Editing U2 (section)

=== ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' and Elevation Tour (1998–2002) ===
Following their musical pursuits in the 1990s, U2 sought to simplify their sound; the Edge said that with ''Pop'', the group had "taken the deconstruction of the rock 'n' roll band format to its absolute 'nth degree".<ref name="mccorm289"/> For their tenth album, ''[[All That You Can't Leave Behind]]'', the group wanted to return to their old recording ethos of "the band in a room playing together".<ref name="mccorm289"/> Reuniting with Eno and Lanois, U2 began working on the album in late 1998.<ref name="mccorm289"/><ref>McGee (2008), p. 208</ref> After their experiences with being pressured to complete ''Pop'', the band were content to work without deadlines.<ref name="mccorm289"/> With Bono's schedule limited by his commitments to debt relief for [[Jubilee 2000]] and the other band members spending time with their families, the recording sessions lasted until August 2000.<ref name="mccorm289"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Elastic Bono Band|magazine=Q|date=November 2000|issue=170}}</ref>

Released that October, ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' was seen by critics as a "back to basics" album,<ref>{{bulleted list |{{cite news|title=Sound Check|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News|first=Fred|last=Shuster|date=27 October 2000}}|{{cite news|title=U2001: The Year We Make Contact|newspaper=[[The Arizona Republic]]|first=Kerry|last=Lengel|date=26 April 2001|page=8}}|{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2015/10/how-daniel-lanois-brought-u2-back-home/|title=How Daniel Lanois Brought U2 Back Home|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|first=Ryan|last=Bray|date=30 October 2015|access-date=22 December 2015|archive-date=11 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511104047/https://consequence.net/2015/10/how-daniel-lanois-brought-u2-back-home/|url-status=live}}}}</ref> on which the group returned to a more mainstream, conventional rock sound.<ref name="mccorm289">McCormick (2006), pp. 289–296</ref><ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite news|title=All That You Can't Leave Behind|newspaper=The Independent|first=Andy|last=Gill|date=27 October 2000}}|{{cite news|title=U2's Latest: 'Behind' the Times|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|first=Tom|last=Moon|date=29 October 2000|page=I15}}}}</ref> For many of those not won over by the band's forays into dance music, it was considered a return to grace;<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,,388228,00.html#article_continue|title=Time to Get the Leathers Out|website=The Guardian|first=Adam|last=Sweeting|date=27 October 2000|access-date=23 March 2016|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019015653/http://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,,388228,00.html#article_continue|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/packages/U2Fleetcenter/album_review_leave_behind/|title=U2 Leaves the Present Behind|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|first=Steve|last=Morse|date=27 October 2000|access-date=14 January 2017|page=E17|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116172446/http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/packages/U2Fleetcenter/album_review_leave_behind/|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=157247|title=U2: All That You Can't Leave Behind|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|first=Russell|last=Baillie|date=28 October 2000|access-date=14 January 2017|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116183129/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=157247|url-status=live}}}}</ref><ref name="spin-band01"/> ''Rolling Stone'' called it U2's "third masterpiece" alongside ''The Joshua Tree'' and ''Achtung Baby''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/all-that-you-cant-leave-behind-202038/|first=James|last=Hunter|title=Review: All That You Can't Leave Behind|magazine=Rolling Stone|issue=853|date=9 November 2000|access-date=2 July 2018|archive-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204519/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/all-that-you-cant-leave-behind-202038/|url-status=live}}</ref> The album debuted at number one in 32 countries<ref>McGee (2008), p. 221</ref> and sold 12&nbsp;million copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/09/18/how_u2_became_the_most_hated_band_in_america_partner/|title=How U2 became the most hated band in America|website=[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]|first=Nico|last=Lang|date=18 September 2014|access-date=21 December 2016|archive-date=29 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229094220/http://www.salon.com/2014/09/18/how_u2_became_the_most_hated_band_in_america_partner/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its lead single, "[[Beautiful Day]]", reached number one in Ireland, the UK, Australia, and Canada, and number 21 in the US.<ref>McGee (2008), p. 220</ref> The song won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]], and [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news|title=A 'Beautiful' day for U2, Steely Dan; Old rockers steal thunder from Eminem at Grammys|newspaper=[[Boston Herald]]|first=Sarah|last=Rodman|date=22 February 2001}}</ref> At the awards ceremony, Bono declared that U2 were "reapplying for the job&nbsp;... [of] the best band in the world".<ref name=bonomission>{{cite magazine|last=Tyrangiel |first=Josh |date=4 March 2002 |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,212721,00.html |title=Bono's mission |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607181813/http://www.time.com/time/sampler/article/0%2C8599%2C212605%2C00.html |archive-date= 7 June 2002 |volume=159 |issue=9 }}</ref> The album's other singles, "[[Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of]]", "[[Elevation (song)|Elevation]]", and "[[Walk On (U2 song)|Walk On]]", reached number one in Canada,<ref>McGee (2008), pp. 226, 234, 239</ref> and charted in the top five in the UK and top ten in Australia.<ref name="ukcharts"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref>

{{Multiple image|direction=vertical|align=right|image1=U2 Elevation Tour Berlin 2001-07-29 (18351610).jpg|image2=HeartWideShot3.jpg|caption2=After the elaborate stadium productions of their previous two tours, U2's 2001 [[Elevation Tour]] was a scaled-down affair that featured a heart-shaped stage.}}
The band's 2001 [[Elevation Tour]] started in March, visiting North America and Europe across three legs.<ref>McGee (2008), pp. 225, 233, 238</ref> For the tour, U2 performed on a scaled-down stage, returning to arenas after nearly a decade of stadium productions.<ref name="spin-band01"/> Mirroring the album's themes of "emotional contact, connection, and communication", the tour's set was designed to bring the group closer to their fans;<ref>Young (2004), pp. 61–62</ref> a heart-shaped catwalk around the stage encircled many audience members,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=U2 Tour: From the Heart|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Chris|last=Heath|date=10 May 2001}}</ref> and [[festival seating]] was offered in the US for the first time in the group's history.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=General Admission a Go for U2|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Richard|last=Skanse|date=3 February 2001}}</ref> During the tour, U2 headlined two [[Slane Concert]]s in Ireland, playing to crowds of 80,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=More of the Slane; U2 Wind Up Tour with a Night of Pure Magic|newspaper=[[Sunday Mirror]]|first=Dulra|last=O'Riordain|date=2 September 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=U2 back with the show of their lives; Stars and fans treated to a night to remember at Slane|newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|first=Nigel|last=Gould|date=27 August 2001}}</ref> Following the [[September 11 attacks]] in the US, ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' found added resonance with American audiences,<ref name="mcc308">McCormick (2006), pp. 308–309</ref> as the album climbed in the charts and songs such as "Walk On" and "[[Peace on Earth (U2 song)|Peace on Earth]]" received radio airplay.<ref>McGee (2008), p. 237</ref> In October, U2 performed at [[Madison Square Garden]] in New York City for the first time since the attacks. Bono and the Edge said these shows were among their most memorable and emotional performances.<ref name="mcc308"/><ref>{{cite AV media|title=VH1: All Access: U2|medium=Television documentary|year=2005}}</ref> The Elevation Tour was the top-earning North American tour of 2001 with a gross of {{USD|109.7&nbsp;million}}, the second-highest amount ever at the time for a North American tour.<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/42644/elevation-u2-tops-2001-tours|title=Elevation! U2 Tops 2001 Tours|website=[[E! News]]|first=Josh|last=Grossberg|date=27 December 2001|access-date=12 January 2017|archive-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118102231/http://www.eonline.com/news/42644/elevation-u2-tops-2001-tours|url-status=live}}|{{cite news|title=By scaling down, U2 rises to the top of 2001 concert circuit|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|first=Dean|last=Goodman|date=31 December 2001|page=D6}}}}</ref> Globally, it grossed {{USD|143.5&nbsp;million}} from 2.18&nbsp;million tickets sold,<ref name="kissfuture"/> making it the year's highest-grossing tour overall.<ref>{{cite news|title=U2 elevates itself to top-grossing tour of the year|newspaper=[[The Post-Crescent]]|first=Steven|last=Hyden|author-link=Steven Hyden|date=27 December 2001|at=sec. Encore, p. 2}}</ref> ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' named U2 the "Band of the Year" for 2001, saying they had "schooled bands half their age about what a rock show could really accomplish".<ref name="spin-band01">{{cite magazine|title=Rock's Unbreakable Heart |magazine=Spin |first=Alan |last=Light |date=January 2002 |volume=18|issue=1|pages=56–62}}</ref>

On 3 February 2002, U2 performed during the [[Super Bowl XXXVI halftime show]]. In a tribute to those who died in the 11 September attacks, the victims' names were projected onto a backdrop, and at the end, Bono opened his jacket to reveal an American flag in the lining.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/04/sports/critic-s-notebook-singers-smoothly-merge-politics-with-patriotism.html|title=Critic's Notebook; Singers Smoothly Merge Politics With Patriotism|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Caryn|last=James|date=4 February 2002|at=sec. D, p. 9|edition=National|access-date=8 January 2017|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116182801/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/04/sports/critic-s-notebook-singers-smoothly-merge-politics-with-patriotism.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', ''Rolling Stone'', and ''[[USA Today]]'' ranked the band's performance as the best halftime show in Super Bowl history.<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/photos/2013/02/03-3the-10-best-super-bowl-halftime-shows|title=Top 10 Super Bowl Halftime shows|website=[[SI.com]]|date=3 February 2013|access-date=23 March 2016|archive-date=3 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403083710/http://www.si.com/nfl/photos/2013/02/03-3the-10-best-super-bowl-halftime-shows|url-status=live}}|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/super-bowl-halftime-shows-ranked-from-worst-to-best-14201/u2-2002-2-228005/|title=Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ranked: From Worst to Best|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|author-link=Rob Sheffield|date=17 January 2020|access-date=28 May 2020|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809131720/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/super-bowl-halftime-shows-ranked-from-worst-to-best-14201/u2-2002-2-228005/|url-status=live}}|{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/01/28/super-bowl-halftime-shows-five-best-ranked-u2-prince/22331535/|title=Ranking the 5 best Super Bowl halftime shows|website=[[USA Today]]|first=Brian|last=Mansfield|date=28 January 2015|access-date=8 January 2017|archive-date=15 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215111019/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/01/28/super-bowl-halftime-shows-five-best-ranked-u2-prince/22331535/|url-status=live}}}}</ref> Later that month, U2 received four additional Grammy Awards; ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' won [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]], while "Walk On" was named Record of the Year, the first time an artist had won the award in consecutive years for songs from the same album.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Grammys: U2 and sharp keys; Soul star, Bono tops with 'O Bro'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Phil|last=Gallo|date=28 February 2002}}</ref> In November 2002, the band released their second compilation, ''[[The Best of 1990–2000]]'', which featured several remixed 1990s songs and two new tracks, including the single "[[Electrical Storm (song)|Electrical Storm]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hotpress.com/U2/music/reviews/albums/The-Best--The-BSides-Of-19902000/2618378.html|title=Review: The Best & the B-Sides of 1990–2000|magazine=Hot Press|first=Peter|last=Murphy|date=24 October 2002|access-date=11 January 2017|archive-date=8 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108151043/http://www.hotpress.com/U2/music/reviews/albums/The-Best--The-BSides-Of-19902000/2618378.html|url-status=live}}</ref>