Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Blasphemous Rumours"/"Somebody"
DepecheModeBlasphemousRumours.jpg
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Some Great Reward
Released29 October 1984
RecordedJune 1984
Music Works in Highbury,
Hansa Mischraum in West Berlin
GenreNew wave[1]
Length5:06 (Blasphemous Rumours)
6:20 (Blasphemous Rumours, 12" version)
4:19 (Somebody)
4:27 (Somebody, album version)
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)Martin Gore
Producer(s)Depeche Mode, Daniel Miller, and Gareth Jones
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Master and Servant"
(1984) 		"Blasphemous Rumours"/"Somebody"
(1984) 		"Shake the Disease"
(1985)

"Blasphemous Rumours"/"Somebody" is Depeche Mode's twelfth UK single and first double A-side single, released on 29 October 1984.[2][3]

Both A-side songs are from the album Some Great Reward. "Somebody" is the first single with Martin Gore as lead vocals, one of three to date (the others being "A Question of Lust" and "Home").

The music videos for both songs were directed by Clive Richardson.

Song information[]

The verses to "Blasphemous Rumours" describe a 16-year-old girl who attempts suicide but fails. She experiences a religious revival but then "Hit by a car / Ended up / On a life support machine" (from the lyrics). The chorus uses these incidents to conclude, "I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours / But I think that God's got a sick sense of humour / And when I die, I expect to find him laughing." Like other songs on Some Great Reward, the song uses a dense sound with extensive sampled percussion.

When Depeche Mode announced that they were planning to release "Blasphemous Rumours" as a single, pushback from the religious community[clarification needed] resulted, and consequently, the band decided as a compromise to release the single as a double-A side with "Somebody."[4]

"Somebody", which was sung by Martin Gore in the studio in the nude,[5] includes one of Gore's "little twists", where the song builds as if it's a song about finding your perfect love, only to have him reveal at the end "though things like this make me sick / in a case like this I'll get away with it."[6]

Track listings[]

All songs written by Martin Gore except:

7": Mute / 7Bong7 (UK)[]

  1. "Blasphemous Rumours" – 5:06
  2. "Somebody (Remix)" – 4:19

7" EP: Mute / 7Bong7E (UK)[]

  1. "Somebody (Remix)" – 4:19
  2. "Everything Counts (Live)" - 5:53
  3. "Blasphemous Rumours" – 5:06
  4. "Told You So (Live Version)" - 4:54

12": Mute / 12Bong7 (UK)[]

  1. "Blasphemous Rumours" – 6:20
  2. "Somebody (Live)" – 4:26
  3. "Two Minute Warning (Live)" – 4:36
  4. "Ice Machine (Live)" – 3:45
  5. "Everything Counts (Live)" – 5:53
  • This version of the single was also released on CD. Intercord 826.839. No Bong number, same cover as the vinyl version.

CD: Mute / CDBong7 (UK)[]

  1. "Blasphemous Rumours" – 6:20
  2. "Told You So (Live)" – 4:56
  3. "Somebody (Remix)" – 4:19
  4. "Everything Counts (Live)" – 5:53
  • The CD single was released in 1991 as part of the singles box set compilations.

All live tracks recorded at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, England on 29 September 1984.

Cover versions of "Somebody"[]

Charts[]

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] 24
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 34
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 19
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 16

References[]

  1. ^ Michael Sutton. "Forever - Dune - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Baker, Trevor (5 November 2009). Dave Gahan - Depeche Mode & The Second Coming. Bonnier Zaffre. ISBN 978-1-78418-955-6. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  3. ^ Christopher, Michael (28 December 2020). Depeche Mode FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Finest Synth-Pop Band. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-4930-5400-8. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  4. ^ Thompson, Dave (15 November 1994). Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward. St. Martin's Press. pp. 152–155. ISBN 9780312112622.
  5. ^ Robbins, Jenna Rose (12 July 2017). "The Hallowed Halls of Hansa". Where Traveler. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  6. ^ Shaw, William (April 1993), "In The Mode", Details magazine: 90–95, 168
  7. ^ Malins, Steve (2001). Depeche Mode : A Biography. Andre Deutsch. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-233-99430-7.
  8. ^ "Ultratop.be – Depeche Mode – Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Depeche Mode – Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Depeche Mode – Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Depeche Mode – Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2021.

External links[]


Retrieved from ""