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)
New Dress
Depeche Mode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bomb blast victim fights for life
Girl, thirteen, attacked with knife
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
Jet airliner shot from sky
Famine horror, millions die
Earthquake terror figures rise
You can't change the world
But you can change the facts
And when you change the facts
You change points of view
If you change points of view
You may change a vote
And when you change a vote
You may change the world
In black townships fires blaze
Prospects better premier says
Within sight are golden days
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
You can't change the world
But you can change the facts
And when you change the facts
You change points of view
If you change points of view
You may change a vote
And when you change a vote
You may change the world
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
The lyrics to Depeche Mode's song "New Dress" paint a bleak picture of the state of the world, where every day there are horrific news headlines filled with stories of death and destruction. The first verse details various violent incidents, including a murder, a bomb blast, and an attack on a young girl. Yet in the chorus, the singer brings up Princess Di wearing a new dress as if it were just another headline. This juxtaposition serves to highlight the frivolity and distraction of celebrity and fashion in the face of real-world tragedies.
The second verse continues with more examples of disasters, from a jet airliner being shot down to millions dying from famine. And yet, the chorus once again brings up Princess Di's new dress. The repetition of this line throughout the song creates a sense of absurdity and highlights the disconnect between the privileged and the rest of the world.
The bridge offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that while changing the world may be difficult, changing one's perspective can have a significant impact. By changing people's view of the world and the facts around them, it's possible to influence votes and effect change on a larger scale.
Overall, "New Dress" is a biting commentary on the culture of celebrity and the way it can distract us from the problems in the world. It's a reminder to keep our priorities straight and to focus on what really matters, rather than getting caught up in the latest fashion trends or celebrity gossip.
Line by Line Meaning
Sex jibe husband murders wife
Violence and abuse within relationships are pervasive and tragic
Bomb blast victim fights for life
Acts of terror and violence often result in devastating loss and injury
Girl, thirteen, attacked with knife
Violent crime is a persistent and deeply troubling issue
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
Amidst all the tragedy and despair, there is an obsession with celebrity culture and superficial appearances
Jet airliner shot from sky
Acts of terrorism and war can have far-reaching and devastating consequences
Famine horror, millions die
Starvation, poverty, and inequality are widespread and devastating issues worldwide
Earthquake terror figures rise
Natural disasters can cause immense suffering and loss of life
You can't change the world
Change is difficult and often feels impossible on a large scale
But you can change the facts
Shifting our understanding of reality is a powerful tool for change
And when you change the facts
Challenging accepted norms and beliefs can lead to new ways of thinking
You change points of view
Changing perspectives can be a catalyst for social change
If you change points of view
When enough people begin to see things differently, it can result in tangible change
You may change a vote
Voting is a significant way to make your voice heard and influence the course of society
And when you change a vote
Individual actions can have a ripple effect that leads to meaningful progress
You may change the world
Collective efforts can have a tremendous impact on the world around us
In black townships fires blaze
Systemic racism and discrimination continue to cause immense harm and suffering
Prospects better premier says
Political leaders often use rhetoric to offer hope for the future, but actions speak louder than words
Within sight are golden days
Despite the challenges we face, there is always the possibility of a brighter future
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
Celebrity culture and media obsession with appearance distract from the serious issues that face our world
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
The repetition of this line underscores the persistence of the media's superficial focus, even amidst tragedy
Princess Di is wearing a new dress
The final line of the song serves as a biting commentary on our society's priorities and values
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Unison Rights S.L., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Dictatious
I honestly love this song. It expresses how many bad things go on, meanwhile all the news does is give it brief mention, and provides full attention to the celebrities, or people who are seemingly "perfect." It is open yet abstract, and I admire that.
@davidellis5141
With all the Trump nonsense this really resonates in 2018.
@unapprovedtruth7116
@David Ellis Trump called it: fake news
@MilkAndCornbreadd
For me, this is Depeche Mode's best and most intriguing non-single track from their whole music catalog.
@housydoing
I'm an Ice Machine guy, myself, but as of late i keep coming back to this track and Little 15 ... i struggle with the post MftM works
@dontlookatthispagedlatpt.v7819
The lyrics are still very relevant today.
@jakubbielak7273
What about Rush? Higher love? Fly on the Windscreen - final? They're awesome too :)
@bicyclist2
Agreed! Amen!
@ArbeiterInnenlieder
@Frank Lopez Behind The Wheel was a huge single hit. Anyway New Dress is a great song, one of their best.
@Duncan_1971
Totally inspired, i listened to this when I was 15 and very impressionable. The music & lyrics have stayed with me since. (i'm now 46)