Barrel of a Gun (Depeche Mode song)

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"Barrel of a Gun"
DepecheModeBarrelOfAGun.jpg
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Ultra
B-side"Painkiller"
Released3 February 1997 (1997-02-03)[1]
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 5:35 (album version)
  • 5:29 (single version)
  • 4:00 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Martin Gore
Producer(s)Tim Simenon
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"In Your Room"
(1994) 		"Barrel of a Gun"
(1997) 		"It's No Good"
(1997)
Music video
"Barrel of a Gun" on YouTube

"Barrel of a Gun" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released as the first single from their ninth studio album, Ultra (1997), on 3 February 1997. The song reached number one in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain and Sweden while reaching the top 10 in several other countries, including Finland, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom. In North America, the song reached number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30.

Song meaning[]

"It's about understanding what you're about and realising that you don't necessarily fit into somebody else's scheme of things," said keyboardist Martin Gore.[3] Singer Dave Gahan, who was weakened from his battle with substance abuse at the time, added, "The song sums up the way I was treating myself and everybody around me. That's what life had in store for me every day. It's a really powerful statement. When you're in that kind of row, the last thing on your mind is dying."[4]

Critical reception[]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "One of the true pioneering acts of electro-pop ends a lengthy break from the airwaves with a thoroughly satisfying if often caustic blend of techno synths and metallic guitars. Singer Dave Gahan has a field day digging into Martin Gore's typically heavy lyrics, comfortably swerving back and forth between hypnotic lethargy to white-knuckled intensity. Producer Tim Simenon wisely underlines the track with the kind of hip-hop motion needed to crack the pop market, while carefully weaving the instrumentation so that rockers and clubheads alike can happily jam on this one—and they will."[5] Dominic Pride from Music & Media noted that Depeche Mode "serve up the sombre, industrial sound for which they've become huge in Europe, but with Simenon adding some open space to the production." He added that Gahan's "distorted vocals bring a touch of Nine Inch Nails to the party."[6]

Music video[]

The music video for the song, shot in Morocco by Anton Corbijn, features Gahan with long hair singing with his eyes closed, with eyeballs drawn on his eyelids to make it seem like they are open.[7]

Track listings[]

All songs were written by Martin L. Gore.

Charts and certifications[]

References[]

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1 February 1997. p. 31. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  2. ^ DiGravina, Tim. "Depeche Mode - Barrel of a Gun". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. ^ Trakin, Janet (28 April 1997). "It's a Mode Mode Mode World". Hits. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. ^ Harding, Sven. "Interview with Depeche Mode, The Videos 86>98, Mute MF033 and Videos 86>98+". Mute MF042. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (25 January 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 60. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  6. ^ Pride, Dominic (25 January 1997). "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 21. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Depeche Mode Biography 1997". Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  8. ^ Barrel of a Gun (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1997. 12BONG25.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Barrel of a Gun (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Depeche Mode. Reprise Records. 1997. 0-43828.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Barrel of a Gun (UK CD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1997. CDBONG25.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Barrel of a Gun (European CD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1997. 74321464902.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Barrel of a Gun (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Depeche Mode. Reprise Records. 1997. 7-17409.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Barrel of a Gun (US CD single disc notes). Depeche Mode. Reprise Records. 1997. 2-17409.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Barrel of a Gun (Canadian CD single disc notes). Depeche Mode. Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1997. CD 43828.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Barrel of a Gun (Australian CD single disc notes). Depeche Mode. Liberation Records, Mute Records. 1997. D1560, LCDBONG 25.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  17. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7856." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  22. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 9. 1 March 1997. p. 15. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 9. 1 March 1997. p. 15. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 8. 22 February 1997. p. 11. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Depeche Mode: Barrel of a Gun" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  26. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in French). Les classement single.
  27. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  28. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 8. 22 February 1997. p. 15. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Barrel of a Gun". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109 no. 8. 22 February 1997. p. 38. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  31. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  32. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". VG-lista.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  34. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  35. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". Singles Top 100.
  36. ^ "Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". Swiss Singles Chart.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  38. ^ a b c "Depeche Mode Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  40. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  41. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1997" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  42. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2019.

External links[]

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