Top 10 Depeche Mode Songs

With a title like that, sexually suggestive lyrics and sound effects mimicking whips-and-chains, is it so surprising that the second single off Some Great Reward raised controversy and was rejected by multiple radio stations? In spite of the ban, or maybe because of it, this mix of synthpop, new wave and industrial music still cracked the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK top 10.

With its synthpop flavors and alternative dance elements, this track off Depeche Mode’s ninth album creates a musical atmosphere that’s haunting and captivating at the same time. Penned by Martin Gore, the single’s pulsing melody and memorable chorus are a perfect fit for David Gahan’s baritone vocals. It also became a top 5 hit for the band in the UK and reached the Billboard Hot 100’s top forty.

Though a slower and simpler cut eventually wound up on the band’s sixth record, “Strangelove” was originally a synth-heavy, electro pop tune. Thanks to its mix of synthpop, new wave and alternative dance, the song became Depeche Mode’s first chart-topper on the American Dance charts. The next year, a Bomb the Bass remix entitled “Strangelove ‘88” found a home on the Billboard Hot 100.

This four-minute track off Playing the Angel stands out due to its moody but distinctive keyboard sounds. It was a top 5 hit in the UK and a top 40 hit on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart. What was also unique about the synthpop ballad was that it gave fans a rare glimpse into Gore’s personal life, as it touched upon his divorce and his children.

Inspired by the Priscilla Presley biography, this Gore-composed number is from Depeche Mode’s first top ten album. By hooking listeners with its stomping rhythm and religiously-themed lyrics, “Personal Jesus” made it into the Billboard Hot 100’s top thirty and quickly became a live favorite. Thanks to its synthrock sound and chant-able chorus, it was remixed several times and covered by multiple artists.

Though Gore isn’t a big fan of the track, the first single from Some Great Reward still earned the band quite a bit of chart success: with its industrial vibes and direct lyrics championing harmony between human beings, “People are People” became Depeche Mode’s first top 20 smash in the U.S. Though it’s rarely played live, the song’s impact on rock and roll can’t be denied.

With Gore and Gahan alternating the vocals, this synthpop and new wave number about the greedy “grabbing hands” of corrupted businesses was quickly integrated into the band’s sets. Featuring unconventional instruments like the xylophone and melodica, “Everything Counts” is even better when experienced in concert. In fact, when the band re-released a live version in 1989, the track hit the top 20 of multiple American and European charts.

What list of the top Depeche Mode songs would be complete without one of their signature tunes? Like the two previous singles off Violator, “Policy of Truth” charted within the Billboard Hot 100’s top thirty and helped the band cement their international success. Written by Gore and produced by the band with Flood, the song was also accompanied by one of the band’s many Anton Corbijn-directed music videos.

The aptly titled Music for the Masses spawned multiple charting Hot 100 singles, including this evocative number featuring the producing talents of Daniel Miller and David Bascombe. Mixing synthpop and new wave, the band certainly didn’t let us down: by using a more musically layered approach, they showcased their musical chemistry and crafted a major fan favourite in the process.

“Just Can’t Enough” Speak & Spell (1981)
“Stripped” Black Celebration (1986)
“I Feel You” Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)
“Dream On” Exciter (2001)
“Fly on the Windscreen” Black Celebration (1986)

Though Depeche Mode have found a home in our music libraries thanks to several songs, there’s no track as inextricably linked to the English act as Violator’s second single. With their masterful blend of pop and electronic music based on synthesizers, they gave us truly gave us
“all we ever wanted and needed” on “Enjoy the Silence.” With potent lyrics taking you an emotional and musical journey, it was also the band’s first and only American top 10 hit.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Depeche Mode Song? With new Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.