Bono Lists 60 Songs That Have ‘Saved His Life’

In honor of his 60th birthday yesterday (May 10th) Bono posted a list of track titled, “60 Songs That Saved My Life.” He explained how the list was formed: “These are some of the songs that saved my life. The ones I couldn't have lived without. . the ones that got me from there to here, zero to 60. . .through all the scrapes, all manner of nuisance, from the serious to the silly. . . and the joy, mostly joy. I wanted to thank the artists and everyone who helped make them. . . They were doing the same for me. . . I am writing a fan letter to accompany each song to try and explain my fascination. . . I’ll be sharing some here and on U2.com.”

The songs, which can be played via Spotify or YouTube, features classic tracks from John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Prince, Nirvana, the Clash, Elton John, Pearl Jam, the Sex Pistols, the Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, Johnny Cash, INXS, Kraftwerk, Talking Heads, Lou Reed, Madonna, David Bowie, Elvis Presley, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, Kanye West, Billie Eilish, the Ramones, Public Enemy, Fugees, Daft Punk, Jay-Z, Joy Division, New Order, Adele, Arcade Fire, Pixies, Oasis, Iggy Pop, Massive Attack, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Marley, Echo & The Bunnymen, Lady Gaga, the Bee Gees, and many more.

Bono began posting letters to some of the artists and/or their relatives explaining his connection to the music. He's already posted notes on U2.com to Billie Eilish (and Finneas), David Bowie's son Duncan Jones, the members of Kraftwerk, and Nile Rodgers. Read Bono's initial fan letters: https://bit.ly/2YRyXgq

In 1999 Bono inducted Bruce Springsteen into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and paid tribute to “The Boss” both as an artist and as a man: “For me and the rest of the 'U2-ers,' it wasn't just the way he described the world, it was the way he negotiated it. It was a map, a book of instructions of how to be in the business but not of it. Generous is a word you could us to describe the way he treated us. Decency is another, but these words can box you in. I remember when Bruce was headlining Amnesty International's tour for prisoners of conscience, I remember thinking, 'Wow, if ever there was a prisoner of conscience, it's Bruce Springsteen.' Integrity can be a yoke, a pain in the ass, when your songs are taking you to a part of town people don't expect to see you.”

Bono told us that John Lennon's artistic integrity was the blueprint for all that came after him: “Well, he wrote the book for us. Y'know, you're talking about Rubber Soul, other albums — we've had, y'know, the 'White Album' in the back of our head. He's the one who was ready to take the pratfalls — to make an idiot out of himself to make a point — if that's what it took to make a point — to take the jeers and the sneers to sing his life. I think the courage to be uncool, in music and in art, is everything.”

Bono’s “60 Songs That Saved My Life“

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 Partiro
15. Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel
16. Johnny Cash – Hurt
17. This Mortal Coil – Song to the Siren
18. Kraftwerk – Neon Lights
19. The 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 Walers – Redemption Song
39. Echo and 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 Sounds 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)