People Are Good

"People Are Good" is a song reminiscent of the industrial sound of Depeche Mode's early years, without being overly insistent of this trend, and is actually closer to dark wave—with lyrics about the ideal people and how they really are. The band also released a special collection of five remixes of the song.{{cite web |title=DEPECHE MODE - Человек по природе добр - Звуки.Ру |url=https://www.zvuki.ru/R/P/84371/ |publisher=Zvuki.ru |access-date=2 May 2024 |language=ru}}

The official video for "People Are Good" was released just five days before the conclusion of the Memento Mori World Tour. The video was directed by Rich Hall and with artistic direction by Anton Corbijn. Filmed completely in black and white, the video shows images of people being seemingly violent until it is shown they are actually doing good deeds (saving life, dancing etc.), capturing the seedier side of society.{{cite web |last1=Dunworth |first1=Liberty |title=Depeche Mode mark 'Memento Mori' tour finale with epic 'People Are Good' video and remix package |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/depeche-mode-mark-memento-mori-tour-finale-with-epic-people-are-good-video-and-remix-package-3613785 |website=NME |access-date=28 April 2024 |date=5 April 2024}}{{Cite web |date=5 April 2024 |title=Depeche Mode – People Are Good (Official Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoQNFQRegnw|access-date=5 April 2024 |website=YouTube}}

Grayson Haver Currin of Pitchfork stated, {{"'}}People Are Good' and 'Never Let Me Go' not only share the first half of their titles with two of Depeche Mode's most titanic hits but also their anthemic ambitions. Ebullient, danceable, and deeply disappointed, 'People Are Good' is the confession of a recovering pessimist realizing maybe he was right, that our very nature ensures our doom."{{cite web |last1=Currin|first1=Grayson Haver|title=Depeche Mode: *Memento Mori* |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/depeche-mode-memento-mori/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=28 April 2024 |date=March 23, 2023}} Kory Grow of Rolling Stone commented, "on 'People Are Good'—a Gore composition which feels like the long lost coda for 'People Are People'—Gahan reminds himself that despite all the ills of the world, people are supposed to be good. The music, which builds layer upon layer, recalls the group's mid-Eighties sound of Black Celebration and Music for the Masses; 'Everything will be all right in time' they offer, before returning to the original message: “Keep fooling yourself that people are good'."{{cite magazine |last1=Grow |first1=Kory |title=Depeche Mode's 'Memento Mori' Is a Bleak Celebration |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/depeche-mode-memento-mori-review-1234700037/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=28 April 2024 |date=21 March 2023}}

Ian Wade of The Quietus added, "Loss is never far from the lyrics. On the Gore/Gahan co-write 'Wagging Tongue', which opens with the melodic bounce of Trans-Europe Express-era Kraftwerk before plunging into fluttering murk. The line 'Everything seems hollow when you watch another angel die' seems heartfelt. Tickles of Computer World pop up on 'People Are Good', with a tease where it feels like it's about to go into that title track's riff. Lyrically the song itself is a jaded update of the frustrated optimism of 'People Are People', where rather than frustratedly wonder why we get along so awfully, Gahan has to 'keep reminding myself that people are good' and 'keep fooling myself that everyone cares', which is a mantra we can all relate to when faced with daily shithousery."{{cite web |last1=Wade |first1=Ian |title=The Quietus {{!}} Reviews {{!}} Depeche Mode |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/32759-depeche-mode-memento-mori-review |website=The Quietus |access-date=28 April 2024 |language=en-us |date=24 March 2023}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download (Remixes){{cite web |title=People Are Good – Depeche Mode |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/people-are-good-mw0004235325 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=30 May 2024}}

| title1 = People Are Good

| note1 = AC Fool Mix

| length1 = 6:55

| title2 = People Are Good

| note2 = Ludwig A.F. Heaven Help Us Mix

| length2 = 3:43

| title3 = People Are Good

| note3 = Depeche Mode v SiGNL: The Good People's Mix

| length3 = 6:58

| title4 = People Are Good

| note4 = Obskür Remix

| length4 = 4:13

| title5 = People Are Good

| note5 = Indira Paganotto Twilight Remix

| length5 = 8:57

| total_length = 29:26

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Limited 12″{{cite web |title=Depeche Mode – Before We Drown / People Are Good (Remixes) – 12" Vinyl |url=https://mutebank.co.uk/products/depeche-mode-before-we-drown-people-are-good-remixes-12-vinyl |website=Mute Bank |access-date=30 May 2024}}

| title1 = Before We Drown

| note1 = Chris Avantgarde Extended Remix

| length1 = 5:02

| title2 = Before We Drown

| note2 = AC Wet Mix

| length2 = 5:03

| title3 = People Are Good

| note3 = Indira Paganotto Psy Remix

| length3 = 9:36

| title4 = People Are Good

| note4 = AC Fool Mix

| length4 = 6:55

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://archives.depechemode.com/discography/singles/64_peoplearegood.html}}

{{Depeche Mode}}

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Category:2023 songs

Category:2024 singles

Category:Depeche Mode songs

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Black-and-white music videos

Category:Song recordings produced by James Ford (musician)

Category:Songs written by Martin Gore