Useless (song)
Encyclopedia
"Useless" is Depeche Mode
's thirty-fourth UK
single, released on October 20, 1997, and the fourth and final single for the album Ultra. It was released with "Home
" as a double A-side in the US due to "Useless" getting airplay on US radio stations before "Home" was announced.
"Useless" is an industrial rock track in the vein of "Barrel of a Gun", with more of a pop twist. The single remix, by Alan Moulder
, changes the intro and has an updated beat (similar to the changes done to the 7" versions of "Walking In My Shoes
" and "Condemnation
") and adds some extra synth during the chorus. It also contains much more grainy vocals. The "The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session" is a very prominent remix by the DJ duo of the same name
. On the US single, the single remix is replaced by the CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit.
There are no actual B-sides for "Useless", except for remixes and live versions of the song. Some versions of the CD single feature the videos for "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good
", accessible when the disc is inserted into a PC.
The 1997 music video for "Useless" would be the last Depeche Mode video to be directed by Anton Corbijn
in over eight years. Though he still did some work for Depeche Mode on album/single covers and tour projections/designs, the band decided to experiment with new directors for music videos. Corbijn's next project with Depeche Mode was the video for "Suffer Well
".
Depeche Mode licensed the Kruder And Dorfmeister remix of "Useless" to Victoria's Secret
, for use in their "Natural Miracle Bra" ad campaign. It aired on US television for a few weeks.
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 thirty-fourth 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 October 20, 1997, and the fourth and final single for the album Ultra. It was released with "Home
Home (Depeche Mode song)
"Home" is Depeche Mode's thirty-third UK single, released on June 16, 1997, and the third single for the album Ultra. It is also the third UK single with Martin Gore on lead vocals, and the second stand-alone single with him on lead vocals .Though it was...
" as a double A-side in the US due to "Useless" getting airplay on US radio stations before "Home" was announced.
"Useless" is an industrial rock track in the vein of "Barrel of a Gun", with more of a pop twist. The single remix, by Alan Moulder
Alan Moulder
Alan Moulder is one of Britain's premier alternative rock record producers. He has worked with such artists as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Elastica, Gary Numan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Curve, Ride, Lush and My Bloody Valentine, Lostprophets, Shihad, Ivyrise and Placebo, as well as with many American...
, changes the intro and has an updated beat (similar to the changes done to the 7" versions of "Walking In My Shoes
Walking in My Shoes
"Walking in My Shoes" is Depeche Mode's twenty-eighth UK single, released on 26 April 1993, and the second single for the album Songs of Faith and Devotion...
" and "Condemnation
Condemnation (song)
"Condemnation" is a song by Depeche Mode, released as the group's twenty-ninth United Kingdom single on September 13, 1993 , and the third single from their album Songs of Faith and Devotion. The song reached #9 on the UK Singles Chart."Condemnation" is a gospel-esque song with a rock twist...
") and adds some extra synth during the chorus. It also contains much more grainy vocals. The "The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session" is a very prominent remix by the DJ duo of the same name
Kruder & Dorfmeister
Kruder & Dorfmeister, named after members Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister, is an Austrian duo most known for their downtempo-dub remixes of pop, hip-hop and drum and bass songs.-Style:...
. On the US single, the single remix is replaced by the CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit.
There are no actual B-sides for "Useless", except for remixes and live versions of the song. Some versions of the CD single feature the videos for "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good
It's No Good
"It's No Good" is Depeche Mode's thirty-second UK single, released on March 31, 1997 , and the second single for the then upcoming album Ultra...
", accessible when the disc is inserted into a PC.
The 1997 music video for "Useless" would be the last Depeche Mode video to be directed by 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...
in over eight years. Though he still did some work for Depeche Mode on album/single covers and tour projections/designs, the band decided to experiment with new directors for music videos. Corbijn's next project with Depeche Mode was the video for "Suffer Well
Suffer Well
"Suffer Well" is the third single off the album Playing the Angel by Depeche Mode, and their forty-third single overall. It was released in the UK on 27 March 2006.It is the first Depeche Mode single whose lyrics are written by Dave Gahan...
".
Depeche Mode licensed the Kruder And Dorfmeister remix of "Useless" to Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
, for use in their "Natural Miracle Bra" ad campaign. It aired on US television for a few weeks.
12": Mute / 12Bong28 (UK)
- "Useless (The Kruder + DorfmeisterKruder & DorfmeisterKruder & Dorfmeister, named after members Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister, is an Austrian duo most known for their downtempo-dub remixes of pop, hip-hop and drum and bass songs.-Style:...
Session ™)" (9:10) - "Useless (CJ BollandC. J. BollandC. J. Bolland is a British electronic music producer and remixer.Born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, Bolland's family moved to Antwerp, Belgium when he was three years old...
Funky Sub Mix)" (5:38) - "Useless (Air 20 Mix)" (7:56) (Remixed by Carl CraigCarl CraigCarl Craig is a Detroit-based producer of techno music, and is considered to be one of the most important names in the Detroit second generation of techno producers and DJs...
)
CD: Mute / CDBong28 (UK)
- "Useless (Remix)" (4:53) (remixed by Alan MoulderAlan MoulderAlan Moulder is one of Britain's premier alternative rock record producers. He has worked with such artists as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Elastica, Gary Numan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Curve, Ride, Lush and My Bloody Valentine, Lostprophets, Shihad, Ivyrise and Placebo, as well as with many American...
) - "Useless (Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2)" (7:17) (remixed by Barry AdamsonBarry AdamsonBarry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997...
) - "Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix)" (6:57)
- Includes a bonus "Barrel of a Gun" video.
CD: Mute / LCDBong28 (UK)
- "Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Mix)" (6:03)
- "Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session ™)" (9:10)
- "Useless (Live)" (5:21)
- Includes a bonus "It's No Good" video.
CD: Mute / CDBong28X (EU)
- "Useless (Remix)" (4:55)
- "Useless (Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2)" (7:17)
- "Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix)" (6:57)
- "Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Mix)" (6:03)
- "Useless (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session ™)" (9:10)
- "Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix)" (5:38)
- "Useless (Air 20 Mix)" (7:56)
- "Useless (Live)" (5:21)
- This CD is the 2004 re-release
- Includes both "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good" videos.
Promo 12": Mute / P12Bong28 (UK)
- "Useless (CJ BollandC. J. BollandC. J. Bolland is a British electronic music producer and remixer.Born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, Bolland's family moved to Antwerp, Belgium when he was three years old...
Funky Sub Mix)" (5:38) - "Useless (The Kruder + DorfmeisterKruder & DorfmeisterKruder & Dorfmeister, named after members Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister, is an Austrian duo most known for their downtempo-dub remixes of pop, hip-hop and drum and bass songs.-Style:...
Session ™)" (9:10)
Radio Promo CD: Mute / RCDBong28 (UK)
- "Useless (Remix)" (4:53) (remixed by Alan MoulderAlan MoulderAlan Moulder is one of Britain's premier alternative rock record producers. He has worked with such artists as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Elastica, Gary Numan, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Curve, Ride, Lush and My Bloody Valentine, Lostprophets, Shihad, Ivyrise and Placebo, as well as with many American...
) - "Useless (Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2)" (7:17) (remixed by Barry AdamsonBarry AdamsonBarry Adamson is a British rock musician who has worked with rock bands such as Magazine, Visage, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the electronic musicians Pan sonic and Depeche Mode. Adamson created the seven-minute opus "Useless " remix for the latter band in 1997...
) - "Useless (Cosmic Blues Mix)" (6:57)
Promo CD: Reprise / n/a (US)
- "Useless (Album Edit)" (4:44)
- "Useless" (5:12)
- All songs written by Martin L. Gore
- "Useless [Live]" recorded April 10, 1997 in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
"Home"/"Useless"
In November 1997, "Home" and "Useless" were released as a double A-side single in the US and Canada. The front cover art has the "Home" cover on the front, with the "Home" tracklist, and the back cover art has the "Useless" cover art, with the "Useless" tracklist.CD: Reprise / 9 17314-2 (US)
- "Home" (5:46)
- "Home (Air "Around the Golf" Remix)" (3:58)
- "Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit)" (4:06)
- Above released ((November 18))
CD: Reprise / 9 43906-2 (US)
- "Home" (5:46)
- "Home (Grantby Mix)" (4:38)
- "Home (LFO Meant to Be)" (4:26)
- "Home (The Noodles and The Damage Done)" (6:22)
- Remix by SkylabSkylab (band)Skylab is a United Kingdom based ambient/electronica outfit formed in 1993. They have been featured on multiple compilations from the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series of albums produced by the Red Hot Organization, and have worked with the likes of Steve Dahl...
- Remix by Skylab
- "Useless (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Mix)" (6:00)
- "Useless (CJ Bolland Funky Sub Mix)" (5:38)
- "Useless (Kruder + Dorfmeister Session ™)" (9:10)
- "Useless (Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2)" (7:15)
- Released November 11
- The CD can be put into a PCPersonal computerA personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
that met requirements and you can watch the videos for "Barrel of a Gun", "It's No Good", "Home", and "Useless". - Packaged in a clear plastic case with sliding pull-out disc tray.
- All songs written by Martin L. Gore
- Martin Gore sings lead on "Home", David GahanDavid GahanDave 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...
sings lead on "Useless"
Chart performance
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| 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 ... |
28 |
| Finnish Singles Chart | 17 |
| German Singles Chart | 16 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 16 |
External links
- "Useless" information from the official Depeche Mode web site
- "Home"/"Useless" information from the official Depeche Mode web site
- [ Allmusic review of "Home"/"Useless" single]