Strangelove (song)
Encyclopedia
"Strangelove" is Depeche Mode
's eighteenth UK
single, released on April 13, 1987, and the first single for the then upcoming album Music for the Masses
. It reached #16 in the UK charts (Depeche Mode would fail to make the Top 10 of the UK singles chart throughout the second half of the 1980s), but hit #2 in West Germany
and in South Africa
, and was a Top 10 success in several other countries (Sweden
, Switzerland
, etc.).
The original version of "Strangelove" is a fast-paced poppy track. Though successful, this did not seem to fit with the Music for the Massess darker style, so Daniel Miller made a slower version of "Strangelove" which became the album version. The album version was released as a single itself in the USA, as "Strangelove '88". Former member Alan Wilder, in the Q&A section of his Recoil website, writes that the band felt the single version was "too cluttered" and was the reason Miller's remix was commissioned. Miller expounded on this in the Music for the Masses re-master documentary DVD, stating that he felt the original single version was too complicated and would benefit from being simplified.
organizations. "Pimpf" later shows up as the final track on the vinyl version of Music for the Masses.
The second instrumental is "Agent Orange", named after the herbicide
used in the Vietnam War
. At the end of the song, you can hear some morse code. Rumoured to mean "If anybody can hear this, please help me", it is actually just gibberish (LAXI ".-.. .- -..- ..", several times repeated). "Agent Orange" later shows up as the first bonus track on the CD/Cassette version of Music for the Masses.
and appears on the Strange
video and The Videos 86>98. Shot on Super 8 and in black and white, the video sees the band in various Paris
locations, hotel rooms and in a studio posing in front of a rolling backdrop. At 0:24 video shows image of Senate House
of University of London with the words "Strange Love" projected on it. The live action is combined with short stop-frame animation sequences. The video also stars two underwear models (one of who became Anton Corbijn's partner) as well as random pedestrians, featured in the closing 'out-takes' sequence of fast-edit shots. In the USA, MTV
objected to some of the more revealing footage of the models and the video was edited to replace them with images of the band.
There was also a Corbijn-directed video for "Pimpf", exclusive to the Strange video, which features David Gahan
, Alan Wilder
and Andrew Fletcher
shouting at each other syncing with the synthetic chanting, while Martin Gore
plays the song on a Piano. It is to note that while Martin plays the piano in the video, it is Alan Wilder who plays the piano in all piano-instrumentals by the band from 1987–1990 as well as "Somebody".
In 1988, another video for "Strangelove" was released, set to the tune of the album version of "Strangelove". It was directed by Martyn Atkins who did photography for earlier DM albums. It was not publicly released until the The Videos 86>98+ DVD in 2002. This video is much simpler than the original, and features the band performing inside a castle-like location.
in the US. You can view it on the official Depeche Mode website
"Strangelove" has been sampled in the songs "Life Ain't a Game" by Ja Rule
, "I Won't Be Crying
" by Infernal
and "Point of View" by Samantha Mumba
.
The song Strangelove was covered by two bands for Gucci
's new perfume Guilty advertising campaigns in 2010-11: Friendly Fires
for Gucci
Guilty For Her' in 2010 and
Bat for Lashes
for Gucci
Guilty For Him perfume advert, screened in 2011. Both songs were released as free mp3 downloads from Gucci's YouTube page and various blogs.
All songs written by Martin L. Gore
The "Zip Hop Mix" of Nothing appeared on the rare fourth disc of Depeche Mode's remix compilation, Remixes 81-04 in 2004.
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
's eighteenth UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
single, released on April 13, 1987, and the first single for the then upcoming album Music for the Masses
Music for the Masses
Music for the Masses is the sixth studio album by Depeche Mode. It was released by Mute Records on September 28, 1987, and was supported by the Music for the Masses Tour.-Mainstream success in the United States:...
. It reached #16 in the UK charts (Depeche Mode would fail to make the Top 10 of the UK singles chart throughout the second half of the 1980s), but hit #2 in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and was a Top 10 success in several other countries (Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, etc.).
The original version of "Strangelove" is a fast-paced poppy track. Though successful, this did not seem to fit with the Music for the Massess darker style, so Daniel Miller made a slower version of "Strangelove" which became the album version. The album version was released as a single itself in the USA, as "Strangelove '88". Former member Alan Wilder, in the Q&A section of his Recoil website, writes that the band felt the single version was "too cluttered" and was the reason Miller's remix was commissioned. Miller expounded on this in the Music for the Masses re-master documentary DVD, stating that he felt the original single version was too complicated and would benefit from being simplified.
B-sides
There are two B-Sides for "Strangelove", both instrumental. "Pimpf" is a dark instrumental that is mostly piano, named after the members of one of the Hitler YouthHitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
organizations. "Pimpf" later shows up as the final track on the vinyl version of Music for the Masses.
The second instrumental is "Agent Orange", named after the herbicide
Agent Orange
Agent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth...
used in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. At the end of the song, you can hear some morse code. Rumoured to mean "If anybody can hear this, please help me", it is actually just gibberish (LAXI ".-.. .- -..- ..", several times repeated). "Agent Orange" later shows up as the first bonus track on the CD/Cassette version of Music for the Masses.
Music videos
The music video for "Strangelove" was directed by Anton CorbijnAnton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade...
and appears on the Strange
Strange (video)
Strange - A Black and White Mode by Anton Corbijn is the second music video compilation by Depeche Mode, featuring the first five Depeche Mode videos directed by Anton Corbijn, released in 1988. Corbijn shot the entire video album in Super-8....
video and The Videos 86>98. Shot on Super 8 and in black and white, the video sees the band in various Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
locations, hotel rooms and in a studio posing in front of a rolling backdrop. At 0:24 video shows image of Senate House
Senate House (University of London)
Senate House is the administrative centre of the University of London, situated in the heart of Bloomsbury, London between the School of Oriental and African Studies to the north, with the British Museum to the south...
of University of London with the words "Strange Love" projected on it. The live action is combined with short stop-frame animation sequences. The video also stars two underwear models (one of who became Anton Corbijn's partner) as well as random pedestrians, featured in the closing 'out-takes' sequence of fast-edit shots. In the USA, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
objected to some of the more revealing footage of the models and the video was edited to replace them with images of the band.
There was also a Corbijn-directed video for "Pimpf", exclusive to the Strange video, which features David Gahan
David Gahan
Dave Gahan is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the baritone lead singer for the British electronic music band Depeche Mode since their debut in 1980. He is also an accomplished solo artist, releasing albums in 2003 and 2007...
, Alan Wilder
Alan Wilder
Alan Charles Wilder is a British musician, formerly of Depeche Mode. His current musical project is called Recoil, started as a side project to Depeche Mode. When he left the latter in 1995, it became Wilder's primary project...
and Andrew Fletcher
Andrew Fletcher (musician)
Andy Fletcher , known as "Fletch", is a co-founder and member of the English synth band Depeche Mode.-Depeche Mode:...
shouting at each other syncing with the synthetic chanting, while Martin Gore
Martin Gore
Martin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...
plays the song on a Piano. It is to note that while Martin plays the piano in the video, it is Alan Wilder who plays the piano in all piano-instrumentals by the band from 1987–1990 as well as "Somebody".
In 1988, another video for "Strangelove" was released, set to the tune of the album version of "Strangelove". It was directed by Martyn Atkins who did photography for earlier DM albums. It was not publicly released until the The Videos 86>98+ DVD in 2002. This video is much simpler than the original, and features the band performing inside a castle-like location.
Other appearances
On September 7, 1988, the band played "Strangelove" on the MTV Video Music AwardsMTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
in the US. You can view it on the official Depeche Mode website
"Strangelove" has been sampled in the songs "Life Ain't a Game" by Ja Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
, "I Won't Be Crying
I Won't Be Crying
"I Won't Be Crying" is the Danish dance band Infernal's 3rd single released in the UK. The current release date is set to be the 21st of May. According to the bands website it will guarantee them a UK tour, if this single reaches #1. "I Won't Be Crying" peaked #1 at the TV-channel The Voice TV...
" by Infernal
Infernal (band)
Infernal is dance/pop group from Denmark, consisting of members Lina Rafn and Paw Lagermann. They made their Danish debut in 1997 with the release of the track "Sorti de L'enfer", and have gone on to international chart success in recent years. Their most successful single to date has been "From...
and "Point of View" by Samantha Mumba
Samantha Mumba
Samantha Tamania Anne Cecilia Mumba is an Irish singer and actress.Her first album was released in 2000. Her most notable role was Mara in the 2002 film The Time Machine. She has also appeared in a number of Irish independent films.-Early life, education and early career:Mumba was born in Dublin,...
.
The song Strangelove was covered by two bands for Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
's new perfume Guilty advertising campaigns in 2010-11: Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires
Friendly Fires are an English band from St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently signed to XL Recordings. Their self-titled debut album was released on 1 September 2008 and was announced as one of the shortlisted twelve for the 2009 Mercury Prize on 21 July 2009.-History:Friendly Fires...
for Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
Guilty For Her' in 2010 and
Bat for Lashes
Bat for Lashes
Natasha Khan , also known by her stage name Bat for Lashes, is an English musician. She sings and plays the piano, bass, guitar, harpsichord and the autoharp....
for Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
Guilty For Him perfume advert, screened in 2011. Both songs were released as free mp3 downloads from Gucci's YouTube page and various blogs.
12": Mute / 12Bong13 (UK)
- "Strangelove (Maxi Mix)" – 6:32
- "Strangelove (Midi Mix)" – 1:38
- "Fpmip" – 5:21
12": Mute / L12Bong13 (UK)
- "Strangelove (Blind Mix)" – 6:31
- "Pimpf" – 4:33
- "Strangelove (Pain Mix)" – 7:19 (remixed by Phil HardingPhil Harding (producer)Phil Harding is an English audio engineer, producer and remixer, best known for his extended collaboration with keyboardist and programmer Ian Curnow....
) - "Agent Orange" – 5:05
12": Mute / DanceBong13 (UK)
- "Strangelove (Blind Mix)" – 6:31
- "Strangelove (The Fresh Ground Mix)" – 8:14 (remixed by Phil HardingPhil Harding (producer)Phil Harding is an English audio engineer, producer and remixer, best known for his extended collaboration with keyboardist and programmer Ian Curnow....
)
- Very rare promo release, with a white label. Though some bootlegs are available.
CD: Mute / CDBong13 (UK)
- "Strangelove (Maxi Mix)" – 6:32
- "Pimpf" – 4:33
- "Strangelove (Midi Mix)" – 1:38
- "Agent Orange" – 5:05
- "Strangelove" – 3:45
- Originally released in Cardsleeve [1987] in two different versions [black labeled/red labeled disc]
- Re-released as 5track CD Single in Slim Jewel Case in 1991.
CD: Mute / CDBong13 (UK)
- "Strangelove" – 3:45
- "Pimpf" – 4:33
- "Strangelove (Maxi Mix)" – 6:32
- "Agent Orange" – 5:05
- "Strangelove (Blind Mix)" – 6:31
- "Fpmip" – 5:21
- "Strangelove (Pain Mix)" – 7:19
- "Strangelove (Midi Mix)" – 1:38
- The second CD is the 1992 re-release
12" Sire / 0-20696 (US)
- "Strangelove (Maxi Mix)" – 6:32
- "Strangelove (Midi Mix)" – 1:38
- "Strangelove (Blind Mix Edit)" – 6:10
- "Fpmip" – 5:21
12" Sire / 0-20769 (US)
- "Strangelove (Pain Mix)" – 7:19
- "Strangelove (Pain Mix 7" Edit)" – 3:29
- "Agent Orange" – 5:05
- "Fpmip" is "Pimpf" with a different intro that sounds like the song played backwards, afterwards it's exactly the same song.
All songs written by Martin L. Gore
3"CD Sire/Reprise / 2-27777 (US)
- "Strangelove (Remix Edit)" – 3:52 (remixed by Tim SimenonTim SimenonTim Simenon is a musician, composer, record producer, and label boss, most famous for his work as Bomb the Bass.-Debut:Tim Simenon's music career began aproper in the mid 1980s, DJing at London's Wag Club...
& Mark SaundersMark SaundersMark Saunders, is a British record producer who has worked on a number of albums. He relocated to New York City in 1996 and currently works from his facility in Manhattan - Beat360 Studios....
) - "Nothing (Remix Edit)" – 3:58 (remixed by Justin Strauss)
7" Sire / 7-27777 (US)
- "Strangelove (Album Version 7" Edit)" – 3:44
- "Nothing (Remix Edit)" – 3:58
- Also released on Cassette (Sire / 27991-4)
12" Sire / 0-21022 (US)
- "Strangelove (Highjack Mix)" – 6:30 (remixed by Tim SimenonTim SimenonTim Simenon is a musician, composer, record producer, and label boss, most famous for his work as Bomb the Bass.-Debut:Tim Simenon's music career began aproper in the mid 1980s, DJing at London's Wag Club...
& Mark SaundersMark SaundersMark Saunders, is a British record producer who has worked on a number of albums. He relocated to New York City in 1996 and currently works from his facility in Manhattan - Beat360 Studios....
) - "Strangelove (Remix Edit)" – 3:46
- "Nothing (Zip Hop Mix)" – 7:06 (remixed by Justin Strauss)
- "Nothing (Dub Mix)" – 6:40 (remixed by Justin Strauss)
CD Sire / PRO-CD-3213 (US)
- "Strangelove (Remix Edit)" – 3:46
- "Strangelove (Album Version 7" Edit)" – 3:44
- "Strangelove (Blind Mix 7" Edit)" – 3:57
- "Strangelove (Highjack Mix)" – 6:30
- US promo CD
The "Zip Hop Mix" of Nothing appeared on the rare fourth disc of Depeche Mode's remix compilation, Remixes 81-04 in 2004.
- All songs written by Martin L. Gore