Enjoy the Silence

**Enjoy the Silence** is the sixth track on Depeche Mode's seventh studio album, *Violator*. Recorded in 1989, it was released as the second single on February 5, 1990. The music video was released on January 16, 1990.

## Background

Songwriter Martin Gore created a ballad-like first version of the song, which the band took into the studio in 1989. At band member Alan Wilder's insistence, the song was reworked into the up-tempo version released on the album.

## Release

Enjoy the Silence was released as a single on February 5, 1990. It was initially released as a 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl single as well as a cassette and CD single. There are two instrumental B-sides to "Enjoy the Silence". "Sibeling" (the 12" B-side) is a soft piano-tune while "Memphisto" (the 7" B-side) is a darker, eerier track. The title of "Sibeling" refers to Finnish classical composer Jean Sibelius. According to Martin Gore, "Memphisto is the name of an imaginary film about Elvis as a Devil, that I created in my mind", and is a portmanteau of "Memphis" (where Elvis lived at Graceland) and "Mephisto".

## Music videos

### Original versions

The Anton Corbijn-directed music video for Enjoy the Silence references the themes and storyline of the philosophical children's book *The Little Prince* from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Footage of Dave Gahan dressed as a stereotypical king wandering the hillsides of the Scottish Highlands, the coast of the Algarve in Portugal and finally the Swiss Alps with a deck chair is intercut with black-and-white footage of the band posing. Brief flashes of a single rose (which is also on the album cover of *Violator*) appear throughout the scenes.

When Corbijn presented the concept of the video to the band, which at the time was simply "Dave dressed up as a king, walking around with a deck chair", they initially rejected it. They changed their minds, when he explained that the idea was that the King (Dave) represented "a man with everything in the world, just looking for a quiet place to sit"; a king of no kingdom. Andy Fletcher jokes that he favored the video because "[he] only had to do about an hour's worth of work".

The video uses a slightly different mix of the album version of the song (the most notable difference being a new and extended introduction) that has not been released in any audio format. The final long shots of the king walking through the snow are not Gahan but rather the video's producer, Richard Bell. Gahan had left the set, tired of the cold in Switzerland (recounted by Gahan in the intro to *The Videos (86-98)* and to the DVD of *The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1*).

There are two edited versions of the Corbijn-directed video. One version begins with Andy Fletcher looking towards his right as the song begins. Shots of Dave Gahan dressed as a king singing directly to the camera are intercut with scenes of his walking through the Scottish Highlands, the coast of Portugal and the Swiss Alps. The video ends with Gahan singing the last line, "Enjoy the silence", then putting his finger in front of his lips as if to quiet the viewer. The second version begins with Martin Gore looking to his right as the song begins. This version omits the shots of Gahan singing directly to the camera. In this version, the only lines Gahan is shown singing are "Words are very unnecessary/They can only do harm." The video ends with Gahan sitting on a deck chair in the snow while the last line, "Enjoy the silence", is sung. There are also differences in the group shots of the band standing together between the two versions.

### Music video release

*Produced by Depeche Mode and Flood. Mixed by Daniel Miller and Flood. Engineered by Pino Pischetola, Peter Iversen, Steve Lyon, Goh Hotoda, Alan Gregorie, Dennis Mitchell and Phil Legg. Assisted by Daryl Bamonte, Dick Meany, David Browne, Mark Flannery and Ricky.*

*The video uses a slightly different mix of the album version of the song (the most notable difference being a new and extended introduction) that has not been released in any audio format.*

*The video for 'Enjoy The Silence' features Dave as a King, and part of it was filmed on The Balmoral Estate, Scotland.*

*It was freezing cold and Dave had to stand on a windy hillside for 8 hours dressed in a cloak (see photo) When the filming was finally over everyone climbed into the car - to discover that it had got stuck in the ice!*

*I'm now reliably informed that digging out an ice-stricken Range Rover really warms you up!. When they eventually got going, Dave was still in his 'Royal' clothes and waved regally at passers by, who must've thought that they'd had a real Royal' sighting!*

### Promotional video

On December 2, 1989, "Enjoy the Silence" was performed live on *Peter's Pop Show* in Germany.

On December 19, 1989, a promotional single for "Enjoy the Silence" was pressed.

In 1990, a promotional video for "Enjoy the Silence" was shot by French TV (for the TV Show "Champs-Élysées" with Michel Drucker) featuring Depeche Mode lip-syncing the song while standing on the observation deck atop the South Tower of the original World Trade Center.

## Lyrics

Words like violence break the silence

Come crashing in into my little world

Painful to me, pierce right through me

Can't you understand? Oh, my little girl

All I ever wanted

All I ever needed is here in my arms

Words are very unnecessary

They can only do harm

Vows are spoken to be broken

Feelings are intense, words are trivial

Pleasures remain, so does the pain

Words are meaningless and forgettable

All I ever wanted

All I ever needed is here in my arms

Words are very unnecessary

They can only do harm

All I ever wanted

All I ever needed is here in my arms

Words are very unnecessary

They can only do harm

All I ever wanted

All I ever needed is here in my arms

Words are very unnecessary

They can only do harm

Enjoy the silence

## Impact and legacy

*Pitchfork Media* ranked "Enjoy the Silence" number 15 in their list of *Top 200 Tracks of the 90s*. *Rolling Stone* included it in their list of *500 Best Songs of All Time* in 2021.

## Interlude No. 2 - Crucified

"Interlude #2 (Crucified)" is the first of two unlisted instrumental interludes that appear on the 1990 Depeche Mode album *Violator*. It is also commonly referred to simply as "Interlude #2", with "Interlude #1" appearing on *Music For The Masses* and "Interlude #3" appearing between "Blue Dress" and "Clean" on *Violator*. The interlude occurs between "Enjoy The Silence" and "Policy Of Truth". The mostly instrumental interlude features a single vocoded vocal by Andrew Fletcher chanting the word "crucified". Fletcher is appropriately credited as "lead singer" for this song.

Alan Wilder comments on the interlude's guitar elements in the *Violator* section of the Recoil Q&A section: "Dave plays a unique form of guitar. He has his own 'special' style. We used some of his playing as sound effects in one of the crossfade sections of *Violator*."

This interlude features the first known example of a non-vocal, non songwriting-focused musical contribution by Dave Gahan, and the second known example of a vocal delivery by Andrew Fletcher featured on a Depeche Mode album song. Fletcher's prior vocal contribution were backing vocals at the end of The Sun & The Rainfall.

## Official remixes

* Hands and Feet Mix – 7:20
* Hands and Feet Mix/12“ Version – 7:18
* Hands and Feet Mix 3" Edit – 6:41
* Ecstatic Dub – 5:54
* Ecstatic Dub Edit – 5:45
* Ricki Tik Tik Mix – 5:27
* Ricki Tik Tik Mix (Promo Version) – 5:59
* Ricki Tik Tik Mix (Promo Version) – 6:41
* The Quad: Final Mix – 15:30
* Bassline (Alt. name: *Bass Line Mix*) - 7:40
* Harmonium Mix - 2:42
* Video Version (*The significant difference between this version, and the Album Version, is the intro of the track*.) - 4:40
* Single Version - 4:17

## Releases

**7": Cassette: Mute / Bong18, CBong18 (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence" – 4:15
2. "Memphisto" – 4:02

**12": Mute / 12Bong18 (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (7“ Version)" – 4:15
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Hands and Feet Mix/12“ Version)" – 7:18
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Ecstatic Dub)" – 5:54
4. "Sibeling" – 3:14

**12": Mute / L12Bong18 (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Bass Line)" – 7:40
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Harmonium)" – 2:41
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Ricki Tik Tik Mix)" – 5:27
4. "Memphisto" – 4:05

**12": Mute / XL12Bong18 (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (The Quad: Final Mix)" – 15:30

**CD: Mute / CDBong18 (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence" – 4:16
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Hands and Feet Mix 3" Edit)" – 6:41
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Ecstatic Dub Edit)" – 5:45
4. "Sibeling" – 3:15

* released as 3" CD, rereleases as 5" CD

**CD: Mute / LCDBong18 (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Bass Line)" – 7:40
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Harmonium)" – 2:41
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Ricki Tik Tik Mix)" – 5:27
4. "Memphisto" – 4:05

* released as 3" CD

**CD: Mute / XLCDBong18 (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (The Quad: Final Mix)" – 15:27

**CD: Mute / CDBong18X (EU)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence" – 4:15
2. "Memphisto" – 4:02
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Hands and Feet Mix 3" Edit)" – 6:41
4. "Enjoy the Silence (Ecstatic Dub Edit)" – 5:45
5. "Sibeling" – 3:15
6. "Enjoy the Silence (Bass Line)" – 7:42
7. "Enjoy the Silence (Harmonium)" – 2:41
8. "Enjoy the Silence (Ricki Tik Tik Mix [Promo Version])" – 5:59
9. "Enjoy the Silence (The Quad: Final Mix)" – 15:30

* This CD is the 2004 box set re-release

**Promo CD: Sire/Reprise / PRO-CD-3976 (US)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence" – 4:18
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Hands and Feet Mix)" – 7:20
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Bass Line)" – 7:40

**Promo 12": Mute / P12Bong18 (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Bass Line)" – 7:40
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Ricki Tik Tik Mix [Promo Version])" – 6:41
3. "Enjoy the Silence" – 4:15

**Promo CD: Mute / CDBong18R (UK)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence" – 4:15
2. "Memphisto" – 4:02

**12"/Cassette: Sire/Reprise / 0-21490 / 4-21490 (US)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (The Quad: Final Mix)" – 15:27
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Ecstatic Dub)" – 5:54
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Bass Line)" – 7:40
4. "Enjoy the Silence (Hands and Feet Mix)" – 7:20
5. "Memphisto" – 4:05

**CD: Sire/Reprise / 21490-2 (US)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence" – 4:15
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Hands and Feet Mix)" – 7:18
3. "Sibeling" – 3:15
4. "Enjoy the Silence (Bass Line)" – 7:40
5. "Enjoy the Silence (Ecstatic Dub)" – 5:54
6. "Memphisto" – 4:02
7. "Enjoy the Silence (Ricki Tik Tik Mix)" – 5:27
8. "Enjoy the Silence (Harmonium)" – 2:41

## Enjoy the Silence 04

"**Enjoy the Silence**" was re-released as a single on 18 October 2004 for the remix project *Remixes 81–04* and was entitled "**Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted)**", or "**Enjoy the Silence 04**". The "Reinterpreted" version was remixed by Mike Shinoda, the rapper and producer for the American band Linkin Park, who played most of the instruments.

### Music video

Mike Shinoda's "Enjoy the Silence 04" was a distortion guitar-driven version of the song, in which he imprinted Linkin Park's distinctive nu metal sound. Its animated music video was directed by Uwe Flade. Monitors in the animation show performances of "Enjoy the Silence" excerpted from *Devotional* and *One Night in Paris*, as well as footage from a concert from *The Singles Tour* filmed in Cologne in 1998 for MTV.

### Releases

**CD: Mute / CDBong34 (EU)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted)" – 3:32
2. "Halo (Goldfrapp Remix)" – 4:22

**CD: Mute / LCDBong34 (EU)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Timo Maas Extended Remix)" – 8:41
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Remix [Radio Edit])" – 3:33
3. "Something to Do (Black Strobe Remix)" – 7:11

**CD: Mute / XLCDBong34 (EU)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Richard X Extended Mix)" – 8:22
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Extended Remix)" – 8:39
3. "World in My Eyes (Cicada Remix)" – 6:18
4. "Mercy in You (The BRAT Mix)" – 7:03

**12": Mute / 12Bong34 (EU)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Timo Maas Extended Remix)" – 8:41
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Extended Remix)" – 8:39

**12": Mute / L12Bong34 (EU)**

1. "Something to Do (Black Strobe Remix)" – 7:11
2. "World in My Eyes (Cicada Remix)" – 6:18
3. "Photographic (Rex the Dog Dubb Mix)" – 6:20

**12": Mute / XL12Bong34 (EU)**

1. "Halo (Goldfrapp Remix)" – 4:22
2. "Clean (Colder Version)" – 7:09
3. "Little 15 (Ulrich Schnauss Remix)" – 4:52

**Promo 2x12": Mute / P12Bong34 (EU)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Timo Maas Extended Remix)" – 8:41
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Extended Remix)" – 8:39
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Richard X Extended Mix)" - 8:22
4. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Extended Instrumental)" - 8:35

**Promo 12": Mute / PL12Bong34 (EU)**

1. "Something to Do (Black Strobe Remix)" – 7:11
2. "World in My Eyes (Cicada Remix)" – 6:18
3. "Photographic (Rex the Dog Dubb Mix)" – 6:20

**Promo 12": Mute / PXL12Bong34 (EU)**

1. "Halo (Goldfrapp Remix)" – 4:22
2. "Clean (Colder Version)" – 7:09
3. "Little 15 (Ulrich Schnauss Remix)" – 4:52

**Radio Promo CD: Mute / RCDBong34 (EU)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted By Mike Shinoda)" – 3:32
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Richard X Mix)" – 3:30
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Remix (Radio Edit))" – 3:33

**12": Reprise / 42757-0 (US)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Timo Maas Extended Remix)" – 8:41
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Extended Remix)" – 8:39
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Richard X Extended Mix)" – 8:22
4. "World in My Eyes (Cicada Remix)" – 6:18

**CD: Reprise / 42757-2 (US)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted)" – 3:32
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Timo Maas Extended Remix)" – 8:41
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Extended Remix)" – 8:39
4. "Enjoy the Silence (Richard X Extended Mix)" – 8:22
5. "World in My Eyes (Cicada Remix)" – 6:18
6. "Something to Do (Black Strobe Remix)" – 7:11

**Promo 12": Reprise / PRO-A-101419A (US)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted)" – 3:32
2. "Nothing (Headcleanr Rock Mix)" – 3:30
3. "Halo (Goldfrapp Remix)" – 4:22

**Promo 2x12": Reprise / PRO-A-101430 (US)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted)" – 3:32
2. "Enjoy the Silence (Ewan Pearson Extended Remix)" – 8:39
3. "Enjoy the Silence (Richard X Extended Mix)" – 8:22
4. "Enjoy the Silence (Timo Maas Extended Remix)" – 8:41
5. "World in My Eyes (Cicada Remix)" – 6:18
6. "Something to Do (Black Strobe Remix)" – 7:11

**Promo CD: Reprise / PRO-CDR-101419 (US)**

1. "Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted)" – 3:33
2. "Nothing (Headcleanr Rock Mix)" – 3:31
3. "Halo (Goldfrapp Remix)" – 4:22

## Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enjoy\_the\_Silence
2. https://dmlive.wiki/wiki/Enjoy\_The\_Silence
3. https://www.depmode.com/Depeche\_Mode\_Enjoy\_The\_Silence.php