"Magnificent" - U2

Promotional Release

Track Listing:

Background Information

U2 has released a newly remastered version of the video for “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Available on their YouTube channel now, at 1080p: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-5YC_oHjE #U2

The second single used to promote the album No Line on the Horizon at radio was “Magnificent.” The first promotional single for the album appeared at North American stations on March 3, 2009. (A CDR, in a regular jewel case, with front and back inserts.) The edited version of the song cuts out much of the instrumental at the start in the album version. Here the vocal starts approximately 20 seconds after the song begins. In the UK the promotional single was meant for airplay on March 4, 2009. In the UK the first single was a pressed CD in a slimline jewel case, and the background of the CD was black, with Magnificent in red, and other text in white. A later CD sent for promotion would have the background of the CD in grey, Magnificent in red, and the other text in white. A number of other promos were sent to stations, including later promotion of the remixes of “Magnificent”. More detail about these can be found below in our catalog section, including track listings.

Universal also started using digital delivery of promos to radio around this time, and “Magnificent” was delivered to radio and DJs by this means in a number of cases, either direct by Universal or via hired promotional agencies. In these cases, one or many tracks is uploaded to a central location, and emails are sent out to people in the industry with access instruction. These are hard to find concrete information on so any additional leads on what was sent out would be welcome. We believe we have captured some of the main promos below.

Part of the promotion was a series of remixes which were served directly to DJs to bring additional play in clubs. This included a three track promo featuring mixes by Fred Falke, Pete Tong and Redanka on April 23, 2009, further mixes by a variety of DJs sent out on May 1, 2009, and a set of 4 remixes by Dave Dave Audé also on May 1, 2009, distributed by a different promotional agency. Although most of these remixes would later be released on physical releases, the Dave Audé Radio Edit did not have a wide release.

Audé describes the process in which he got involved: “U2’s label (Interscope) hired me to remix this single cause’ they knew I would smash it. Fortunately, Bono loved what I did. I think when Oakie, PVD, and Ferry did mixes in the past, they all sound like the guys who did the mix. In other words, Oakies mix sounds like Oakie, PVD sounds like PVD, Ferry sounds like a Ferry Corsten track with Bono singing. When I approached this mix, I really wanted the mix to sound like u2. I just produced it for the dance floor and kept all the guitars. In fact, I kept some of the drums and the bass as well. u2 is a four-some, not just Bono. I feel you need all those elements to keep it “U2”. I am given the master session on all the projects I work on. The multi-track (or Pro Tools session in this case) that has all the guitars, drums, bass, and vocals separate so I am able to use whatever I want from the original song. So many guys take the original song, chop it up, EQ it, add some loops and call it a remix. I suppose it is, but what I’m really doing is “re-producing” the track for the dance floor (and getting paid for it).”

Not only was Audé given the Pro Tools session of the actual release, he was also provided with some alternate vocal takes which results in some alternate lines being heard during his remixes, “Your white soul, Has left my heart black and blue”. The quotes above come from an interview published on the eventvibe.com website, which was posted on April 18, 2009. On May 1, 2009, when his mixes were sent out for promotion, two of them were also added (320kbps, mp3) to the eventvibe website which had hosted the interview. These are unfortunately no longer available.

Liner Notes

Magnificent (Edit):
Music by U2, Brian Eno, Danny Lanois. Lyrics by Bono and The Edge. Produced by Brian Eno and Danny Lanois. Additional production by Steve Lillywhite. Engineered by Richard Rainey. Assisted by Chris Heaney. Additional engineering by Carl Glanville, Declan Gaffney and Dave Emery. Mixed by Cenzo Townshend. Assisted by Neil Comber. Additional keyboards by Terry Lawless, Bono and will.i.am.

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