `` ' Something I 've Never Seen Before ' ''. Goyb.u2.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` U2 Chorzow 2009 - 08 - 06 New Years Day GA camera - U2gigs.com ''. YouTube. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` ' New Year 's Day ' ''. U2.com. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` A spot prepared by the European Commission ''. YouTube. Jump up ^ `` Forum -- ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989, part 2 ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- U2 -- New Year 's Day '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 6323. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Accès direct aux Artistes ( U ) '' ( in French ). InfoDisc. Select `` U 2 '' from the artist drop - down menu. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- New Years Day ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- U2 - New Year s Day '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- U2 -- New Year 's Day '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- U2 -- New Year 's Day ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- U2 -- New Year 's Day ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- U2 -- New Year 's Day ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles : Week ending MAY 21, 1983 ''. Cash Box. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` U2 -- Awards ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` 50 Back Catalogue Singles -- 2 October 2010 ''. Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` Forum -- ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- Chart Positions Pre 1989 Part 4 ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- New Years Dub ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Indice per Interprete : U '' ( in Italian ). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Musique vs. U2 -- New Years Dub '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Musique vs. U2 -- New Years Dub ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 June 2014. External links New Year 's Day '' video at MTV.com Only viewable in the United States. War track listing `` Sunday Bloody Sunday '' `` Seconds '' `` New Year 's Day '' `` Like a Song '' `` Drowning Man '' `` The Refugee '' `` Two Hearts Beat as One '' `` Red Light '' `` Surrender '' `` 40 '' October The Unforgettable Fire 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 `` The Blackout '' `` You 're the Best Thing About Me '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Year%27s_Day_(U2_song)&oldid=827921251 '' Categories : 1983 singles 1983 songs Island Records singles Music videos directed by Meiert Avis New Year songs Solidarity ( Polish trade union ) Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite Songs written by Adam Clayton Songs written by Bono Songs written by the Edge Songs written by Larry Mullen Jr. U2 songs Hidden categories : CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Use dmy dates from June 2014 Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012 Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart making named ref Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Français Italiano ქართული Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 27 February 2018, at 14 : 55. 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Question: what is the song new years day about
Answer: the Polish Solidarity movement