A few things to consider when absorbing the content of the song: 1-800 phone lines were HUGE in the 70s and 80s for live phone sex, etc.. Also, the Bell (later AT&T) phone slogan for years was “reach out and touch someone”, so the lyric “reach out and touch faith” casually links that and Diana Ross’ “Reach Out and Touch Somebody”. Also, in the 80s, televangelism was a huge gross money-making endeavour with several ludicrously famous TV preachers, parodied by endless movies and sitcoms. So there’s this mix of personal communication, prostitution, religion/faith, long distance sex/confession/psychiatric help as themes. It’s almost a commercial jingle for a dystopian phone priest-prostitute sex hotline as metaphor for some unnamed relationship the singer is having with someone anonymous.
Great observation! I only thought of that recently, myself, and no one seems to mention it. But yeah, this song was a direct response to both of those major pop culture memes - phone sex ads and televangelists. Neither of which really dominate the landscape anymore. Almost anyone listening in 1989-90 definitely got those references. New listeners may miss a lot of the cleverness and venom of the DEEPLY cynical lyrics because "reach out and touch someone" ads and phone sex lines are no longer around, and televangelists are WAY less culturally prevalent than they were in the 1980s.
Recently we just lost founding member keyboardist Andy "Fletch" Fletcher 60 yrs RIP. This was hard hitting lyrics as well as the production but a classic good request 👍🏾👍🏾💯💯
Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence and World In My Eyes are the gems on this album by DM. I recommend checking out World In My Eyes it is an amazing track
A reference to a Priscilla Presley and Elvis. Songwriter Martin Gore said it’s about when the person you love is also your mentor, and how often that happens in love relationships. It is not ‘about’ Jesus and Christianity.
You really need to check out the album version, as it goes into an amazing part which is cut out on the music video version. I'd say this song is overhyped to the point that it can be disappointing on first listen, but It's a real grower though (especially the superior album version). In fact, just listen to the entire album! :)
It's actually the other way round, this is the original version (coming out quite some months before the album), and the album version they merged this with the ending of the 12" version. And yes, it is a fantastic ending, typical Alan Wilder ending I would say :)...
Lol ohhh lawd i love ya @JustJammin you are so literal lol That definitely is a gen Z thing! This seems to definitely be a reference to sex and how you can personally get what you need “if you reach out touch faith” the person will be there to provide like Jesus! Haha
I feel one could plausibly make a claim that it’s fully the Protestant conception of a personal relationship with Jesus. As opposed to the Catholic version where it’s only through the church and mediated through the clergy. You definitely need the album version. There’s a good 2 more minutes that are in my mind the best parts.
Not really. Martin Gore, the songwriter, was *especially* into Christianity around this time. For a song from a more atheistic phase of theirs, "Blasphemous Rumours" (1984) is a stone classic with brutally beautiful lyrics. "Personal Jesus" was calling out the commercialism of televangelists in the 1980s, though. It was really obvious what they meant at the time, but the references they are making won't connect with most folks under 40, probably. Heck, even lines like "pick up the receiver" will go over the heads of most young folks. The lyrics are clever in that they all have a double meaning. The whole thing is a bit of a love song disguised as a sleazy come on. But they also incorporate a cynical dig at a commercial jingle ("reach out and touch someone" was used by several telephone companies over the years, including AT&T), and a cultural plague (all those "send me your retirement money" snakes) of 1980s televangelism (TV preachers, basically). By the time this song came out, several major figures in televangelism had recently been brought down by ostentatious hubris and tawdry sex scandals, so the sexy shuffle beat, breathy vocals, and element of Wild West sex-workers in the video adds another layer to the whole thing. It's almost the closest they ever came to a novelty-type song. But after this, they did return to the well of Americana, Blues, Gospel, Country, and Hard Rock a bit more and more over the years. They had toyed with guitar for a couple of albums, but "Personal Jesus" is where the dam broke and they almost slipped into more of an Alternative Rock category from time to time afterwards (as of their Synthpop peers and acolytes had retired or moved toward Dance Music, during the 1990s).
There is nobody who hears your prayers, WE invented our own GOD, in a book. Without each other, we would be totally alone in this world. You obviously have much more BLIND 'faith' than I do, but we don't need to agree.
A few things to consider when absorbing the content of the song: 1-800 phone lines were HUGE in the 70s and 80s for live phone sex, etc.. Also, the Bell (later AT&T) phone slogan for years was “reach out and touch someone”, so the lyric “reach out and touch faith” casually links that and Diana Ross’ “Reach Out and Touch Somebody”. Also, in the 80s, televangelism was a huge gross money-making endeavour with several ludicrously famous TV preachers, parodied by endless movies and sitcoms. So there’s this mix of personal communication, prostitution, religion/faith, long distance sex/confession/psychiatric help as themes. It’s almost a commercial jingle for a dystopian phone priest-prostitute sex hotline as metaphor for some unnamed relationship the singer is having with someone anonymous.
Great observation! I only thought of that recently, myself, and no one seems to mention it. But yeah, this song was a direct response to both of those major pop culture memes - phone sex ads and televangelists. Neither of which really dominate the landscape anymore. Almost anyone listening in 1989-90 definitely got those references. New listeners may miss a lot of the cleverness and venom of the DEEPLY cynical lyrics because "reach out and touch someone" ads and phone sex lines are no longer around, and televangelists are WAY less culturally prevalent than they were in the 1980s.
Recently we just lost founding member keyboardist Andy "Fletch" Fletcher 60 yrs RIP. This was hard hitting lyrics as well as the production but a classic good request 👍🏾👍🏾💯💯
Hey Wake!
@@johnneils9084 hey there 👋🏽 Johnny buddy how r u?
Depeche Mode People Are People that's my favorite
Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence and World In My Eyes are the gems on this album by DM. I recommend checking out World In My Eyes it is an amazing track
Don't forget "Policy of Truth"! It was even a US#15 hit and got lots of MTV play, back in the day.
Love Depeche mode. You can call them classic now. Always evolving. RIP Andy. Please react to Sons of faith and devotion. I believe their masterpiece.
Thank you for this reaction big fan of DM Rip Andy 😭
R.I.P. ANDY FLETCHER 🕊 🕊 🕊 🕊
A reference to a Priscilla Presley and Elvis. Songwriter Martin Gore said it’s about when the person you love is also your mentor, and how often that happens in love relationships. It is not ‘about’ Jesus and Christianity.
Martin Gore songwriter was inspired by Priscilla Presleys book about her experiences married to Elvis
For a video made over 30 years ago, they look totally in style for today.
Thx for your reaction to DM😀
You really need to check out the album version, as it goes into an amazing part which is cut out on the music video version. I'd say this song is overhyped to the point that it can be disappointing on first listen, but It's a real grower though (especially the superior album version). In fact, just listen to the entire album! :)
I agree. People tend to just focus on singles but almost all their albums are great front to back.
It's actually the other way round, this is the original version (coming out quite some months before the album), and the album version they merged this with the ending of the 12" version. And yes, it is a fantastic ending, typical Alan Wilder ending I would say :)...
It's New Wave. I always like New Wave and Hip Hop
I love your intro, is that Anita Baker ,that woman transcend the rhythm/ light
Nope it's Incognito - smiling faces
Lol ohhh lawd i love ya @JustJammin you are so literal lol That definitely is a gen Z thing! This seems to definitely be a reference to sex and how you can personally get what you need “if you reach out touch faith” the person will be there to provide like Jesus! Haha
i think they did play this on a commercial.
I don’t know the lyrics, but I was always thrown off by the title.
Nice.
That's Horrific...
And your comment made me laugh!
I feel one could plausibly make a claim that it’s fully the Protestant conception of a personal relationship with Jesus. As opposed to the Catholic version where it’s only through the church and mediated through the clergy. You definitely need the album version. There’s a good 2 more minutes that are in my mind the best parts.
💯❤️🔥
This man takes idiocy to new nevels.
I don't want to start any Blasphemous Rumors but I think that God's got a sick sense of humor and when I die I expect to find him laughing.....
Not my favorite song on the album. I like Halo & World In My Eyes better.💛✌️
Great reaction to this piece of art song 🎵 👌
Please place the microphone higher, your typing is super loud in headphones. Thank you.
Hello sir, pls react to The Go-Betweens - Quiet heart
react to PEBRO BRYSON feel the 🔥
they might be taking about they atheist.
Not really. Martin Gore, the songwriter, was *especially* into Christianity around this time. For a song from a more atheistic phase of theirs, "Blasphemous Rumours" (1984) is a stone classic with brutally beautiful lyrics. "Personal Jesus" was calling out the commercialism of televangelists in the 1980s, though. It was really obvious what they meant at the time, but the references they are making won't connect with most folks under 40, probably. Heck, even lines like "pick up the receiver" will go over the heads of most young folks. The lyrics are clever in that they all have a double meaning. The whole thing is a bit of a love song disguised as a sleazy come on. But they also incorporate a cynical dig at a commercial jingle ("reach out and touch someone" was used by several telephone companies over the years, including AT&T), and a cultural plague (all those "send me your retirement money" snakes) of 1980s televangelism (TV preachers, basically).
By the time this song came out, several major figures in televangelism had recently been brought down by ostentatious hubris and tawdry sex scandals, so the sexy shuffle beat, breathy vocals, and element of Wild West sex-workers in the video adds another layer to the whole thing. It's almost the closest they ever came to a novelty-type song. But after this, they did return to the well of Americana, Blues, Gospel, Country, and Hard Rock a bit more and more over the years. They had toyed with guitar for a couple of albums, but "Personal Jesus" is where the dam broke and they almost slipped into more of an Alternative Rock category from time to time afterwards (as of their Synthpop peers and acolytes had retired or moved toward Dance Music, during the 1990s).
@@MRoyClark well i didn't know
There is nobody who hears your prayers, WE invented our own GOD, in a book.
Without each other, we would be totally alone in this world.
You obviously have much more BLIND 'faith' than I do, but we don't need to agree.