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Walking in My Shoes

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"Walking in My Shoes"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Songs of Faith and Devotion
B-side"My Joy"
Released26 April 1993 (1993-04-26)
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 5:35 (album version)
  • 4:59 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)Martin Gore
Producer(s)
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"I Feel You"
(1993) 		"Walking in My Shoes"
(1993) 		"Condemnation"
(1993)
Music video
"Walking in My Shoes" on YouTube

"Walking in My Shoes" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released on 26 April 1993 by Mute and Sire as the second single from their eighth studio album, Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993). The song reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart and matched the success of the previous single "I Feel You" on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it reached one. The B-side is "My Joy", the only exclusive B-side from the Songs of Faith and Devotion album, and is a rock track in the vein of "I Feel You".

The 7-inch version of "Walking in My Shoes" is not the same as the one on Songs of Faith and Devotion. The sound has been made more noisy and dirty, especially the drums in the verse, and the intro has been shortened. When performed live, elements of the "Grungy Gonads" mix are used in an extended intro and throughout the song. The song was cited by then-member Alan Wilder to be his favourite song from the album together with "In Your Room".[2] Its music video was directed by Anton Corbijn.

Release and commercial reception

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"Walking in My Shoes" was released on 26 April 1993 in the United Kingdom.[3] The single failed to reach the UK top 10 or the US top 40; nevertheless, the song became a top ten hit in some countries of Continental Europe, and became a recurring song during the live performances of the band since 1993. The song peaked number 14 on the UK Singles Chart and number 69 on the US Billboard Hot 100. On the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, it peaked number one for a week.

U2 lead singer Bono listed the song on his "60 Songs That Saved My Life" playlist.[4]

Critical reception

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David Fricke from Melody Maker wrote, "'Walking in My Shoes' is better neo-Bowie than we've heard in some time, a long-distance 'Heroes' knockoff via the group's own 'Enjoy the Silence' complete with hints of Robert Fripp's skysaw guitar."[5] Sam Wood from Philadelphia Inquirer felt that the song, "with its moody minor-key melody and burbling bass-line reminiscent of early Simple Minds, adapts an ancient Native American proverb to create an anthemic plea for compassion."[6] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, adding, "The great thing about the 'Mode is their songs always have a chorus that's easy to sing along to. That's the case here, although for a change it does take a few listens to get the hang of it. The song is very atmospheric in a black-and-white-grainy-film for the video kind of way. Lovely."[7]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Walking in My Shoes" was directed by Dutch photographer, film director and music video director Anton Corbijn. At the beginning of the second verse, there is a shot of Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Alan Wilder with naked women on their laps. This was removed in the MTV version in the US and replaced with footage of the three members standing still, alone, from earlier in the video. The uncut version has appeared on The Videos 86>98, Devotional, The Best of, Volume 1 and Video Singles Collection DVDs. The video visuals are recognizably inspired to Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel the Elder paintings.

Live performances

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Depeche Mode performed "Walking in My Shoes" live during their 2017–18 Global Spirit Tour. The song was accompanied by a narrative video about a transgender musician getting dressed in the morning and going to perform at a bar.[8][9][10]

Track listings

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All songs were written by Martin Gore.

Charts

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Shaw, William (April 1993). "In The Mode". Details: 90–95, 168. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  2. ^ "We Were Going to Live Together, Record Together And It Was Going to Be Wonderful" - Depeche Mode documentary about the album Songs of Faith and Devotion. Mute, 2006.
  3. ^ "Depeche Mode 'Walking in My Shoes' 1993". depmode.com. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. ^ "60 Songs That Saved My Life". U2.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  5. ^ Fricke, David (13 March 1993). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 30. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  6. ^ Wood, Sam (30 March 1993). "Depeche Mode Meditates on Religion with 'Songs of Faith and Devotion'". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  7. ^ Daniels, Leesa (28 April 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 49. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  8. ^ Coughlin, Kevin P. (13 September 2017). "Depeche Mode gets 'spiritual' at Madison Square Garden". New York Daily News. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  9. ^ Valente, Joanna C. (14 September 2017). "Depeche Mode Gets Political". Luna Luna Magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  10. ^ Naftule, Ashley (28 September 2017). "Depeche Mode Never Let Us Down at Ak-Chin Pavilion". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  11. ^ Walking in My Shoes (UK CD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1993. CD BONG 22.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Walking in My Shoes (UK limited CD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1993. LCD BONG 22.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Walking in My Shoes (UK limited 12-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1993. L12 BONG 22.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Walking in My Shoes (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1993. 12 BONG 22.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Walking in My Shoes (Japanese CD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1993. 9 40852-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Walking in My Shoes (UK cassette single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1993. C BONG 22.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Walking in My Shoes (US cassette single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1993. 4-18506.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Walking in My Shoes (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Depeche Mode. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1993. 7-18506.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Walking in My Shoes (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Depeche Mode. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1993. 0-40852.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Walking in My Shoes (US maxi-cassette single cassette notes). Depeche Mode. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1993. 4-40852.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Walking in My Shoes (US maxi-CD single disc notes). Depeche Mode. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1993. 9 40852-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  23. ^ "Depeche Mode – Walking in My Shoe" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  24. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1007." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 23. 5 June 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 23. 5 June 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  27. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 22. 29 May 1993. p. 38. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  28. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  29. ^ "Depeche Mode – Walking in My Shoes" (in French). Les classement single.
  30. ^ "Depeche Mode – Walking in My Shoes" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  31. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 24. 12 June 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  32. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Walking in My Shoes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Regional EHR Top 20: South" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 24. 12 June 1993. p. 23.
  34. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 24, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  35. ^ "Depeche Mode – Walking in My Shoes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  36. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 21. 22 May 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  37. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  38. ^ "Depeche Mode – Walking in My Shoes". Singles Top 100.
  39. ^ "Depeche Mode – Walking in My Shoes". Swiss Singles Chart.
  40. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  41. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  42. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  43. ^ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 44. 10 July 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  45. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
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