U2

If it was likely "Sunday Bloody Sunday" that saved U2 from an early breakup, as the Irish band recounted some time ago, there are many other songs that have helped "save the life" of the Dublin band's frontman, Bono. Sixty, to be exact. The U2 leader has gathered them into a playlist titled "60 Songs That Saved My Life", a selection of tracks that, as he himself explained, represent the soundtrack of his existence. "These are some of the songs that saved my life, the ones I couldn't have lived without," he wrote when presenting the project on the band's social media channels.

Bono revealed he had written a thank-you letter to each of the artists featured in the collection. "I'm writing a fan letter to go with every song, trying to explain my attraction to it," he explained during a podcast interview. Opening the playlist is "Miserere", in the live version performed by Luciano Pavarotti, Bono and Zucchero. In the letter addressed to Alice Pavarotti, the famous tenor's daughter, the singer recalled the emotion of that track: "I can hardly remember what it was about, beyond forgiveness. And a toast to being alive."
Among the chosen tracks is also "Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish. Addressing the Californian singer and her brother Finneas, Bono wrote: "I step into your song and it's a black beauty, terribly vulnerable and terrifying, fearsome and worrying. But you're not worried by any of this."

The collection also makes room for David Bowie, represented by "Life On Mars?", Kraftwerk with "Neon Lights", Massive Attack, Nile Rodgers (Chic) and many other artists who shaped the U2 leader's personal and musical journey. Speaking of Kraftwerk and the late Florian Schneider, Bono recalled the impact of the album "The Man-Machine": "It stole my heart and my mind." Of "Neon Lights" he added: "It's a song that gave birth to a future that has now become so familiar. It's easy to forget how strange it once was."

Here is the complete "60 Songs That Saved My Life" playlist:

1. Luciano Pavarotti, Bono & Zucchero – Miserere
2. Sex Pistols – Anarchy In The UK
3. Kanye West – Black Skinhead
4. Billie Eilish – Everything I Wanted
5. David Bowie – Life On Mars?
6. The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand
7. Ramones – Swallow My Pride
8. The Clash – Safe European Home
9. Public Enemy – Fight The Power
10. Patti Smith – People Have The Power
11. John Lennon – Mother
12. The Rolling Stones – Ruby Tuesday
13. Elton John – Daniel
14. Andrea Bocelli – Con Te Partirò
15. Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel
16. Johnny Cash – Hurt
17. This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren
18. Kraftwerk – Neon Lights
19. Fugees – Killing Me Softly With His Song
20. Prince – When Doves Cry
21. Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers – Get Lucky
22. Madonna – Ray Of Light
23. JAY-Z feat. Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind
24. Talking Heads – Love Goes To Building On Fire
25. Lou Reed – Satellite Of Love
26. The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
27. Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
28. New Order – True Faith
29. R.E.M. – Nightswimming
30. Adele – Chasing Pavements
31. Arcade Fire – Wake Up
32. Pixies – Monkey Gone To Heaven
33. Oasis – Live Forever
34. Iggy Pop – Lust For Life
35. Gavin Friday – Angel
36. Massive Attack – Safe From Harm
37. Kendrick Lamar feat. U2 – XXX
38. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Redemption Song
39. Echo & The Bunnymen – Rescue
40. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
41. Pearl Jam – Jeremy
42. Bob Dylan – Most Of The Time
43. Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar – Freedom
44. Depeche Mode – Walking In My Shoes
45. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Into My Arms
46. Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound Of Silence
47. Coldplay – Clocks
48. INXS – Never Tear Us Apart
49. New Radicals – You Get What You Give
50. Angélique Kidjo – Agolo
51. Lady Gaga – Born This Way
52. Frank Sinatra & Bono – Under My Skin
53. David Bowie – Heroes
54. Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
55. Sinéad O’Connor – You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart
56. Van Morrison – A Sense Of Wonder
57. Bruce Springsteen – There Goes My Miracle
58. Daniel Lanois – The Maker
59. Peter Frampton – Show Me The Way
60. Bee Gees – Immortality (Demo Version)

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google

26/06/2026