Barrel of a Gun (Depeche Mode song)

"Barrel of a Gun" is Depeche Mode's 31st UK single, released on 3 February 1997 (28 January in the US), and the first single from the band's ninth studio album Ultra. The song reached number one in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain and Sweden while reaching the top 10 in several other countries, including Finland, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom. In North America, the song reached number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30.

"Barrel of a Gun"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Ultra
B-side	"Painkiller"
Released	3 February 1997
Recorded	1996 Abbey Road, Eastcote, Westside, Strongroom, RAK, London Electric Lady, New York Larrabee West, Los Angeles
Genre	Dance-rock[1] industrial rock
Length	5:35 (album version) 5:29 (single version) 4:00 (radio edit)
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Martin Gore
Producer(s)	Tim Simenon
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"In Your Room" (1994) "Barrel of a Gun" (1997) "It's No Good" (1997)
Music video
"Barrel of a Gun" on YouTube

Song meaning

"It's about understanding what you're about and realising that you don't necessarily fit into somebody else's scheme of things," said keyboardist Martin Gore.[2] Singer Dave Gahan, who was weakened from his battle with substance abuse at the time, added, "The song sums up the way I was treating myself and everybody around me. That's what life had in store for me every day. It's a really powerful statement. When you're in that kind of row, the last thing on your mind is dying."[3]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "One of the true pioneering acts of electro-pop ends a lengthy break from the airwaves with a thoroughly satisfying if often caustic blend of techno synths and metallic guitars. Singer Dave Gahan has a field day digging into Martin Gore's typically heavy lyrics, comfortably swerving back and forth between hypnotic lethargy to white-knuckled intensity. Producer Tim Simenon wisely underlines the track with the kind of hip-hop motion needed to crack the pop market, while carefully weaving the instrumentation so that rockers and clubheads alike can happily jam on this one—and they will."[4] Dominic Pride from Music & Media noted that Depeche Mode "serve up the sombre, industrial sound for which they've become huge in Europe, but with Simenon adding some open space to the production." He added that Gahan's "distorted vocals bring a touch of Nine Inch Nails to the party."[5]

Music video

The music video for the song features Gahan with long hair singing with his eyes closed, with eyeballs drawn on his eyelids to make it seem like they are open. It was shot in Morocco by Anton Corbijn.[6]

Track listings

12": Mute / 12Bong25 (UK)

1. "Barrel of a Gun" (5:29)
2. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix)" (9:37)
3. "Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix)" (5:23) (remixed by Sven Röhrig)
4. "Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix V2)" (5:28) (remixed by One Inch Punch)
5. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix)" (6:29)

12": Mute / L12Bong25 (UK)

1. "Painkiller (Plastikman Mix)" (8:39)
2. "Painkiller" (7:29)
3. "Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix)" (5:25)
4. "Barrel of a Gun (United Mix)" (6:36) (remixed by United - Marc Waterman and Paul Freegard)

CD: Mute / CDBong25 (UK)

1. "Barrel of a Gun" (5:29)
2. "Painkiller" (7:29)
3. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix)" (6:29)
4. "Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix)" (5:25)

CD: Mute / LCDBong25 (UK)

1. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix)" (9:37)
2. "Barrel of a Gun (United Mix)" (6:36)
3. "Painkiller (Plastikman Mix)" (8:39)

CD: Mute / CDBong25X (EU)

1. "Barrel of a Gun" (5:29)
2. "Painkiller" (7:29)
3. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix)" (6:29)
4. "Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix)" (5:25)
5. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix)" (9:37)
6. "Barrel of a Gun (United Mix)" (6:36)
7. "Painkiller (Plastikman Mix)" (8:39)
8. "Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix)" (5:23)
9. "Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix V2)" (5:28)

• This CD is the 2004 re-release

Promo 12": Mute / P12Bong25 (UK)

1. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix)" (9:37)
2. "Painkiller (Plastikman Mix)" (8:39)
3. "Barrel of a Gun" (5:29)
4. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Instrumental)" (9:13)

Promo 12": Mute / PL12Bong25 (UK)

1. "Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix V2)" (5:25)
2. "Painkiller (Original Mix)" (5:26)
3. "Barrel of a Gun (3 Phase Mix)" (5:29)
4. "Barrel of a Gun (Original Mix)" (5:35)

Promo CD: Mute / RCDBong25 (UK)

1. "Barrel of a Gun (Radio Edit)" (4:01)
2. "Barrel of a Gun (Album Version)" (5:29)

7": Reprise / 17390-7 (US)

1. "Barrel Of A Gun" (5:30)
2. "Painkiller" (7:28)

CD: Sire/Reprise / 2-17409 (US)

1. "Barrel of a Gun" (5:29)
2. "Barrel of a Gun (United Mix)" (6:36)
3. "Painkiller" (7:29)

CD: Sire/Reprise / 43828-2 (US)

1. "Barrel of a Gun" (5:29)
2. "Painkiller (Plastikman Mix)" (8:39)
3. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Soft Mix)" (6:27)
4. "Barrel of a Gun (One Inch Punch Mix V2)" (5:25)
5. "Barrel of a Gun (Underworld Hard Mix)" (9:36)

• "One Inch Punch Mix V2" was falsely mistaken for the regular "One Inch Punch Mix". The latter was not released in the US till the 2004 re-release.

Promo CD: Sire/Reprise / PRO-CD-8600 (US)

1. "Barrel of a Gun (Radio Edit)" (4:01)
2. "Barrel of a Gun" (5:29)

• All songs written by Martin L. Gore.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 33 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 15 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 37 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10] 18 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[11] 3 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[12] 5 Czech Republic (IFPI CR)[13] 1 Denmark (IFPI)[14] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 5 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[16] 3 France (SNEP)[17] 22 Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 3 Hungary (Mahasz)[19] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 13 Italy (Musica e dischi)[21] 12 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 50 Norway (VG-lista)[23] 6 Scotland (OCC)[24] 6 Spain (AFYVE)[25] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 30 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 47 US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[29] 11

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[30] 87 Germany (Official German Charts)[31] 100 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 55 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Sweden (GLF)[33] Gold 15,000^^ ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. DiGravina, Tim. "Depeche Mode - Barrel of a Gun". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
2. Trakin, Janet (28 April 1997). "It's a Mode Mode Mode World". Hits. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
3. Harding, Sven. "Interview with Depeche Mode, The Videos 86>98, Mute MF033 and Videos 86>98+". Mute MF042. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
4. Flick, Larry (25 January 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 60. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
5. Pride, Dominic (25 January 1997). "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 21. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
6. "Depeche Mode Biography 1997". Retrieved 27 May 2019.
7. "Australian-charts.com – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
9. "Ultratop.be – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
10. "Ultratop.be – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in French). Ultratop 50.
11. "Depeche Mode Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
12. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7856." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
13. "Top 10 Czech Republic" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
14. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 9. 1 March 1997. p. 15. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 8. 22 February 1997. p. 11. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
16. "Depeche Mode: Barrel of a Gun" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
17. "Lescharts.com – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in French). Les classement single.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". GfK Entertainment Charts.
19. "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Barrel of a Gun". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
21. "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109 no. 8. 22 February 1997. p. 38. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
23. "Norwegiancharts.com – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". VG-lista.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
25. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
26. "Swedishcharts.com – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". Singles Top 100.
27. "Swisscharts.com – Depeche Mode – Barrel of a Gun". Swiss Singles Chart.
28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
29. "Depeche Mode > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
30. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
31. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
32. "Årslista Singlar - År 1997" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
33. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 14 March 2019.

External links

• Single information from the official Depeche Mode web site
• Allmusic review
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics