Depeche Mode Personal Jesus
Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode is listed as the song number #368 on Rollings Stone magazine's "The RS 500 Greatest songs of all time." Written by Martin Gore, you can find the story behind the writing of the song here.
Personal Jesus was first released as a single on August 29, 1989 and then on the upcoming Violater album.
The song features a catchy, drum-based style, radically different from any previous Depeche Mode efforts. The song hit big across the world, and is Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus is one of their most successful songs.
It was the first time the guitar was used as the lead instrument on a Depeche Mode song. Magazine ads and a telephone campaign (people could call a number seen on magazine ads that would play the song) were an unusual advertising step for the band.
According to Wikipedia, "Personal Jesus" has a cornucopia of remixes, almost unprecedented for Depeche Mode at the time. Depeche Mode invited more DJs and mixers to cause. François Kevorkian (who did the mixing for the Violator album, in general) mixed the single version, the "Holier Than Thou Approach" and the "Pump Mix", while producer Flood mixed the "Acoustic" version and the "Telephone Stomp Mix" as well as the single version and "Sensual Mix" of the single's B-side "Dangerous."The "Hazchemix" and "Hazchemix Edit" of "Dangerous" were mixed by Daniel Miller.
In September 2006 it was voted as one of the "100 Greatest Songs Ever" in Q magazine. Additional trivia includes:
- "Personal Jesus" appears on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on alternative station Radio X.
- There is a Christmas episode in the first season of Scrubs entitled "My Own Personal Jesus", referencing the song.
- In the original Matrix film, there is a scene where Keanu Reeves approaches an apartment labeled "101" (which happens to be the title of a 1989 Depeche Mode film), and the resident greets him with the statement "You're my own personal Jesus!"
Personal Jesus Lyrics
Your own personal jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares
Your own personal jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone whos thereFeeling unknown
And youre all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
Ill make you a believerTake second best
Put me to the test
Things on your chest
You need to confess
I will deliver
You know Im a forgiverReach out and touch faith
Reach out and touch faithYour own personal jesus...
Feeling unknown
And youre all alone
Flesh and bone
By the telephone
Lift up the receiver
Ill make you a believerI will deliver
You know Im a forgiverReach out and touch faith
Your own personal jesus
Reach out and touch faith
You can buy the Depeche Mode Personal Jesus single on iTunes.