The U2 songs without Bono as lead singer

Regardless of personal opinions about U2, there's no denying their status as one of Ireland's most prominent rock bands. Their journey, which began in a Dublin secondary school in 1976 during the early days of punk rock, has evolved into a nearly five-decade career, making them a household name. Lead singer Bono, as the face of the group, has become a significant figure in the music industry. However, within U2's extensive discography, there are a few tracks where Bono steps back from the lead vocals.

The band gained global popularity with their 1980 debut album, "Boy," and currently boasts 15 studio albums. With a 40-date residency at the newly-opened MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, U2 continues to thrive, even though their music tends to elicit divided opinions among rock enthusiasts. Throughout their journey, U2 has released a handful of songs where Bono isn't the primary vocalist.

One such instance is the track "Seconds" from their influential 1983 album "War." This song, addressing the possibility of nuclear war, features The Edge as the lead vocalist, a departure from the usual Bono-led tracks. While not as well-known as the album's opener, "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Seconds" stands out for its early showcase of The Edge as the lead singer.

As U2's career advanced, the band occasionally experimented with having The Edge temporarily replace Bono on vocals. Although Bono may not possess the most distinctive voice in rock music, with a relatively standard vocal range and performance style, hearing a U2 song without him leading feels unusual. Achieving a number one record with 1993's "Zooropa," the band once again had their guitarist take the lead on the track "Numb."

"Numb," the first single from the album, emerged from the studio sessions of "Achtung Baby" and is heavily influenced by industrial music. Incorporating a mix of samples, from a cassette rewinding to a Hitler Youth propaganda video, the track didn't fare well on the charts initially but has gained favor among the band's fans over time. Another noteworthy instance of U2 using alternative vocalists occurs on "The Wanderer," where they enlisted legendary country musician Johnny Cash. Cash's weathered voice provided a striking contrast to the electronic influences of the track.

The Edge once again took the spotlight on tracks like "Van Diemen's Land" from "Rattle and Hum," but the most evident departure from Bono's vocals came with "Original Soundtracks 1." Released under the pseudonym Passengers, this record was a collaboration between U2 and their longtime collaborator Brian Eno. The Edge assumed the lead on the track "Corpse," while Eno took charge on "A Different Kind of Blue." The album even featured a collaboration between Bono and Pavarotti on "Miss Sarajevo." Despite the inclusion of well-respected artists, the Passengers album didn't make a significant commercial impact, musically falling below the standard associated with U2.

While U2's ventures into excluding Bono from certain tracks may not have resulted in massive successes, these songs offer an intriguing glimpse into what the band might sound like without their frontman.