"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" - U2

Single (Canada)

Track Listing:

Background Information

Released as the second commercial single worldwide from All That You Can’t Leave Behind, “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” became the fourth single release from the album in Canada (“Walk On” had been the second Canadian single, followed by “Elevation”). Because the cover art and b-sides for the Canadian “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” differ from those of the worldwide release, it is covered in a separate discography entry. “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” was written about the death, apparently by suicide, of INXS singer Michael Hutchence. Bono has stated that the song was a “really tough, nasty little number…slapping him around the head.” He has often introduced the song in concert by talking about his friendship with Hutchence.

The commercial release of the “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” single in Canada occurred on October 30, 2001. There was no commercial release for the USA. However, the promotion of “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” in this region was concurrent with the Canadian release, rather than with the worldwide release of the single earlier in the year. The tracks for the Canadian single were different than those found on the worldwide “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” single. The title track was a new “Radio Edit” that removed part of the first verse and edited the ending of the song. Additional tracks included an “Acoustic” version of “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of,” which contained the same vocal track as the album version backed by a new acoustic arrangement. Also included was a live version of “Stay (Faraway, So Close!)” recorded in Toronto on May 25, 2001, and “Elevation (The Vandit Club Mix),” a Paul Van Dyk remix that had not been included with Canadian versions of the “Elevation” single earlier in the year. Unlike the previous singles from All That You Can’t Leave Behind, which divided the tracks across two CD formats, only one CD was released for this single in Canada. “v” was the first release in Canada to carry the Interscope Records logo. Up to that point, Canadian releases carried the familiar Island logo.

Although a video for “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” had already been filmed for the worldwide release of the single earlier in the year, a new video was filmed for the North American market. Directed by Joseph Kahn in Berlin, Germany on July 30, 2001, this new version featured hundreds of extras in a stadium in a recreation of an American football game. The band members make appearances as spectators the stands. In addition, American football analyst John Madden makes a guest appearance as the announcer in a game between “The Flys” and “The Lemons” at a venue known as “The Unforgettable Fire Dome.” During the video, a rookie player (named “Paul Hewson”) misses the final kick of the game, resulting in a loss for his team. He replays the kick over and over again in his mind. The original video for the European/Australian/Asian release of “Stuck in a Moment” was directed by Kevin Godley. It depicts Bono being repeatedly thrown out of a moving vehicle and struggling to rise in the middle of the street—a visual interpretation of being “Stuck in a Moment.” This footage is interspersed with shots of the band attempting to cross a busy highway. At the end of the video, the band arrives to help Bono stand up, and the Edge makes it across traffic to give him a hand. The video was shot in Los Angeles, California in January 2001. The Kahn and Godley versions of the video appear on both the U218 Videos and The Best of 1990-2000 compilations. A third version, shot in Eze, France, and in a studio in Dublin, depicts the band recording “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” and includes various shots from photo shoots for the album, as well as vacation footage. This “Eze Version” was directed by James Mather and Joe Edwards, and was edited by Brian McCue. It was included as a bonus feature on the Elevation 2001: Live from Boston DVD.

“Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” was first performed live at the Manray Club in Paris on October 19, 2000 during U2’s promotional tour for All That You Can’t Leave Behind. It made routine appearances at subsequent promotional stops, as well. It was also performed every night during The Elevation Tour in 2001. It dropped out of the setlist for the first two legs of The Vertigo Tour in 2005, but reappeared for a handful of shows during the third leg in 2006. The song was played sparingly at shows on the U2360° Tour, appearing regularly only on the North American leg in 2009. It was performed just five times during 2015’s Innocence and Experience Tour. Live performances can be found on the fan club CD Go Home: Live from Slane Castle (Dublin, September 1, 2001) as well as on the DVD of the same show; and on the Elevation 2001: Live from Boston (Boston, June 2001) and U2360° at the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, October 25, 2009) DVDs. In addition, a version recorded live in New York City on October 30, 2009 was featured on the multi-artist The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts CD, as well as on the fan club release Duals. This version, recorded at Madison Square Garden, features Mick Jagger on guest vocals. (When “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” was originally being recorded during the All That You Can’t Leave Behind sessions, Jagger and his daughter, Elizabeth both provided backing vocals in-studio; however, these were later removed from the final mix.) Finally, a recording of “Stuck in a Moment” from the U2360° Tour (Sheffield, UK, August 20, 2009) was among 46 live tracks from the tour in consideration for the 2-CD fan club album U22. The 22 tracks on the final release were selected by a vote by members of the U2 fan club. In the end, however, the song did not receive enough votes to appear on the final live compilation. The following year, the Edge picked his favorite tracks from the remaining 46 live tracks, and “Stuck in a Moment” recorded in Mexico City on May 11, 2011 was included on From the Ground Up: Edge’s Picks.

The album version of “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” was included on both the U218 Singles and The Best of 1990-2000 compilations. The acoustic version of “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of,” the live version of “Stay” and “Elevation (The Vandit Club Mix)” were all included as extra tracks on the European/Australian release of “Walk On” in the fall of 2001. The acoustic version of “Stuck in a Moment” also later appeared on the Target-exclusive “7 (Rare and Remixed)” EP in the US.

Liner Notes

Stuck in a Moment (Radio Edit):
Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono and the Edge. Synthesizers by Brian Eno and the Edge. Additional guitar by Daniel Lanois. Brass by Paul Barrett. Produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno.

Stuck in a Moment (Acoustic):
Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono and the Edge. Mixed by Steve Lillywhite. Recorded by Martin Bohm, at MG Sound Studios, Vienna.

Stay (Live from Toronto):
Recorded May 25th, 2001, Air Canada Centre, Toronto Ontario. Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono. Recorded by Joe O’Herlihy.

Elevation (The Vandit Club Mix):
Remix and additional production by Paul Van Dyk. Music by U2. Lyrics by Bono. Original version produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno.

Mastered by Arnie Acosta at The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles. Audio Post Production Manager: Cheryl Engels at Partial Productions Inc.

Artwork

Photography by Kevin Westenberg. Designed by Four 5 One Design, Dublin.

Recognition and Awards

  • Nomination, and Win, Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group (Grammy Awards, 2002)
  • Nomination, Song of the Year (Grammy Awards, 2002)
  • #3 Best Single, Critics Picks (Rolling Stone, 2001)

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