My Favorite Depeche Mode Songs: #1 "Just Can't Get Enough" (1981)
By John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109857)
Los Angeles, California
June 21, 2016 10:18am CST
"Just Can't Get Enough" was DM's first US single and the uncharted song is from the "Speak and Spell" album. Besides being one of the greatest of all synthpop songs, I selected "Just Can't Get Enough" as tops because the song was my introduction to DM and immediately thought it great. I learned you "Just Can't Get Enough" Depeche Mode.
The song has the most recognizable intro to any DM tune and purist synthpop sound. That quality and its uplifting peppy pop tone is due to being written by Vince Clarke (he later founded Yaz and Erasure) who left the band after the debut album because he did not share the darker vision of other band members.
"When I'm with you baby, I go out of my head, and I just can't get enough" is the most cheerful DM ever got. Similar to Queen's "We Are the Champions," "Just Can't Get Enough" has become a heavily used anthem for UK soccer and rugby teams.
It is an outrage Depeche Mode have been shunted from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame especially when far lesser acts and even a few one hit wonders have been elected. Depeche Mode is the most internationally successful of all 80s new wave bands with a huge canon of hits. There is a prejudice against electronic/synthpop performers.
Live in Hamburg Germany, 1984. Kick back and turn it up!
13 people like this
9 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jun 16
I was forty or so by then and never got into the New Wave thing. Funny, my daughter called as I was reading this. I asked if she (age 27) had ever heard of them, her response was, "everybody has." I did like the tune, very upbeat.
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jun 16
Wow, lucky you to have seen early Depeche Mode and with Clarke no less.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
21 Jun 16
@JohnRoberts Lucky in one way but unlucky in that it makes me quite old 
My sister (who is 5 years older than me) saw them play at Newcastle University Students Union in 1980 before anyone had even heard of them! She wasn't impressed!!!
My sister (who is 5 years older than me) saw them play at Newcastle University Students Union in 1980 before anyone had even heard of them! She wasn't impressed!!!1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73408)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jun 16
@JohnRoberts Love this song. You're absolutely right they should get a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Jun 16
Great choice! "Halo" would be my #1, and "New Dress" would be in there somewhere. But what do you eliminate to fit those in? You can't.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jun 16
I admit to basically going with their most popular songs but those are my favorites. When I was preparing this list, I never realized the large number of hits and popular songs they had and those songs that were relegated to alternative radio here were charted hits in the UK and Europe. Also thinking about the meaning of some of the songs and the general dark mood running through their music which I didn't think about when just loving the sound. That's why DM belongs in the R&R HOF rather than such ridiculous inductees as Bonnie Raitt who went in before Linda Ronstadt.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Jun 16
@JohnRoberts - There are a lot of alternative bands that I hope they'll get around to eventually.
1 person likes this
@mawhite (242)
• United States
27 Jun 16
I used to adore Depeche Mode. My all time favorite of theirs was 'World in My Eyes'.
@DeborahDiane (40054)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jun 16
I remember when the New Wave music come out. I liked a lot of it ... especially the peaceful songs and the guitar music.
