"It's No Good" a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 31 March 1997 by Mute and Reprise Records as the second single from their ninth studio album, Ultra (1997). It was written by Martin L. Gore and produced by Tim Simenon, and was commercially successful, reaching number one in Denmark, Spain, Sweden and on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The single also entered the top 10 in Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number five.

"It's No Good"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Ultra
B-side"Slowblow"
Released31 March 1997 (1997-03-31)
Studio
GenreSynth-pop[1][2]
Length
  • 5:58 (album version)
  • 4:06 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Martin L. Gore
Producer(s)Tim Simenon
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Barrel of a Gun"
(1997)
"It's No Good"
(1997)
"Home"
(1997)
Audio sample
"It's No Good"
Music video
"It's No Good" on YouTube

On 15 May 1997, the band went on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed the song, a recording made available at the official Depeche Mode website.[3] The B-side is an instrumental, called "Slowblow".

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard stated that the song is "considerably more low-key" than their "more caustic" previous hit, "Barrel of a Gun". He added, "In fact, this is the single that diehard Depeche Mode disciples have been starved for, in that it somewhat revisits the stylistic days of "Master and Servant". The music cruises at a funky, electro-pop pace with minimal sound-effect clutter. Rather, the focus is on Dave Gahan's forlorn performance and Martin Gore's sensitive lyrics."[4] Dominic Pride from Music & Media noted that the band "return with a sound which programmers and audiences can instantly recognise and identify with", adding that Gahan's voice "soars above the minimal electronics, which are interspersed with some spartan synth interludes, in a song that glides along smoothly to its conclusion."[5]

Alan Jones from Music Week described it as "a superbly retro track which harks back to their old style. Powerful and synth-based, it is a sublime and slightly disturbing piece that totally contradicts its title."[6] Later, he also declared it "a brooding and menacing monster of a track."[7] A reviewer from Sunday Mirror wrote, "Although the first verse sounds scarily like Jimmy Nail to me, by the time the chorus sets in you recognise that proper Mode sound right away. Not as noisy as the last single but there's a stackful of harder remixes to please the mental, mental crowd".[8]

Legacy

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In 2017, Billboard ranked "It's No Good" number 52 in their list of "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997", writing, "The sixth and to date final top 40 hit for U.K. synth-rock greats Depeche Mode was a sleek sleaze-pop banger, delightfully cheesy enough that singer Dave Gahan pretty much had to play a lounge singer in the video. Still, the thing works because of the bass tremors unsettling the crooning underneath, and the zooming synths that crest and crash like ocean waves around Gahan, giving "It's No Good" just enough edge to keep Depeche Mode relevant amidst the rise of electronica."[9]

Track listings

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All songs were written by Martin L. Gore.

Credits and personnel

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Credits are taken from the Ultra album booklet.[20]

Studios

Personnel

  • Martin Gore – writing (as Martin L. Gore)
  • Dave Clayton – keyboards, keyboard programming
  • Victor Indrizzo – percussion
  • Tim Simenon – production, mixing
  • Q. – mixing, engineering
  • Kerry Hopwood – programming
  • Mike Marsh – mastering

Charts

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Release history

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Release dates for "It's No Good"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 19 March 1997 Modern rock radio [54][55]
United Kingdom 31 March 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
Mute [56]
United States 15 April 1997 Contemporary hit radio [54][57]
United Kingdom 21 April 1997 12-inch vinyl Mute [58]
Japan 18 June 1997 CD [59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mister Sushi's Synthpop Playlist". 1883 Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  2. ^ Richin, Leslie (12 January 2017). "20 Alternative Rock Hits Turning 20 in 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  3. ^ "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC/USA - May 15th, 1997)". Depechemode.com. 15 May 1997. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007.
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (5 April 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 72. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  5. ^ Pride, Dominic (29 March 1997). "Reviews/Spotlight: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 13. p. 7. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  6. ^ Jones, Alan (22 March 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  7. ^ Jones, Alan (12 April 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Title missing". Sunday Mirror. 30 March 1997. p. 29.
  9. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (29 June 2017). "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  10. ^ Depeche Mode (1997). It's No Good (UK CD single liner notes). Mute Records. CD Bong 26.
  11. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Mute Records. 12 BONG 26.
  12. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (UK cassette single sleeve). Mute Records. C BONG 26.
  13. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Reprise Records, Mute Records. 7-17390.
  14. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (European CD single liner notes). Mute Records. 74321482762.
  15. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (US CD single disc notes). Reprise Records, Mute Records. 9 17390-2, 2-17390.
  16. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Reprise Records, Mute Records. 9 43845-2.
  17. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes). Reprise Records, Mute Records. CDW 43845.
  18. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (US 12-inch maxi-single vinyl disc). Reprise Records, Mute Records. 0-43845.
  19. ^ — (1997). It's No Good (Japanese CD single liner notes). Mute Records. TOCP-50226.
  20. ^ — (1997). Ultra (UK CD album booklet). Mute Records. CD STUMM 148.
  21. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  22. ^ "Depeche Mode – It's No Good" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  23. ^ "Depeche Mode – It's No Good" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Depeche Mode – It's No Good" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  25. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3238." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3229." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  28. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 19. 10 May 1997. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510. See last week peak position.
  29. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 17. 26 April 1997. p. 59. ISSN 0006-2510.
  30. ^ "Depeche Mode: It's No Good" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  31. ^ "Depeche Mode – It's No Good" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  32. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40: Nr. 225 Vikuna 12.6. '97 – 18.6. '97". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 13 June 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  33. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's No Good". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  34. ^ "History" (in Italian). FIMI. Retrieved 2 June 2022. With "Ricerca per" set on "Titolo", search "It's No Good" and then click "Classifiche".
  35. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 20. 17 May 1997. p. 23.
  36. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 20, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  37. ^ "Depeche Mode – It's No Good" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  38. ^ "Depeche Mode – It's No Good". VG-lista. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  39. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  40. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  41. ^ "Depeche Mode – It's No Good". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  42. ^ "Depeche Mode – It's No Good". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  43. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  44. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  45. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  46. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  47. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  48. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  49. ^ "'97 Year End... Top 50 Alternative Tracks". RPM. Vol. 66, no. 15. 15 December 1997. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  50. ^ "Jahrescharts – 1997" (in German). Offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
  51. ^ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 September 2005.
  52. ^ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. YE-44. ISSN 0006-2510.
  53. ^ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. YE-73. ISSN 0006-2510.
  54. ^ a b Sexton, Paul (15 March 1997). "Depeche Mode Back from the Brink" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 11. p. 20. ...'It's No Good,' due to go to modern rock March 19 and top 40 April 15...
  55. ^ "Here's a Spring Break from All of Us to All of You...". Radio & Records. No. 1188. 14 March 1997. p. 56. On your desk and on the air March 19th.
  56. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 29 March 1997. p. 41.
  57. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1192. 11 April 1997. p. 33.
  58. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 19 April 1997. p. 35.
  59. ^ "リミックス・コレクションVol.2~イッツ・ノー・グッド~ | デペッシュ・モード" [Remix Collection Vol.2 ~It's No Good~ | Depeche Mode] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
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