page_title: Invisible (U2 song)
section_title: Background and release
hierarchical_section_title: Invisible (U2 song) / Background and release
caption_attribution_description: English: Top of the Rock, New York, United States
context_page_description: "Invisible" is a song by Irish rock band U2. Unveiled in a Super Bowl XLVIII television advertisement, it was available as a free digital download through the iTunes Store from 2–3 February 2014. Bank of America gave $1 for each download of the track to, an organisation co-founded by Bono, to fight AIDS. Since 4 February, it has been available as a paid download, with all the proceeds also going to. The song was later included as a hidden track on the deluxe edition of the group's 2014 studio album Songs of Innocence.
  The electronic-tinged rock anthem was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. The song has also charted in several countries, and topped the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart in the United States. A music video for the song was directed by Mark Romanek and released on 11 February 2014.
context_section_description: U2 began work on its 13th studio album, Songs of Innocence, with producer Danger Mouse in 2011. In November 2013, the band released its first new song in four years, "Ordinary Love", recorded for the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom; the second song released after the break was "Invisible". However, the latter was not the first official single to promote the album, but rather a "sort of a sneak preview – to remind people we exist," as lead singer Bono told USA Today. The song also launched a partnership between (RED), an organisation founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver, and Bank of America to fight AIDS.
  On 16 January 2014, confusion was created when Dave Fanning announced the "first-time play" of "Invisible" live on The Dave Fanning Show on RTÉ 2fm. Instead, a 2012 release titled "Bad Machine" from St Albans-based rock band Dark Stares aired twice. Fanning's close relationship with U2 and an over 33-year history of the band's single exclusives, caused many to believe the broadcast was legitimate and added further debate on U2 fan-forums. Several media outlets also reported on the situation, namely Hot Press and radio broadcaster Alan Cross. However, Fanning later hinted that he was partially behind the hoax, saying, "We did point out that it was a spoof," when interviewed by The Sunday Times. To date, neither U2 nor Dark Stares have officially commented on their respective knowledge or involvement in the stunt.
  On 2 February 2014, part of "Invisible" was unveiled in a Super Bowl XLVIII television advertisement, and was made available as a free download from the iTunes Store for 24 hours, with Bank of America giving $1 for each download of the track to (RED) and its recipient, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. According to the band's website, the period of time in which the song was available for free was eventually extended to 36 hours, and the total sum raised was $3,138,470. On 4 February 2014, the song was made available as a regular digital download, with all the proceeds also going to (RED).
  On 17 February 2014, the band appeared on the debut episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and performed "Invisible" on the observation deck of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, with the Manhattan skyline during sunset as a backdrop. The group were accompanied by the Rutgers University drumline.
  An alternative, longer version of "Invisible" was eventually released as a hidden track on the deluxe edition of Songs of Innocence, which was released in October 2014. Doug Collette of All About Jazz commented that the song's "patently transparent lyrics set in the context of this package and the benefit of brief hindsight, make for a fitting conclusion of deliberate or accidental self-commentary."
caption: A view from the observation deck of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where U2 performed the song on the debut episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
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