Release of single ‘Discothèque’

In February 1997, the group released Pop ‘ s lead single, ” Discothèque “, a dance-heavy song with a music video in which the band wore Village People costumes. The song reached number one in the UK, Japan, and Canada, but did not chart for long in the US despite debuting at number 10. Within days of the single’s release, the group announced the PopMart Tour with a press conference in the lingerie section of a Kmart department store. Tickets went on sale shortly after, but Pop would not be released until March. The album represented U2’s further exploration of nightclub culture, featuring heavy, funky dance rhythms. The record drew favourable reviews. Rolling Stone stated that U2 had “defied the odds and made some of the greatest music of their lives”. Other critics felt that the album was a major disappointment. Despite debuting at number one in over 30 countries, Pop dropped off the charts quickly. Bono admitted that the album “didn’t communicate the way it was intended to”, while the Edge called it a “compromise project by the end”.