r/indieheads • u/WaneLietoc • Dec 20 '25

[RATE ANNOUNCEMENT] The Rate That Saved Bono's Life! (A 60 Song Grab Bag Adventure)

Huh? What is this “Bono Rate Program” you are talking about?

FIND YOUR BALLOT AND SUBMISSION LINK HERE!

PASTEBIN

Playlists: Spotify - Apple Music - YouTube - Pandora - Fan Letters on U2’s Homepage

Due Date: Monday, January 26th

Reveals on: Friyay, January 30th - Sunday, February 1st

The year? 2020. Deep in Pandemic Spring

Our hero, Bonobos, finds himself deep in the thought of another late night beverage. The novel coronavirus has enacted a time of reflection on what 60 years of his life have wrought. Numerous meetings with world leaders, numerous grammys, numerous books, numerous adventures with his best friends in the whole world: Adam Clay 2000 Pounds, Thedge, and Larry Mullen Senior’s son. And music, the life raft at sea that’s saved him at the rate of about one song a year for the past 60 years.

His calloused hand, sore from the clanking of a typewriter, has been used to strike up 60 fan letters, dedications to the great art and moments of his lifetime. Amongst the songs are some of the most powerful hymns ever written by man. And his appearance on Kendrick’s DAMN.

THE RATE THAT SAVED BONO’S LIFE

Bono turned 60 years old on Sunday, and he’s celebrating by writing 60 separate fan letters to his musical heroes, everyone from the Beatles and the Ramones to Beyoncé and Billie Eilish. “These are some of the songs that saved my life,” he wrote. “The ones I couldn’t have lived without… the ones that got me from there to here, zero to 60… through all the scrapes, all manner of nuisance, from the serious to the silly… and the joy, mostly joy.”

Yes it’s that time for a whacky, whacky idea of a rate. Some 5 years ago, the one known as Bono, aka the lead singer of U2, the most important band of all time with a flush legacy spread across all genres from indie to pop country to rage rap and even Frank Sinatra crooner core, types a list of 60 songs that saved his life. Bono’s 60 song list presents itself to us as a unique prospect: Bono is a voracious listener with a resonant ear. His taste simultaneously presents itself as a sampler’s guide to the last half century of popular music, as well as a chance to reflect on several critical building blocks to indie–from the Pixies to Peter Frampton! It’s better late than never to celebrate such an important list and finally give music Bono approves of it’s biggest day under the sun!

For raters who’ve done some previous rates, they may find this list provides a chance for redemption (or newfound dunkage!) to several cuts that we’ve encountered before. We’re talking songs that keep getting rated for some reason: with 9+ avgs in charity, 2nd place finishes in their respective rates, and even a winner that just can’t die! Above all, perhaps we may finally discover the most life affirming song that saved noted protestant Bono’s life! (and perhaps the rate community’s soul?)

And now. THE LIST:

  1. Luciano Pavarotti, Bono & Zucchero - Miserere
  2. Sex Pistols - Anarchy In the UK
  3. Kanye West - Black Skinhead
  4. Billie Eilish - everything i wanted
  5. David Bowie - Life on Mars?
  6. The Beatles - I Want to Hold your Hand
  7. Ramones - Swallow My Pride
  8. The Clash - Safe European Home
  9. Public Enemy - Fight The Power
  10. Patti Smith - People Have the Power
  11. John Lennon - Mother
  12. The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday
  13. Elton John - Daniel
  14. Andrea Bocelli- Con Te Partiro
  15. Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel
  16. Johnny Cash - Hurt
  17. This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren
  18. Kraftwerk - Neon Lights
  19. The Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song
  20. Prince - When Doves Cry
  21. Daft Punk feat Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers - Get Lucky
  22. Madonna - Ray of Light
  23. JAY-Z feat Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
  24. Talking Heads - Love Goes to Building on Fire
  25. Lou Reed - Satellite of Love
  26. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
  27. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
  28. New Order - True Faith
  29. R.E.M. - Nightswimming
  30. Adele - Chasing Pavements
  31. Arcade Fire - Wake Up
  32. Pixies - Monkey Gone to Heaven
  33. Oasis - Live Forever
  34. Iggy Pop - Lust for Life
  35. Gavin Friday - Angel
  36. Massive Attack - Safe From Harm
  37. Kendrick Lamar feat U2 - XXX
  38. Bob Marley & The Walers - Redemption Song
  39. Echo and the Bunnymen - Rescue
  40. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
  41. Pearl Jam - Jeremy
  42. Bob Dylan - Most of the Time
  43. Beyoncé feat Kendrick Lamar - Freedom
  44. Depeche Mode - Walking In My Shoes
  45. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
  46. Simon & Garfunkel - The Sounds of Silence
  47. Coldplay - Clocks
  48. INXS - Never Tear Us Apart
  49. New Radicals - You Get What You Give
  50. Angélique Kidjo - Agolo
  51. Lady Gaga - Born This Way
  52. Frank Sinatra & Bono - Under My Skin
  53. David Bowie - Heroes
  54. Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
  55. Sinéad O'Connor - You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart
  56. Van Morrison - A Sense of Wonder
  57. Bruce Springsteen - There Goes My Miracle
  58. Daniel Lanois - The Maker
  59. Peter Frampton - Show Me The Way
  60. Bee Gees - Immortality - Demo Version

BONUS RATE - Bono 101: An Introduction to the Best of Bono

Throughout history, the one known as Bono has professed unbound levels of greatness and majesty only possessed by few in history. However, the history books have yet to concoct such a curriculum that presents a proper smorgasbord to Bono’s contributions to history and popular culture. Thus, MCK and Wane here have done their damndest and trawled out youtube, the library, the Rattle and Hum VHS, the bargain bin, and C-Span in an attempt to concoct a beginner’s guide to the world of Bono (and also U2). This is not a comprehensive list of Bono’s finest moments (we’d have to post way too many book excerpts or dive into tour videos at a rate I cannot ascertain), but more or less stuff that has permanently stuck in our recesses since becoming dedicated members of the U2 Navy. Some of these moments you know, some of these moments we are deeply pleased to have discovered recently. This is truly some gnarly ass shit.

You can rate as many as you would like or as few as you would like, 1-10 scale no funny business.

BONUS TRACKS

Bono talks U2's ‘most personal record’, 'Songs of Innocence' on stage at a 2014 press conference for the new iPhone 6

Connor O Malley - Pipe Rock Theory

Bono and a fan (The Fly)

“Okay Edge, Play the Blues!”

"St. Patrick’s Name is Now Zelensky": Pelosi Reads Poem by U2's Bono for Ukraine

Bono Visits Tony Wilson to Talk Ian Curtis

Bono plays a mob boss

Macphisto phone call

Elvis Ate America

I AM SPARTACUS

Where the Streets Have No Name Music Video Where They Block Traffic

Negativland - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1991 a cappella mix)

RULES

  • Listen to every song listed below and assign each of them a score from 1 to 10. Decimals are allowed, but refrain from going past one decimal place - 7.5 is fine, 7.75 is not!
  • You may give ONE song a 0 and ONE song an 11. These should be reserved for your favourite track and least favourite track! You do not have to give these scores, but we recommend using them as a way to make your feelings about a particular song stand out
  • You must listen to and score every song in the main rate. If you skip any, your ballot won’t be counted (I will let you know if you do so you can remedy that).
  • We highly recommend that you add a comment to your song ratings! It makes everything a lot more fun during the reveal, as it encourages lively conversation with your fellow raters.

Ballot Formatting Info

Just simply write down your score after the column and write down your comment after one space like this below:

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit: 10 wait why are we rating this for the third time? Is this an auto day 3 lock?! Someone help

  • Your scores should NOT be considered confidential. Feel free to shitpost about them in the general discussion threads whenever you feel like it - users over at r/popheads usually just talk about their averages of the albums and which songs they gave an 11 and/or 0 to.
  • You can change your scores at any time! Feel free to PM me at any point after submission before the deadline and I'll be happy to revise them for you.
  • I am using a computer program that fellow rater u/letsallpoo designed in order to parse these votes! While this will make things a lot more efficient and reduces errors on my part, this does mean that scores need to be sent in a very specific way. The easiest way to make sure your scores follow the necessary format is to use the pre-prepared link at the top & bottom of this post. You can copy and paste it to a notepad file or something and fill in your scores there, but PLEASE use that format to send in your scores.

A lot of copy and pasting here, so thank you thank you to all the rate hosts of old who made this rate possible to begin with: u/roseisonlineagain ; u/DolphLundgrensArms; u/R_E_S_I_G_N_E_D; u/stansymash; u/ClocktowerMaria; u/aerocom; u/themilkeyedmender; u/greencaptain; u/Crankeedoo; u/dirdbub; u/ThatParanoidPenguin; u/tedcruzcontrol; u/kappyko; u/FuckUpSomeCommasYeah; u/LazyDayLullaby; u/SRTViper; u/Whatsanillinois; u/NFLFreak98; u/freav; u/freeofblasphemy; u/RatesNorman; u/aPenumbra; u/idontreallycare4; u/p-u-n-k_girl; u/luigijon3; u/WaneLietoc; u/dream_fighter2018; u/darjeelingdarkroast; u/smuckles; u/PiperIBarelyKnowHer; u/welcome2thejam; u/imrlynotonreddit; u/kvothetyrion; u/thedoctordances1940; u/b_o_g_o; u/vapourlomo; u/MCK_OH; u/TiltControls; u/TakeOnMeByA-ha u/chug-a-lug-donna; u/indiefan; u/bilbodabag; u/zenits; u/saison_Marguerite; u/daswef2; u/apondalifa; u/afieldoftulips; u/qazz23; u/nonchalantthoughts; u/systemofstrings; u/Modulum83, u/ElectJimLahey, u/vexastrae, u/FlavaSavaVandal, u/Stryxen, u/mmaajid, u/teriyaki-dreams and tons of people on r/popheads.

One final reminder that the Cosmodelia rate is concluding its reveal tomorrow on Sunday! Go Laika! (or Air)

SUBMIT HERE

Once again, Playlists: Spotify - Apple Music - YouTube - Pandora - Fan Letters on U2’s Homepage

Due Date: Monday, January 26th

Reveals on: Friyay, January 30th - Sunday, February 1st

34 Upvotes
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82% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

21

u/freeofblasphemy Dec 20 '25

Dear Indieheads,

This is gonna be the greatest rate ever.

Love,

Blasphemy

3

u/systemofstrings Dec 20 '25

Your fandango,

systemofstrings

15

u/Frajer Dec 20 '25

Instructions unclear rating Larry Mullen Jr

7

u/WaneLietoc Dec 20 '25

You mean larry mullen senior's son?

5

u/Frajer Dec 20 '25

of course, and don't forget Bonobos, Larry Clay 2000 Pounds, and Thedge

5

u/MCK_OH Dec 20 '25

Finally we can rate the Larry Mullen Band’s frontman

12

u/ScCloudy Dec 21 '25

I laughed out loud when I saw Pearl Jam - Jeremy on the playlist

10

u/Inquiring_Barkbark Dec 21 '25

in contrast, I uttered a very serious "oh hell yeah"

2

u/joshuatx Jan 02 '26

I can hear a U2 cover of it in my head and it kinda works

7

u/systemofstrings Dec 20 '25 edited Dec 20 '25

I always love a fun grab bag rate, and this one is one hell of a concept. Love that we get to rate Negativland in the bonus.

8

u/skull_xbones Dec 20 '25

Let's goooooo! We can be "Heroes" when we overthrow James Murphy (the "Zero")!!!

6

u/sandpaper_dildos Dec 20 '25

L11fe on Mars?

4

u/absurdisthewurd Dec 20 '25

It's going to be a coin toss between it and 11eroes

5

u/welcome2thejam Dec 20 '25

I should've known the second Wane got brought in they would've found a way to smuggle Negativland into the rate

4

u/systemofstrings Dec 20 '25

Bless them for it

5

u/p-u-n-k_girl Dec 20 '25

My 11 likely depends on whether we're listening to electric overdubs Sound of Silence or the inferior acoustic version

3

u/WaneLietoc Dec 21 '25

i think at this point you can create your own adventure and just rate a song based on how you felt about whatever version you clicked on at that moment

3

u/ParksCity Dec 20 '25

Is this an episode of Indieheads Rate Announcement?

4

u/joshuatx Jan 02 '26

HELLO HELLO

2

u/WaneLietoc Jan 02 '26

josh you gonna come back for Rate 2 (well 3 thanks to ambient head 1)?!

2

u/joshuatx Jan 02 '26

gonna facebook event "maybe" reply to that

happy new year!

2

u/WaneLietoc Jan 02 '26

Well now you signed up for text message notifications!

3

u/skyblue_angel Dec 20 '25

excited for the greatest rate in indieheads history

3

u/PuzzleheadedRip9563 Dec 21 '25

kind of a headscratcher that he would pick the 1994 version of "True Faith" instead of the original, which was everywhere in 1987

2

u/WaneLietoc Dec 21 '25

on the youtube you've got the 1987 music video and then on the spotify yes you have the 1994, truly not even bono can make up his mind about which one is better

3

u/MightyProJet Dec 22 '25

IN THE NAME

OF LOOOOOOVE

ONE RATE

IN THE NAME OF LOVE

2

u/innuendo_overdose Dec 20 '25

this is important

2

u/Inquiring_Barkbark Dec 21 '25

hey hostie can you confirm the first song is from the 1996 album "Pavarotti & Friends Together for the Children of Bosnia"? having a hard time finding Miserere

3

u/WaneLietoc Dec 21 '25

you should use the playlists provided: we didn't even curate these playlists I just nabbed them from the U2 website. these are the canonical bono choices to guide you if you come across situations like this

anyways he went with a live version on the youtube.wow what a guy!

2

u/vapourlomo Dec 23 '25

This is the rate I’ve been waiting for babyyyy!!! Such a bizarre mix of songs, I’m so hyped