The symphonic guitar sound from the experimental "Fez" piece, the opening minute of the song, was created by guitarist the Edge during the recording of "The Saints Are Coming" with Green Day.
[1] When the band decided to work with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, most of the material from the Rick Rubin sessions was shelved.
The guitar in this was developed through a Death by Audio distortion box; the idea to use it was suggested to the Edge by Ben Curtis of the Secret Machines.
[4] "Fez – Being Born" was originally planned to open the album, but the band eventually decided that the higher-energy "No Line on the Horizon" was a better selection.
[9] Rolling Stone called it the "least linear song on the album", describing it as "a highway ride in flashback images dotted with Bono's wordless yelps and the descending ring of the Edge's guitar.
"[13] NME disliked the song, stating it "isn't nearly as daring as it thinks it is, merely a meandering slice of ambient doodling before kicking into gear as yet another mid-paced rocker.