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"A Question of Time"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Black Celebration
B-side	"Black Celebration" (live)
Released	11 August 1986 (1986-08-11)
Genre	Synth-pop industrial
Length	4:13
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Martin L. Gore
Producer(s)	Depeche Mode Gareth Jones Daniel Miller
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"A Question of Lust" (1986) "A Question of Time" (1986) "But Not Tonight" (1986)
Music video
"A Question of Time" on YouTube

"A Question of Time" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 11 August 1986 in the UK as the third and final single from their fifth studio album, Black Celebration, following the similarly titled "A Question of Lust".

The 7-inch remix of "A Question of Time" runs at a slightly faster tempo and pitch than the original Black Celebration album version. A version of the remix with an even faster tempo appears on The Singles 86>98.

There is no new track for a B-side (the first Depeche Mode single, other than the double A-side "Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody" without one), but instead includes a remix of "Black Celebration" and various live tracks. The "New Town" mix directly segues into the live version on the limited 12-inch single.

Music video

The music video for "A Question of Time" is the first Depeche Mode video to be directed by Anton Corbijn, and was the start of a relationship with him and the band which still lasts to this day. It was included on the Strange video, The Videos 86>98, the DVD of The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1 and on Video Singles Collection.

Critical reception

When reviewing the single, Lesley O'Toole of Record Mirror said the song is "not quite as alluring as 'A Question of Lust', but the rabid, sequenced throb is better programmed for radioland".

Other releases

Remixes ofof "A Question of Time" have appeared on various best-of compilations, such as The Singles 86–98 (1998), The Best of Depeche Mode Volume 1 (2006) and Remixes 2: 81–11 (2011). Live versions appear on 101 (1989), and releases of Recording the Angel (2006) and Recording the Universe (2010).

Track listings

All tracks written by Martin L. Gore.

7″: Mute / 7Bong12 (UK)

1. "A Question of Time" (remix) – 4:04 (remixed by Phil Harding)
2. "Black Celebration" (live) – 6:05

12″: Mute / 12Bong12 (UK)

1. "A Question of Time" (extended remix) – 6:38 (remixed by Phil Harding)
2. "Black Celebration" (live) – 6:05
3. "Something to Do" (live) – 3:50
4. "Stripped" (live) – 6:21

12″: Mute / L12Bong12 (UK)

1. "A Question of Time" (New Town mix) – 6:59 (remixed by Rico Conning)
2. "A Question of Time" (live remix) – 4:10
3. "Black Celebration" (Black Tulip mix) – 6:32 (remixed by Rico Conning)
4. "More Than a Party" (live) – 5:05

CD: Mute / CDBong12 (UK)

1. "A Question of Time" (remix) – 4:04
2. "Black Celebration" (live) – 6:05
3. "Something to Do" (live) – 3:50
4. "Stripped" (live) – 6:21
5. "More Than a Party" (live) – 5:05
6. "A Question of Time" (extended remix) – 6:38
7. "Black Celebration" (Black Tulip mix) – 6:32
8. "A Question of Time" (New Town mix/live remix) – 11:08

The CD single was released in 1991 as part of the singles box set compilations.

CD: Intercord / Mute INT 826.850 (West Germany)

1. "A Question of Time" (extended remix) – 6:38
2. "Stripped" (live) – 6:22
3. "Black Celebration" (live) – 6:05
4. "Something to Do" (live) – 3:50
5. "A Question of Time" (remix) – 4:04

12″: Sire / 0-20530 (US, 1989)

1. "A Question of Time" (extended remix) – 6:38
2. "Something to Do" (live) – 3:50
3. "A Question of Lust" (Minimal) – 6:49
4. "Black Celebration" (live) – 6:05

• "A Question of Lust" (Minimal) is falsely titled "A Question of Lust" (extended version).
• Double A-side with "A Question of Lust".

Note:

• All live tracks were recorded at the NEC Arena, Birmingham, on 10 April 1986.

Charts

Notable cover versions

• Dutch electronic band Clan of Xymox recorded the song on their cover theme album Kindred Spirits (2012).
• International cover band Exit Eden covered the song on their debut album Rhapsodies in Black (2017).

References

1. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 9 August 1986. p. 8. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
2. DiGravina, Tim. "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
3. O'Toole, Lesley (16 August 1986). "Singles reviewed by Lesley O'Toole" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 8. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 6 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
4. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 36. 13 September 1986. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
5. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
6. "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Question of Time". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
8. "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time – Remix" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
9. "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
10. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts D". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
11. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
12. "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
13. "Depeche Mode – A Question of Time". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
14. "Depeche Mode: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
15. "Top Indie Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 30 August 1986. p. 9. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
16. "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Depeche Mode – A Question of Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
18. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
19. "Clan of Xymox to release Kindred Spirits ft covers of New Order, The Cure, Depeche Mode + more". Strangeways Radio. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
20. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "EXIT EDEN – A Question Of Time (Depeche Mode Cover) | Napalm Records". YouTube.
21. Barlow, Dave (4 August 2017). "Album Review: Exit Eden- Rhapsodies In Black". Hardbeat - By the fans, for the fans. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

External links

• Single information from the official Depeche Mode website

• 1986 singles
• 1986 songs
• 1989 singles
• Black-and-white music videos
• Depeche Mode songs
• Industrial songs
• Music videos directed by Anton Corbijn
• Mute Records singles
• Song recordings produced by Daniel Miller
• Song recordings produced by Gareth Jones
• Songs written by Martin Gore
• UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles