Release of single ‘New Year’s Day’

War ‘ s lead single, ” New Year’s Day “, was released in January 1983. It reached number 10 in the UK and became the group’s first hit outside Europe; in the US, it received extensive radio coverage and peaked at number 53. Resolving their doubts of the October period, U2 released War in February. Critically, the album received favourable reviews, although a few UK reviewers were critical of it. It was the band’s first commercial success, debuting at number one in the UK, while reaching number 12 in the US. War ‘ s sincerity and “rugged” guitar were intentionally at odds with the trendier synthpop of the time. Described as a record on which the band “turned pacifism itself into a crusade”, War was lyrically more political than their first two records, focusing on the physical and emotional effects of warfare. The album included the protest song ” Sunday Bloody Sunday “, in which Bono lyrically contrasted the events of the 1972 Bloody Sunday shooting with Easter Sunday . Other songs addressed nuclear proliferation (“Seconds”) and the Polish Solidarity movement (“New Year’s Day”). War was U2’s first record to feature Corbijn’s photography. An adolescent Rowen was again featured on the album cover, with his previously innocent expression replaced by a fearful one.