WishListening

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Week 1: Songs and Stories (3/11)

Feeling Useless

Current track: Useless from the album Ultra (1997) -- Depeche Mode

There are so many strange and wonderful tidbits about this song. First of all, I have been fortunate enough to see DM a number of times--though I have no pictures to share, this time around. The only problem with this is that I have only seen DM once with anyone who actually listened to them before the show. (Thanks, Michael!) Every other time, it has been someone with a passing fancy, who happens to know Enjoy the Silence as "that song I heard once when I was 3." That said, I still have a lot to learn. Luckily, I have ample remixes in which to indulge, and I happen to know several attractive people who would be happy to play DM at the drop of a hat. Let's dance.

Useless was written by Martin Gore, but Dave Gahan was the voice behind it. Plenty of speculation surrounds the lyrics. Just prior to Ultra's release, Gahan was struggling with a heroin addiction, which landed him in rehab. Released from rehab in 1996, Gahan headed back into the studio to record Ultra and a handful of singles that were included on a later album. Fans over at Songmeanings.net offer the possibility that the song may have been about Alan Wilder's departure from the band in 1995. The lack of keyboard--Alan's instrument--seems to be an accusation...but not to me. The lyrics seem directly related to the effects of heroin addiction, and Gore's internal dialogue with the absent Gahan. Apparently, Gore dealt with some (alcohol-related) issues of his own, so I wouldn't be surprised if he used the song as a means to address addiction, in general.

Watch the clock on the wall
feel the slowing of time
hear a voice in the hall
echoing in my mind

All your stupid ideals
you've got your head in the clouds
you should see how it feels
with your feet on the ground

Frankly, I'm more attracted to the repeated ninths in the vocal line, and the dissonance in the lead guitar. Oh yeah, and Gahan is a complete freak on stage. It wasn't long before I expected him to be permanently shirtless and writhing. I have no complaints.

Okay, except this: (NOTE: a few of the linked videos are mildly NSFW, due to the nature of Victoria's Secret fashions.)

A remix of Useless was used in an ad campaign for Victoria's Secret...specifically, for a new bra. Now, I know that Depeche Mode has a tendency to conjure up bedroom fantasies, but the idea of using Useless to sell anything other than itself seems a bit counterproductive, no?

Or, ya know, I could just cover Personal Jesus instead. Oh wait, that's been done ~~before~~ again. (I'm sorry. The last linked video is just painful, if you haven't already seen/heard it.)

Labels: cover, Depeche Mode, lingerie

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9:09 PM

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Watch the clock on the wall
feel the slowing of time
hear a voice in the hall
echoing in my mind

All your stupid ideals
you've got your head in the clouds
you should see how it feels
with your feet on the ground

Labels: cover, Depeche Mode, lingerie

0 Comments

9:09 PM