Listen: SON Records U2’s Running To Stand Still For Hot Press

One of Ireland’s brightest emerging talents, Susan O’Neill aka SON, has delved into the U2 back catalogue again for hotpress.com. Having delivered a superb version of one of The Joshua Trees’ most neglected tracks, ‘Exit’, a few weeks ago, Susan has now recorded a live video take on ‘Running To Stand Still’.

Her version of ‘Exit’ has been widely acclaimed, including by Bono himself: the singer sent Susan a message of appreciation, having listened to what is a stunning vocal performance. There is more of the same to be seen here, on one of the more iconic tracks, from what is still one of the world’s biggest-ever selling albums.

‘Running To Stand Still’ reflects on the heroin epidemic which had gripped Dublin during the 1980s. The song has a rare non-judgemental quality, which adds to its emotional power, as the protagonist dreams of finding a way – even a potentially illegal one – out of the traps associated with addiction. It is sung by SON with the kind of raw immediacy and emotional force which is characteristic.

A fine songwriter, Susan’s first album Found Myself Lost was released earlier this year.