It Doesn't Have to Be

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“It Doesn't Have To Be”
“It Doesn't Have To Be” cover
Single by Erasure
from the album The Circus
B-side "In the Hall of the Mountain King"
Released February 16, 1987
Format 12", 7", CD
Recorded 1986
Genre Synthpop
Length 3:53
Label Mute (UK)
Sire (U.S.)
Writer(s) Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer Flood
Erasure singles chronology
"Sometimes"
(1987)		 "It Doesn't Have To Be"
(1987)		 "Victim of Love"
(1987)

"It Doesn't Have To Be" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in February 1987. It was issued as a single six weeks before the release of the duo's second album, The Circus.

Following the number-two UK placing of previous single "Sometimes", "It Doesn't Have To Be" became Erasure's second Top 20 hit in the UK (peaking at number twelve) and their third German Top 20 hit (number sixteen).

Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the instrumental track heavily features Clarke's signature synthesizer programming along with a prominent acoustic guitar. Bell's lyrics touch upon patching up an argument between two people in a relationship ("you are on one side / I am on the other / are we divided?").

The single's B-side, "In the Hall of the Mountain King", is taken from Grieg's Peer Gynt suite.

Contents

[edit] Track listings

[edit] 7" single (MUTE56)

  1. "It Doesn't Have To Be"
  2. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

[edit] 12" single (12MUTE56)

  1. "It Doesn't Have To Be" (Boop Oopa Doo Mix)
  2. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Betty Boop Mix)
  3. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

[edit] Limited 12" single (L12MUTE56)

  1. "It Doesn't Have To Be" (Cement Mix)
  2. "Heavenly Action" (Holger Hiller Mix)
  3. "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (New Version)

[edit] CD single (CDMUTE56)

  1. "It Doesn't Have To Be"
  2. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"
  3. "It Doesn't Have To Be" (Boop Oopa Doo Mix)
  4. "Who Needs Love Like That"

[edit] CD single (Special Edition CDMUTE56)

  1. "It Doesn't Have To Be"
  2. "Sometimes"
  3. "Oh L'amour"
  4. "Heavenly Action"
  5. "Who Needs Love Like That"
  6. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (Remix)
  7. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

[edit] Chart performance

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Dutch Singles Chart 35
German Singles Chart 16
Irish Singles Chart 19
Swiss Singles Chart 19
UK Singles Chart 12
v • d • e
Erasure
Vince Clarke | Andy Bell
Albums/EPs
Compilations
Live album
Box Sets
Singles
"Who Needs Love Like That" | "Heavenly Action" | "Oh L'amour" | "Sometimes" | "It Doesn't Have to Be" | "Victim of Love" | "The Circus" | "Ship of Fools" | "Chains of Love" | "A Little Respect" | "Stop!" | "Drama!" | "You Surround Me" | "Blue Savannah" | "Star" | "Chorus" | "Love to Hate You" | "Am I Right?" | "Breath of Life" | "Take a Chance on Me" | "Who Needs Love Like That (remix)" | "Always" | "Run to the Sun" | "I Love Saturday" | "Stay with Me" | "Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)" | "Rock Me Gently" | "In My Arms" | "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" | "Rain" | "Freedom" | "Moon & the Sky" | "Solsbury Hill" | " Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" | "Oh L'amour (August Mix)" | "Breathe" | "Don't Say You Love Me" | "Here I Go Impossible Again" | "All This Time Still Falling Out of Love" | "Boy" | "I Could Fall in Love with You" | "Sunday Girl"
Video/DVD
Sanctuary - the EIS Christmas Concert 2002 | Hits! the Videos | The Tank, the Swan and the Balloon | Great Hits Live - Live at Great Woods | The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne | On the Road to Nashville