"Get Out of Your Own Way" - U2

Single

Track Listing:

Background Information

On November 1, 2017, U2 announced the final details of their album Songs of Experience. At that time it made two songs available for download from the album, “Get Out of Your Own Way” and “The Blackout”. Two weeks later an additional track was made available to download, “American Soul” (although in some cases it was made available earlier in error). But all were sold as part of the album Songs of Experience on streaming services and on download sites, with artwork from the album.

Starting on November 2, 2017, the song, “Get Out of Your Own Way” was also sent to radio in Poland, a test market for the song. The song was also used on the BBC during the week that U2 appeared on the EMAs, and as of December 4, 2017, the song was sent to AAA stations in the US for promotion. The version being sent to these markets is a radio edit of the song which runs 03:20. These digitally delivered promo versions of the song are edited to remove the spoken word piece by Kendrick Lamar.

We also know that two different promotional videos have been filmed for the song. One filmed in October with director Jonas Åkerlund, as the band toured in Mexico, features U2 on a rooftop in Mexico City performing the song and celebrating the culture of Mexico. The second video was filmed in November, when U2 performed in Trafalgar Square as part of the MTV EMAs, and that video features U2 playing the song on stage as the audience holds up protest signs provided by the band. At this point neither video has been released, however the Mexico video has been teased as being ‘released soon’ on December 11, 2017, with 23 seconds of footage being shared on YouTube, FaceBook and Twitter.

On December 28, 2017, the first unique single for the song was released on streaming platforms and on iTunes and other platforms for purchase. The song is a remix of “Get Out of Your Own Way” by Switch. Switch is a British DJ, known for his work with Major Lazer, and remixes for M.I.A., Kylie Minogue and other artists. In 2008, he did a remix of Underworld’s “Boy, Boy, Boy“ which is a track listed in our discography due to the participation of Larry Mullen on that track.

The Switch remix was released with artwork that is similar to the cover of the box set, featuring a blue and black design.

On January 26, 2017, the second unique single for the song was released, which was another remix of “Get Out of Your Own Way” by Dutch DJ, Afrojack. The song released is 04:07 in length. A longer extended version of the song was issued digitally as a promotional release. The Afrojack Remix was released with artwork featuring a blue and black design from the album as well. In the credits for the Afrojack Remix, Switch is also mentioned as a remixer. This may be an error.

An Acoustic version of the song was released as a standalone single on April 6, 2018. This was a recording of Bono and The Edge performing the song in Milan on December 7, 2017, which aired on RAI Television on December 10, 2017 as part of the show Che tempo che fa.

Although the “Switch Remix” was made available as a Hi-Res audio track (44.1kHz / 24-bit PCM) thus far there is no sign that the “Afrojack Remix” or the “Acoustic Version” will be released at the same quality. It is not known at this time if other single formats will follow.

On September 16, 2022, as part of an upgrade of U2’s singles on digital sites “Get Out of Your Own Way” was reissued. See our catalog listings below for information on the newest release. The cover used was an image of Bono’s daughters, used commercially for the first time.

Liner Notes

Get Out of Your Own Way (Switch Remix): Performed by U2. Original produced by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Matt Nordtrom, Jacknife Lee, Jolyon Thomas, David Taylor, Steve Lillywhite. Remixed by SWITCH. Original engineered by Tyler Spry, Matt Nordstrom, Matty Green, Rich Rich.

Get Out of Your Own Way (Afrojack Remix): Performed by U2. Original produced by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Matt Nordtrom, Jacknife Lee, Jolyon Thomas, David Taylor, Steve Lillywhite. Remixed by Afrojack, SWITCH. Original engineered by Tyler Spry, Matt Nordstrom, Matty Green, Rich Rich.

Get Out of Your Own Way (Acoustic Version): Performed by U2 featuring Bono and The Edge. Vocals: Bono and The Edge. Guitar: The Edge. Mastering engineer: Scott Sedillo. Studio Personnel: Scott Sedillo.

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