People Are People#RuPaul version

As with many Depeche Mode songs, the band members see different meanings in "People Are People". According to Martin Gore, the song is about racism. Alan Wilder adds that it could also be about war.{{cite magazine|first= Jim |last= Reid |title= Clunk Clunk Every Trip |magazine= Record Mirror |date= 10 March 1984 |page= 12 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/84/Record-Mirror-1984-03-10%20i-OCR.pdf |issn= 0144-5804 |via= World Radio History}}

Released in March 1984,{{cite book | title=Depeche Mode | last=Thomas | first=Dave | publisher=Bobcat Books | year=1986 | isbn=0-7119-0804-4}} "People Are People" contained a variety of sampled sounds rolled into the mix: "everything from acoustic bass drums through to an airline hostess going through pre take-off drill". Gahan later elaborated: "We were using all these tape loops to create rhythms and the technology was quite advanced, but it wasn't anything like it is today [35 years later], the things that you can do. We used to go into studios, and the first thing we'd do, we'd ask where the kitchen was – literally for pots and pans and things that we could throw down the stairs, and record the rhythms they would make crashing around, and then make it into loops."{{cite magazine|first= Leah |last= Greenblatt |title= David Gahan reveals stories behind Depeche Mode's biggest hits |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= 23 March 2017 |access-date= 27 May 2019 |url= https://ew.com/music/2017/03/23/depeche-mode-dave-gahan-songs-interview/}}

In 1990, Dave Gahan listed the song among some of the music he "regrets", calling "People Are People" "too nice, too commercial".{{cite magazine|first= Stuart |last= Maconie |title= Sin Machine |magazine= NME |date= 17 February 1990 |pages= 34–35 |issn= 0028-6362 |access-date= 22 October 2011 |url= http://www.sacreddm.net/1990s/nme170290/nme170290main.htm |archive-date= 4 January 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090104201221/http://www.sacreddm.net/1990s/nme170290/nme170290main.htm}} It has not been played live since 1988.{{cite web|title= People Are People by Depeche Mode |website= Setlist.fm |access-date= 5 June 2014 |url= http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/depeche-mode-73d6b235.html?song=People+Are+People&artist=73d6b235}} Although Gore dislikes the song he also recognises that "without it, we might not have been around as a band right now",{{Cite web |title=People Are People - Depeche Mode Live Wiki |url=https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/People_Are_People |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=dmlive.wiki |language=en}} and Gahan conceded that "People Are People" "was the first song of ours that made a dent, really, into popular radio".

The Clive Richardson-directed "People Are People" video was released in two versions. The original video was made for the single version, but an alternate video was made with the "Different Mix". The music video featured footage of various military scenes from the Cold War, mixed with footage of the band aboard HMS Belfast and of a record press. The "Different Mix" video appears on Some Great Videos and Video Singles Collection.

A compilation album titled People Are People was released in North America, featuring several songs not previously available. The single itself was released in the US on 11 July 1984, though it did not reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart until May 1985, and was initially played only on modern rock and college radio. The single would eventually peak at number 13. In the UK, the single reached number four, which was at the time the band's highest singles chart position in their home country. Since then, "Barrel of a Gun" (1997) and "Precious" (2005) have also reached number four in the UK.

In West Germany, the song reached number one and was used as the theme to West German TV's coverage of the 1984 Summer Olympics, alluding to East Germany's participation in the Soviet-led boycott of the games. It was also used as the theme song of the 1990s BBC children's factual TV series It'll Never Work?.

In 2011, the song was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".{{cite web|title= Experience The Music: One Hit Wonders and The Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll |publisher= Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum |access-date= 22 July 2013 |url= http://rockhall.com/exhibits/one-hit-wonders-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130731201407/https://rockhall.com/exhibits/one-hit-wonders-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll/ |archive-date= 31 July 2013}}

• 7-inch single

:A. "People Are People" – 3:43

:B. "In Your Memory" – 4:01

• 12-inch single

:A. "People Are People" (Different Mix) – 7:11

:B. "In Your Memory" (Slik Mix) – 8:12

• UK and German limited-edition 12-inch single

:A. "People Are People" (On-USound Mix by Adrian Sherwood) – 7:30

:B1. "People Are People" – 3:43

:B2. "In Your Memory" – 4:01

• US 12-inch single

:A. "People Are People" (Different Mix) – 7:11

:B1. "People Are People" (On-USound Mix) – 7:30

:B2. "In Your Memory" – 4:01

"In Your Memory" is falsely labeled as the "Slik Mix Edit"

• French and German CD single (1988)

1. "People Are People" (Different Mix) – 7:11
2. "In Your Memory" (Slik Mix) – 8:12
3. "People Are People" (7″ Version) – 3:50

• UK CD single (1991)

1. "People Are People" – 3:43
2. "In Your Memory" – 4:01
3. "People Are People" (Different Mix) – 7:11
4. "In Your Memory" (Slik Mix) – 8:12

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "People Are People"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Depeche Mode|title=People Are People|award=Silver|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|id=5047-1745-1|date=1 May 1984|access-date=13 July 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Depeche Mode|title=People Are People|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=2025|date=31 March 2025|access-date=1 April 2025}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = People Are People

| cover = Rupaulpeoplearepeople.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = RuPaul

| album = ReWorked

| released = 26 January 2006

| recorded = 2004

| studio =

| genre = Dance

| length =

| label = RuCo

| writer = Martin L. Gore

| producer =

• RuPaul
• Tom Trujillo

| prev_title = Workout

| prev_year = 2005

| next_title = Call Me Starrbooty

| next_year = 2007

}}

American drag queen RuPaul covered "People Are People" in 2004 for his fourth studio album, Red Hot. His version, which features Tom Trujillo, was released as a retail single on 26 January 2006 to promote the remix album ReWorked. It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

• CD single

1. "People Are People" (Craig C. Radio) – 4:42
2. "People Are People" (Giuseppe D's Rutroactive Club) – 8:20
3. "The Price of One" (Craig C. Ru Edit) – 6:43
4. "People Are People" (Craig C. Main Vocal) – 8:01
5. "The Price of One" (Craig C.'s Mo' Trippin' Dub) – 10:02
6. "People Are People" (Goodandevil) – 3:42
7. "People Are People" (DJ Record Player's SSSnakin' Breakin') – 7:11
8. "The Price of One" (Craig C.'s Mo' Trippin' Beats) – 2:41
9. "People Are People" (Craig C. Dub) – 8:01
10. "I Just Can't Wait" (Till Christmas) – 2:42

• List of number-one hits of 1984 (Germany)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://archives.depechemode.com/discography/singles/10_peoplearepeople.html Single information from the official Depeche Mode website]
• [http://www.allmusic.com/album/people-are-people-mw0001304224 AllMusic review]

{{Depeche Mode}}

{{RuPaul}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1984 songs

Category:1984 singles

Category:2006 singles

Category:British dance-pop songs

Category:Depeche Mode songs

Category:Mute Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:RuPaul songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Daniel Miller

Category:Song recordings produced by Gareth Jones

Category:Songs about racism and xenophobia

Category:Songs written by Martin Gore

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles