The band has been highly influential in the electronic dance music scene, especially synthpop, techno, and trance, partly due to their innovative work, recording techniques, and use of sampling. Their most successful album is arguably 1990's Violator, which reached the #2 position in the UK, #7 in the US, and sold over 8 million copies worldwide. The band has released a long series of high-charting singles over their three-decades long career. Enjoy the Silence is their most recognized song and one of history's most covered songs.
The original line-up was Dave Gahan, Martin L. Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke. In December 1981, Clarke left the band and later formed Yazoo, The Assembly, and Erasure. Alan Wilder joined the group initially in January 1982 as a live keyboardist but became an official member in December 1982. He left in mid-1995 to fully concentrate on his Recoil project, and the band continued as a trio. In 2010 Wilder re-joined Depeche Mode on stage after 16 years for a performance of Somebody during a show at London's Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Depeche Mode's origins date back to 1977, when Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher formed a band called No Romance in China, with Clarke on vocals and guitar and Fletcher on bass. In March 1980, Clarke, Gore, and Fletcher formed a band called Composition of Sound, with Clarke on vocals/guitar, Gore on keyboards, and Fletcher on bass. Soon after the formation of Composition of Sound, Clarke, and Fletcher switched to synthesizers. Dave Gahan joined the band in 1980 after Clarke heard him perform at a local scout hut jam session, singing to a rendition of David Bowie's "Heroes" and Depeche Mode was born.
While playing a live gig at the Bridge House in Canning Town, Daniel Miller, the founder of Mute Records, approached the band, who proposed a verbal contract. The result was their first single, Dreaming of Me, recorded in December 1980 and released in February 1981, reaching number 57 in the UK charts and followed soon by a real contract with Mute.
To date, Depeche Mode have released:
15 studio albums: Speak & Spell (1981), A Broken Frame (1982), Construction Time Again (1983), Some Great Reward (1984), Black Celebration (1986), Music For the Masses (1987), Violator (1990), Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993), Ultra (1997), Exciter (2001), Playing the Angel (2005), Sounds of the Universe (2009), Delta Machine (2013), Spirit (2017), and Memento Mori (2023);
8 compilations: People Are People (1984), The Singles 81-85 (1985), Catching Up with Depeche Mode (1985), Greatest Hits (1987), The Singles 86>98 (1998), Remixes 81-04 (2004), The Best Of Depeche Mode Volume 1 (2006), The Complete Depeche Mode (2006);
5 live albums: 101 (1989), Songs of Faith and Devotion Live (1993), Recording the Angel (a series of live recordings; 2006), Tour Of The Universe: Barcelona 20/21:11:09 (2009) and Live In Berlin (Soundtrack) (2014) ;
Over 50 singles: including Just Can't Get Enough, Everything Counts, People Are People, Master and Servant, Shake the Disease, Stripped, A Question of Time, Strangelove, Never Let Me Down Again, Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, World in My Eyes, Policy of Truth, I Feel You, Walking in My Shoes, In Your Room, Barrel of a Gun, It's No Good, Home, Dream On, Freelove, Precious, Wrong and Heaven ;
14 live / video collections (VHS/DVD/Blu-ray): The World We Live In and Live in Hamburg (1985), Some Great Videos (1985), Strange (1988), 101 (1989), Strange Too (1990), Devotional (1993), The Videos 86>98 (1998), One Night in Paris (2002), The Videos 86>98 (2002), Touring the Angel: Live in Milan (2006), The Best of - Volume 1 (2006), Tour of the Universe : Barcelona 20/21.11.09 (2009), Live in Berlin (2014) and Video Singles Collection (2016)
My Little Universe
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those who know me say I'm growing every day
Beautiful emptiness surrounds me
I take small steps
I'm making progress in an unspecific way
Here I am king
I decide everything
No one
No one
No one
The limited consciousness preserves me
It protects me
And just connects enough to keep the walls at bay
My little universe is expanding, slowly
And those who know me say I'm growing every day
Here I am king
I decide everything
I let no one in
No one
No one
No one
This song is essentially about internal growth and finding comfort within one's own space, which the singer calls their "little universe." They express a sense of control over their own life and decisions, being the "king" of their universe and letting no one else in. This could indicate a sense of introversion and a desire for personal space or independence. The singer finds a sense of safety within this limited consciousness, which both preserves and protects them. The phrase "beautiful emptiness" could refer to the peacefulness of solitude, but also suggests a sense of emptiness or lack of fulfillment, emphasizing the internal focus of the song. The unspecific progress further highlights this idea of internal growth, as it may not be tangible or easily measured, but is still significant and meaningful to the singer.
Overall, the song is encouraging listeners to embrace their own personal growth and find solace within themselves, even if it means shutting out the outside world.
Line by Line Meaning
My little universe is expanding slowly
My personal world is becoming broader and more comprehensive, but it is happening gradually.
Those who know me say I'm growing every day
People who are familiar with me claim that I am evolving and maturing progressively.
Beautiful emptiness surrounds me
I am encircled by a pleasant and fulfilling sense of vacancy.
I take small steps
I proceed cautiously and patiently, one step at a time.
I'm making progress in an unspecific way
I am gradually making advancements without a particular plan or direction.
Here I am king
In my own personal universe, I am in complete control and authority.
I decide everything
I have complete autonomy over every aspect of my own little universe.
I let no one in
I do not allow anyone to enter or disturb my personal realm.
No one
Absolutely no one is permitted to invade my world.
The limited consciousness preserves me
A restricted perception of reality safeguards me from external influences and disturbances.
It protects me
This limited consciousness acts as my defense and safeguard against potential intruders or threats.
And just connects enough to keep the walls at bay
At the same time, this limited consciousness is capable of connecting just enough to prevent me from being entirely closed off from the external world.
My little universe is expanding, slowly
Once again, my personal world is slowly but surely growing in size and substance.
And those who know me say I'm growing every day
People who are aware of my personal world and its changes claim that I am experiencing constant growth and evolution.
No one
As before, absolutely no one can penetrate the walls of my personal universe.
No one
Not a single person or entity can cause any disturbance or disruption within my personal realm.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind