Zooropa (song)

Zooropa (song)

"Zooropa" ( /zuːˈroʊpɑː/) is a song by the rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1993 album Zooropa. The song was the result of combining two pieces of music, the first of which was conceived in the studio, and the second of which was discovered by guitarist The Edge while listening to soundchecks the band had done while on tour. The lyrics were written by vocalist Bono, describing two characters in a brightly lit city in a futuristic version of European society. Lyrics in the song were based on advertising slogans, and also featured the phrase "dream out loud", which has appeared in other U2 media. Several themes were touched in the song, including moral confusion and European society.

Promotional recordings of the song were released in the United States and Mexico, and the song appeared on two record charts shortly after its release in 1993. The song was briefly performed at three shows on U2's Zoo TV Tour in 1993, where the band had difficulties performing it, and it was not played again until the U2 360° Tour in 2011. The track received mostly positive reception from critics, who praised it as the album's opening track.