Song · U2
“The Refugee” by U2
From the album War (1983)
“The Refugee” by U2 appears on 8 radio countdowns from 2 stations between 2003 and 2014. It was first released in 1983 on the album War. Its best result is #1210 on the Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #2,690 alternative song of all time.
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"The Refugee" is one of the rawest, most rattling things on War, U2's 1983 album. Bill Whelan produced it, with Steve Lillywhite handling the mix. Larry Mullen, Jr. pounds out a tribal, clattering drum and percussion pattern, Adam Clayton's bass rumbles right along with it, and the Edge splits his time between jagged electric guitar and piano. Bono sings lead and plays guitar too, and Kenny Fradley's trumpet adds a blast of brass to the racket. All four band members share the writing credit. It's rough around the edges, and that's the point: a band with its fists up.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
All Rock Formats
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1210 | Fred (XM 44) | Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) | 2044 |
| 2007 | 1285 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) | 2008 |
| 2008 | 1229 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) | 2009 |
| 2009 | 1240 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) | 2010 |
| 2010 | 1271 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) | 2011 |
| 2011 | 1324 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) | 2011 |
| 2013 | 1380 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) | 2012 |
| 2014 | 1429 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) | 2013 |
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