Favorite "Silent" Songs #2 - "Enjoy the Silence"
@teamfreak16 (43602)
Denver, Colorado
September 2, 2017 2:55am CST
"Silence is the theme of my Favorite "Silent" Songs series, in which I am counting down my favorite songs with either "silent" or "silence" in the title. We are at #2: "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, who are making, like, their thousandth appearance in my musical countdowns.
From their wildly popular 1990 album, Violator, "Enjoy the Silence" was the second single released from that album. It is a certified gold record in both the US and Germany, and won a Brit Award in the UK. Interestingly, songwriter Martin Gore intended the song as a slow ballad. It was keyboardist Alan Wilder that suggested speeding the track up to become the song that we know and love today.
A lot of people bought this single. Counting an appearance at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached the Top 10 in 14 countries, with 11 of those actually in the Top 5. It was a massive hit, and helped propel Violator to #7 on the Billboard 200, as well as being the first Depeche Mode album to sell a million copies in the US.
"Enjoy the Silence" has been covered quite a few times, notably by Tori Amos, Anberlin, and Susan Boyle.
I've linked to the official video (directed by Anton Corbijn,) which inexplicably features vocalist Dave Gahan walking around dressed as a king, crown and all.
What can I say? I love this band.
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
Depeche Mode ? Enjoy The Silence (Official Music Video). © 1990 Mute Records Limited / Venusnote Limited, Under Exclusive License To Mute Records Ltd. Manufa...
9 people like this
7 responses
@FourWalls (86713)
• United States
2 Sep 17
Wow. Next thing you know, I'll be using Warren Zevon, John Hiatt, and Robbie Fulks in countdowns. 
Good philosophy in the title: stop and enjoy the silence. Great song, too.
Good philosophy in the title: stop and enjoy the silence. Great song, too.3 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Sep 17
I do use these guys a lot, don't I?
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (52905)
• Mojave, California
2 Sep 17
Why I say Depeche Mode is crazy. I always like meh, but again,as soon as you listen, like Yay! I know I kind if said that before, but think this was a perfect example. They rock and I need to shut my mouth.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Sep 17
I think the fact that they haven't put out a bad album in 30 years or so speaks volumes about how good they are.
@mawdest (1587)
• Canada
4 Sep 17
Nice! Depeche Mode is pretty awesome, they have quite the amount of albums out (but I don't need to tell you that!) but it really is crazy how many they released in the 80's! Anyways, I quite like the band as well, I really really love the album "Playing The Angel" probably because it mainly first got me in to the group, and I just think it's one hell of an album too! But anyways, this song itself, it quite something too, good post! 
1 person likes this
@mawdest (1587)
• Canada
5 Sep 17
@teamfreak16 Agreed! I definitely need to listen to all of their stuff (might take a while but meh!) Oh and I forgot to mention that Depeche Mode just played close to me (in Toronto) like a day or two ago.. Wanted to see them but I already am going to a bunch of concerts this year, unfortunately 
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Sep 17
@mawdest - I've seen them twice. Once at Red Rocks!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Sep 17
That's a good album. Of course, they've never put out a bad one!
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
5 Sep 17
Depeche Mode and this song in particular is one of my favorites.Thank you for the link.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Sep 17
Oh, you're quite welcome. It's definitely one of their best.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Sep 17
DM is one of my favorite bands. Just Can't Get Enough!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Sep 17
Me too. One of my favorite bands.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Sep 17
@JohnRoberts - They are an all time favorite. I will use them every time.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
3 Sep 17
Oh yes! Great choice right there! Love the whole album actually -- Anton Corbijn worked a lot of U2, too
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Sep 17
He directed the Joy Division movie, Control, as well.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Sep 17
@FayeHazel - It's really good if you like Joy Division. The guy that plays Ian Curtis is really good.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
5 Sep 17
@teamfreak16 I've never seen that one, but that could be good, thanks for the head's up!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Sep 17
Let's see: Beyond awesome or double thumbs up or Depeche Mode enough said. A great great song and a favorite.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Sep 17
One of the all-time greats, as far as I'm concerned.
1 person likes this
