Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own

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“Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own”
“Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own” cover
First CD single
Single by U2
from the album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Released February 14, 2005
Format CD, DVD
Genre Rock
Label Island / Interscope Records
Producer Chris Thomas with additional production by Steve Lillywhite and Nellee Hooper
U2 singles chronology
"Vertigo"
(2004)		 "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"
(2005)		 "City of Blinding Lights"
(2005)
Alternate covers
Second CD single
Second CD single
DVD single
DVD single
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb track listing
"Miracle Drug"
(Track 2)		 "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"
(Track 3)		 "Love and Peace or Else"
(Track 4)
U218 Singles track listing
"Elevation"
(15)		 "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"
(16)		 "The Saints Are Coming"
(17)

"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" is the second single from U2's 2004 album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Originally titled "Tough",[citation needed] it was released in the United Kingdom on 7 February 2005, and debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart. The song won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Song of the Year at the 2006 Grammy Awards.

Contents

[edit] Background

The lyric was written by lead singer Bono as a tribute to his father, Bob Hewson, who died in 2001; Bono sang this at his funeral. The video to the song begins with a note from Bono about his father, saying "I wish I'd known him better."

The song was released worldwide on February 7, 2005. The song was added to BBC Radio 1's "C List" Playlist on 29 December 2004. It moved to the B List a week later and to the A List a week after that. The song was also playlisted by XFM. The song debuted at #1 in the UK, marking the first time that a U2 album has produced two UK #1 hits (following "Vertigo" in November 2004.)

The single was also the third release in the United States. It reached #15 on the Adult Top 40 chart and #29 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in April 2005. It also reached #97 on the Hot 100.

The Complete U2 features a demo version of the song with a different verse but without the falsetto chorus line. On the album's deluxe edition bonus DVD is an acoustic performance of the song by Bono and The Edge.

It was featured on the second season of The O.C., episode 4, titled "The New Era". It was also featured on the Ugly Betty episode I See Me, I.C.U.. It played after it was revealed that Bradford Meade, father of Daniel Meade died, drawing parallels to the song's concept.

[edit] Track listings

[edit] CD1

  1. "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" (96 BPM Radio Edit) (4:51)
  2. "Fast Cars" (Jacknife Lee Mix) (3:28)

[edit] CD2

  1. "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" (96 BPM Radio Edit) (4:51)
  2. "Ave Maria" (Jacknife Lee Mix) (3:35)
  3. "Vertigo" (Redanka Power Mix) (7:32)

[edit] CD3 Japan

  1. "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" (96 BPM Radio Edit) (4:51)
  2. "Fast Cars" (Jacknife Lee Mix) (3:28)
  3. "Vertigo" (Trent Reznor Remix) (3:38)
  4. "Vertigo" (Redanka Power Mix) (7:32)
  5. "Ave Maria" (Jacknife Lee Mix) (3:35)

[edit] DVD

  1. "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" (Live from HQ, November 16, 2004) (Video) (5:15)
  2. "Vertigo" (Video) (3:11)
  3. "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" (Album Version) (Audio) (5:05)
  4. "Vertigo" (Trent Reznor Remix) (Audio) (3:38)

[edit] Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart 1
Latvian Airplay Chart 1
Portuguese Singles Chart 1
Spanish Singles Chart 1
UK Singles Chart 1
Chinese Singles Chart 2
Danish Singles Chart 2
Dutch Singles Chart 2
Irish Singles Chart 3
Norwegian Singles Chart 6
Chilian Singles Chart 12
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 19
German Singles Chart 23
Swedish Singles Chart 24
U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 15
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks 29
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 87
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 97
Preceded by
"Like Toy Soldiers" by Eminem		 UK number one single
February 19, 2005 - February 25, 2005		 Succeeded by
"Get Right" by Jennifer Lopez

[edit] References