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Condemnation (song)

{{Short description|1993 single by Depeche Mode}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Condemnation

| cover = DepecheModeCondemnation.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Depeche Mode

| album = Songs of Faith and Devotion

| B-side = "Death's Door" (Jazz mix)

| released = {{start date|1993|9|13|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

  • Madrid
  • Château du Pape (Hamburg)
  • Olympic (London){{cite journal |last=Shaw |first=William |url=http://playingtheangel.com/website/articles.php?item=337 |title=In The Mode |journal=Details |pages=90–95, 168 |date=April 1993 |access-date=17 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402172949/http://playingtheangel.com/website/articles.php?item=337 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |df=dmy-all}}

| venue =

| genre = Gospel

| length = 3:22

| label = Mute

| writer = Martin Gore

| producer =

| prev_title = Walking in My Shoes

| prev_year = 1993

| next_title = In Your Room

| next_year = 1994

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|bjG7MhfeQRA|"Condemnation"}}}}

{{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = singles

| cover = DepecheModeCondemnationL12.jpg

| border =

| alt =

| caption = Cover for the limited edition single

}}

}}

"Condemnation" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 13 September 1993 by Mute Records as the third single from the band eighth studio album, Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993). The song reached {{abbr|No.|Number}} 9 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 3 in Sweden, and No. 1 in Portugal. Its music video was directed by Anton Corbijn.

The B-sides to the "Condemnation" single are remixes of "Death's Door" and "Rush" plus some live tracks from the Devotional Tour. "Death's Door" is a song from the 1991 Until the End of the World soundtrack. The original version, recorded by Martin Gore and Alan Wilder after the World Violation Tour was over, was exclusive to that album until the 2020s MODE box compilation.

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton described the song as "a haunting, beautiful ballad of the type they do so well".{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending September 25th 1993|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1993/week-ending-september-25th-1993|website=Chart Watch UK|date=19 September 1993|accessdate=12 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}} David Fricke from Melody Maker viewed it as "typical, a song that almost makes it, a sly Anglican gospel take on R.E.M.'s Al Green experiment "Everybody Hurts" that stumbles basically because Dave Gahan doesn't have the vocal authority to bring it home."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Fricke|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52822794123/|title=Albums|work=Melody Maker|date=13 March 1993|page=30|access-date=5 May 2023|author-link=David Fricke}} On the magazine's single review, music critic Peter Paphides said, "And it's all very anguished, intense and protracted, with lots of gospel singing going on in the background and a bit of real piano, none of your fancy keyboards, and MTV will play it every 10 minutes until the end of the century."{{cite magazine|first=Peter|last=Paphides|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52974886566/|title=Singles|work=Melody Maker|date=18 September 1993|page=36|access-date=17 June 2023|author-link=Peter Paphides}} Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, writing, "One of the more atypical singles in Depeche Mode's career, this slow gospel-style song bears a lusty, full force vocal, but a reverential and reserved instrumental track. Subtle and stylish."{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 18 September 1993 |page= 16 |access-date= 2 April 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-09-18-I.pdf}}

Sam Wood from Philadelphia Inquirer noted that the band "appropriates gospel harmonies and the rhythms of Southern slave chants for "Condemnation", a song that defies the judgment of some unnamed Philistine accuser".Wood, Sam (30 March 1993). "Depeche Mode Meditates on Religion with 'Songs of Faith and Devotion'". Philadelphia Inquirer. Andrew Harrison from Select named it the low point of the album, "with Gahan in the dock for some unspecified crime of the heart and the Mode doing an acceptable deep South spiritual thing, all clanking chains and heartfelt groaning."{{cite magazine|first=Andrew|last=Harrison|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2013/03/albums22.jpg|title=Reviews: New Albums|work=Select|date=April 1993|page=75|access-date=3 January 2025|author-link=Andrew Harrison (journalist)}} Tom Doyle from Smash Hits also gave the song four out of five, adding, "You always expect the strangest things to happen in the world of pop, but Depeche Mode going gospel?! The Bizarre thing is, it really works too. Dave Gahan is joined by a gospel choir and the result is quite the best thing since, well, the last Depeche Mode single. Life is weird."{{cite magazine|first=Tom|last=Doyle|title=New Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52555612147/in/album-72177720304372654/|work=Smash Hits|date=15 September 1993|page=51|accessdate=15 December 2022}}

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Dutch photographer, film director and music video director Anton Corbijn.{{cite web|title=Depeche Mode: Condemnation|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6683836/|publisher=IMDb|date= |access-date=12 September 2021}} It was later made available on YouTube in July 2019.{{cite web|title=Depeche Mode - Condemnation (Paris Mix) (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjG7MhfeQRA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/bjG7MhfeQRA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|date=25 July 2019|access-date=12 September 2021}}{{cbignore}}

For unknown reasons, the music video did not appear on Depeche Mode's music video compilation, The Videos 86>98, in 1998, replaced by the live version from Devotional. The original video eventually resurfaced on the compilation's 2002 re-release (Videos 86>98 +). Both videos appear on the Devotional DVD re-release from 2004 (although the live video was edited so that it wasn't identical to the one in the main Devotional movie).

Track listings

All songs were written by Martin Gore. All live tracks were recorded at The Forum (Milan, Italy) in 1993.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • UK and Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Condemnation|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=CD Bong 23}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Condemnation|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=ALCB-848}}
  1. "Condemnation" (Paris mix) – 3:21
  2. "Death's Door" (Jazz mix) – 6:38
  3. "Rush" (Spiritual Guidance mix) – 5:31
  4. "Rush" (Amylnitrate mix – instrumental) – 7:43
  • UK limited-edition CD and 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Live...|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=UK limited CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=LCD Bong 23}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Live...|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=UK limited 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=L12 Bong 23}}
  1. "Condemnation" (live) – 4:10
  2. "Personal Jesus" (live) – 6:00
  3. "Enjoy the Silence" (live) – 6:46
  4. "Halo" (live) – 4:54
  • UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Condemnation|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=UK 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Mute Records|id=12 Bong 23}}

:A1. "Condemnation" (Paris mix) – 3:21

:A2. "Death's Door" (Jazz mix) – 6:38

:B1. "Rush" (Spiritual Guidance mix) – 5:31

:B2. "Rush" (Amylnitrate mix – instrumental) – 7:43

:B3. "Rush" (Wild Planet mix – vocal) – 6:23

  • UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Condemnation|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=C Bong 23}}
  1. "Condemnation" (Paris mix) – 3:21
  2. "Death's Door" (Jazz mix) – 6:38
  • US maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Condemnation|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=9 41058-2}}
  1. "Condemnation" (Paris mix) – 3:22
  2. "Rush" (Spiritual Guidance mix) – 5:30
  3. "Death's Door" (Jazz mix) – 6:38
  4. "Rush" (Nitrate mix) – 7:41
  5. "Enjoy the Silence" (live) – 6:47
  6. "Halo" (live) – 4:54
  7. "Condemnation" (live) – 4:08

{{col-2}}

  • US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Condemnation|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=0-41058}}

:A1. "Condemnation" (live) – 4:08

:A2. "Enjoy the Silence" (live) – 6:47

:A3. "Halo" (live) – 4:54

:A4. "Death's Door" (Jazz mix) – 6:38

:B1. "Rush" (Spiritual Guidance mix) – 5:30

:B2. "Rush" (Nitrate mix) – 7:41

:B3. "Rush" (Wild Planet mix) – 6:23

:B4. "Condemnation" (Paris mix) – 3:22

  • US maxi-cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Condemnation|others=Depeche Mode|year=1993|type=US maxi-cassette single cassette notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=4-41058}}

:A1. "Condemnation" (Paris mix) – 3:22

:A2. "Enjoy the Silence" (live) – 6:47

:A3. "Halo" (live) – 4:54

:A4. "Condemnation" (live) – 4:08

:B1. "Rush" (Spiritual Guidance mix) – 5:30

:B2. "Rush" (Nitrate mix) – 7:41

:B3. "Rush" (Wild Planet mix) – 6:23

:B4. "Death's Door" (Jazz mix) – 6:38

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1993)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}

| 78

scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-10-16.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=42|date=16 October 1993|page=18|access-date=30 August 2020}}

| 9

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-10-09.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=41|date=9 October 1993|page=15|access-date=30 August 2020}}

| 18

scope="row"|Europe (European Hit Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-10-16.pdf|title=EHR Top 40|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=42|date=16 October 1993|page=30|access-date=10 April 2024}}

| 40

scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|isbn=951-31-2503-3|edition=1st|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|publisher=Tammi|location=Helsinki|language=fi}}

| 5

{{single chart|France|36|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Condemnation|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Germany|23|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Condemnation|songid=2684|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|19|song=Condemnation (EP)|rowheader=true|accessdate=25 September 2018}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it|access-date=28 May 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Depeche Mode".

| 21

scope="row"|Portugal (AFP){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-12-04.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=49|date=4 December 1993|page=12|access-date=2 October 2020}}

| 1

scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE){{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}

| 9

{{single chart|Sweden|3|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Condemnation|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|38|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Condemnation|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UK|9|date=19930925|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Condemnation (EP)|rowheader=true|accessdate=8 September 2013}}
scope="row"|UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-02.pdf|title=The Airplay Chart|magazine=Music Week|page=30|date=2 October 1993|access-date=2 May 2024}}

| 27

{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|23|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=28 December 2023}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|36|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=28 December 2023}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1993)

!Position

scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp93singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1993, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010216105631/http://www.grammotex.se/topp93singlar.htm|archive-date=16 February 2001|access-date=7 April 2025}}

| 38

{{col-end}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|13 September 1993

|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|rowspan="2"|Mute

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-09-11.pdf|title=Single Releases|magazine=Music Week|page=23|date=11 September 1993|access-date=23 June 2021}}

scope="row"|Japan

|1 October 1993

|CD

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/111737/products/34950/1/|title=デペッシュ・モード {{!}} コンデムネイション|trans-title=Depeche Mode {{!}} Condemnation|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=5 February 2025}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://archives.depechemode.com/discography/singles/30_condemnation.html Single information from the official Depeche Mode web site]
  • [http://www.allmusic.com/album/condemnation-mw0002039354 AllMusic review] {{Rating|4.5|5}}

{{Depeche Mode}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1993 singles

Category:1993 songs

Category:Depeche Mode songs

Category:Music videos directed by Anton Corbijn

Category:Mute Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Portugal

Category:Song recordings produced by Flood (producer)

Category:Songs written by Martin Gore

Category:Gospel songs