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Policy of Truth#Charts

{{Short description|1990 single by Depeche Mode}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Policy of Truth

| cover = DepecheModePolicyOfTruth.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Depeche Mode

| album = Violator

| B-side = Kaleid

| released = {{start date|1990|5|7|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

  • Puk (Gjerlev)
  • Logic (Milan){{cite magazine|last=Cranna|first=Ian|date=April 1990|title=Insidious|magazine=Q|page=77}}
  • The Church (London)

| genre =

  • Synth-pop{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/heart-nancy-wilson-eric-tessmer-depeche-mode-policy-truth-966276/|website=Rolling Stone|date=13 March 2020|access-date=2 February 2025|title=Hear Heart’s Nancy Wilson and Guitarist Eric Tessmer’s Electrified Depeche Mode Cover|last=Grow|first=Kory}}
  • alternative rock{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/|title=Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit From Worst to Best|date=March 28, 2016|access-date=January 31, 2022}}
  • funk{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/violator-mw0000206302|title=Violator – Depeche Mode|last=Raggett|first=Ned|website=AllMusic|access-date=18 April 2020}}

| length = 4:55

| label = Mute

| writer = Martin L. Gore

| producer =

| prev_title = Enjoy the Silence

| prev_year = 1990

| next_title = World in My Eyes

| next_year = 1990

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = single

| cover = PolicyOfTruthL12.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| caption = Cover art for the limited-edition 12-inch single

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|M2VBmHOYpV8|"Policy of Truth"}}}}

}}

"Policy of Truth" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 7 May 1990 as the third single from their seventh studio album Violator (1990). It is the only Depeche Mode single to chart higher on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (number 15) than on the UK Singles Chart (number 16), and it became the band's second chart-topper on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Background and composition

Recorded initially during the Puk sessions, "Policy of Truth" went through many changes before being almost completely re-recorded at the Church. According to Alan Wilder, the band went through over 100 different variants of the lead riff, trying numerous instruments before settling on a slide guitar. The intro melody uses a loop of a single note to obtain a vibrato effect.{{cite web|url=https://oldsite.recoil.co.uk/forum/qa/dmviol.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330052138/http://oldsite.recoil.co.uk/forum/qa/dmviol.htm|title=Violator|access-date=2 February 2025|archive-date=March 30, 2022|website=Shunt}}

Critical reception

Jon Wilde from Melody Maker wrote "Depeche has never sounded so cute as they did on their recent hit "Enjoy the Silence". Then again, they have rarely sounded quite as ineffectual as this, not since the days when they were busy composing jingles for the mix 'n' match department of Woolworths (Basildon)."{{cite magazine|first=Jon|last=Wilde|work=Melody Maker |title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52099303374/|date=5 May 1990|access-date=24 February 2023}}

Remixes

François Kevorkian mixed a new single version for the release, extending it slightly while lowering the tempo, and also making Dave Gahan's vocals more prominent. He also mixed the "Beat Box" mix (the 12-inch version of the single mix) and the "Pavlov's dub". The "Trancentral" mix is by the KLF, a popular acid house band at that time that only did remix work for other artists on 3 occasions (the others being "So Hard" and its B-side "It Must Be Obvious" by the Pet Shop Boys and "What Is Dub?" by Moody Boys). The "Capitol" mix uses the sample "I want to tell you my side of the case" from the Checkers speech by Richard Nixon. A version of "Kaleid" was used as intro music for Depeche Mode's World Violation Tour in 1990.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Policy of Truth" is directed by Anton Corbijn and appears on the VHS collection Strange Too.

Track listings

All songs were written by Martin L. Gore.

{{col-begin}}

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UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=BONG 19}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=C BONG 19}}

  1. "Policy of Truth"
  2. "Kaleid"

UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=12 BONG 19}}

:A1. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box)

:B1. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix)

:B2. "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix)

UK limited-edition 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=UK limited 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=L12 BONG 19}}

:A1. "Policy of Truth" (Trancentral mix)

:AA1. "Kaleid" (remix)

:AA2. "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub)

UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=CD BONG 19}}

  1. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box)
  2. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix)
  3. "Kaleid" (remix)

UK limited-edition CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=UK limited CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=LCD BONG 19}}

  1. "Policy of Truth" (Trancentral mix)
  2. "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix)
  3. "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub)
  4. "Policy of Truth" (7-inch version)
  5. "Kaleid" (7-inch version)

US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=0-21534}}

:A1. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) – 8:00

:A2. "Policy of Truth" (Trancentral mix) – 5:53

:B1. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box mix) – 7:14

:B2. "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix) – 5:23

  • The Trancentral mix is mislabelled as Pavlov's dub on the liner notes

{{col-2}}

US maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=9 21534-2}}

  1. "Policy of Truth" (single version) – 3:40
  2. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) – 8:00
  3. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box mix) – 7:13
  4. "Kaleid" (remix) – 4:36
  5. "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub) – 6:02
  • Pavlov's dub is mislabelled as the Trancentral mix on the liner notes

US maxi-cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=US maxi-cassette single cassette notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=4-21534}}

:A1. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) – 8:00

:A2. "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub) – 5:53

:B1. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box mix) – 7:14

:B2. "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix) – 5:23

Japanese CD EP{{cite AV media notes|title=Policy of Truth|others=Depeche Mode|year=1990|type=Japanese CD EP liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=ALCB-110}}

  1. "Policy of Truth"
  2. "Kaleid"
  3. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box)
  4. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix)
  5. "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix)
  6. "Policy of Truth" (Trancentral mix)
  7. "Kaleid" (remix)
  8. "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub)

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

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

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Policy of Truth"

! scope="col"| Chart (1990)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/DkGCr8v.jpg|title=Australian (ARIA) chart positions outside the top 100 provided by ARIA, through response to chart inquiry received 5 June 2015|access-date=29 July 2015|via=Imgur}}

| 143

{{single chart|Flanders|21|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Policy of Truth|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|14|chartid=1307|rowheader=true|access-date=31 May 2022}}
scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/90/MM-1990-06-30-OCR-Page-0011.pdf |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=7 |issue=26 |date=30 June 1990 |page=V |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 21

scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language= fi |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |location= Helsinki}}

| 5

{{single chart|France|31|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Policy of Truth|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|11|song=Policy of Truth|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2020}}
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=31 May 2022}} Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Depeche Mode" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".

| 5

scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/depeche-mode/depeche-mode-policy-of-truth-17029 |title=Depeche Mode – Policy of Truth |language=nl |publisher=Dutch Top 40 |access-date=20 December 2020}}

| 14

{{single chart|Dutch100|37|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Policy of Truth|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2020}}
scope="row"| Spain (AFYVE){{cite book|last=Salaverrie|first=Fernando|date=September 2005 |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|language=es|edition=1st|location=Madrid|publisher=Sociedad General de Autores y Editores|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}

| 7

{{single chart|Sweden|20|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Policy of Truth|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|12|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Policy of Truth|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|16|artist=Depeche Mode|artistid=20192|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2020}}
scope="row"| UK Indie (OCC){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1990/MW-1990-06-02-IDX-46.pdf |title=Distribution Top Indie – Top 40 Singles |magazine=Music Week |date=2 June 1990 |page=38 |issn=0265-1548 |via=World Radio History}}

| 3

{{single chart|Billboardhot100|15|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|2|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|1|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2020}}
scope="row"| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/19901013.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 13, 1990 |work=Cashbox |access-date=20 December 2020}}

| 17

{{single chart|West Germany|7|songid=2122|artist=Depeche Mode|song=Policy of Truth|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2020}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

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

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Policy of Truth"

! scope="col"| Chart (1990)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/90/MM-1990-12-22-OCR-Page-0060.pdf |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1990 |magazine=Music & Media |volume=7 |issue=51 |date=22 December 1990 |page=36 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 91

scope="row"| Germany (Media Control){{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1990 |title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1990 |language=de |publisher=Offizielle Deutsche Charts |access-date=20 December 2020}}

| 63

scope="row"| US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1990/1990-12-22-Billboard-Page-0087.pdf |title=The Year in Music 1990 – Top Dance Sales 12-Inch Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=102 |issue=52 |date=22 December 1990 |page=YE-31 |issn=0006-2510 |via=World Radio History}}

| 21

scope="row"| US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/dance-club-songs |title=Dance Club Songs – Year-End 1990 |work=Billboard |access-date=20 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224192508/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/dance-club-songs |archive-date=24 February 2020}}

| 35

scope="row"| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/alternative-songs |title=Alternative Songs – Year-End 1990 |work=Billboard |access-date=20 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220213305/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/alternative-songs |archive-date=20 December 2020}}

| 2

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Policy of Truth"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Depeche Mode|title=Policy of Truth|award=Platinum|relyear=1989|certyear=2025|access-date=1 April 2025}}

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

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "Policy of Truth"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format(s)

! scope="col"| Label(s)

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

scope="row" rowspan="3"| United Kingdom

| 7 May 1990

| 7-inch vinyl

| rowspan="4"| Mute

| {{cite magazine|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=5 May 1990}}

21 May 1990

| 12-inch vinyl

| {{cite magazine|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=37|date=19 May 1990}}

29 May 1990

| Limited-edition 12-inch vinyl

| {{cite magazine|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=30|date=26 May 1990}}

scope="row"| Japan

| 25 June 1990

| CD

| {{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/111737/products/34077/1/|title=ポリシー・オブ・トゥルース {{!}} デペッシュ・モード|trans-title=Policy of Truth {{!}} Depeche Mode|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=16 November 2023}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://archives.depechemode.com/discography/singles/26_policyoftruth.html Single information from the official Depeche Mode website]
  • [https://www.allmusic.com/album/policy-of-truth-mw0000674834 AllMusic review] {{rating|3|5}}
  • {{YouTube|M2VBmHOYpV8}}

{{Depeche Mode}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1989 songs

Category:1990 singles

Category:Depeche Mode songs

Category:Alternative rock songs

Category:Funk rock songs

Category:Music videos directed by Anton Corbijn

Category:Mute Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Flood (producer)

Category:Songs written by Martin Gore