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Cover of Exciter by Depeche Mode — Cover: Exciter

Song · Depeche Mode

“Dream On” by Depeche Mode

From the album Exciter (2001)

“Dream On” by Depeche Mode appears on 17 radio countdowns from 17 stations between 2001 and 2024. It was first released in 2001 on the album Exciter. Its best result is #24 on the KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 2001. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #41 alternative song of 2001 and #475 of the '00s.

17countdowns

17stations

#24best position

0#1 finishes

0top 10 finishes

2001–2024years charted

Watch

Depeche Mode - Dream On (Official Video)

Video from YouTube (DepecheModeVEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Dream On" opened the Exciter era for Depeche Mode in 2001, the first single from the band's tenth album. Martin Gore wrote it, Dave Gahan sang it and Mark Bell produced it, and instead of burying everything under synths it leans on a plucked guitar line that sounds almost homespun.

That stripped-down feel was the surprise. Billboard called it refreshingly organic, with a guitar hook to nod along to, and AllMusic's reviewer heard a Timbaland-style skeleton underneath and rated Gahan's vocal among his best. The minimal electronic clicks and pulses keep it cool and nocturnal, and the song went to number one in Germany, Italy, Spain and Denmark. Stéphane Sednaoui directed the video.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

#4,137 of all time

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year	#	Station	Countdown	of
2001	24	KROQ Los Angeles, CA	KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 2001	107
2001	63	91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana	91X Top 91 Songs of 2001	91
2001	51	Live 105 San Francisco, CA	Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 2001	106
2001	72	Q101 Chicago, IL	Q101 Top 101 Songs of 2001	101
2001	71	WHFS Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD	WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 2001	100
2001	71	K-Rock New York, NY	K-Rock Top 92.3 Songs of 2001	93
2001	106	107.7 The End Seattle, WA	The End Top 107 Songs of 2001	107
2001	63	89X Detroit, MI / Windsor, ON	89X Top 89 Songs of 2001	89
2001	30	CD101 Columbus, OH	CD101 Top 101 Songs of 2001	101
2001	92	The Buzz Burlington, VT / Plattsburgh, NY / Montreal, QC	The Buzz Top 99 Songs of 2001	99
2001	54	WBER Rochester, NY	WBER Listener Countdown 2001	191
2001	67	102.7 WEQX Southern Vermont and the Capital District of New York (Albany)	WEQX Top 102.7 of 2001	103
2001	63	WHTG Monmouth-Ocean, NJ	G106.3 Top 106 Songs of 2001	106
2001	37	97X Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL	97X Top 97 Songs of 2001	97
2001	68	99X Atlanta, GA	99X Top 99 Songs of 2001	99
2001	52	Radio & Records United States (national airplay chart)	Radio & Records Top 100 Songs of 2001	100

All-time and decade countdowns

Year	#	Station	Countdown	of
2024	371	The Colorado Sound	The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs of the 21st Century	1055

Charting alongside it in 2001

Best songs of 2001 →

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