"Zooropa" is the eighth studio album by U2, released on July 5, 1993, under Island Records. Produced by Flood, Brian Eno, and the Edge, the album emerged from U2's experiences during their innovative Zoo TV Tour, exploring themes of technology and media saturation.
Initially conceived as an EP to accompany the "Zooropa" leg of the Zoo TV Tour, the album expanded into a full-length project during recording sessions in Dublin in early 1993. U2 worked swiftly, drawing from a range of sources including leftover material from their previous album, "Achtung Baby" (1991). The album's completion was hurried as the band juggled recording with touring commitments, travelling between Dublin and tour destinations to finalize the album.
"Zooropa" received positive reviews from critics, though its singles—"Numb," "Lemon," and "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)"—varied in commercial success globally. Despite this, the album charted in the top ten in 26 countries and sold 7 million copies worldwide, slightly less than "Achtung Baby." In 1994, it earned U2 a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
Regarded as one of U2's most experimental and creative works, "Zooropa" holds a special place in the band's discography, although they have expressed mixed feelings about it over the years. Its blend of alternative rock, electronic dance music, and thematic depth cemented its reputation as a bold exploration of contemporary issues and musical innovation during the early 1990s.
