“Desire” is the lead single from U2’s sixth album “Rattle and Hum.” It was written by Bono.

U2 cites punk rock band The Stooges' song “1969” as the song’s primary influence which is an interpolation of the Bo Diddley Beat.

In the United States, the song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped Billboard’s Modern & Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1988.

Internationally, the song topped the charts in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Spain.

It won the 1989 Grammy Award for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal.”

Desire' is a little classic, a little 45. Edge took the beat from The Stooges' ‘69, which was their take on the Bo Diddley beat. The rhythm is the sex of the music. I wanted to own up to the religiosity of rock'n'roll and the fact that you get paid for them. On one level, I’m criticizing the lunatic fringe preachers 'stealing hearts at a travelling show’ but I’m also starting to realize there’s a real parallel between what I am doing and what they do. – Bono, U2 By U2 2006