Song · Depeche Mode
“New Life” by Depeche Mode
From the album Speak & Spell (1981)
“New Life” by Depeche Mode appears on 2 radio countdowns from 2 stations between 2003 and 2021. It was first released in 1981 on the album Speak & Spell. Its best result is #405 on the 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s. In the combined RockLists rankings it is #7,139 alternative song of all time.
"New Life" was the second single Depeche Mode took from Speak & Spell, their 1981 debut album, and Vince Clarke had written it before the band even set foot in the studio to make the record. They cut it at Blackwing Studios, with Daniel Miller producing alongside the band and Eric Radcliffe engineering, and Dave Gahan reckoned they'd learned their lessons on "Dreaming of Me" and simply did a better job this time.
The best detail is the harmony, a four-part vocal in the manner of the Beatles' "Twist and Shout" sung by all four members, with a reporter from The Face on hand to note that Andrew Fletcher, the band's non-musician, struggled with his part. It was also their first single on 12-inch and the first to carry remixes, which the band did themselves; every single after it would have them.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
Indie & Adult Alternative
All Rock Formats
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1856 | Fred (XM 44) | Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) | 2044 |
| 2021 | 405 | 90.9 The Bridge | 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s | 909 |
Comments
Log in or create a free account to join the conversation about "New Life" by Depeche Mode.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.