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"John the Revelator" / "Lilian"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Playing the Angel
Released	5 June 2006 (2006-06-05)
Studio	Sound Design (Santa Barbara, California)
Genre	Synth-pop
Length	3:14 ("John the Revelator") 3:34 ("Lilian")
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Martin Gore
Producer(s)	Ben Hillier
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Suffer Well" (2006) "John the Revelator" / "Lilian" (2006) "Martyr" (2006)
Music video
"John the Revelator" on YouTube

"John the Revelator" / "Lilian" is the second double A-side single released by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, issued on 5 June 2006. Both songs are included on the band's eleventh studio album, Playing the Angel (2005), and served as the fourth single from the album. The single became another UK top-20 hit for the band, reaching number 18. "John the Revelator" was edited down several seconds for the single, while "Lilian" was slightly remixed and the introduction was shortened.

The single is the first UK double A-side release by the band since "Blasphemous Rumours / Somebody" in 1984. "John the Revelator" was played during Depeche Mode's Touring the Angel tour and can be watched on the tour's DVD. Dave Gahan also performed "John the Revelator" on his Imposter shows with the band Soulsavers.

Background

The song "John the Revelator" is based on the 1930s folk song of the same name. Martin Gore said in a French interview that the song "talks about faith in God, no matter what. It also denounces the belief in a God who punishes and damns. In the 'Book of Revelation,' John describes his visions of these seven angels descending, blowing into their seven trumpets and causing plagues, epidemics, and floods that gradually exterminate a large part of humanity. Only the true believers remain. I do not believe in all that."

Reception

Sarah Walters of Manchester Evening News praised "John the Revelator" saying, "There's a few bips here and a smattering of plips there to fuel the digitised feel of everything and it scores fairly highly for Gahan's vocal performance alone, but the tune is unlikely to win the Mode any more converts." She was more critical on "Lilian", saying that it "is musically DM circa-1981 and lyrically somewhere around 1989, which makes for a curious mix that doesn't really hit the spot."

Drowned in Sound reviewer Nick Cowen praised both of the songs saying, "'John the Revelator', a groovy little number about Biblical scrawlings, sports a welcome strut and swagger, while the haunting synth-line of 'Lilian' embeds itself in your head after a couple of listens. Both come packed with Depeche Mode's usual casing of computerised blips and beeps, and both are sure to lighten up any black-clad dance-floor."

Track listing

1. "John the Revelator" (UNKLE dub)
2. "Lilian" (Robag Wruhme Slomoschen Kikker)

A1. "John the Revelator" (Dave Is in the Disco Tiefschwarz remix)

AA1. "John the Revelator" (Tiefschwarz dub)

AA2. "Lilian" (Chab dub)

A1. "John the Revelator" (Murk Mode dub)

AA1. "John the Revelator" (Boosta club remix)

AA2. "Lilian" (Chab vocal remix)

1. "John the Revelator" (single version) – 3:14
2. "Lilian" (single version) – 3:34

1. "John the Revelator" (Dave Is in the Disco Tiefschwarz remix) – 7:49
2. "John the Revelator" (Murk Mode remix) – 7:13
3. "John the Revelator" (UNKLE re construction) – 4:59
4. "John the Revelator" (Boosta club remix) – 4:47
5. "John the Revelator" (Tiefschwarz dub) – 8:12

1. "John the Revelator" (video)
2. "Nothing's Impossible" (bare—audio)
3. "Lilian" (Chab vocal remix—audio)

Charts

References

1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 3 June 2006. p. 27.
2. Rolland, David (4 October 2023). "10 Songs That Show Depeche Mode Are Synth-Pop Masters". Miami New Times. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
3. Buljeta, Marija (9 December 2021). "LIVE REVIEW: Dave Gahan And Soulsavers 'Imposter' At O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London". XS Noize. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
4. Braun, Vincent (25 June 2023). "Depeche Mode, ange conteur". La Libre.be (in French). Retrieved 25 June 2023.
5. Walters, Sarah (15 February 2007). "Depeche Mode - John the Revelator/Lilian (Bong)". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
6. "Single Review: Depeche Mode - John The Revelator/Lillian". DrownedInSound. 5 June 2006. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
7. John the Revelator / Lilian (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 2006. BONG38, 0094636687674.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. John the Revelator / Lilian (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 2006. 12BONG38, 0094636687612.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. John the Revelator / Lilian (UK limited 12-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 2006. L12BONG38, 0094636687711.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. John the Revelator / Lilian (UK CD1 liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 2006. CDBONG38, 0094636687124.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. John the Revelator / Lilian (UK CD2 liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 2006. LCDBONG38, 0094636687322.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. John the Revelator / Lilian (UK DVD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 2006. DVDBONG38, 0094636687490.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. "Depeche Mode – John the Revelator" (in French). Ultratip.
14. "Depeche Mode – John the Revelator". Tracklisten. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
15. "The ARIA Report: European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 19th June 2006" (PDF). ARIA. 19 June 2006. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
16. "Depeche Mode: John the Revelator" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
17. "Depeche Mode – John the Revelator" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
18. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – John the Revelator". Irish Singles Chart.
20. "Depeche Mode – John the Revelator". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
21. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
22. "Depeche Mode – John the Revelator" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
23. "Depeche Mode – John the Revelator". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
24. "Depeche Mode – John the Revelator". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
26. "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2022.

External links

• Single information from the official Depeche Mode website

• Depeche Mode songs
• 2006 singles
• Number-one singles in Denmark
• Songs written by Martin Gore
• Mute Records singles
• Song recordings produced by Ben Hillier