Depeche Mode and other music

[Herbalist]

It's very interesting for me what Steve and other members think about music. As I remember, Steve mentioned Depeche Mode twice, last time recently. In my opinion, Depeche Mode have not very positive message, often just neutral, but sometimes really negative. Surely, there is no rule telling Steve to listen only Enya and Mozart, but still I'm surprised.

Steve, how do you perceive their message? Does it touch you, or you just enjoy their tunes?

As for me, any music touches me deeply, sometimes even captures me, whether I want it or not. It can change me completely for a short period of time. That's why I usually avoid music which contain negative vibes or message (e.g. gangsta rap, black metal).

[Savage]

DM has been my favorite group since I was 18. I own all their albums and most of the singles plus some one-of-a-kind mixes an old friend created. I think their music is special to me because it connects me with a time when I was going through a really rough patch, and their music always made me feel better and more empowered. Even though the lyrics of some songs can be down (i.e. "Blasphemous Rumors"), their music always puts me in a positive mood.

My favorite DM songs include "Never Let Me Down Again," "But Not Tonight," "Halo," "Enjoy the Silence," "Freelove," and "Everything Counts."

Incidentally, you can get pretty much everything they've ever recorded in a huge mega-collection of 645 tracks for $170 at iTunes now.

[Herbalist]

"Everything counts", lol
I love this song too, especially the intro synth theme. As for the lyrics, hmmm... "The turning point of a career in Korea is being insincere". Sad but true.

Anyway, other songs you named have positive message. And this time I'm not surprised

Thank you very much for sharing!

P.S. "The holiday was fun-packed, the contract still intact" Reminds me my cubicle past...

[cylon]

Lol Steve I think I read more of your site because when I first came to this site and read your blog on your youth experiences I thought it was cool how all the chapter titles were Depeche Mode songs.

My sister gave me her used tape of "Some Great Reward" when I was like 9 years old or something and that was that. They are my favorite band of all time. I write my own music and sometimes struggle with "not sounding like depeche mode" lol, which isn't a bad thing.

A couple days ago I was at iTunes and bought the "mode mix", a dj took many of their hits and ran them together as a dj set. Many of the versions are remixes that I hadn't heard, it's a fun way to listen to some of the songs in a new way.

The b-sides from the last album are SOLID, so if you haven't gotten those, go to iTunes and get them. Martyr, Better Days, Free, Newborn, all those songs would have been hits back in the day.

Also at iTunes if you buy that whole package Steve mentioned, they have alternate takes of many of their songs. Unfortunately you can't get them individually.

[yossarian]

I've always liked Depech Mode but have never been a hardcore fan like you guys.

But anyway I just sat down at my computer and did some random clicking which quickly got me to this thread (I rarely read this sub-forum). So because of this thread I loaded up Winamp and added all the Depech Mode songs I have, and hit shuffle. It went to "It's No Good" and I got a vague impression that I was supposed to listen to that song. But my conscious mind said "bleh I don't want to hear that one" so I hit next and it randomly chose another song. I didn't want that one either, so I hit next and it randomly went back to "It's No Good" and I again got the feeling I should listen. But I had already rejected that one, so I hit next again.

Then as the new song started, I realized I was running away from "It's No Good" and intentionally said, "Ok fine I will listen" and turned it on.

So of course, the song is a very very topical answer to a question I was asking not an hour earlier, and even includes the lyric, "You can run, but you cannot hide"

Anyway, long line of synchronicities which subjectively led to an objective answer to a question I asked rhetorically not an hour earlier.

And I don't even believe in synchronicities. But I thought this was funny.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by yossarian

Then as the new song started, I realized I was running away from "It's No Good" and intentionally said, "Ok fine I will listen" and turned it on.

The Bottom Line is that "It's No Good" gave you some Insight and wasn't Useless after all.

Sorry... couldn't reisist.

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

DM has been my favorite group since I was 18. I own all their albums and most of the singles plus some one-of-a-kind mixes an old friend created. I think their music is special to me because it connects me with a time when I was going through a really rough patch, and their music always made me feel better and more empowered. Even though the lyrics of some songs can be down (i.e. "Blasphemous Rumors"), their music always puts me in a positive mood.

My favorite DM songs include "Never Let Me Down Again," "But Not Tonight," "Halo," "Enjoy the Silence," "Freelove," and "Everything Counts."

Incidentally, you can get pretty much everything they've ever recorded in a huge mega-collection of 645 tracks for $170 at iTunes now.

I can say the same thing about both Pantera and Type O Negative- neither are all that positive in their music, but they always made me feel better during some rough times and still have that effect today.

[Rockchick26]

I never cared much for Depeche Mode but i do have Violator,and i think they're best song is "Waiting For The Night",in fact that song is PERFECT to listen to while walking outside at night. I used to walk to work (when i lived close to it) and one night it was foggy and it was 3am and i was walking home,and the song just enhanced that moment so much that now whenever i hear it,i am instantly back on that dark street with the fog surrounding me,with nothing but tranquility around me :-) I'm a night owl and i like to joke that i'm a vampire so that song is kinda like my personal theme song LOL