"Blasphemous Rumours"/"Somebody" is

Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon, Essex, in 1980. The band currently consists of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and co-songwriting) and Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals and main songwriting). Depeche ...

's twelfth UK single and first double A-side single, released on 29 October 1984. Both A-side songs are from the album ''

Some Great Reward ''Some Great Reward'' is the fourth studio album by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 24 September 1984 by Mute Records. The album peaked at number five in the United Kingdom and number 51 in the United States, and was su ...

''.

Song information

Blasphemous Rumours

The verses to "Blasphemous Rumours" describe a 16-year-old girl who attempts suicide but fails. She experiences a religious revival but then "Hit by a car / Ended up / On a life support machine" (from the lyrics). The chorus uses these incidents to conclude, "I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours / But I think that God's got a sick sense of humour / And when I die, I expect to find him laughing." Like other songs on ''

'', the song uses a dense sound with extensive sampled percussion. The song stems from the times that

Martin Gore Martin Lee Gore (born 23 July 1961) is an English songwriter, musician, singer, record producer and DJ. He is one of the founding members of the electronic rock band Depeche Mode and is the band's main songwriter. He is the band's guitarist a ...

would go with bandmate

Andy Fletcher Andrew Fletcher may refer to: Government * Andrew Fletcher, Lord Innerpeffer (died 1650), Scottish judge * Andrew Fletcher (patriot) (1655–1716), Scottish writer, politician and patriot * Andrew Fletcher, British Member of Parliament for Haddin ...

and former bandmate

Vince Clarke Vincent John Martin (born 3 July 1960), known professionally as Vince Clarke, is an English synth-pop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been the main composer and musician of the band Erasure since its inception in 1985, and was previously ...

to the church. When Martin initially showed Andy the song, he found it quite offensive and said, "It certainly verges on the offensive." When Depeche Mode announced that they were planning to release "Blasphemous Rumours" as a single, pushback from the religious community resulted, and consequently, the band decided as a compromise to release the single as a double-A side with "Somebody."

Somebody

"Somebody", which was sung by

in the studio in the nude, includes one of Gore's "little twists", where the song builds as if it is a song about finding your perfect love, only to have him reveal at the end "though things like this make me sick / in a case like this I'll get away with it." A significant moment in the

Tour of the Universe Tour of the Universe was a Space Shuttle simulation ride located in the basement level of the CN Tower. Operating between 1985 and 1992, it was the world's first flight simulator ride. The ride was the idea of Moses Znaimer and designed by SimEx. ...

at the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

Alan Wilder Alan Charles Wilder (born 1 June 1959) is an English musician, composer, arranger, record producer and former member of the electronic band Depeche Mode from 1982 to 1995. Since his departure from the band, the musical project called Recoil b ...

made a surprise appearance accompanying by playing the piano while

sung 'Somebody'.

Track listings

All songs written by

except: * "Ice Machine" by

* "Two Minute Warning" by

7": Mute / 7Bong7 (UK)

# "Blasphemous Rumours" – 5:06 # "Somebody (Remix)" – 4:19

7" EP: Mute / 7Bong7E (UK)

# "Somebody (Remix)" – 4:19 # "Everything Counts (Live)" - 5:53 # "Blasphemous Rumours" – 5:06 # "Told You So (Live Version)" - 4:54

12": Mute / 12Bong7 (UK)

# "Blasphemous Rumours" – 6:20 # "Somebody (Live)" – 4:26 # "Two Minute Warning (Live)" – 4:36 # "Ice Machine (Live)" – 3:45 # "Everything Counts (Live)" – 5:53 * This version of the single was also released on CD. Intercord 826.839. No Bong number, same cover as the vinyl version.

CD: Mute / CDBong7 (UK)

# "Blasphemous Rumours" – 6:20 # "Told You So (Live)" – 4:56 # "Somebody (Remix)" – 4:19 # "Everything Counts (Live)" – 5:53 * The CD single was released in 1991 as part of the singles box set compilations. All live tracks recorded at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, England on 29 September 1984.

Charts

References

External links

Single information from the official Depeche Mode web site

Allmusic review
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blasphemous Rumours Somebody 1984 songs 1984 singles Depeche Mode songs Songs about suicide Songs written by Martin Gore Song recordings produced by Daniel Miller Song recordings produced by Gareth Jones Teenage tragedy songs Mute Records singles Songs critical of religion New wave ballads UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles