"Useless" is a song by English

electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...

group

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 ...

, released on 20 October 1997 as the fourth and final single from their ninth studio album, ''

Ultra adopted by British military intelligence in June 1941 for wartime signals intelligence obtained by breaking high-level encrypted enemy radio and teleprinter communications at the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park. '' ...

'' (1997). It was released with "

Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. H ...

" as a

double A-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...

in the United States due to "Useless" getting airplay on US radio stations before "Home" was announced. "Useless" features a bass contribution performed by bassist

Doug Wimbish Douglas Arthur Wimbish (born September 22, 1956) is an American bass player, primarily known for being a member of rock band Living Colour and funk/dub/hip hop collective Tackhead, and as a session musician with artists such as Sugarhill Gang, ...

, known for his session work and as a member of

Living Color Living Colour is an American rock music, rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band currently consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish (who replaced Muzz Skillings ...

Release

The single version of "Useless" was remixed by

Alan Moulder Alan Moulder (born 11 June 1959) is an English record producer, mixing engineer, and audio engineer. Early life Moulder was born on 11 June 1959 in Boston, Lincolnshire. He was educated at Boston Grammar School. He had an interest in music from ...

, and is not only shortened but also features several alterations (similar to the changes done to the 7-inch versions of "

Behind the Wheel "Behind the Wheel" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode from their sixth studio album, ''Music for the Masses'' (1987). It was released on 28 December 1987 as the album's third single, reaching number 21 in the United Kingdom ...

" and " Condemnation"), such as having a different beat and is slightly sped up. Several elements have also been mixed to sound harsher, such as the synth on the second chorus. On the US double A-side single, the single remix is replaced by the CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit. There are no actual B-sides for "Useless", except for remixes and live versions of the song. Some versions of the CD single feature the videos for " Barrel of a Gun" and "

It's No Good "It's No Good" a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 31 March 1997 as the second single from their ninth studio album, ''Ultra'' (1997). It was commercially successful, reaching number-one in Denmark, Spain, Sweden ...

". The 1997 music video for "Useless" was the last Depeche Mode video to be directed by

Anton Corbijn Anton Johannes Gerrit Corbijn van Willenswaard (; born 20 May 1955) is a Dutch photographer, film director and music video director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2,Pitman, Joanna"The silent partner"' ...

for more than eight years. Though he remained working for Depeche Mode on all their album/single covers, press images and tour projections/designs, the record label decided to experiment with new directors for music videos. Corbijn's next video project with Depeche Mode was for "

Suffer Well "Suffer Well" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode from their eleventh studio album, ''Playing the Angel'' (2005). It was released in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2006 as the album's third single. Background "Suffer Well" ...

". Depeche Mode licensed the

Kruder & Dorfmeister Kruder & Dorfmeister, named after members Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister, is an Austrian duo, known for their trip hop/downtempo remixes of pop, hip hop and drum and bass songs. Career In 1993, they released their first EP '' G-Stoned'' ...

remix of "Useless" to

Victoria's Secret Victoria's Secret is an American lingerie, clothing, and beauty retailer known for high visibility marketing and branding, starting with a popular catalog and followed by an annual fashion show with supermodels dubbed Angels. As the largest ret ...

, for use in their "Natural Miracle Bra" ad campaign. It aired on US television for a few weeks.

Track listings

All songs were written by

Martin L. Gore Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austra ...

. The live version of "Useless" was recorded on 10 April 1997 in London, England. 12-inch: Mute / 12Bong28 (UK) # "Useless" (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) (9:10) # "Useless" (

CJ Bolland Christian Jay "C. J." Bolland (born 18 June 1971, Stockton-on-Tees, England) is an English-Belgian electronic music producer and remixer with British roots. Born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, Bolland's family moved to Antwerp in Flanders ...

Funky sub mix) (5:38) # "Useless" (Air 20 mix)" (7:56) (remixed by

Carl Craig Carl Craig (born May 22, 1969) is an American electronic music producer, DJ, and founder of the record label Planet E Communications. He is known as a leading figure and pioneer in the second wave of Detroit techno artists during the late 1980s ...

) CD: Mute / CDBong28 (UK) # "Useless" (remix) (4:53) (remixed by

) # "Useless" (Escape from Wherever: parts 1 & 2!) (7:17) (remixed by

Barry Adamson Barry Adamson (born 11 June 1958) Discography Studio Albums Compilation Albums EPs Singles Soundtracks References External links * Adamson's art-house
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Adamson, Barry 1958 births Living people People from ...

) # "Useless" (Cosmic Blues mix) (6:57) * Includes a bonus "Barrel of a Gun" video. CD: Mute / LCDBong28 (UK) # "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar mix) (6:03) # "Useless" (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) (9:10) # "Useless" (live) (5:21) * Includes a bonus "It's No Good" video. CD: Mute / CDBong28X (Europe, 2004) # "Useless" (remix) (4:55) # "Useless" (Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!)(7:17) # "Useless" (Cosmic Blues mix) (6:57) # "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar mix) (6:03) # "Useless" (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) (9:10) # "Useless" (CJ Bolland Funky sub mix) (5:38) # "Useless" (Air 20 mix) (7:56) # "Useless" (Live) (5:21) * Includes both "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good" videos.

"Home" / "Useless"

In November 1997, "

" and "Useless" were released as a

single in the US and Canada. The front cover art has the "Home" cover on the front, with the "Home" track list, and the back cover art has the "Useless" cover art, with the "Useless" track list.

Track listings

All songs were written by Gore. Gore sings lead on "Home", and

David Gahan David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

sings lead on "Useless". 7-inch: reprise / 7-17314 (US) # "Home" (5:46) # "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar edit) (4:06) CD: reprise / 9 17314-2 (US) # "Home" (5:46) # "Home" (

Air The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing f ...

"Around the Golf" remix) (3:58) # "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit) (4:06) CD: reprise / 9 43906-2 (US) # "Home" (5:46) # "Home" (Grantby mix) (4:38) # "Home" ( LFO Meant to Be) (4:26) # "Home" (The Noodles and The Damage Done) (6:22) #* Remix by

Skylab Skylab was the first United States space station, launched by NASA, occupied for about 24 weeks between May 1973 and February 1974. It was operated by three separate three-astronaut crews: Skylab 2, Skylab 3, and Skylab 4. Major operations in ...

# "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar mix) (6:00) # "Useless" (CJ Bolland Funky sub mix) (5:38) # "Useless" (Kruder + Dorfmeister Session™) (9:10) # "Useless" (Escape from Wherever: parts 1 & 2) (7:15) * Also includes the videos for "Barrel of a Gun", "It's No Good", "Home", and "Useless". Packaged in a clear plastic case with sliding pull-out disc tray.

Charts

Release history

References

External links

Single information from the official Depeche Mode web site

Allmusic review
{{Authority control 1997 singles 1997 songs Depeche Mode songs Music videos directed by Anton Corbijn Mute Records singles Reprise Records singles Song recordings produced by Bomb the Bass Songs written by Martin Gore