It was in 1987 that I discovered the music of Depeche Mode. Up until then I listened to mainly crappy pop music, and after discovering DM I discovered bands like The Smiths, The Cure, Joy Division, New Order, OMD, and other bands of that great genre, "Modern Rock." So long, crappy pop music.
I've loved nearly all of Depeche Mode albums, but Black Celebration was always at the top of my list of all-time favorite albums, period. It was a dramatic turn for Depeche Mode, following the relatively upbeat Some Great Reward (which did have a couple of dark songs, such as "Blasphemous Rumours" to foreshadow what was to come).
Black Celebration combines Martin L. Gore's dark lyrics and music with Alan Wilder's spectacular sonic landscape. Black Celebration opens with the title song, which starts with a sort of minimalist synth backdrop, combining weird noises and vocal sounds while a simple synth line is added until everything explodes in a crescendo of music, and leads to Dave Gahan singing the opening line, "Let's have a black celebration, black celebration, tonight..." which sets the stage for the remainder of the album.
"Black Celebration" transitions into "Fly on The Windscreen — Final," which immediately tells you what it's about with the lyric, "Death is everywhere, there are flies on the windscreen for a start, reminding us we could be torn apart..."
Gore switches gears a bit with "A Question of Lust," a sort of darker version of "Somebody" from Some Great Reward.
"Sometimes" is a simple piece, mainly piano and Gore's vocals, just under two minutes long. "It Doesn't Matter Two" is another song about relationships, albeit a troubled one.
Other highlights include "Stripped" which segues into "Here Is The House," my favorite track on the album, as Black Celebration slowly begins an upbeat turn.
Article comments
1 - Bob A. Booey
"Violator," all the way.
That is all.
2 - Webbie
Music For The Masses.
So there.
3 - Anden
The closing tune ("But Not tonight") seems out of place for a good reason: It wasen't meant to be on Black Celebration at all, only put there by demand of the American label. Worse even, Warner even demanded that it replaced Stripped as the opening single in the US, whereas in Europe the track was the B-side to "Stripped". Only in America...
4 - ck11
I always loved here is the house. gore said he write about three things. Ithink they are ; a great passionate love that is reserved for lovely people, (Somebody) come together (get right with me) Feeling condemned, isolated addicted (Flying high in the friendly sky (condemnation)
5 - Temple A. Stark
Late notice but,
This post was chosen by the section editor as a BC pick of the week. Go HERE (link) to find out why.
And thank you
- Temple
6 - Temple A. Stark
Whoops, wrong Ed PICKS link.
Try this one HERE
7 - Heaven
Agree, Black Celebration is the best album. I am 35 love all of them, but thats my fav. here is the house fav song.Also world full of nothing is such an intense song with such feeling takes me back to being seventeen with first love. but i actually like new song precious, finally a new song by DM I like. cant stand when they had the gosphel stuff in the background, condemnation, yuck got tickets for ny its my like 5th show and I finally got the floor section I may pass out! I am a mom now with two kids husband wont go because i am a maniac at the shows.