Drama!

"Drama!"
Single by Erasure
from the album Wild!
B-side	"Sweet Sweet Baby", "Paradise"
Released	September 19, 1989
Format	12", 7", CD, 3" CD
Recorded	1989
Genre	Synthpop
Length	4:08
Label	Mute (UK) Sire (U.S.)
Writer(s)	Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer	Gareth Jones, Mark Saunders, Erasure
Erasure singles chronology
"Stop!" (1989) "Drama!" (1989) "You Surround Me" (1989)

"Drama!" is the first single released by Erasure from their fourth studio album Wild!. It was issued by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S.

Written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the synth pop song begins with a low-key keyboard line and a subdued vocal from Bell. As the song progresses, the instrumentation and vocals become more hectic, ultimately ending as a full-blown dancefloor anthem. "Drama!" is known for its mob-shouted "Guilty!" exclamation throughout and Bell's intricate, multi-layered background vocals. Lyrically the song addresses a person who could be considered a drama queen, experiencing "one psychological drama after another" about everyday struggles that are universal and are easily dealt with by most people. Lines such as "your shame is never-ending!" are directed at the subject of the song. The mob's vocals were added to by The Jesus and Mary Chain, who happened to be recording in the studio next door.

Released prior to Wild!, "Drama!" continued Erasure's winning streak on the UK singles chart, peaking at number four. In Germany the single also fared well, hitting number twelve. "Drama!" did not continue Erasure's chart success in the United States, where it failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100. It did, however, climb to number ten on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Track listings

7" single (MUTE89) / Cassette Single (CMUTE89)

1. "Drama!"
2. "Sweet Sweet Baby"

12" single (12MUTE89) / CD single (CDMUTE89)

1. "Drama!" (Act 2)
2. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (The Moo-Moo Mix)
3. "Paradise"

Limited 12" single (L12MUTE89) / Limited CD single (LCDMUTE89)

1. "Drama!" (Krucial Mix)
2. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (Medi Mix)
3. "Paradise" (Lost and Found Mix)

U.S. maxi-single (21356-2)

1. "Drama!" (Krucial Mix)
2. "Drama!" (7" Version)
3. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (Medi Mix)
4. "Paradise" (Lost and Found Mix)
5. "Drama!" (Act 2)
6. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (The Moo-Moo Mix)
7. "Paradise"
8. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (7" Mix)

Chart performance

Chart (1989)	Peak position	Total weeks
German Singles Chart[1]	12	17
Irish Singles Chart[2]	5	8
New Zealand Singles Chart[3]	35	3
Swiss Singles Chart[4]	15	8
UK Singles Chart[5]	4	11
US Dance/Club Play Singles[6]	10	10
US Hot Dance Music Sales[7]	13

References

1. ^ http://www.musicline.de/
2. ^ http://www.irishcharts.ie/
3. ^ http://charts.org.nz/
4. ^ http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Erasure&titel=Drama!&cat=s
5. ^ http://www.chartstats.com/
6. ^ http://www.billboard.com/
7. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/