Depeche Mode's Songs of Faith and Devotion

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Depeche Mode's Songs of Faith and Devotion

Originally released in 1993, Depeche Mode's Songs of Faith and Devotion was

unveiled to a stunned U.S. and U.K. audience. The band had undergone a transformation

of truly Gothic proportions. Gone were the short crew cuts, the sole use of synthesizers,

and the Gap image. In its place were long and flowing Jesus-like hair, distorted guitars

and full drum sections, and a look that some described as the "heroine junky" mode.

Much to the surprise of die-hard fans, the album was a commercial success, spawning a

full length live album, 5 top twenty Billboard hits, and a relentless 18 month tour which

ended abruptly when keyboardist Alan Wilder quit the band after 16 years.

The content of Songs of Faith and Devotion came out of an era of confusion and

redemption for the band, and namely from lead singer Dave Gahan's fight with heroine

and cocaine addiction. After spending 3 years in seclusion after the release of Violater in

1989, the band reunited in early 1992 to begin recording a new album. The tone of the

album would be so overtly religious that some fans were initially turned off by the

constant references to God, holiness, redemption, suffering, and the like. The most

glaring example of Depeche Mode's new-found religion is the song Walking in My

Shoes. The song was written by Martin Gore in response to the public outrage regarding

Dave Gahan's new "bad boy" image, with his constant public misbehaviour, his new

adoration for religious tattoos, and his striking new resemblance to Jesus. The lyrics tell a

tale of a man who's life has been turned upside down by trials and tribulations.

Like Job before him, many of the problems that Dave Gahan had encountered

were beyond his control. The creative tension between Martin Gore and Alan Wilder, the

constant touring and public appearances, the death of his mother and father, and a long

legal battle with Sire records had taken their toll on Dave's psyche. Martin Gore was

always the first to confront Dave, but in this case it was through music that he would best

serve the purpose of bringing Dave back from the brink of despair.

The first verse of the song introduces us to the characters point of view, with an

emphasis on things that are done to him, rather than what he has done to himself

I would tell you about the things they put me through

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