One of the biggest hits by Depeche Mode, released in 1990 from the album ‘Violator’.
Written by Martin L. Gore, this song was originally intended to be a ballad. The demo was recorded with a harmonium and Martin singing. Fellow band member Alan Wilder saw hit potential in the song and composed an upbeat tempo and structure for the song. Released as the second single from ‘Violator’, it was the biggest hit for Depeche Mode since 1984’s ‘People are people’ in the UK, peaking at number 6. In the USA, the song made the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100, to date the only track to do so.
In 2004, a remix version was released to coincide with the release of ‘Remixes 81-04’, a compilation of Depeche Mode remixes.
Also, various cover versions have been released since then, by artists such as Tori Amos, Apoptygma Berzerk, Keane, Lacuna Coil and many others.
Kim Wilde version
Kim Wilde only performed the song live, but one of the performances was released on the CD-single Baby Obey Me in August 2007. This live version was recorded on 21 February 2007 at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels (Belgium).
Live performances
Kim performed ‘Enjoy the silence’ during the Perfect Girl tour, live concerts in 2008 and 2009 and during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits tour in 2012.
Lyrics
Words like violence
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Cant you understand
Oh my little girl
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Enjoy the silence