How can monotone be so captivating?! Depeche Mode vocal ANALYSIS of "Never Let Me Down Again"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2024
- "Never Let Me Down Again" by Depeche Mode is such a difference from "Enjoy The Silence" that I don't even know what to think about their sound. It's edgy, complicated yet simplistic in its approach, and leaves me with so many questions. The production of this song is incredibly intriguing and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one you all put in front of me. Please post in the comments your pick!
Join professional opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff, as she listens to Depeche Mode performing "Never Let Me Down Again" for the first time.
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Performed by Depeche Mode - Words and Music by Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher
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I definitely recommend watching the original video without interruptions. Here's the link: • Depeche Mode - Never L...
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Elizabeth Zharoff is an international opera singer and voice coach, with 3 degrees in voice, opera, and music production. She's performed in 18 languages throughout major venues in Europe, America, and Asia. Currently based somewhere between Los Angeles and Tucson, Arizona, Elizabeth spends her days researching voice, singing, teaching, writing music, and recording TONS. She also plays Diablo and Dungeons & Dragons.
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This song is so much darker than you think. It's not about friendship. It's about drug addiction. For David it was heroin and for Martin it was alcohol. "My best friend" has the pants on... Please much more Depeche Mode soon.
Yeah, the key line in this song (for me, anyhow,) is "Promises me I'm as safe as houses / As long as I remember who's wearing the trousers." That's the lie that addiction gets into your brain and insists, via it, that so long as you have a constant supply of the drug (or whatever,) it'll never let you fall. But of course, it's never *quite* enough, and it keeps you running the Red Queen's race, but always losing ever so slightly....
Gore described it as "about the concept of fleeing from reality and the evil awakening afterwards. Any kind of fleeing. Drugs, alcohol, or whatever."
So: destructive escapism.
Wow, I have been listening to this song sooo many times and I never realized how much symbolism goes into who sings what and when. Martin is obviously the sweet talking false "friend" promising that everything will be alright, and when he comes in with "See the stars..." at the end it very much reminds me of Erlkönig by Franz Schubert and gives me the chills!
all this time it was about the car that he wishes to never let him down otherwise you have to walk yourself.
@@tomasebrelius5244 Martin puts a lot of meaning into some songs. "Precious" for instance, is a song to his children, expressing his guilt over the hardship that his and Suzanne Boisvert's divorce caused them.
You can't fully appreciate and understand how special and unique Depeche Mode is until you watch a live performance.
Preferably from the Devotional tour
💯👍
@@ninawildr4207101 was the better performance of this song, IMO.
Oh, trust me when I say that I can.
Yeah. I've only seen them once, during the 2013 Delta Machine tour and it was phenomenal. Personal Jesus was never a song I particularly cared for, but the live version from that tour? knocked my socks off.
The subtle backing vocal you hear is always Martin Gore. His voice is the perfect compliment to Dave Gahan's deep and dark tone, and worth a full analysis on his own. He sings all of the ballads for the group. He's the primary songwriter and chiefly responsible for the richness of the sound palatte of their catalogue. The guy is a genius and the reason why Depeche became international stars in a genre where 99% of the groups faded away within 5 years.
Correction. Alan Wilder (former member, main musician and pseudo co-producer) was responsible for their layered and atmospheric soundscape for many years. Depeche Mode hasn’t been the same since his departure in 1995.
@@neotek8582that's just ignorant with how good the "Ultra" is.
@Sindamsc Ultra was good while Violator and songs of Faith and Devotion were great. Listen to Martin's demos, and realize how Alan (and the producer) brought them to life. Matrin is a great songwriter, Alan was a great producer for the band.
You're not wrong. I misspoke a little bit when I referenced the overall sound palette.
What I meant is that Martin is the chief songwriter and the unusual chord progressions & symphonic harmonies are largely his doing.
Wilder really fine-tuned the music though. He had a huge hand in developing the layers of experimental sounds.
@@Sindamsc As I’ve said in another post, Ultra is the best non-Wilder album, but Martin and Dave almost did next to nothing with the sound. It was all thanks to Tim Simenon and his Bomb the Bass crew. So, it took over a dozen musicians to replace Alan for Ultra. The rest of the albums since Ultra have been trash. I’m not a jaded Alan fan. His Recoil material mostly sucks. I’m a realist. Martin and Alan were the heart and soul of DM. Dave was mostly Mr. Monotone. 😜
The lines "Never let me down" combined with "See the stars they shine so bright / Everything's alright tonight" are even more tragic when you understand what the song's truly about.
The Stars part is a tribute in part to Soft Cells Torch 😎
I was just thinking that. As I was reading that previous comment I suddenly heard Marc Almond singing.
Soft Cell definitely needs a "first time reaction" video. But not Tainted Love. Too obvious and known.
Torch would be good. Or Bedsiitter. Or, ...er ... Sex Dwarf 👹
I didn't know that. Thanks!
@@philjones217 or Youth. ❤
DRUGS
The coolest thing about the vocals on this song that most people don’t realize is that Dave (the lead) basically sings two notes for the whole song while the backing vocalist (Martin) is actually singing a melody that harmonizes with the lead making it sound more complex.
Dave sings an “A” for the verse and a “G” for the chorus while Martin sings a melody as a harmony that is often confused with the lead part, even in sheet music.
if that is to monotone, wth is than with billi english...? big hype for nothing... i never saw a singer who can sing less than that billi...
@@seelenwinter6662the hype to monotone is the music, sounds and beats that stands out. Martin and Alan were the best duo in making musical magic that goes with monotonous singing
@@DxModel219Exactly. Think about the entire chord outlined by the synths and the vocals; there’s some excellent discordant structures, and upper extensions. Play the whole thing on a single guitar, and you’ve many of the Seattle Grunge chords.
@@cburgher and the layers and layers you can put on top of the monotonous vocals too! You just can’t do that with wide ranged multi-tone vocal’s because it’ll be too messy.
This is what instantly drew me to Depeche, but through Behind the Wheel on the same album. It’s not so much monotone as it is a detached emotional delivery. Coupled with the lyrics, it’s an off putting complexity of both coldness and sensuality.
This song played live in a stadium with 80000 people, all waving their hands together with Dave. A very special experience.
Definitely. It‘s worth to go to one of their concerts if it would be only for this experience. Always gives me goosebumps.
Yes! And when they sing "Personal Jesus" as well! Not necessarily my favorite song, but "live" it's an audience connector! 😄
True, so true, Black Brother :)
You really need to listen to this LIVE ROSE BOWL 101 TOUR that was unreal.
Everything Counts is my favorite live, but this is definitely my second favorite!
I think that "I Feel You" would be a great track for the channel; it really allows you a broader view of just how powerful Dave's voice can be.
condemnation is worth a look
My all time favourite DM song. There is so much power, depth and anxiety in it, a true masterpiece.
Same
Same.
And this is underlined by the epic and orchestral sounds in this masterpiece.
overall that album is pretty meh.... on the flip side this song is probably their peek.
Same
This song is a masterpiece. It will never get old. It will always be perfect.
I agree. It's one of their best, if not THE best song they have ever done.
Agree 100 percent. Loved it from the moment I first heard it. It is one of their best. I will listen to it until my last breath. Just a fantastic track. Timeless.
Those were the dayzzz, Friend!
Usually I roll my eyes when I here people throw around the word "masterpiece", but it might actually be true in this case. Definitely my favourite Depeche Mode song. It's so well crafted, its intent is so clear, and the execution is so spot on. Especially that chorus harmony! I love this song so much.
this is definitely their best IMO, nothing can beat the ending
Difinitely one of Depeche Modes most popular songs, especially live. The reference to best friend is actually a reference to heroin/drugs which played a huge part in lead singer Dave Gahans life at the time, and actually killed him once before he was brought back to life. The harmonies between Dave Gahan and song writer Martin Gore are legendary and even better exposed in some of the live versions of this song. A funny note on this video - it was filmed a few kilometers away from where I live here in Denmark while DM were recording this album in the Genlyd Studios in Randers, Denmark. The old man in the video is actually the grandfather of one of the students at my high school
I've always thought the refrain in "Enjoy the Silence," was a drug metaphor, too: "All I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here *in my arms*.."
@@dard4642Entirely possible. Violator is an album where every single song seems to have been either about sex or drug addiction.
Was it not named the Puk studio in Gjerlev not that long from Randers
Thanks for the information. The car is a BMW Isetta and the beach scenes must be form Mariager Fjord in Denmark near the studio.
@@future746 Sorry my bad - Puk studios off course
What makes Depeche Mode so unique is the fact that there is no box you can put them in - from the early 198ies until today. Their sound is one of a kind, isn't it!?
Depeche mode is one of the very few bands that has devoted fans from every genre you can think of even if that has zero to do with electro pop music....they are truly a legendary band.
Seeing them live is a very spiritual experience! I am a member of the Church of Depeche Mode!
having lived my 20s in the 80s their music feels like home
I just saw them a month or so ago. They were so good. They didn't play this one, unfortunately, but they sound just as good live as they do on their albums.
Once I saw a Depeche Mode concert at the Red Rocks, Morrison, Colorado. That was a spiritual experience for me.
Agreed! It was a spiritual awakening live!!!
Dear @cherylmazil1897, I can't give you a bigger thumbs up, but here's my heart for CoDM ❤
You HAVE to review "Walking in My Shoes" the live version. Brilliant musically, lyrically, and vocally. Bono actual told Dave Gahan and Martin Gore that this is one song he really wishes he had written. Dave is absolutely at his best on this song live.
The live version gave me goosebumps, absolutely wonderful ❤
Bono’s wish was impossible, this song has a deepnes that you can’t find in all U2’s catalog
And In Your Room from the same live Devotional. Completely mind boggling
@@plutostube the first 4 U2 albums are all quite good and quite thoughtful and deep. Don't be so simple-minded as to dismiss them out of hand.
@@Plexi36 I agree with In Your Room. Dave was at his best vocally and it's a masterpiece in my view. Very sensual.
I've always loved the monotonic vocals in this song. It really stands out and feels much stronger, like a "commanding" style and really dark. Then how Martin's back vocals actually carry the melodic element is a really genius blend of tone. Martin is like the friendly voice to accompany the one in distress.
I was surprised that you were so surprised by several aspects of this - the droning and repetetiveness as well as the vocals being just one part of the texture is pretty standard for the genres that Depeche Mode were all tuching upon: electronic, goth, industrial... you can hear similar structure form bands like The Cure, Kraftwerk or Placeo. But you were very right in recongnising all these things, including this being totally epic. This was their final song in front of packed stadiums, and it absolutely brought the house down - the pulsing beat, the simplistic, but dark lyrics that everybody could sing along with, but still had enough beauty and melody with the synth glissandos and Martin Gores backing vocals that it never felt lifeless. To me (as a European, it feels very European: there is a tradition of pop songs that have really driving rhythms and epic textures, but in their heart feel dark and like a downward spiral. Songs about depression, Disintegration or (as in this case) drug addiction - but you can totally dance to them! (I mean, you did already react to the Cure, so you know...)
Alan Wilder was the maestro behind Depeche Mode's soundscapes and was singlehandedly responsible for the unique Depeche Mode "sound" until 1995, when he left DM. Alan is/was the only classically trained musician in Depeche Mode and if you listen closely enough you'll pick up bits of Beethoven and Bach - you absolutely need to do a video on the extended version of "Shake the Disease" . The 12" version of the song is the quintessential version, more so than the original album version. The arrangement gives all of the elements ample time to breathe and take effect. The layering, keys, and chords all have their chance to shine. They pull you in and hold you for the full 9 minutes
You are spot on. Shake The Disease is still my favorite DM song. Small correction though, Alan quit the band in 1995 because he was mostly unappreciated and uncredited for many of their songs.
I second doing a vid analysis of "Shake the Disease"... one of the band's sadder, thematically darker songs (of which there are many!) and simultaneously one of it's most infectiously melodious. Effing brilliant track (yes, especially the extended), and a song to rival, nay even surpass New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle". Would also love a vid on Martin's live vocal performance of "Somebody". Those two compositions are perhaps my favs, melody-wise, along with "But Not Tonight." There's a LOT to choose from though. The DM catalog is an extensive, deep well of sonic discovery.
DM was just never the same after Alan left… “Ultra” still has some Alan-isms, which I wonder if he worked on some of those songs before his departure, but yeah, he was definitely the secret sauce in DM’s sound.
@@carlitosd.9699 it does because of Tim Simenon (producer), who was a huge fan of DM/Alan. The richness and layering of Ultra is from him and his crew of a dozen musicians and programmers. So, yeah, it took over a dozen to replace the one, Alan. Home is still an amazing song and one that Alan particularly likes per interviews. It has that epic-Alan sound.
@@neotek8582 I also wonder if maybe he made the initial sound for that song before his departure (home), because he used a very similar one when him and Flood produced NIN’s ‘year zero’, and a song (me, im not) has a very similar beat, so I wonder if that was Alan almost trolling DM, since from what I understand, the split wasn’t the most amicable.
You MUST see them do a live version… to see a stadium full of people waving arms together is really surreal. I was in it a couple of times and I’ve never had so much fun at a concert.
I got to see them in 2005 for the first time and it was seriously the coolest experience. It stands out as one of the best shows ever for me.
Been there, done that. And it was one of the most beautiful and surreal experiences of my life.
So true. An unforgettable experience.
They are wonderful. They completely fill an arena... and the crowd lives every moment.
‘Barleyfields’ is my favourite part of DM gigs. I used to love the double hand clap at the end of A Question of Time too, but that’s not on the setlist any more
Please do more Depeche Mode. Watching this analysis was so fun, and took me back to the early 90s when I got this album and heard this song for the first time. My mind was blown. It’s so amazing to see someone experiencing it for the first time, 37 years after its release, having some of the same reactions I felt back then. They have so many sounds, unlike any other.
Dear Elizabeth, I'm glad you analyzed and how you analyzed the song. Sometime in the last century, I was lying on the floor between the speakers listening to DM's LPs, absorbing every sound, mesmerized by the fullness and power of the synergy of all the sounds coming from the left and right, sealed by Dave's voice and Martin's precisely added back vocal. This is another song in their series, in which already at the half way through the first bar I switch to another state of mind 😎
After more than 40 years of DMing, I still just can't get enough ❤
Depeche Mode is my favorite musical act. They've been able to change their sound over the years without betraying their fundamental identity/philosophy.
They lost me after Ultra. It totally lost me with their new sound. They try something new every time, which is good. But it's not my taste anymore.
I don't realy like Daves singing style after Ultra. But hey, that's just me.
I went to one of their Exciter shows in 2001. It was the first concert I had ever gone to. It was awesome.
Try out the last two albums - some of it sounds a bit more like Ultra than "new" Depeche Mode
@@speakstheobvious5769 I was at the concert tour after that, around 2005/6. It was awesome! Especially the old songs...
@@colleenmarin8907 my last one was Delta machine. Didn't really like it. If the ones after that are better, I will give it a try.
I have to sing the praises of band member Alan Wilder. He joined Depeche Mode and instantly brought a unique sound to the band. They gained a much more dark and gothic tone with Alan's incredible ear for sound design and synth programming. He has been a huge influence to me and his solo project Recoil is also equally brilliant. Alan is underrated part of Depeche Mode's sound as Martin Gore and Dave Gahan get most of the spotlight.
Yes yes yes!!!
100%
Right on spot!
When he left, the music changed. I think Martin (and Fletcher) learned to add some of those intricate details and the little pieces of ear candy, but Wilder made DM with headphones on so much better! 😄
Alan Wilder for me was the core of Depeche mode. When he left after Songs of Faith and Devotion, it felt somehow empty.
Seeing Depeche Mode perform this song live will give you chills, and make you a lifelong fan
What I love about this song is that the consonants are never dropped.......you can hear all the t's and d's at the end of words. I love Depeche Mode. World in my eyes would be a nice choice to listen to also.
As someone from the middle of GenX, DM has been in my head since the beginning. This one is from the golden age of Depeche Mode. It's a deep, deep hole. Next are Black Celebration, Stripped, Behind the Wheel. Just about anything from Music for the Masses, Black Celebration, Some Great Reward, Construction Time Again.
Love this comment! Finally someone that doesn't just say Personal Jesus or Enjoy the Silence. DM is so much more than just those songs! You are a true devotee
Lie To Me is my favorite Depeche Song on Some Great Reward and the ONLY song in their entire catalogue that mentions the name of the album in the song. Fun fact ;)
Amen!
Stripped and black celebration are top choices
Rammstein's Stripped is a most sought after by me song, that version is so visceral
My interpretation of the lyrics have always been that "a ride with his best friend" is a metaphor for drug addiction, which is why in the video he's riding alone in a car with no room for anyone else.
THIS!! The abusive relationship is the one drugs have on Dave. He knows he will be let down again, but the euphoria of flying high keeps bringing him back
For me it´s the same.
Martin Gore said in an interview that it's about "fleeing from reality" in whatever way you choose (drugs are one of them, and it is a common interpretation) and "the evil awakening afterwards"
I disagree. Not even room for baggage in that car! 😂
Totally. The lyrics aren't exactly subtle, the most brutal one IMHO being "as long as I remember who's wearing the trousers."
I love that you inadvertently described the battle of addiction by just listening to the actual structure of the music. DM really wanted to drive the message home on this one.
Depeche Mode has been around for 43 years. How on earth are you just now hearing this? They are rock ‘n’ roll gods. Where have you been?
Amen 🙏
I came to say this. Aren't they one of the most famous bands on earth or something? How many bands still fill up stadiums nowadays? They've been doing this constantly for 40+ years (and they're on tour, right now).
It's the gimmick of the channel. It has little to do with the truth. People come here to see someone say they're loving this thing they hear for the first time, but which the viewer already loved.
She has been buried in a completely different genre of music most of her life and mastered it. Unless like me you grew up on them or had a serious interest in "darkwave" acts of the late 80's and early 90's, they never were really mainstream anywhere but the UK (and most of their career, gold album, a top 10 single and a couple of top 20's each album). And then for a brief moment, Violator. In the rest of the world, they are much like the Cure, the cult band most would have heard of, but maybe not heard. I have been a music nerd all my life, there are old bands I have only just discovered (and have me asking why I never found them back in the day).
@@jon-paulfilkins7820 Don't confuse "the world" with your country.
They have sold more than 100 million albums throughout their career.
I don't know because I was into any of the genres you mentioned, but because I watched TV as a kid and teenager in the 80s. Yes, they were that big that they were live on primetime TV in a non-English speaking country.
If you talk about huge bands from the 80s, bigger than them, there's U2 and that's probably all.
Please do “I Feel You” by Depeche Mode next.
It’s a production masterpiece with a “reveal”, it tricks you into thinking you’re hearing a very full frequency song, until the 2nd verse where it opens up even MORE frequencies you didn’t realize that weren’t being used.
Dave does his ROCK vocal sound, more on that one.
Also check our “Personal Jesus” and “One Caress” to hear Martin Sing lead with only strings backing him.
One Caress just hits me so hard... so much depth!
also will say One Caress. Amazing song
I heavily second "I Feel You". The gritty tone and timbre that Gahan really embraced on SOFAD is incredible. I Feel You absolutely shows that grittiness the best imo.
Best band ever... Never Let Me Down Again is the climax of Depeche Mode concerts. The live performances of this song are always epic.
Heck yea! This song is powerful live.
If recommending a performance to see the power of it live, I would recommend the Barcelona performance from the Tour of the Uninverse tour.
dave’s voice is another instrument.. to my ears & brain .. it’s like warm & velvety gripping hands .. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The best band in the world. They saved my life when I was so unhappy and didn't see any possibilities for myself. They were so comforting at the time. I'm forever grateful for that ❤
It’s Martin singing the higher range and Dave the lower more monotone, they are always the angel singing with the devil, light and dark. They make such a sweet team on their phrasing and melodies, especially when you go through their entire catalogue. Musical genius, Martin has always been willing to experiment and create new sound scapes, he is a master arranger.
you're right but don't forget Alan when mentioning/it comes to arrangement. just listen to Alans incredibly strong piano accompaniment in NLMD.
Alan was the one in the studio through the night mixing and arranging the songs on his own. And was one of the fundamental reasons why he left the band. He carried a lot of the work load basically.
The other (nearly) monotone song Depeche Mode did was "Personal Jesus" -
a song so great that even Johnny Cash covered it and added some extra "bang" to it.
Yes! Good call
PJ is possibly their worst song. And the heavy radio rotation just reinforced that belief for me.
@@Elkadetodd the album version so much better. ive always loved it but i also wasnt around in 1990 to hear it be so overplayed haha
@@Elkadetodd Neither their worst song,nor their best song. It lies somewhere in the middle.
Dave’s vocal part on the verses of Everything Counts (“the handshake seals a contract”) is also very monotone. The note he sings changes on the chord changes, that’s about it.
this song. on repeat. a million times.
Depeche Mode is my all time favorite band of my life. I know each and every song by heart and it was a HUGE part of my youth being born in 1975. Their darkness and looking at life all the time from points of view that were not discussed a lot back then and their synth pop instruments were for me like a hammer into my soul. If I want to ponder life to this day, i hear Depeche Mode, although it tends to put me in a really weepy mode. But then I remember my youth ;o) Please more of Depeche Mode analysis it is so interesting to her someone professional analyzing why it was sooooo heavy on my soul
I've never felt "darkness" with them..happy beats and voices
Definitely need to analyze Home from their Ultra album. Martin sings on that one and it's so beautiful.
"Home" is one of their songs that brings the greatest emotional response in me. It's very powerful.
im sayin!
Absolutly
yah but Ultra is too cold and mechanical… definitely lacks the Wilder factor
@@DxModel219 I disagree but different strokes I guess
DM are possibly the deepest discovery rabbit hole anybody can newly stumble into. That unique ability to have a very identifiable sound all through yet have so many eras in their discography that will surprise. Bought the first single in a plain white sleeve from a mail order advert in the back of a magazine on a whim and still here now. That's nearly 45 years which says it all.
Excellent comment.
There’s another band that I see the same way: Nine Inch Nails.
My favorite band of all time
Love this. It's fun to watch a "newbie" listen to DM for the first time, especially someone that clearly knows music. I have listened to this song literally hundreds of times over the past 37 years and your analysis has actually helped me hear it in a new way! How awesome is that. Highly recommend you watch "Never Let Me Down Again" on the 101 concert movie to see the crowd reaction. 70,000 people completely in the palm of Dave's hand. Still gives me chills to watch it today.
He had me in the palm of his hand that night, *especially* with "Everything Counts."
Martin’s lyrics, Martins and Dave’s voice, and at the time Alan’s mixing! Such lightening in a bottle!
I'm very sad that Alan's darkness has gone from DM. By the way, check out Alan's performance of this track in 2012 - th-cam.com/video/DFrOgI9yV4s/w-d-xo.html
...don't forget Fletch's clapping!!!
I think the song “Precious” is beautiful and doesn’t get enough love. Dave’s singing is fairly clean and I’d love to hear Elizabeth breakdown the choices he makes.
My best song and music video
One of the very few post Alan Wilder departure songs that I like. The live version is super cringe though because Dave can’t sing it live.
Now watch them play this live. It is absolutely epic! My favorite tour is One Night in Paris, but 101 and Devotional tours are other favorites.
Wowww! Im soooo impressed by the level of the comments! The deep observations, the insights, are all so amazing- and tell us a lot about the crowd that follows the genius of Depeche Mode.
Pioneers of electronica. David Gahan vocals are iconic. I spent many a high school night vegging in my room with Depeche Mode. ✌
Gary Numan beat them to it actually
@@Rapid_GT Certainly have to respect Gary, also some of his recent stuff is very good, I loved 'My name is Ruin' with his daughter. Having said that, I feel that Depeche Mode were more successful over a longer period, and whilst Vince Clarke was only with them for their first album, his later work with Yazoo, The Assembly and of course Erasure puts him in the pioneer and influential category quite apart from anything else. Anyway, why argue? They are both good, both early adopters of technology.
@@GrimlarLex No argument from me, it's just a fact
Pioneers of electronica? Kraftwerk! 😎
10 years before DM 😉
Ultravox before Gary Numan 😉
How many beautiful memories and how much beautiful music... 😊
This is one of the most iconic/eclectic groups ever. They are masterful live. Their album Violator is a must listen.
IMO Songs of Faith and Devotion is better, and certainly more eclectic. Still love Violator, for sure.
A wonder of a song. Hypnotic is the key word for me, not monotone. It's part of DM's magic, to build those layers with little elements adding up until they make it magnificent, and of course the vocals are perfection. Same thing I felt when I heard "Stripped", my first crush with the band.
You need to watch this live in the 101 concert, the crowd is amazing waving their hands like the wheat in the field.
Violator was one of the best albums I have heard. I hope you will analyze Policy of Truth or Personal Jesus next.
Policy of Truth. Indeed..
I bet you're American.
Violator is definitely one of their best albums, but I think she should listen to World In My Eyes first, then other songs off that album.
@@68404 What's that matter?
Violator is definitely the most popular. But that whole stretch of 4 albums, 2 before and 1 after Violator, is awesome. My favourite is Songs Of Faith And Devotion, Music For The Masses my second favourite, then Violator and then Black Celebration. Alan Wilder was a huge part of their sound then, he left a huge hole when he left. They got progressively weaker since then.
Wow, "Enjoy the silence" and "Never let me down again". Elizabeth, I'm glad to see you've finally discovered Depeche Mode. And you are right, the songs are epic but the live versions will send shivers down your spine and you will truly be moved to tears. At least that's how it is for me 😊. The finale of "Never Let Me Down Again" live is amazing. Would love to see more from Depeche Mode ❤
Especially Devotional tour
Just saw them live. I cried.
I get it.
My favorite band of all time and I will never be able to listen to these songs again for the first time. However,I get joy watching you get excited about parts that are so thrilling, so I can live vicariously and it's just as fulfilling! Then I get an analysis from you that makes me appreciate it even more! These videos are wonderful!
There are so so many great Depeche Mode songs, Strangelove, Precious, Policy of Truth, Nothing, A Question of Lust, Everything Counts.
Their underground songs are amazing to!
I like all of those, but I'd add Home, In Your Room, and Nothing's Impossible as my big favorites.
Strange love strange highs and strange lows strange love will you give it to me?
With their newest album "Memento Mori," it's a step-up. Caroline's Monkey, Before we drown. Always you, People are good, My favorite stranger, Ghosts Again those are my favorites. I do like all the songs on Memento Mori. Classic synthpop Depeche Mode.
Can't wait for the premiere! People Are People next, for a good mix of Dave's & Martin's voices, then Somebody, for the pure, raw, longing of Martin's voice, solo.
I imagine Elizabeth would prefer a live version, but I've always preferred the album version of Somebody. Theres just something so poignant about the thought of this guy sitting at a piano in a busy cafe pouring his heart out whilst life goes on around him, as you can probably imagine Im not too fond of the reworked official video either.
@@GrimlarLex Agreed. I much prefer the simplicity and straightforwardness of the album version. Not that it's _bad_ live, i just think it benefits immensely from the smaller, more intimate feel, rather than being on a huge stage with a huge audience singing along.
I would love to hear the album version, because that sets up her listening to A Perfect Circles' version from eMotive.
I don't prefer live concert versions, because pop concerts, which rock and metal DO fall under, are generally an interactive performance between the crowd and band, and there is always a shit ton of people screaming. In classical music, everyone sits down and shuts up for the artists to shine. That happens only in the studio for most rock and metal bands, not live. Type O Negative and GNR are both good examples of this seen on this channel. Peter too drunk to remember the words, and Axl clearly in the throes of cocaine addiction and unable to stop moving.
See Boney M's frightening performance of 'Daddy Cool' (th-cam.com/video/Ebdc4Px5cDo/w-d-xo.html). In this instance, someone should have wrestled the man down and injected Narcan. Why are you clapping? Stop the performance, the man needs medical attention! He is literally bent over and unable to stand straight up for more than like, 20 seconds.
I know that everyone's Martin favourite usually is Somebody, but I want to bring up Home. Such a strong song.
@@GrimlarLex for me, the 101 live version has always been my favorite, probably because that was how I first heard it and it seared itself into me.
I'd love to see your take on Shake the Disease, his vocals give me chills every time
Depeche Mode is really something. Dave and Martin have such great voices. Their voices and the music is just so "them." Was quite a treat seeing them live recently! Please listen to more!
I saw them live twice and it's one of the best concert experience you can have.
At this point, I would pay money just to see Dave dance like a dervish, his enjoyment is a sight to behold.
It is something special when band enjoys their music as much as audience do.
Amazing front man
You must watch a live performance of this song, it’s amazing. The connection between the band and their fans is amazing. You’ll love it.
The 101 version is the best imo.
agreed, saw them in london recently. bloody good
the recent tours version is amazing!
I love this song LIVE… nothing beats it 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Even after 30 years of listening to them, I'm amazed by the "complexity in simplicity". So much layers, underlines, subtilities, punches, uppercuts, caresses...
Dave Gahan's timbre is so gorgeous! He's voice is the trademark of the band!! Metallic baritone....wow... I'm a big fan of Depeche Mode! each album is a treasure!
You should definitely react to Depeche Mode's "In Your Room" live from the Devotional Tour
Wow, thanks for this. I can’t express all the emotions you brought up but you’re certainly as deep as DM’s music!
Thank you for another great vocal analysis. David has a very captivating voice. As related below by another commenter, this is about addiction and once you know that watch the video again and see the imagery and how it tells the story of an addict and how their family and friends try to help them and what the outcomes can be. They have worked with the same visual artist for their performances and videos since pretty the much the beginning of their turn to a darker and less "pop" sound. It has been a very interesting collaboration, one of the best in the business in my opinion. A voice of a very different type is Nick Shoulders, and I would love to hear your take on his song Snakes and Waterfalls. Thanks again and wishing you a great year!
It’s actually referring to a “friendship” with an addiction - alcohol with Martin, and heroin with Dave. The live version of this song is amazing and worth checking out - I’d recommend the Barcelona 2009 tour. And please, more Depeche Mode! I’d recommend Stripped, In Your Room, and Condemnation. ❤
“Promises me we’re safe as houses, as long as we remember who’s wearing the trousers.” Is one of my favorite lines ever. I’ve even replayed this song to hear that lyric again. I never do that because I care about the melody and accompaniment. Depeche Mode has a gift.
What does this line mean? (As long as I remember who s wearing the trousers)
@@numb2feel495 As long as you remember and respect who (or what, if you're seeing the song as a metaphor for drug use) is dominant, is in control.
@@numb2feel495 You are safe as long as you remember who/what is in charge. You can steal anything from inside a house but you can't steal the house so it's a phrase meaning you're safe as a house as long as you cede control
This is song is so incredible and Depeche Mode is just a great band, please do more Depeche Mode!!!
MORE!! MORE!!! lol :) I get so happy when people start to love them! I even want you to listen to earlier stuff. Photographic, Blasphemous Rumors, Stripped.....etc, etc!! One of my personal favs is But Not Tonight and Black Celebration. Even their "B" sides are good.
I saw Depeche Mode here in Los Angeles back in 1987 on the Music for the Masses tour and 1990’s Violator tour, and in 1993’s Songs of Faith and Devotion tour! Love this band!
This song always makes me think of the 101 documentary and all the people in the audience waving their arms back and forth like wheat. An emotional moment for the band, for sure.
you are very lucky man, seeing them on best tours
Just saw them in 2023. Still great live!
First concert for me was Depeche Mode Black Celebration. We were lucky to grow up with this music and so many other bands.
those were the best years!!! No other band will have a run like they did from Black Celebration all the way to SOFAD!!
Another really enjoyable analysis as a 20 year Depeche Mode fan I would love to see a reaction to “Shake the Disease” where the contrast between Martin’s vocals and David’s vocals really are in the forefront
One of my favorite songs as is black celebration
I've never analyzed a song like this. I just hear it and my brain explodes with awesomeness. The song is just so perfect and fantastic (as are many Depeche Mode songs). I don't want to ruin the magic by picking it apart. It's just perfect. It couldn't have been done any other way.
The monotone is awesome, because it makes you focus more on all of the 'soundscape' and overall melody. It's almost like the vocals are percussion. It also makes you appreciate more when the monotone is broken, including the backup vocals.
The vocal layering of Martin Gore and David Gahan is just amazing.
You should check out the Depeche mode song Condemnation. Its a beautiful gospel style song with an incredible vocal performance. I recommend the album version, for its amazing harmonies and vocal production. If you want a live version I recommend the devotional tour one.
Let's not suggest versions that will make Dave look rather bad - e.g. Condemnation from Devotional is an awful vocal... raw and full of emotion, for sure... but not exactly a good vocal.
@@condemned1982 ....È IL TUO PUNTO DI VISTA....
@@condemned1982 The devotional version is the only good live version I've heard. They performed the song in 2001 and it was the only time I've heard Dave sound bad. Each to their own, I like the characteristics of Dave's voice on the devotional tour, has a more depth and natural distortion.
@@kilja3134 I like his Devotional voice for the most part too, he was addicted to steroid inhalers since he shot his voice each performance and needed a "puff" to recover... made his voice richer and deeper. However, he truly struggled with Condemnation live. Listen to some bootlegs from the current Memento Mori tour, he no longer strains for those top notes and he sounds much, much better on the song.
How they managed to blend David and Martin's voice in such a treasure (back then).. This band was and is brilliant! Vince Clarke went off but hell of good ride he has had on his projects afterwards.. Alan Wilder.. Yeah David, Martin and Alan doing a thing.. I would pay for that.. R.I.P Andy Fletcher
I just revisited this reaction. It is such an epic song, the magnificent unique sound with the voices of. David and Martin is pure gold. The 101 album is still a go to for me. DM fan for >40 years (found them when I was only 8 years old and never left ❤️)
this is my favourite Depeche Mode song. amazing how it can both sound elevating and sombre at the same time. and the way it ends in almost desperation and bleakness just gets me every time
Mine too! My favorite song of all time, actually.
My favorite song as well!
Same💕
Great reaction. This song makes a lot more sense when you realize that the friend he's talking about is alcohol. Martin Gore, the writer of the song, was an alcoholic. The second voice is the alcohol talking. It says, "as long as you remember who's wearing the trousers." Aka, alcohol is wearing the pants in the relationship. Just when you think the alcohol is there to help with the pain, it wears off, and then you realize you're in a worse place than where you started. Hence, it always lets him down. Great writing and arrangement as always from Depeche Mode.
Saw them last night in Manchester, England’s AO Arena.
Dave is a masterful baritone and a performer to the core.
Epic.
Frickin’ EPIC ❤️DM
This song live is amazing. They put on a wonderful show.
So nice to have a baritone singer, especially in contrast to Martins high tenor.
You need to go see them live if you can, even if your not a big fan, they always put on a great show.
Yeah, that is right, even though the shows these days are just "Greatest hits", completely missing Alans soundscapes, in my mind.
This song isn't about taking a drive with his best friend, it's about his addiction to heroin. When you have that in your head, it makes a lot of sense. Dave Gahan, the lead singer was heavily into drugs, even referenced as having 9 lives like a cat.
Also, it's one of the great songs! RIP to Andy Fletcher. Depeche Mode always hits just right.
Dave didn't get hard into heroin until the 90's. Martin's drug of choice in the 80's was ecstasy, and is most likely what he wrote about in NLMDA. Martin has said many times he doesn't write for Dave's life.
No, it is not. None of the band members was on hard drugs those days. And Martin never wrote about Dave.
Quote from Martin about the song: "It's about the concept of fleeing from reality and the evil awakening afterwards. Any kind of fleeing. Drugs, alcohol, or whatever."
Source: DMLiveWiki
That was later, I think.
To understand Depeche Mode's transition from synthpop to the harder sound, you need to listen to Eistürzende Neubauten, a German band they met around the time of Black Celebration. Neubauten are a classic industrial band famous for making music with found and industrial tools. Depeche Mode's friends in Fad Gadget (another legendary post-punk/synth band) recorded a song with Neubauten.
From a vocal point of view, I think you'd love Blixa Bargeld from Neubauten. From his early screaming through his membership of the Bad Seeds (most of the singing on Weeping Song is Bliza, not Nick Cave) to his more recent singing with Neubauten, he's amazing.
This whole era of British music is fascinating.
Certainly a great full-on all round Depeche Mode song, but I would like to hear your analysis of Dave's real super-expressive vocals on the songs Clean and Condemnation. A lot of dark power and sparkles there
Yes! Especially 'Clean', showing off Dave's low notes.
Both are excellent choices for Dave's voice!
I really like the verses in “In Chains”
I like “dark power and sparkles” very evocative.
Definitely "Clean."
"Condemnation" live devotional tour will blow your mind!
Is the goal here to get Elizabeth to rip on Dave? Condemnation from Devotional is an awful vocal.
Mmm one of the worst DM songs
I think she'll like I feel you !!
Depeche Mode in general and this song in special always reminds me on a best friend who committed suicide 30 years ago. It makes me cry instantly, no matter in which mood I am ...😥
It's amazing how sound arranged in certain ways can express or influence a state of mind...
It's still hard to believe that the same band went from the pink bubblegum sound of Just Can't Get Enough to the epic darkwave symphony of Never Let Me Down Again in six years. The progress they have made is admirable.
They really hit their stride in the third and fourth albums. Until then, they just didn't seem to know where to go.
Mainly because Vince Clarke left, he wrote most songs on the first album and went on to create Yazoo and erasure where the bubblegum pop continued in spades. Essentially Upstairs at Eric's from Yazoo is what Depeche would have sounded like had Vince stayed
@@reliantncc1864Their second album showed new direction I'd insist.
@@ninasazonova2511 Well, if you can tell me what that direction was, I might agree with you.
Descent into drugs is hardly "progress". Love the music, don't get me wrong, but you don't get something like that from happy people.
Dave's and Martin's harmonizing is incredible throughout Depeche Mode's work. In this video, Martin, whose soft tenor voice adds to the textures of the song, is the one in the broad hat carrying the lamp. Martin really is an underrated singer and songwriter. On the same album he sings "The Things You Said," which is wonderful. Also, pay attention to the lyrics "We're flying high, we're watching the world pass us by, never want to come down, never want to put my feet back down on the ground" and you'll agree the song is about drug addiction, not a human relationship (Dave's little car has no passenger, as someone else has already commented; he's going on a drug trip by himself so the music gets dreamy or trippy at the end).
This is one of those songs that I can remember exactly where I was, what I was doing,... Hell, I remember the smell in the air and even the direction the light was coming from because of the shadows made... I was in elementary school. Its visceral. Thank you for this. I forgot how much I love Depeche Mode.
Loved the analysis of this masterpiece. You picked up on a lot. Really interesting. It is a dark, beautiful and powerful. One of my all time favourite songs.
Depeche Mode is one of my two favorite bands (the other being Duran Duran.) Never Let Me Down Again had always been my favorite song. The song does stand on an epic scale compared to all their other songs. It's a masterpiece. During hey analysis, she mentions at one point where the song sounds epic, like from a movie. I would love for her to see what takes place in the live 101 Concert version. That's the moment Dave's makes a sea of fans wave their hands in unison to the music. Truly an epic moment!
DURAN DURAN forever ever!!!
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. The epic and orchestral sound is simply breathtaking and I celebrate it every time I hear the song.
I'm so glad you talked about sound creation, as that is often overlooked when reacting to early synth/electronic bands. At this point in their career, DM had been using cutting edge gear (e.g. Fairlight CMI, Emulator, etc.) for a few albums and even those involved a lot of time and effort. What they and the other pioneers were able to do with the modular units, Minimoogs, ARPs, etc. of the 1970s through the early 80s is really impressive. As a GenX who experienced it, we had quite literally never heard stuff like this before.
Theres a youtube channel "dx5", a italian who often playes Depeche Mode covers on his equipment (emulator 2 and 3, Roland Promars and others plus a tape machine)
I wonder what bass-sound / layered stuff DM used for the 101 version of Everything Counts.
@@stefankrautz9048 It sounds really close to the studio version, so either they had a sequencer + whatever they used in the studio, or they were using playback. I used to see them in concert every year (sometimes twice a year) from 1986-1993 and would always try to pay attention to what equipment they were using. The big difference was, not surprisingly, the leads on the older material. Hard to get a DX-7 to sound like a Moog Prodigy, although they did use the Emulator to sample and recreate some of their old patches.
I love this band SO MUCH. You’re interpretation to this classic song made me emotional
Awesome! Great analysis of the monotone "melody" that Gahan sings in this one. You absolutely need to dive more into Gahan's voice, as he has so much more to offer. Their song "I Feel You" would be really good to show off his "rock" voice. Alot more grittiness.
Listening to this song I can hear and almost feel both the euphoria of escaping reality and the harsh consequences that follow. It seamlessly blends light and darkness into one soundscape and pulls you in to share the experience. Absolutely incredible.
I’ve seen Depeche Mode numerous times live, most recently at Madison Square Garden earlier this year. This song is amazing live with all of the crowd participation. You haven’t lived until you see Depeche Mode in concert.
I feel like this is a signature aspect of Depeche Mode's music - the melodies aren't that complicated, it's the entire sonic package of each song that packs a punch.
Yes totally agree, what also made them interesting to me was the sounds they used from the various synths and samplers that were available to them back then, and also Alan Wilder's "screwdriver" work in the studio.
This song is an absolute masterpiece. Hands down the best song they do live.