Personal Jesus
single
CoverDepecheModePersonalJesus.jpg
ArtistDepeche Mode
AlbumViolator
B-sideDangerous
Released29 August 1989[1]
Recorded1989
StudioLogic (Milan)[2]
Genre
Length
  • 4:56 (album version)
  • 3:43 (7-inch version)
  • 5:48 (12-inch version)
LabelMute
WriterMartin L. Gore
Producer
Prev year1989
Prev versionlive
Next year1990

"Personal Jesus" is a song by the English electronic band Depeche Mode. It was released as the lead single from their seventh studio album, Violator (1990), in August 1989 by Mute Records. It reached No. 13 on the UK singles chart and No. 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The single was their first to enter the US top 40 since 1984's "People Are People" and was their first gold-certified single in the US.[12] In Germany, "Personal Jesus" is one of the band's longest-charting songs, staying on the West German Singles Chart for 23 weeks. The accompanying music video was directed by Anton Corbijn and filmed in Spain.

In 2004, "Personal Jesus" was ranked No. 368 in Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time",[13] and in September 2006 it was voted as one of the "100 Greatest Songs Ever" in Q magazine. "Personal Jesus" was re-released as a single in May 2011 for the Depeche Mode remix album Remixes 2: 81–11, with the leading remix by the production team Stargate.

The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson.

Background and composition

In mid-1989, the band began recording in Milan with record producer Flood.[14] [15] After a three-week pre-production session with band member and producer Alan Wilder in London,[14] the full band met at Logic Studios in Milan, Italy for a seven week session.[16] Although the band didn't get much recording done in Milan, the process did help the band and Flood coalesce around their new sound and working style.[16] The band had asked songwriter Martin Gore to bring less complete demos to these sessions, as in the past he'd brought nearly-complete demos which had limited the band's ability to improvise in the studio.[17] Accordingly, Gore brought in a very simple demo for a new song called "Personal Jesus", which he played by tapping the beat with his foot while playing the melody on an acoustic guitar.[14]

The song, with lyrics described as "melding the sacred and the sexual, the pious and the profane,"[14] was inspired by the book Elvis and Me (1985) by Priscilla Presley; according to Gore:

It's a song about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis Presley was her man and her mentor and how often that happens in love relationships; how everybody's heart is like a god in some way. We play these god-like parts for people but no one is perfect, and that's not a very balanced view of someone, is it?[18]

The band liked the sound of the song, and selected it as an early single before the rest of the album had even been recorded, saying it was a perfect song that said "here's Depeche Mode, but not as you know them."[19] The band had used guitars in songs as early as 1982 with their single "Get the Balance Right!",[20] but this was the first guitar-forward single the band had released.[21]

"Personal Jesus" is written in the key of F minor with a tempo of 130 beats per minute in time.[22]

After recording "Personal Jesus" in Milan, the band moved to Puk Recording Studios in Denmark to work on the rest of the album.[23][19]

Promotion and release

"Personal Jesus" was released on 29 August 1989 by Mute Records in the UK, Sire Records/Warner Bros. Records[24] in the US and Liberation Records in Australia.[25] In the UK, the single was released on a wide variety of formats: 7-inch single (catalogue number 7BONG17), a gatefold 7-inch single (GBONG17) and a 12-inch and limited 12-inch single (12BONG17 and L12BONG17, respectively).[26] Remixes across the releases of the song and its B-side, "Dangerous", were made by François Kevorkian, Mark Ellis, and Daniel Miller.[27]

To support the single, a personal ad was placed in newspapers and magazines in some regions that asked "Do you need your own Personal Jesus?" and people who dialed the 1-800 number in the ad heard a clip of the song;[28][29] some British newspapers such as the Aberdeen Evening News and Nottingham Evening Post refused to play the ads, and London's The Standard only relented when it was pointed out that they had already run similar advertisements for Billy Graham.[30] The band was enthusiastic about the song, but had low expectations for its release, with both Gore and band member Andy Fletcher suggesting the song would struggle for airplay in the US given its religious theme.[14] The band had two of its song previously censored by radio stations due to their lyrical content, "Master and Servant" and "Blasphemous Rumours", both released in 1984.[31][32]

"Personal Jesus" went on to become Warner Bros' best-selling 12-inch single of all time up to that point, surpassing releases by artists such as Prince and Madonna.[19][24] The single was successful enough that its B-side, "Dangerous", hit number 13 on the US Modern Rock Tracks Chart itself.[33] By 2006, "Personal Jesus" had sold a million copies, only surpassed by their follow-up single, "Enjoy the Silence" (1990).[19]

Critical reception

David Giles from Music Week wrote: "Their first release for over two years, and hardly a radical style departure. Stark and foreboding, and still employing the distinctive technique of vocal harmonies an octave apart. Strong enough to go top five, but fast losing ground to the Belgium beat experimentalists."[34] Stuart Maconie of the New Musical Express magazine wrote that Depeche Mode were "the most subversive singles band of the decade ... [who] make criminally brilliant pop records about God, death, crazy sex and alienation" and called the song "a hit".[30]

Music video

The video for the song was directed by frequent Depeche Mode collaborator Anton Corbijn, shot in the Tabernas Desert of Almería, in Spain,[35] the same village where Clint Eastwood's Spaghetti Westerns were shot decades earlier.[36] The shots of the band dressed as cowboys harkened to the Wild West,[21] and shots of women that alluded to the location being a brothel, alongside "suggestive" mouth movements by Gore, led to MTV to censor the video.[35] "Personal Jesus" was one of the first colorized videos the director made for the band.[35]

The video appears on The Videos 86>98 (1998), The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1 (2006) and Video Singles Collection (2016).

Impact and legacy

In 2011, Slant Magazine listed the song at number 81 in their ranking of "The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s", writing: "Depeche Mode's gimmick is one that, after years of repetition, seems ingeniously flimsy, bundling angst and spiritual frustration with sex and pouty gloom. 'Personal Jesus' has escaped the mustiness that has enveloped most of the band's material not by flouting these tactics, but by embodying them so well. Bolstered by Dave Gahan's repeated imprecation to 'reach out and touch faith', the vocals seem perched on a neutral point between the completely earnest and the bitterly sarcastic, turning what could have been another flat religious diatribe into a thinly dual-tiered assessment of devotion and self-absorption."[37] In 2017, Billboard ranked "Personal Jesus" second behind only "Enjoy the Silence" on a list of their "20 Best Depeche Mode Songs".[38]

The Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd's lead vocalist John Lydon commented on the track: "it's a serious problem for me, all this technology. The people who've used it best would be Depeche Mode. 'Your own Personal Jesus!' Bloody 'ell mate, they got it! They were using the Casiotone effect and they wrapped a song around it, but they didn't let it dictate to the song. That's another tune I just absolutely love – I was so impressed with the bravery of attempting such a subject matter."[39]

Other releases

"Personal Jesus" has appeared on every Depeche Mode compilations released since 1989: The Singles 86>98 (1998), Remixes 81–04 (2004), The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1 (2006), and Remixes 2: 81–11 (2011). Live versions of the song performed in concert have appeared on Devotional (1993), One Night in Paris (2002), Touring the Angel: Live in Milan (2006), Tour of the Universe: Barcelona 20/21.11.09 (2010), Live in Berlin (2014) and Spirits in the Forest (2019).

Track listings

All songs were written by Martin L. Gore.

  • UK 7-inch and cassette single; US cassette single[40][41][42]
  1. "Personal Jesus" – 3:43
  2. "Dangerous" – 4:20
A1. "Personal Jesus" – 3:43
B1. "Dangerous" (Hazchemix edit) – 3:01
B2. "Personal Jesus" (acoustic) – 3:26
  1. "Personal Jesus" (Holier Than Thou approach) – 5:51
  2. "Dangerous" (Sensual mix) – 5:24
  3. "Personal Jesus" (acoustic) – 3:26
  • UK limited-edition 12-inch and mini-CD single[46][47]
  1. "Personal Jesus" (Pump mix) – 7:47
  2. "Personal Jesus" (Telephone Stomp mix) – 5:32
  3. "Dangerous" (Hazchemix) – 5:34
  • US 12-inch single[48]
A1. "Personal Jesus" (Holier Than Thou approach) – 5:43
A2. "Personal Jesus" (7-inch version) – 3:43
B1. "Personal Jesus" (Pump mix) – 7:19
B2. "Dangerous" (Hazchemix) – 5:35
B3. "Dangerous" (7-inch version) – 4:19
  • US maxi-CD single[49]
  1. "Personal Jesus" (7-inch version) – 3:43
  2. "Personal Jesus" (Holier Than Thou approach) – 5:43
  3. "Dangerous" (Hazchemix) – 5:35
  4. "Personal Jesus" (Pump mix) – 7:19
  5. "Personal Jesus" (acoustic) – 3:26
  6. "Dangerous" (Sensual mix) – 5:22
  7. "Personal Jesus" (Telephone Stomp mix) – 5:30
  8. "Dangerous" (7-inch version) – 4:19
  • US maxi-cassette single[50]
A1. "Personal Jesus" (Holier Than Thou approach) – 5:43
A2. "Personal Jesus" (7-inch version) – 3:43
A3. "Dangerous" (Sensual mix) – 5:22
A4. "Personal Jesus" (acoustic) – 3:26
B1. "Dangerous" (Hazchemix) – 5:35
B2. "Personal Jesus" (Telephone Stomp mix) – 5:30
B3. "Personal Jesus" (Pump mix) – 7:19
B4. "Dangerous" (7-inch version) – 4:19

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989–1990)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[51]134
Denmark (IFPI)[52]3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[53]8
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[54]9
Greece (IFPI)[55]3
Italy (Musica e dischi)[56]3
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[57]2
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[58]11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[59]14
Spain (AFYVE)[60]3
US Cash Box Top 100[61]31
Chart (2007)Peak
position

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[62]48
West Germany (Media Control)[63]76

"Personal Jesus 2011"

Personal Jesus 2011
single
ArtistDepeche Mode
AlbumRemixes 2: 81–11
Released18 April 2011
Length3:56
LabelMute
WriterMartin L. Gore
ProducerStargate
Prev year2009
Next year2013

"Personal Jesus 2011" is the preceding single to the remix compilation album Remixes 2: 81–11. The digital single was released in the UK on 18 April 2011 and a day later in the US. It was released on CD and vinyl on 30 May 2011.

Track listings

CD (Bong43)

  1. "Personal Jesus" (The Stargate mix) – 3:57
  2. "Personal Jesus" (Alex Metric remix) – 5:57
  3. "Personal Jesus" (Eric Prydz remix) – 7:26
  4. "Personal Jesus" (M.A.N. remix) – 5:24
  5. "Personal Jesus" (Sie Medway-Smith remix) – 6:25

12-inch vinyl

  1. "Personal Jesus" (Alex Metric remix) – 5:54
  2. "Personal Jesus" (M.A.N. remix) – 5:22
  3. "Personal Jesus" (The Stargate mix) – 3:56
  4. "Personal Jesus" (Eric Prydz remix) – 7:25
  5. "Personal Jesus" (Sie Medway-Smith remix) – 6:25

Digital download

  1. "Personal Jesus" (The Stargate mix) – 3:56
  2. "Personal Jesus" (Alex Metric remix edit) – 3:27

Beatport Exclusive digital download

  1. "Personal Jesus" (Eric Prydz remix) – 7:26
  2. "Never Let Me Down Again" (Eric Prydz remix) – 7:01

iTunes Store

  1. "Personal Jesus" (Alex Metric remix) – 5:57
  2. "Personal Jesus" (Eric Prydz remix) – 7:26
  3. "Personal Jesus" (M.A.N. remix) – 5:24
  4. "Personal Jesus" (Sie Medway-Smith dub) – 5:56

Charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders Dance)[64]32
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia Dance)[65]43
Italy (Musica e dischi)[66]27

Johnny Cash version

Personal Jesus
single
CoverJohnny_Cash_Personal_Jesus_Single_Cover.jpg
ArtistJohnny Cash
AlbumAmerican IV: The Man Comes Around
B-sideHurt
ReleasedSeptember 30, 2002
StudioAmerican Recording Studios
GenreCountry[8]
Length3:19
Label
WriterMartin Gore
ProducerRick Rubin
Prev year2002
Next year2003

In 2002, American country singer Johnny Cash covered "Personal Jesus" for his sixty-seventh studio album American IV: The Man Comes Around.[67] For the song, Rick Rubin asked Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante to re-work an acoustic version of the song, which featured a simple acoustic riff that stripped down the song to a blues style. "That's probably the most evangelical song [I've] ever recorded," said Cash, "I don't know that the writer ever meant it to be that, but that's what it is."[68]

In 2017, Depeche Mode's lead vocalist Dave Gahan said about Cash covering the song, "I was in the studio recording a solo album, Hourglass, and Martin [Gore] rang me because he'd heard news that Johnny Cash wanted to cover it, and he was kind of umming and ahhing about it, whether to give permission, and I was like 'What are you, crazy? That's like Elvis asking, of course, you let him do it!' And he was like [mumbles] 'Oh yes, well, I guess,' in his very Martin sort of way." He concluded, "And it's a great version, just fantastic. But it really propelled the song to another dimension. Our version is our version, and it always changes a little bit live, the way it swings, what you do with it. And you can do a lot with it because it's a great rock & roll song."[67]

Charts

ChartPeak
position

Marilyn Manson version

Personal Jesus
single
Covermarilyn manson personal jesus.jpg
ArtistMarilyn Manson
AlbumLest We Forget: The Best Of
Released28 September 2004[9]
GenreIndustrial rock[10]
Length
  • 3:19 (radio edit)[11]
  • 4:06 (album version)
Label
WriterMartin Gore
Producer
Prev year2003
Next year2005

American rock band Marilyn Manson released their cover version of the track as the only previously unreleased recording included on their greatest hits album Lest We Forget: The Best Of (2004).[69] Band leader Marilyn Manson explained to MTV that he decided to cover "Personal Jesus" as: "I thought if I had to write a song, [the lyrics of 'Personal Jesus' are] exactly what I would say. ... I think it takes a little more of an ironic tone when you put it in context with what's going on today."[70] He additionally described the original song and Depeche Mode's music in general as hypnotic, sexy and inspirational.[71] Its music video was directed by Manson and Nathan Cox.[72] The song won an award in the 'pop' category of the 2005 BMI Film & TV Awards,[73] while its music video received two nominations at the 2005 Music Video Production Awards.[74] As of 2020, the track has sold over 78,000 physical and digital copies in the United Kingdom, where it was also streamed over 4 million times.[75]

Formats and track listings

  • European 7-inch and US 10-inch single[76][77]
  1. "Personal Jesus" – 4:06
  2. "Personal Jesus" (Rude Photo Motor Remix) – 5:50
  1. "Personal Jesus" – 4:06
  2. "This Is the New Shit" (Remix by Sergio Galoyan) – 4:28
  • International maxi single[79]
  1. "Personal Jesus" – 4:06
  2. "Mobscene Replet" (Mea Culpa Mix by Bitteren Ende) – 4:35
  3. "Personal Jesus" (Rude Photo Motor Remix) – 5:50
  4. "Personal Jesus" (Enhanced Video)
  1. "Personal Jesus" – 4:06
  2. "New Shit Invective" (Obiter Dictum Mix by Bitteren Ende) – 4:25
  3. "Mobscene Replet" (Mea Culpa Mix by Bitteren Ende) – 4:35
  4. "Personal Jesus" (Enhanced Video)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[81]12
Greece (IFPI)[82]21

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)Position
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[83]68

Other versions

The British singer Jamelia used a sample from the song for her 2006 single "Beware of the Dog". American singer and actress Hilary Duff also used a "Personal Jesus" sample as the basis of her 2008 single "Reach Out".[84]

In 2013, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar covered the song on his sixteenth studio album Sammy Hagar & Friends. Hagar commented at the time: "I've gotta tell you, as I studied that lick I went 'That is a blues fricken' lick.' For an electronic band, some bizarre alternative electronic band, that's a badass blues lick. And I played it on guitar and said, 'This is it.' And Neal Schon, the intro on that thing, the licks Neal's playing, it's in high gear. I can't wait till the Depeche Mode guys hear it. I think when they hear it they're going to say, 'Sammy Hagar, that (expletive) rock and roll freak?' Haha. They've gotta like it. It's a blues song and it's a great lyric, a great deep, dark lyric. I can't write lyrics like that. It's too dark for me."[85]

A lounge cover version recorded by the comedy act Richard Cheese was used as the theme song for a season 3 episode of The Leftovers.[86]

In 2018, the English rock band Def Leppard released their own version of the song. Guitarist Phil Collen said: "Depeche Mode [started out] really poppy like a lot of bands that disappeared, then all of a sudden they started doing things like 'Personal Jesus' – and it was like 'woah' … It has an element of cool that was different from the earlier Depeche Mode stuff. I found it really inspiring how this article that said Depeche Mode sold out more than [Justin] Bieber or Taylor Swift. We [felt] a tear of pride and joy for them – the fact that they carried on, never stopped … and it's sort of the way we see ourselves."[87]

See also

References

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  2. ^ Cranna, Ian (April 1990). "Insidious". Q. p. 77.
  3. ^ Rolland, David (October 4, 2023). "10 Songs That Show Depeche Mode Are Synth-Pop Masters". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 286. ISBN 978-1-8435-3105-0. Given that, by now. Depeche Mode had become a stadium phenomenon in the States. Violator seemed an oddly introspective way to sell six million units (the synth-rock single "Personal Jesus" was the exception to the rule).
  5. ^ Michaud, Sébastien (2001). Depeche Mode: Éthique synthétique (in French). Camion Blanc. p. 244. ISBN 978-2-9101-9626-4.
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