noooooooOOOOOOOHHHH. Stop that Shit.

GREAT SONG!

DP. I guess you love or hate them.

I used to hate them a long time ago, but over the past 5 years or so, have really started to like them. Thought thier last album was great. 

jah_blessed wrote: Indeed. I kept waiting for what I thought would be the most appropriate lyric for this tune: Blah, blah, blaaaah, masturbator.

wow, emoticon

MojoJojo wrote: A valid point - I had to confirm that I had written it incorrectly. I'm pretty sure my usage comes from a desire to improve prosody when speaking: normally, one would say "Revelation" followed by a chapter and verse. Since the only chapter numbers involved that start with a vowel are eight, eleven, and eighteen, it is easier to link the terminal 'n' of "revelation" to the initial consonant of the chapter number (three, or twelve, or whatever) by inserting the 's' or 'z' sound as assimilation with that initial consonant directs. Does that make any sense? Consonant clusters! If I had to guess, this came from when I used to lector in church services as a kid, where you have to state the book, chapter, and verse of the upcoming reading. It's too bad we can't use the word "apocalypse" for "revelation" anymore, because of its end-times connotations.

sinner7 wrote: Ignoring the politics of the video, the animation for the expanding 7x7x7 cube of lies is very cool.

I don't even remember posting that. I think the beat possessed me.

ziggytrix wrote: Yea! Right on!

Check this video out for a different meaning of this song... https://www.infowars.com/video/clips/daily/083106_john_revelator.htm we've been bush-wacked!

aw, just shup up and turn it up!!

this is a good song, but the gov't mule version is 800,000 times better!

MojoJojo wrote: Lighten up, Francis.

Sorry, I can't contain myself. I don't know if DP is talking about a book of the bible, I don't care and it has nothing to do with my point. My list of peeves compels me to point out that the bible does not have a book entitled, revelations. It is revelation, as in the revelation to John. He had a singular revelation, not multiple revelations. If he comes back, has another one, then let's start calling it revelations, or revelation part deux. Whatever. There, I said it. Feel free to start the abuse. At least I feel better. Oh, and by the way, Koalas aren't bears. Koala bears is a close second to revelations.

Love the varied and diverse reviews, from the nutz to ... well the other nutz. Loved some of the longer posts including John Major, and as the well rounded piccic wrote:All of which I guess is in part to the underlying tones, and how that, itself, seems to be the one thing that creates the worst of man kind, religion, or perhaps "religiousity" to quote 'Jimmy the Tulip'.

jah_blessed wrote: John Major was prime minister between Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair... not really a "revelator"... pretty much a nerd.

tanmanc wrote: Hm... Are you talking about the Tory John Major here? Cause last time I checked Tony Blair is the prime minister of the UK. (Unless you're just joking.)

Seems to me that the "John" referred to here is no other than John Majors, the Prime Minister of the UK. He was put up on the highest hill i.e. chosen the political leader of England and is "telling lies". If you go thru the lyrics, it all fits in -- even a reference to riding the train in the morning (a reference to the poor bloke who got shot and killed by mistake by the British police. The original John the Revelator of course is the disciple John, a literal visionary, who wrote the book of revelations which gives an account of the end of the world. In the book of revelations there is mention of the seven seals which unleash destruction on mankind. Incidentally, the London bombings happened on July 7 i.e. 7/7. Seven also figures prominently in the song lyrics. Far from the charges of being an empty 80's type song, I believe DM here is making a clever political statement. Bye Bye Bye is a clear shout for Majors to step down. Finally, a brilliant touch -- notice how there is a melodic resemblance to their hit, Master and Servant? Majors is the servant and the Master is Bush - a usual British complaint about how its leaders just follows American policy.

John the revelator, blah, blah, blaaah, operator, blah, blah, blaaaah, elevator. Ugh!

Funky.

I guess this comes under the heading of a request, but I would really like to hear a blues "original" of this. Was not aware....

Can this really be the same song as the "original" I know from the incomparable Son House?

This is the most 'pop'y song on their new album, It is pretty good, but I like some of the other ones better like Precious.

This is by far, the best song on Playing The Angel. To me, it's like a violent marriage between "I Feel You" and "Personal Jesus". I *$#@ing love this song.

Gulp! It's astonishing to see how close-minded we can be towards what we don't know. When I listened DM's "John The Revelator", I was not even aware that it was an American delta blues/folk traditional song. In a first moment I found it a little weird, especially in the album context. Early versions (can we speak of an "original" here?) like William Nelson's or Son House are shiveringly beautiful. Listen, are you so biased to take seriously Depeche Mode's twist on the song? Besides being extremely ironic, have you not even noticed in how many directions it can be read? As it's common with many DM songs, there is no fixed "truth" to distill, but rather the song is a commentary which is completed by the listener, assumed he really wishes to listen. DM have been probably the new wave-spawned band which touched the existential problem and the relationship with the divine simultaneously, in the widest aspects humanly conceivable. If you have so many preconceptions about such a silly (and great) song being "blasphemous" or misdirecting, have a pick of other songs from their previous albums, like "Never Let Me Down Again" (theme: the infancy and immaturity of early stages of faith) "I Feel Loved" (temptation and its overcome by God's love), "Breathe" (Jesus crying on his human viewpoint about the unavoidable betrayal of Judas), or "It's No Good" (the impossibility of man to escape God's call, one way or the other). And if you are the first to be ready to throw stones, listen carefully to "Barrel of A Gun". DM songs can be strumentalized or blatantly exposed, as any other thing. True, there are songs which describe the viewpoint of the reject, or the man in sin somewhat rejoicing in his state (but always bitterly), like "The Sweetest Condition" "The Dead Of Night" or the b-side of the new "Precious" single, titled "Free". But ultimately the decision towards faith is yours. Depeche Mode have had the undeniable quality of showing almost all the possible conditions of human experience, forcing a reflection. Which, these numbed days, is not a little achievement, but perhaps the most important.

Seven is my number... ... always has been, always will be.. .. ... Seventh Calendula... seven seas, seven seals, seven days, seven nights, seven colors of the rainbow, seven wonders, seven... seven... I like it - luv it... want some more of it.

I can't get enough of this song... I've been playing it over and over again since I got the CD.

woozurdaddy wrote: So is dysentary! The one must have come back with the other. The symptoms are the same!

snarf wrote: The liner notes say it was "inspired by the song of the same name". (Or something to that effect, I don't have the CD myself.) Anyway, that doesn't make the track any better. Frankly, it's embarrassing to be even listening to. Lowered my rating to a 2.

Yes, the lyrics have been changed and I don't think they are attempting a cover. John the Revelator Put him in an elevator Take him up to the highest high Take him up to the top Where the mountains stop Let him tell his book of lies John the Revelator He's a smooth operator It's time we cut him down to size Take him by the hand And put him on the stand Let us hear his alibis A little different & blasphemous. Like rock & roll.

crystalboy wrote:

This band personified the souless Euro-Trash Band that some how found a audience. Glad their day has passed!

Baby_M wrote: As a standard issue Midwestern Lutheran, it's somewhat entertaining to watch somebody explaining on Sunday morning cable exactly how Revelations applies as prophecy to the modern world. On the other hand, it's also confusing/disappointing, because these are people with whom I have much in common (as Christians), and yet we don't agree on how those tenets should play out in our public lives.

The 80's at its worst-- Mindless, simple beat, slammed into our heads, pouty, melodramatic singer, cheesy electronic sound effects— Like a cheap, screw-cap wine. Thank God the 90's swept most of that swill away!

Is this really a cover of the Blind Willie Johnson song? The lyrics seem to be different and the melody is barely recognizable. If so, this would be the first time a DM album contained a cover version.

makhand wrote: Oh yes. Terrible band. Possibly connected with something hot below the surface of the earth. And talking about motivations, what about that hideous song 'Girls just wanna have fun'. To name just one of hundreds. Thousands.. Oh Lord save us from rock'n roll. makhand wrote: ...By all means! The problem of evil in a rock song. Beatiful. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_problem_of_evil

ick. yuck. nasty. horrible. This tune, which can be sooo inspiring when well done, (cf. Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, or of course the original Blind Willie Johnson) in DM's hands turns it into a robotic soulless thing. horrible.

fuh2 wrote: Revelations is about what was going on in the early Church when it was written (roughly 60 AD). It's written in symbolic terms ("code," if you like) to disguise it from the Roman authorities. Most Christians and most churches do not accept the Hal Lindsey/Tim LaHae interpretation of it as an end times prophecy. (We're also not terribly impressed by seething religious bigotry from self-important and intolerant commenters, either.)

dionysius wrote: And for that reason, this version should have never been recorded. I've got nothing (well, not much) against DM but this just doesn't even come close to doing justice for the original.

makhand wrote: Yeah those were some really oblique lyrics

fuh2 wrote: Actually, its in the Bible, so its a book for all christians. I being one of them dont think it gives me a hope for environmental destruction (I'm actually on the opposite end of the spectrum), nor does it justify going out and killing people in the middle east. There is mention of war in that area in the 'end times', but there is absolutely no encouragement to join in, if anything its more of a 'warning:watch out, take cover, times are going to be tough' type of thing. Not sure what you're reading into it, but what you're saying is not there.

WEIRD. First Johnny Cash covers Depeche Mode, then DM itself dips way back into country gospel blues and digs up the ghost of Blind Willie! Not an entirely successful experiment, BUT they get points for balls. Now: it is essential that anyone out there who even vaguely likes this somehow acquire Blind Willie Johnson's original "John the Revelator" (recently featured in the Wim Wenders-directed segment of The Blues on PBS). That song, as well as "Soul of a Man" and some others, is simply one of the most soulful, moving things ever recorded.

Looks like DM is bitter against christianity again. I've always wondered about their motivation. For more examples, read the lyrics for 'blasphemous rumors'

UltraNurd wrote: The Book of Revelations is the End Times book for the fundamentalist Christians. Gives them an excuse for war in the mideast and hoping for environmental destruction.

Boo-Hiss- not what one has come to expect from the Mode

I quite like it, both the sound and the lyrics. Although maybe it helps to have read the Book of Revelations.

Hmm...new DM not as good as old DM. Still likeable though!

Nothing special really. More special effects than a real tune.