“Desire” was U2's first number-one single on the UK Singles Chart.
The song was released in 1988 as the lead single from Rattle and Hum. It was built around a distinctive rhythm influenced by the Bo Diddley beat, giving it a tighter and more direct feel than several of U2's earlier atmospheric singles. Bono's lyrics drew on the idea of performers and charismatic figures who demand attention, while the band's arrangement kept the track compact and forceful.
“Desire” reached number one in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It also became U2's first UK number-one single, a milestone sometimes confused with the band's first chart-topping album or first American number one.
Rattle and Hum followed The Joshua Tree and combined new studio songs with live recordings and covers. Other tracks associated with the project include “When Love Comes to Town,” recorded with B.B. King, and “All Along the Watchtower,” a live performance of the Bob Dylan song.