The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
{{Short description|2014 song by U2}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)
| cover = U2 The Miracle.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = U2
| album = Songs of Innocence
| released = {{Start date|2014|09|15|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2010–2014
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop rock{{cite web | url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18417/reviews/4148225 | title=Album Review: U2 - Songs of Innocence | publisher=Drowned in Sound | date=15 September 2014 | access-date=22 March 2015 | author=Lukowski, Andrzej | archive-date=26 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626145634/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18417/reviews/4148225 | url-status=dead }}
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=16}}
| label = Island
| composer = U2
| lyricist = Bono and the Edge
| producer = Danger Mouse, Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder
| prev_title = Invisible
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = Every Breaking Wave
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) U2.ogg
| description = "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)"
}}
}}
"The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track from their thirteenth studio album, Songs of Innocence, and was released as its lead single. It was produced by Danger Mouse, Paul Epworth, and Ryan Tedder. It was first unveiled by the band during their performance at an Apple Inc. product launch event on 9 September 2014, coinciding with an announcement that Songs of Innocence would be released digitally to iTunes Store customers free of charge. The song's title refers to American musician Joey Ramone, lead singer of influential punk rock band the Ramones.
Writing and recording
"The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)" originated from U2's recording sessions with Danger Mouse in 2010, initially consisting of a drum loop and acoustic guitar.{{cite magazine|title=Trying to Throw Their Arms Around the World|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Brian|last=Hiatt|date=6 November 2014|issue=1221|pages=54–61}} With the input of producers Ryan Tedder and Paul Epworth, it evolved into a rockier song called "Siren", with one lyric comparing the music of the punk rock band Ramones to a siren song. The band settled on the final melody and lyrics with Epworth during the final two months of the album's recording sessions.
The song pays tribute to Joey Ramone, the lead singer of Ramones, who had a strong influence on Bono.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2014/09/10/treats-half-billion-itunes-users-its-new-free-charge/e5LRALeTPqq7cc0y35u1DI/story.html|title=U2, 'Songs of Innocence'|work=The Boston Globe|first=James|last=Reed|date=10 September 2014|access-date=21 October 2014}} During their teenage years, U2 snuck into a Ramones concert,{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/09/09/u2-new-album-songs-of-innocence-free_n_5793008.html|title=U2 Are Giving Away Their Surprise New Album 'Songs Of Innocence' For Free On iTunes|work=The Huffington Post|first=Jason|last=MacNeil|date=9 September 2014|access-date=21 October 2014}} and the experience of watching Joey perform made Bono feel less self-conscious about his own singing.{{cite magazine|title=Exclusive: Bono Reveals Secrets of U2's Surprise Album 'Songs of Innocence'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/u2-surprise-album-songs-of-innocence-apple-itunes-free-20140909|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=9 September 2014|access-date=10 September 2014}}
Release
File:U2 at Apple keynote event 9-9-14.jpg product launch]]
In the days leading to an Apple Inc. product launch event on 9 September 2014 in Cupertino, California, reports began to circulate that U2 would be involved,{{cite news |url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/08/u2-said-to-play-role-at-apple-event/ |title=U2 Said to Play Role at Apple Event |work=The New York Times |date=8 September 2014 |access-date=12 September 2014 |first=Ben |last=Sisario}} which were promptly denied by a spokesperson for the band.{{cite web |url=http://www.hotpress.com/U2/news/U2s-new-album-will-not-be-launched-as-iPhone-6-tiein/12436920.html |title=U2's new album will not be launched as iPhone 6 tie-in |work=Hot Press |date=5 September 2014 |access-date=12 September 2014}} Nonetheless, towards the end of the event U2 appeared and performed a new song titled "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)", the lead single from their thirteenth studio album Songs of Innocence, with Apple CEO Tim Cook announcing that the album would be released digitally in its entirety at no cost to all iTunes Store customers.{{cite journal |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/9/6126711/u2-releases-its-new-album-for-free-today-exclusively-on-itunes |title=U2 releases its new album for free today exclusively on iTunes |journal=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=9 September 2014 |access-date=16 September 2014 |first=Nathan |last=Ingraham}} The presentation concluded with the unveiling of an Apple advertisement featuring U2 performing the song.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6244130/u2-songs-of-innocence-free-album-apple-itunes |title=U2 Releases Free Album 'Songs of Innocence' at Apple Event |magazine=Billboard |date=9 September 2014 |access-date=16 September 2014 |first=Jason |last=Lipshitz}}
"The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)" was subsequently released to United States adult album alternative (triple A) radio stations on 15 September 2014{{cite web |url=http://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |title=Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases |publisher=All Access Music Group |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007231527/http://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |archive-date=7 October 2014 |url-status=live }} and modern rock stations on 16 September.{{cite web |url=http://www.allaccess.com/alternative/future-releases |title=Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases |publisher=All Access Music Group |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002212004/http://www.allaccess.com/alternative/future-releases |url-status=live |archive-date=2 October 2014}} Ahead of its official radio release, it had already been added to the playlists of several stations and subsequently debuted at numbers 19 and 38 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs and Rock Airplay charts, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://playiga.com/track/u2/ |title=U2 'The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)' |publisher=Interscope Records |access-date=16 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023202314/http://playiga.com/track/u2/ |archive-date=23 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6251561/chart-highlights-nico-vinz-ascend-to-no-1-on-adult-contemporary |title=Chart Highlights: Nico & Vinz Ascend To No. 1 On Adult Contemporary With 'Am I Wrong' |magazine=Billboard |date=15 September 2014 |access-date=16 September 2014 |first=Gary |last=Trust}}
Former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone praised the song but was perplexed that U2 did not mention Joey Ramone's name anywhere in the lyrics. Regardless, he added that Joey would be very grateful for the tribute.{{cite web|last1=Ramone|first1=Marky|title=Marky Ramone Discusses the U2 Song, 'The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USdFxXR8Ybo|website=YouTube|date=18 December 2014 |access-date=8 July 2017}}
Music video
The official music video for the song was launched on 14 October 2014, first in the iTunes store{{cite web|url=http://www.atu2.com/news/the-miracle-of-joey-ramone-music-video-premieres-on-itunes.html|title='The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)' Music Video Premieres on iTunes|work=@U2: Independent Site for U2 Fans|access-date=23 October 2014}} and later on the band's official website.{{Cite web|url=http://www.u2.com/media/player/1167/1|title=U2 > The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) Video|website=U2.com|accessdate=30 June 2021}}
Personnel
Adapted from the liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Songs of Innocence|author=U2|year=2014|type=Compact disc liner notes|publisher=Interscope Records|id=B0022124-02}}
U2
- Bono – lead vocals, keyboards, guitar
- The Edge – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- Adam Clayton – bass guitar
- Larry Mullen Jr. – drums, percussion
Additional performers
- Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton – keyboards
- Ryan Tedder – keyboards, programming, acoustic guitar
- Paul Epworth – keyboards, programming, additional percussion
- Declan Gaffney – acoustic guitar
- Greg Clark – choir
- Carlos Ricketts – choir
- Tabitha Fair – choir
- Kim Hill – choir
- Quiona McCollum – choir
- Nicki Richards – choir
- Everett Bradley – choir
- Bobby Harden – choir
- Ada Dyer – choir
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (2014) ! Peak |
| {{singlechart|Flanders Tip|13|artist=U2|song=The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)|rowheader=true|access-date=18 October 2014}} |
| {{singlechart|Wallonia Tip|6|artist=U2|song=The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)|rowheader=true|access-date=18 October 2014}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcanadarock|4|artist=U2|rowheader=true|access-date=3 February 2015}} |
| scope="row"| Italy Airplay (EarOne){{cite web|url=https://earone.com/charts/earone-airplay-radio/2014/42|title=Earone Airplay - Settimana #42 dal 10/10/2014 al 16/10/2014|language=it|publisher=Earone}}
|style="text-align:center;"|3 |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|33|artist=U2|year=2014|week=33|rowheader=true|access-date=14 December 2014}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrocksongs|42|artist=U2|rowheader=true|access-date=9 November 2014}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrockairplay|12|artist=U2|rowheader=true|access-date=18 October 2014}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|1|artist=U2|rowheader=true|access-date=18 October 2014}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|22|artist=U2|rowheader=true|access-date=18 October 2014}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (2014) ! Position |
| scope="row"| US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/adult-alternative-songs |title=Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2014 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=21 December 2014}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 36 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|award=Diamond|number=2|type=single|artist=U2|title=the Miracle|relyear=2014|certyear=2024|access-date=2 September 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|award=Platinum|type=single|artist=U2|title=the Miracle|relyear=2014|certyear=2015|relmonth=9|access-date=21 October 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true| nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{U2 songs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miracle (of Joey Ramone), The}}
Category:Island Records singles
Category:Songs written by Adam Clayton
Category:Songs written by Bono
Category:Songs written by the Edge
Category:Songs written by Larry Mullen Jr.
Category:Song recordings produced by Danger Mouse (musician)
Category:Song recordings produced by Paul Epworth