The story of modern music is replete with cases when the authors of super popular compositions do not like their creations and refuse to perform them at concerts. Most often, this happens due to the fact that the public, having fallen in love with one hit of the group, ignores the rest of the work of the group.
But sometimes musicians simply consider some songs too unsuccessful and do not share the fans’ enthusiasm for these works. Martin Gore, a member of Depeche Mode, found himself in a similar situation. He composed the song People Are People, which became the group’s first hit in the United States. But such success did not make him very happy.
The story of creation and meaning
The fact is that most of Depeche Mode’s songs give reason to think about their meaning and leave room for imagination, while People Are People literally expresses an appeal to people with a call to forget about cultural and religious contradictions and move towards unity.
It is this simplicity and lack of subtext that causes Martin’s dissatisfaction, which he spoke about more than once in interviews. He dislikes People Are People so much that the band hasn’t played it live since the late eighties.
The single People Are People, Depeche Mode’s tenth single, was released in 1984. It peaked at number four in the UK and peaked at number thirteen on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was very popular in Germany, where it topped the local hit parade.
The song became the third track on the Some Great Reward album. She also opens the People Are People compilation.
In 2011, People Are People was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
Videos of People Are People by Depeche Mode
The music video for People Are People – Depeche Mode was directed by Clive Richardson. The video was released in two versions: one was intended for the single, the other for the remix.
Interesting Facts
- The success of the song in West Germany was facilitated by the fact that it was widely used on television during the broadcast of the 1984 Olympic Games, which were boycotted by almost all countries of the socialist camp, including the GDR.
Lyrics People Are People by Depeche Mode
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
So we’re different colors and we’re different creeds
And different people have different needs
It’s obvious you hate me though I’ve done nothing wrong
I’ve never even met you, so what could I have done?
I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
And now you’re punching and you’re kicking and you’re shouting at me
I’m relying on your common decency
So far, it hasn’t surfaced but I’m sure it exists
It just take a while to travel from your head to your fist
Lyrics of the song People Are People – Depeche Mode Alternate
People are people, so why
Are you and I supposed to get along so badly?
People are people, so why
Are you and I supposed to get along so badly?
So we’re different colors and different creeds
And different people have different needs
Of course you hate me even though I did nothing wrong
I never even met you, so what could I do?
I do not understand,
What makes a person
hate another person
Help me understand
And now you’re punching and kicking me and yelling at me
I only hope for good manners on your part
So far, they have not discovered themselves, but I’m sure they exist.
It just takes time to get from head to fist
