Useless (song)

"Useless"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Ultra
B-side	"Various remixes"
Released	20 October 1997
Format	Vinyl record 12", CD
Recorded	January 1996–February 1997 Abbey Road, Eastcote, Westside, Strongroom, RAK, London Electric Lady, New York Larrabee West, Los Angeles
Genre	Industrial rock, dance-rock
Length	5:12 (album version) 4:53 (single remix) 4:44 (album edit)
Label	Mute Records
Songwriter(s)	Martin Gore
Producer(s)	Tim Simenon
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Home" (1997) "Useless" (1997) "Only When I Lose Myself" (1998)
"Home" (1997) "Useless" (1997) "Only When I Lose Myself" (1998)

"Useless" is Depeche Mode's thirty-fourth UK single, released on 20 October 1997, and the fourth and final single for the album Ultra. It was released with "Home" as a double A-side in the US due to "Useless" getting airplay on US radio stations before "Home" was announced.

"Useless" is an industrial rock track in the vein of "Barrel of a Gun", with more of a pop twist. The single remix, by Alan Moulder, changes the intro and has an updated beat (similar to the changes done to the 7" versions of "Walking In My Shoes" and "Condemnation"), and adds some extra synth during the chorus. It also contains more grainy vocals. The "The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session" is a very prominent remix by the DJ duo of the same name. On the US single, the single remix is replaced by the CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit.

There are no actual B-sides for "Useless", except for remixes and live versions of the song. Some versions of the CD single feature the videos for "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good", accessible when the disc is inserted into a PC.

The 1997 music video for "Useless" was the last Depeche Mode video to be directed by Anton Corbijn for more than eight years. Though he still did some work for Depeche Mode on album/single covers and tour projections/designs, the band decided to experiment with new directors for music videos. Corbijn's next project with Depeche Mode was the video for "Suffer Well".

Depeche Mode licensed the Kruder And Dorfmeister remix of "Useless" to Victoria's Secret, for use in their "Natural Miracle Bra" ad campaign. It aired on US television for a few weeks.^[1]

Track listings

12": Mute / 12Bong28 (UK)

1. "Useless" (The Kruder + Dorfmeister session ™) (9:10)
2. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Funky sub mix) (5:38)
3. "Useless" (Air 20 mix)" (7:56) (remixed by Carl Craig)

CD: Mute / CDBong28 (UK)

1. "Useless" (remix) (4:53) (remixed by Alan Moulder)
2. "Useless" (Escape from Wherever: parts 1 & 2!) (7:17) (remixed by Barry Adamson)
3. "Useless" (Cosmic Blues mix) (6:57)

• Includes a bonus "Barrel of a Gun" video.

CD: Mute / LCDBong28 (UK)

1. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar mix) (6:03)
2. "Useless" (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session ™) (9:10)
3. "Useless" (live) (5:21)

• Includes a bonus "It's No Good" video.

CD: Mute / CDBong28X (EU)

1. "Useless" (remix) (4:55)
2. "Useless" (Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2!)(7:17)
3. "Useless" (Cosmic Blues mix) (6:57)
4. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar mix) (6:03)
5. "Useless" (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session ™) (9:10)
6. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Funky sub mix) (5:38)
7. "Useless" (Air 20 mix) (7:56)
8. "Useless" (Live) (5:21)

• This CD is the 2004 re-release
• Includes both "Barrel of a Gun" and "It's No Good" videos.

Promo 12": Mute / P12Bong28 (UK)

1. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Funky sub mix) (5:38)
2. "Useless" (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session ™) (9:10)

Radio promo CD: Mute / RCDBong28 (UK)

1. "Useless" (remix) (4:53) (remixed by Alan Moulder)
2. "Useless" (Escape from Wherever: parts 1 & 2!) (7:17) (remixed by Barry Adamson)
3. "Useless" (Cosmic Blues mix) (6:57)

Promo CD: reprise / n/a (US)

1. "Useless" (album edit) (4:44)
2. "Useless" (5:12)

• All songs written by Martin L. Gore
• "Useless" (live) recorded 10 April 1997 in London, England.

"Home"/"Useless"

In November 1997, "Home" and "Useless" were released as a double A-side single in the US and Canada. The front cover art has the "Home" cover on the front, with the "Home" track list, and the back cover art has the "Useless" cover art, with the "Useless" track list.

7": reprise / 7-17314 (US)

1. "Home" (5:46)
2. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar edit) (4:06)

Charlie Production

CD: reprise / 9 17314-2 (US)

1. "Home" (5:46)
2. "Home" (Air "Around the Golf" remix) (3:58)
3. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar Edit) (4:06)

• Above released ((18 November))

CD: reprise / 9 43906-2 (US)

1. "Home" (5:46)
2. "Home" (Grantby mix) (4:38)
3. "Home" (LFO Meant to Be) (4:26)
4. "Home" (The Noodles and The Damage Done) (6:22)
   • Remix by Skylab
5. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Ultrasonar mix) (6:00)
6. "Useless" (CJ Bolland Funky sub mix) (5:38)
7. "Useless" (Kruder + Dorfmeister Session ™) (9:10)
8. "Useless" (Escape from Wherever: parts 1 & 2) (7:15)

• Released 11 November
• The CD can be put into a PC that met requirements and you can watch the videos for "Barrel of a Gun", "It's No Good", "Home", and "Useless".
• Packaged in a clear plastic case with sliding pull-out disc tray.
• All songs written by Martin L. Gore
• Martin Gore sings lead on "Home", David Gahan sings lead on "Useless"

Chart performance

References

External links

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