Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence"

Diallo Riddle (0:00)

Hey, what up, One Song Nation? Today, we're bringing back one of our favorite episodes. It's part two of a two-part that we did on Depeche Mode. We tracked the emergence of Depeche Mode in part one. And in this one, it's more about all the ways they handled international fame in the late 80s and throughout the 90s. And listen, listen, listen, listen. We'll be back October 15th with a really big episode. Mark it on your calendars now, right now, October 15th. Just write it down. In the meantime, check out this classic episode of One Song on Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode.

Hello, One Song Nation. This is Diallo and this is part two of our two part episode on Depeche Mode. So if you haven't already heard part one, we highly recommend that you go back before diving into this.

LUXXURY (0:43)

In fact, we demand it because you won't understand this episode at all. No, no, no, we're not telling you what to do. It'll make no sense. No, go back and listen to the first one.

Diallo Riddle (0:49)

Two parts, Depeche Mode. Let's go. LUXXURY.

LUXXURY (0:52)

Yes, sir.

Diallo Riddle (0:53)

On this episode, we are going to talk about another Depeche Mode song.

LUXXURY (0:57)

How lucky are we? Definitely their biggest hit. If you go by streams and popularity.

Diallo Riddle (1:02)

You care about numbers. If you care about numbers. It certified gold and hit number one on the Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart in 1990, as well as number one in Spain and Denmark, Depeche Mode going global.

LUXXURY (1:15)

What we're going to talk about on this episode is how the band started to evolve and grow and bring new sounds into the fold and new people into the team. We're going to be talking about all of the above on this episode because there's no denying that this song took the group to global superstar status and all we ever wanted, all we ever needed was to be here in your ears. Telling you how much we love this song.

Diallo Riddle (1:37)

I love that you with it.

LUXXURY (1:38)

I'm almost sorry, but not sorry.

Diallo Riddle (1:40)

It's one song and that song is Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode. I'm actor, writer, director and sometimes DJ Diallo Riddle.

LUXXURY (1:53)

And I'm producer, DJ, songwriter and musicologist LUXXURY, aka the guy who whispers, Interpolation on the internet.

Diallo Riddle (1:59)

And if you want to watch One Song, please go to our YouTube channel and watch this full episode and please subscribe.

All right, let's start. We've reached part two. In part one, we laid the groundwork of Depeche Mode's career from 1980 to 1984 This is well before Enjoy the Silence. So before we dive in, I wanted to ask you, LUXXURY, do you like Enjoy the Silence? Are you excited to break down this song?

LUXXURY (2:23)

I love Depeche Mode. I love their later, this series of records that come. This is actually for me, the sweet spot of Depeche Mode. Some great reward goes into Black Celebration in 86

Diallo Riddle (2:34)

Black Celebration, we are agreed, is underrated.

LUXXURY (2:37)

Oh my God, it's so good. Underrated out. Music for the Masses might be my favorite, and why later? Maybe my third favorite record. Oh no. It might be my third favorite.

Diallo Riddle (2:44)

We have a disagreement because I will say, I come in on Strange Love.

LUXXURY (2:48)

Okay.

Diallo Riddle (2:48)

I said that in the previous part.

LUXXURY (2:49)

Music for the Masses, right?

Diallo Riddle (2:50)

I became a fan of the band, not just thinking they're making these cool singles, a fan of the band with Music for the Masses. Strange Love, To This Day, one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs.

LUXXURY (3:11)

We were talking about on the earlier episode, on the People Are People episode, how we were making the connections, specifically when we were listening to the isolated beats and bass lines. I would really hear that boogie influence and that funk influence. On this song in particular, I hear this influence.

Diallo Riddle (3:33)

That is amazing. I never drew that distinction.

LUXXURY (3:35)

That snare sound is so specific, right? You're so right.

Diallo Riddle (3:37)

And that is my favorite snare, I think.

LUXXURY (3:39)

You love 86 snares.

Diallo Riddle (3:41)

Prince has a snare that I love, but that is my easily, I think that might be my favorite snare. In fact, anytime that you and I have worked on music, and I'm like, what's the sound of that like concrete slab hitting the ground? Like, that's that. I feel like that's that snare.