Personal Jesus
Encyclopedia
"Personal Jesus" is Depeche Mode
's 23rd UK
single, released on August 29, 1989, and the first single from the album Violator
. The single reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart
and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100
. Since then, the title song has been covered by numerous artists including Gravity Kills
, Marilyn Manson
, Jerry Williams
, Lollipop Lust Kill
, Nina Hagen
, and Johnny Cash
.
In 2004, "Personal Jesus" was ranked #368 in Rolling Stone
s list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
", and in September 2006 it was voted as one of the "100 Greatest Songs Ever" in Q
magazine.
"Personal Jesus" was re-released as a single on May 30, 2011 for the new Depeche Mode remix album Remixes 2: 81–11
, with the leading remix by the production team Stargate
.
In Germany, the single is the band's longest charting one, staying on the country's Singles Chart for 27 weeks.
by Priscilla Presley
. According to songwriter Martin Gore
:
". Whilst not the first Depeche Mode song to feature guitar parts (Behind the Wheel
and their cover of Route 66
featured a guitar; Love in Itself from Construction Time Again
featured an acoustic guitar), it was the first time a guitar was used as a dominant instrument in a Depeche Mode song.
Prior to its release, advertisements were placed in the personal columns of regional newspapers in the UK with the words “Your own personal Jesus.” Later, the ads included a phone number one could dial to hear the song. The ensuing controversy helped propel the single to number 13 on the UK charts, becoming one of Depeche Mode’s biggest sellers. The single was particularly successful commercially thanks to the fact that it was released six months prior to the album it would later appear on. Up to that point, it was the best selling 12" single in Warner Brothers history.
"Personal Jesus" has a plethora of remixes, almost unprecedented for Depeche Mode at the time. While most other Depeche Mode singles prior to "Personal Jesus" usually had band-made extended mixes, Depeche Mode started to invite more DJs and mixers to the fold, which would become the mainstay for all future Depeche Mode singles. François Kevorkian
(who did the mixing for the Violator album, in general) mixed the single version, the "Holier Than Thou Approach", the "Pump Mix", and the lesser-known "Kazan Cathedral Mix" (which was not available on any of the singles), 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", a more disco-electronic track. The "Hazchemix" and "Hazchemix Edit" of "Dangerous" were mixed by Daniel Miller.
The back-cover of "Personal Jesus" features one of the band members and the back-side of a naked woman. The band member she is with depends on whether it is the 7" Vinyl (Martin Gore
), the 12" Vinyl (David Gahan
), the Cassette (Andrew Fletcher
), or the original CD (Alan Wilder
). On some copies she does not appear at all, such as the 2004 CD re-release, and on promo copies. On some limited releases, like the GBong17, all four pictures are available.
The Anton Corbijn
-directed music video for "Personal Jesus" is his first Depeche Mode video in colour, and features the band in a ranch, placed in the Tabernas Desert
of Almería
, in Spain
. MTV
edited out some suggestive mouth movements of Martin Gore during the bridge and replaced it with some other footage from the video.
7": Mute / Bong17 (UK)
7": Mute / GBong17 (UK)
12": Mute / 12Bong17 (UK)
12": Mute / L12Bong17 (UK)
CD 3": Mute / CDBong17 (UK)
LCD 3": Mute / LCDBong17 (UK)
CD: Mute / CDBong17X (EU)
This CD is the 2004 re-release
CD: Sire/Reprise / 21328-2 (US)
US single released September 19, 1989
Flood (Dangerous)
12" vinyl
Digital Download
Beatport Exclusive Digital Download
Promo CD (PCDBong43)
recorded "Personal Jesus" for his 2002 album American IV. Producer Rick Rubin
asked Red Hot Chili Peppers
guitarist John Frusciante
to re-work an acoustic version of Martin Gore's song, which featured a simple acoustic riff that stripped down the song to a blues style. Frusciante plays guitar on the track, along with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell.
's 2004 cover version
of "Personal Jesus" appears on the band's best-of compilation, Lest We Forget: The Best of, and was that album's lead single
. It was recorded by Marilyn Manson
with instrumentation and arrangement by Tim Skold
at Manson's studio, Doppelherz Blood Treatment Facility, and mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent, a veteran producer who had also frequently worked with Depeche Mode.
The cover does not deviate in any large degree from Depeche Mode's original version, apart from additional guitar distortion.
The single was accompanied by a music video directed by Manson and Nathan "Karma" Cox, which features the band members in tableaux vivants accompanied by rear-projection
images depicting various images of political figures such as John F. Kennedy
, Joseph Stalin
, Mahatma Gandhi
, Adolf Hitler
, George W. Bush
and Fidel Castro
.
Like the original version, this 2004 cover was also remixed by other artists. The "Personal Jesus Rude Photo Motor Mix" was produced by Felix Da Housecat
, Brian Black and Olivier Grasset, and appears as a b-side on the vinyl
versions of the single.
Manson's version of the song is also used as the theme song for professional wrestlers Austin Aries
, "Miracle" Mike James and Necro Butcher
This version was featured in the trailer to promote the sixth season of Dexter
.
single
German 3" CD single
UK 10" and UK 7"
UK Enhanced CD
single
recorded "Beware of the Dog" in 2006. The song was based upon a sample of "Personal Jesus". "Beware of the Dog" peaked at No. 10 on the UK charts.
recorded "Reach Out
" in 2008. The song was also based upon a sample of "Personal Jesus". "Reach Out" later became No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
's 23rd UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
single, released on August 29, 1989, and the first single from the album Violator
Violator (album)
Violator is the seventh studio album by the English electronic group Depeche Mode, released by Mute Records on 19 March 1990.Preceded by the hit singles "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence" , Violator propelled the band into international stardom. The album yielded two further hit singles,...
. The single reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Since then, the title song has been covered by numerous artists including Gravity Kills
Gravity Kills
Gravity Kills is an American industrial rock band from Jefferson City, Missouri. Their music was described by one critic as "a blending of eerie industrial rock with a pop-infused melodic chorus and a bit of hard-core head banging."...
, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
, Jerry Williams
Jerry Williams (singer)
Jerry Williams, real name Sven Erik Fernström, is a Swedish rock and roll singer and actor.In 1963, Jerry Williams toured with the Beatles through Sweden. He has been lead singer in many Swedish rock and roll bands, but is mostly known as a solo artist...
, Lollipop Lust Kill
Lollipop Lust Kill
Lollipop Lust Kill was an American alternative metal/heavy metal band.-Band history:Lollipop Lust Kill was formed in 1996 in Toledo, Ohio with the original line-up including DeadGreg, Dr. Distorto, Evvy Pedder, D. human, and drummer Bloody Sunday. Prior to Evvy 1996 induction into the fold, the...
, Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen is a German singer and actress.-Early years:Hagen was born as Catharina Hagen in the former East Berlin, East Germany, the daughter of Hans Hagen , a scriptwriter, and Eva-Maria Hagen, an actress and singer...
, and Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
.
In 2004, "Personal Jesus" was ranked #368 in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
", and in September 2006 it was voted as one of the "100 Greatest Songs Ever" in Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
magazine.
"Personal Jesus" was re-released as a single on May 30, 2011 for the new Depeche Mode remix album Remixes 2: 81–11
Remixes 2: 81–11
-Three disc version:-Charts:...
, with the leading remix by the production team Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
.
In Germany, the single is the band's longest charting one, staying on the country's Singles Chart for 27 weeks.
Inspiration
The song was inspired by the book Elvis and MeElvis and Me
Elvis and Me is a 1985 biography written by Priscilla Presley . In the book, Priscilla talks about meeting Elvis, their marriage, and the factors that led up to the couple's divorce....
by Priscilla Presley
Priscilla Presley
Priscilla Presley is an American actress and businesswoman. She is the ex-wife of singer Elvis Presley, and the mother of singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley....
. According to songwriter Martin Gore
Martin Gore
Martin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...
:
Background
In mid-1989, the band began recording in Milan with record producer Flood. The result of this session was the single "Personal Jesus", which featured a catchy bluesy riff and drum-based sound, radically different from anything the band had released thus far. Many have wrestled with the complex meaning of the "reach out and touch faith" as only few can understand the true power behind the lyrics. The song became a big hit across the world, and is one of Depeche Mode's most successful songs, along with the following single, "Enjoy the SilenceEnjoy the Silence
"Enjoy the Silence" is Depeche Mode's twenty-fourth UK single, released on 16 January 1990, and the second single from the then upcoming album Violator....
". Whilst not the first Depeche Mode song to feature guitar parts (Behind the Wheel
Behind the Wheel
"Behind the Wheel" is Depeche Mode's twentieth UK single, released on December 28, 1987, and the third single for the album Music for the Masses. Peaking at #21 in the UK charts, it hit #6 in West Germany....
and their cover of Route 66
Route 66 (song)
" Route 66", often rendered simply as "Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961, The Rolling...
featured a guitar; Love in Itself from Construction Time Again
Construction Time Again
Construction Time Again is the third studio album by the British electronic band Depeche Mode, released in 1983. This was the first Depeche Mode album with Alan Wilder, who composed the songs "Two Minute Warning" and "The Landscape Is Changing"...
featured an acoustic guitar), it was the first time a guitar was used as a dominant instrument in a Depeche Mode song.
Prior to its release, advertisements were placed in the personal columns of regional newspapers in the UK with the words “Your own personal Jesus.” Later, the ads included a phone number one could dial to hear the song. The ensuing controversy helped propel the single to number 13 on the UK charts, becoming one of Depeche Mode’s biggest sellers. The single was particularly successful commercially thanks to the fact that it was released six months prior to the album it would later appear on. Up to that point, it was the best selling 12" single in Warner Brothers history.
"Personal Jesus" has a plethora of remixes, almost unprecedented for Depeche Mode at the time. While most other Depeche Mode singles prior to "Personal Jesus" usually had band-made extended mixes, Depeche Mode started to invite more DJs and mixers to the fold, which would become the mainstay for all future Depeche Mode singles. François Kevorkian
François Kevorkian
François Kevorkian, alias François K, is a French DJ of Armenian origin, remixer, producer and record label owner. Having started his career in renowned clubs such as the Paradise Garage and Studio 54, the New York City resident is widely considered as one of the forefathers of house...
(who did the mixing for the Violator album, in general) mixed the single version, the "Holier Than Thou Approach", the "Pump Mix", and the lesser-known "Kazan Cathedral Mix" (which was not available on any of the singles), 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", a more disco-electronic track. The "Hazchemix" and "Hazchemix Edit" of "Dangerous" were mixed by Daniel Miller.
The back-cover of "Personal Jesus" features one of the band members and the back-side of a naked woman. The band member she is with depends on whether it is the 7" Vinyl (Martin Gore
Martin Gore
Martin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...
), the 12" Vinyl (David Gahan
David Gahan
Dave Gahan is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the baritone lead singer for the British electronic music band Depeche Mode since their debut in 1980. He is also an accomplished solo artist, releasing albums in 2003 and 2007...
), the Cassette (Andrew Fletcher
Andrew Fletcher (musician)
Andy Fletcher , known as "Fletch", is a co-founder and member of the English synth band Depeche Mode.-Depeche Mode:...
), or the original CD (Alan Wilder
Alan Wilder
Alan Charles Wilder is a British musician, formerly of Depeche Mode. His current musical project is called Recoil, started as a side project to Depeche Mode. When he left the latter in 1995, it became Wilder's primary project...
). On some copies she does not appear at all, such as the 2004 CD re-release, and on promo copies. On some limited releases, like the GBong17, all four pictures are available.
The Anton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music video and film director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2, having handled the principal promotion and sleeve photography for both for more than a decade...
-directed music video for "Personal Jesus" is his first Depeche Mode video in colour, and features the band in a ranch, placed in the Tabernas Desert
Tabernas Desert
The Tabernas Desert is a desert in Spain. It is located in the province of Almería about north of the capital, Almería, in the Tabernas municipality...
of Almería
Almería
Almería is a city in Andalusia, Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the province of the same name.-Toponym:Tradition says that the name Almería stems from the Arabic المرية Al-Mariyya: "The Mirror", comparing it to "The Mirror of the Sea"...
, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
edited out some suggestive mouth movements of Martin Gore during the bridge and replaced it with some other footage from the video.
Track listings
All songs written by Martin L. Gore7": Mute / Bong17 (UK)
- "Personal Jesus" – 3:44
- "Dangerous" – 4:20
7": Mute / GBong17 (UK)
- "Personal Jesus" – 3:44
- "Dangerous (Hazchemix Edit)" – 3:01
- "Personal Jesus (Acoustic)" – 3:26
12": Mute / 12Bong17 (UK)
- "Personal Jesus (Holier Than Thou Approach)" – 5:51
- "Dangerous (Sensual Mix)" – 5:24
- "Personal Jesus (Acoustic)" – 3:26
12": Mute / L12Bong17 (UK)
- "Personal Jesus (Pump Mix)" – 7:47
- "Personal Jesus (Telephone Stomp Mix)" – 5:32
- "Dangerous (Hazchemix)" – 5:34
CD 3": Mute / CDBong17 (UK)
- "Personal Jesus (Holier Than Thou Approach)" – 5:51
- "Dangerous (Sensual Mix)" – 5:24
- "Personal Jesus (Acoustic)" – 3:26
LCD 3": Mute / LCDBong17 (UK)
- "Personal Jesus (Pump Mix)" – 7:47
- "Personal Jesus (Telephone Stomp Mix)" – 5:32
- "Dangerous (Hazchemix)" – 5:34
CD: Mute / CDBong17X (EU)
- "Personal Jesus" – 3:44
- "Dangerous" – 4:20
- "Personal Jesus (Acoustic)" – 3:26
- "Dangerous (Hazchemix Edit)" – 3:01
- "Personal Jesus (Holier Than Thou Approach)" – 5:51
- "Dangerous (Sensual Mix)" – 5:24
- "Personal Jesus (Pump Mix)" – 7:47
- "Personal Jesus (Telephone Stomp Mix)" – 5:32
- "Dangerous (Hazchemix)" – 5:34
This CD is the 2004 re-release
CD: Sire/Reprise / 21328-2 (US)
- "Personal Jesus" – 3:44
- "Personal Jesus (Holier Than Thou Approach)" – 5:51
- "Dangerous (Hazchemix)" – 5:34
- "Personal Jesus (Pump Mix)" – 7:47
- "Personal Jesus (Acoustic)" – 3:26
- "Dangerous (Sensual Mix)" – 5:24
- "Personal Jesus (Telephone Stomp Mix)" – 5:32
- "Dangerous" – 4:20
US single released September 19, 1989
Mixes
Francois Kevorkian (Personal Jesus)- Single/7" Version
- Holier Than Thou Approach (12" version)
- Pump Mix (instrumental)
- Kazan Cathedral Mix (instrumental)(only available on the limited 4-disc edition of Remixes 81-04)
- Album Version
Flood (Dangerous)
- Single Version
- Sensual Mix
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Danish Singles Chart | 15 |
| Dutch Singles Chart Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
62 |
| French Singles Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
27 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
5 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:... |
7 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 17 |
| Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
5 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
13 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
28 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
12 |
| US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
3 |
Personal Jesus 2011
"Personal Jesus 2011" is the remixed version of the single, released May 30, 2011. The digital single was released in the UK on April 18, 2011. It was released a day later in the US.Tracklistings
CD (Bong43)- "Personal Jesus" (The StargateStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
Mix) - 3:56 - "Personal Jesus" (Alex MetricAlex MetricAlex Metric is a British musician, DJ and producer. He has released numerous EPs, remixed artists such as Depeche Mode, La Roux, NERD, Phoenix, and Bloc Party as well as working as a producer for acts such as The Infadels, Charli Xcx and Adam Freeland.-Career:Alex Metric started out as a...
Remix) - 5:54 - "Personal Jesus" (Eric PrydzEric PrydzEric Sheridan Prydz is a Swedish DJ and producer based in London, United Kingdom. The pronunciation of his surname is often questioned; it is pronounced "prids", but when under his alias, Pryda, it is pronounced "pride-ah"...
Remix) - 7:25 - "Personal Jesus" (M.A.N. Remix) - 5:22
- "Personal Jesus" (Sie Medway-Smith Remix) - 6:25
12" vinyl
- "Personal Jesus" (Alex Metric Remix) - 5:54
- "Personal Jesus" (M.A.N. Remix) - 5:22
- "Personal Jesus" (The Stargate Mix) - 3:56
- "Personal Jesus" (Eric Prydz Remix) - 7:25
- "Personal Jesus" (Sie Medway-Smith Remix) - 6:25
Digital Download
- "Personal Jesus" (The Stargate Mix) - 3:56
- "Personal Jesus" (Alex Metric Remix Edit) - 3:27
Beatport Exclusive Digital Download
- "Personal Jesus" (Eric Prydz Remix) - 7:26
- "Never Let Me Down AgainNever Let Me Down Again"Never Let Me Down Again" is Depeche Mode's nineteenth UK single, released on August 24, 1987, and the second single for the then upcoming album Music for the Masses. A relatively moderate hit in the UK, at #22, it was a smash in West Germany, where it hit #2, and a Top 10 success in several other...
" (Eric Prydz Remix) - 7:01
Promo CD (PCDBong43)
- "Personal Jesus" (The Stargate Mix) - 3:56
- "Personal Jesus" (Alex Metric Remix Edit) - 3:27
- "Personal Jesus" (Alex Metric Remix) - 5:54
- "Personal Jesus" (Eric Prydz Remix) - 7:25
- "Personal Jesus" (M.A.N. Remix) - 5:22
- "Personal Jesus" (Sie Medway-Smith Remix) - 6:25
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
Johnny Cash cover
Johnny CashJohnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
recorded "Personal Jesus" for his 2002 album American IV. Producer Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
asked Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
guitarist John Frusciante
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
to re-work an acoustic version of Martin Gore's song, which featured a simple acoustic riff that stripped down the song to a blues style. Frusciante plays guitar on the track, along with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell.
Marilyn Manson cover
Marilyn MansonMarilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
's 2004 cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Personal Jesus" appears on the band's best-of compilation, Lest We Forget: The Best of, and was that album's lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
. It was recorded by Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (person)
Marilyn Manson is an American musician, artist and former music journalist known for his controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous band Marilyn Manson...
with instrumentation and arrangement by Tim Skold
Tim Skold
Tim Sköld is a multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to producing solo work, has also collaborated with multiple musical groups including Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM and Marilyn Manson.-Early life:...
at Manson's studio, Doppelherz Blood Treatment Facility, and mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent, a veteran producer who had also frequently worked with Depeche Mode.
The cover does not deviate in any large degree from Depeche Mode's original version, apart from additional guitar distortion.
The single was accompanied by a music video directed by Manson and Nathan "Karma" Cox, which features the band members in tableaux vivants accompanied by rear-projection
Rear projection effect
Rear projection is part of many in-camera effects cinematic techniquesin film production for combining foreground performances with pre-filmed backgrounds. It was widely used for many years in driving scenes, or to show other forms of "distant" background motion...
images depicting various images of political figures such as John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
, Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
.
Like the original version, this 2004 cover was also remixed by other artists. The "Personal Jesus Rude Photo Motor Mix" was produced by Felix Da Housecat
Felix da Housecat
Felix da Housecat is an American DJ and record producer, mostly known for house music and electroclash. His name was inspired by Felix the Cat....
, Brian Black and Olivier Grasset, and appears as a b-side on the vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
versions of the single.
Manson's version of the song is also used as the theme song for professional wrestlers Austin Aries
Austin Aries
Daniel Healy "Dan" Solwold, Jr. better known by his ring name Austin Aries, is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is the current X Division Champion...
, "Miracle" Mike James and Necro Butcher
Necro Butcher
Dylan Keith Summers is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Necro Butcher. Throughout the years he has worked for various promotions, including Beyond Wrestling, Firestormpro, Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Big Japan Pro Wrestling,...
This version was featured in the trailer to promote the sixth season of Dexter
Dexter (TV series)
Dexter is an American television drama series, which debuted on Showtime on October 1, 2006. The sixth season premiered on October 2, 2011. The series centers on Dexter Morgan , a bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer...
.
Track listings
Enhanced CDEnhanced CD
Enhanced CD, also known as CD Extra and CD Plus, is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both Compact Disc and CD-ROM players....
single
- Personal Jesus - 4:06
- mOBSCENEMOBSCENE"Mobscene", stylized as "mOBSCENE", is the inaugural single taken from the 2003 Marilyn Manson album The Golden Age of Grotesque. Lines in the song chanted by female vocalists, "Be obscene, be, be obscene..." are inspired by a quote by Oscar Wilde that has been commonly used as a chant among...
Replet (Mea Culpa Remix by Bitteren Ende) - 4:35 - Personal Jesus (Rude Photo Motor Remix) - 5:50
- "Personal Jesus" video
German 3" CD single
- Personal Jesus
- This Is the New ShitThis Is the New Shit"This Is the New Shit" is the second single of Marilyn Manson's album The Golden Age of Grotesque. It has several new industrial beats that Tim Sköld added when he joined the band as the bassist in 2002. It was the most successful song from The Golden Age of Grotesque following mOBSCENE...
(remix by Sergio GaloyanSergio GaloyanSergey Galoyan is an ASCAP/PRS Award–winning songwriter/producer and DJ, born in Moscow. He is more commonly known as Sergio Galoyan and is of Armenian descent....
)
UK 10" and UK 7"
- Personal Jesus (LP version)
- Personal Jesus (Rude Photo Motor Remix)
UK Enhanced CD
Enhanced CD
Enhanced CD, also known as CD Extra and CD Plus, is a certification mark of the Recording Industry Association of America for various technologies that combine audio and computer data for use in both Compact Disc and CD-ROM players....
single
- Personal Jesus - 4:06
- This is the New ShitThis Is the New Shit"This Is the New Shit" is the second single of Marilyn Manson's album The Golden Age of Grotesque. It has several new industrial beats that Tim Sköld added when he joined the band as the bassist in 2002. It was the most successful song from The Golden Age of Grotesque following mOBSCENE...
(Invective remix by Obiter Dictum) - 4:25 - mOBSCENEMOBSCENE"Mobscene", stylized as "mOBSCENE", is the inaugural single taken from the 2003 Marilyn Manson album The Golden Age of Grotesque. Lines in the song chanted by female vocalists, "Be obscene, be, be obscene..." are inspired by a quote by Oscar Wilde that has been commonly used as a chant among...
Replet (Mea Culpa Remix by Bitteren Ende) - 4:35 - "Personal Jesus" video
Jamelia sample
Singer-songwriter JameliaJamelia
Jamelia Niela Davis , best known mononymously as Jamelia, is an English singer-songwriter, model, entertainer, television presenter and actress. She is most famous for her use of a cappella and prolific work in the R&B genre...
recorded "Beware of the Dog" in 2006. The song was based upon a sample of "Personal Jesus". "Beware of the Dog" peaked at No. 10 on the UK charts.
Hilary Duff sample
Actress and singer Hilary DuffHilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
recorded "Reach Out
Reach Out (Hilary Duff song)
"Reach Out" is a dance-pop song performed by Hilary Duff, released as the first single from Duff's final Hollywood Records album Best of Hilary Duff. The song was released digitally in December 2008 with the video premiering in October 2008...
" in 2008. The song was also based upon a sample of "Personal Jesus". "Reach Out" later became No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Other covers
- Lollipop Lust KillLollipop Lust KillLollipop Lust Kill was an American alternative metal/heavy metal band.-Band history:Lollipop Lust Kill was formed in 1996 in Toledo, Ohio with the original line-up including DeadGreg, Dr. Distorto, Evvy Pedder, D. human, and drummer Bloody Sunday. Prior to Evvy 1996 induction into the fold, the...
- from the 2002 album My So Called KnifeMy So Called KnifeMy So Called Knife is an album by Lollipop Lust Kill, released in May 2002. The album was recorded in Weed, California with Sylvia Massy-Shivy at the helm. She had previously worked with the metal act Tool...
. - Gravity KillsGravity KillsGravity Kills is an American industrial rock band from Jefferson City, Missouri. Their music was described by one critic as "a blending of eerie industrial rock with a pop-infused melodic chorus and a bit of hard-core head banging."...
- from the 2002 album SuperstarvedSuperstarved-Star Design and album's name:The star has a connection with the album's name 'superstarved' which designer Craig Wagner created for Gravity Kills's album. The word superstarved is the meaning of starvation which usually refers to the health condition of extreme malnutrition...
. - David GogoDavid GogoDavid Gogo , is a Canadian blues guitarist who is currently signed to the Cordova Bay Records label.David Gogo is the cousin of Trooper keyboardist Paul Gogo.-History:...
- from the 2002 album Skeleton Key. - Toy Division - from the 2003 album Budapest ResonanceBudapest Resonance (album)Budapest Resonance is the first, and as of November 2008 the only album of the Hungarian nu-jazz band Toy Division, released by Mama Records in 2003. This was also the very first album released by nu-jazz / electronic record label founded shortly before by Hungarian DJ and radio host, DJ Nesta...
. - Nina HagenNina HagenNina Hagen is a German singer and actress.-Early years:Hagen was born as Catharina Hagen in the former East Berlin, East Germany, the daughter of Hans Hagen , a scriptwriter, and Eva-Maria Hagen, an actress and singer...
- from her 2010 album Personal JesusPersonal Jesus (Nina Hagen album)Personal Jesus is the fifteenth studio album by Nina Hagen, released on July 16, 2010 in Germany and on July 27, 2010 in the U.S.- Track listing :# "God's Radar" – 3:58# "I'll Live Again" – 2:48# "Personal Jesus" – 4:01...
. - Tori AmosTori AmosTori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
- various live performances, notably on 2005's Original Sinsuality / Summer Of Sin Tour and more recently on 2010's currently untitled tour. - Makke - from the 2005 album It's Binary, Baby!.
- Jerry Williams - from the 2002 album Sweet Sixty
- Thomas Di Leva - from the 2002 album "Lovestar"