Precious (Depeche Mode song)

Infobox Single
Name = Precious


Artist = Depeche Mode
from Album = Playing the Angel
B-side = "Free"
Released = October 3 2005
October 11 2005 (12")
Format = 12", CD, DVD, digital download
Recorded = 2005
Genre = Synthpop
Length = 4:10
Label = Mute Records
Writer = Martin Gore
Producer = Ben Hillier
Last single = "Enjoy the Silence 04"
(2004)
This single = "Precious"
(2005)
Next single = "A Pain That I'm Used To"
(2005) |

"Precious" is Depeche Mode's forty-first single, and the first single from the album "Playing the Angel". It was released on October 3, 2005 in the UK by Mute Records and October 11, 2005 in the US by Sire/Reprise. The single reached #4 in the UK, #71 on the Hot 100, and #23 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.

It was the band's first single of original music in more than three years. "Precious" was released to international radio stations and as a digital download on 22 August, 2005.

Meaning

Although the meaning of almost all of Depeche Mode's songs are not revealed (because Martin Gore prefers people to find their own meanings for each song) he made an exception with "Precious", revealing that the song is written about his children and what they must have been going through when he was getting a divorce from their mother.

Music video

To accompany the new single and album, a program called the Depeche Mode Receiver was released. The video for "Precious" received its worldwide premiere via this program on 12 September 2005.

An early version of the video (with unfinished rendering and many sketch placeholders) was leaked to the internet long before the song was even out, so most fans were able to listen to Precious about two months ahead of the release. In fact, the Digital Download may not have even been released if not for the leak, which was widespread within days.

The music video for "Precious" features the band performing on an empty, computer-generated cruise ship, before walking out into an alien-looking (also CG) forest. The video was directed by Uwe Flade, who directed the "Enjoy the Silence 04" video. It is streamable for free on the Depeche Mode website in the archives.

B-sides

"Free" is the B-side to "Precious". It's a techno beat with an old school feel. It was unavailable in the USA, aside from importing, but is now available on iTunes. It also appears as a bonus track on the Japanese version of "Playing the Angel". There is no remix of the song, aside from an early version that was heard at the "Touring the Angel" press conference, as shown on the "Playing the Angel" Electronic Press Kit, however the full/stand-alone version is not available for download or purchase at this time.

Other appearances

"Precious" was also featured in "Smallville"'s fifth season premiere episode. The song was also played during episodes of the TV shows "Bones", "Charmed" and ""

Trance act Blank & Jones remixed the single though their production has yet to be released. However, they have played their remix out during their live DJ sets.

Chart performance

UK

The single was released to digital downloads and to shops on the same day, October 3, 2005. It was added to XFM's playlist in mid-September. It also made it to BBC Radio 2's A-List. On 2 October, 2005, it reached No. 49 on the UK airplay chart, jumping to No. 27 on 16 October, 2005. On 9 October, 2005, the single debuted #4 on the UK Singles Chart, giving them their highest UK chart position in eight years (Barrel of a Gun in 1997), and also matching that of People Are People in 1984. The single spent a total of five weeks on the chart.

US

"Precious" reached #71 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #23 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It was Depeche Mode's first single to make either chart since 2001's "Dream On". The song also topped both the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and the Hot Dance Singles Sales charts.

"Precious" was originally released to US radio and digital download on 22 August, 2005. Soon after this release, it reached #70 on the Billboard Pop 100, #53 on the Hot Digital Songs chart, and #47 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart.

Over the next two months, grew to be supported by 53 US alternative rock radio stations. During this time, it climbed up the Modern Rock Tracks from an original debut at #38 on 8 October 2005 to #24 on 25 November, 2005. It remained at #24 throughout December and finally peaked at #23 on 7 January, 2006.

"Precious" was released to stores in the US on 11 October, 2005. One week later, on the chart dated October 29, 2005, it reached at #3 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart and also debuted on the Hot 100 at #99, after "bubbling under" the week before. This same day it topped both the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and the Hot Dance Singles Sales charts and reached #27 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The next week, on November 5, 2005, "Precious" reached #1 on the Singles Sales chart. This propelled it to #71 on the Hot 100 and #52 on the Pop 100.

"Precious" debuted at #39 on the Adult Top 40 on 3 December, 2005. It reached #32 on 31 December, 2005.

Track listing

CD: Mute / CD BONG 35 (UK)

#"Precious (Album Version)" (4:10)
#"Precious (Sasha's Spooky Mix - Single Edit)" (5:45)

CD: Mute / LCD BONG 35 (UK)

#"Precious (Sasha's Gargantuan Vocal Mix - Edit)" (7:15)
#"Precious (Misc. Full Vocal Mix)" (5:41)
#"Free" (5:10)

DVD: Mute / DVD BONG 35 (UK)

#"Precious (Music Video)"
#"Precious (Motor Remix)" (6:37)
#"Precious (Michael Mayer Ambient Mix)"

12": Mute / P12 BONG 35 (UK)

#"Precious (Sasha's Spooky Mix - Full Length)" (10:32)
#"Precious (Sasha's Gargantuan Vocal Mix - Full Length)" (9:40)

* Promo 12" single

12": Mute / PL12 BONG 35 (UK)

#"Precious (Misc. Full Vocal Mix)" (5:41)
#"Precious (Michael Mayer Balearic Mix)" (7:18)
#"Precious (Motor Remix)" (6:37)
#"Precious (Misc. Crunch Mix)" (6:51)

* Promo limited 12" single

CD: Mute / PCD BONG 35 (UK)

#"Precious (Sasha's Spooky Mix - Edit)" (7:33)
#"Precious (Sasha's Gargantuan Vocal Mix - Edit)" (7:15)
#"Precious (Michael Mayer Balearic Mix)" (7:18)
#"Precious (Misc. Full Vocal Mix)" (5:41)
#"Precious (Misc. Crunch Mix)" (6:51)
#"Precious (Motor Remix)" (6:37)

* Promo CD single included for club play

CD: Mute / RCD BONG 35 (UK)

#"Precious (Radio Version)" (3:45)

* Promo CD single for radio play

12": Sire/Reprise/Mute 0-42831 (US)

# "Precious (Album Version)"
# "Precious (Sasha's Spooky Mix - Edit)"
# "Precious (Sasha's Gargantuan Vocal Mix - Edit)"
# "Precious (Michael Mayer Balaeric Mix)"
# "Precious (Misc. Full Vocal Mix)"
# "Precious (Misc. Crunch Mix)"
# "Precious (Motor Remix)"

* Commercial 12" single

CD: Sire/Reprise/Mute 2-42831 (US)

# "Precious (Sasha's Spooky Mix - Edit)"
# "Precious (Sasha's Gargantuan Vocal Mix - Edit)"
# "Precious (Michael Mayer Balaeric Mix)"
# "Precious (Misc. Full Vocal Mix)"
# "Precious (Misc. Crunch Mix)"
# "Precious (Motor Remix)"

* Commercial CD single

CD: Sire/Reprise/Mute PRO-CDR-101611 (US)

# "Precious (US Radio Version)" (4:07)
# "Precious (Album Version)" (4:14)

* Promotional CD single

CD: Sire/Reprise/Mute PRO-CDR-101656 (US)

# "Precious (US Radio Version)"
# "Precious (Misc. Full Vocal Mix)"
# "Waiting for the Night (Bare)"

* Promotional

CD: Sire/Reprise/Mute PRO-CDR-101658 (US)

# "Precious (Calderone & Quayle Damaged Club Mix)" (12:04)
# "Precious (Sasha's Spooky Mix - Edit)" (5:44)
# "Precious (Sasha's Gargantuan Vocal Mix - Edit)" (7:10)
# "Precious (DJ Dan 4 A.M. Mix)" (9:51)
# "Precious (Michael Mayer Balearic Mix)" (7:18)
# "Precious (Misc. Full Vocal Mix)" (5:41)
# "Precious (Misc. Crunch Mix)" (6:51)
# "Precious (Motor Mix)" (6:37)

Digital Downloads

# "Precious (Single Version)"
# "Precious (Sasha's Gargantuan Instrumental Mix)"
# "Precious (Sasha's Gargantuan Vocal Mix Edit)"
# "Precious (Calderone & Quayle Damaged Club Mix)"
# "Precious (DJ Dan's 4am Mix)"
# "Precious (DJ Dan's 6am Dub)"
# "Precious (Misc. Full Vocal Mix)"
# "Precious (Motor Remix)"
# "Precious (Michael Mayer Ambient Mix)"
# "Free (Single Version)"

Music Video "Precious", Credits:

Director: Uwe Flade

Editing: Markus Gerwinat

Art Direction, Designs: Niklas Briner

Photography: Fabian Hothan

Postproduction: Effekt-Etage, Berlin

Producer: Mark Entzelmann

Shoot Location: London (UK)

Production Company: Q Film, Hamburg

Label: Mute Records UK, 2005