Depeche Mode: "See You"

21 January 1982

"If it doesn't make Number One, I'll write and complain."

— Mark Ellen

Letters

Smash Hits Letters

52-55 Carnaby Street

London W1V 1PF

£5 record token for the letter that delights us most.

~~~~~

LOUISE, WON'T you smile at me
Like you did in R.E.?

Miss Shaw spoke with scorn

And she looked quite forlorn

As she spoke of us writing our own private creed

(Mistaking me, perhaps, for the Venerable Bede),

You shot me a glance

And my heart did a dance

But ever since then you just look away

Even when we get to the end of the day.

You act as if you simply don't care

Of my heart, you just aren't aware

And that's why, Louise, I just have to speak

Because my will grows ever so weak

I swear I won't touch

I just like you so much.

And now all I want is to see you again,

Though I know not where or when.

Maybe it will be over half term break

When you're out for a stroll 'round Appleby Lake

Then you'll come round to mine on Galveston Road

And we'll play Altered Images and Depeche Mode

Maybe you'll even smile at me

Like you did in R.E.

Graham D., Cheltenham

You sure your Louise doesn't prefer other bands? Have a five quid record token to invest in something she actually likes. Failing that, your purchase could inspire yet more verse. Just some helpful advice from one lonely git to another.

~~~~~

WELL DONE, Mark Ellen. You had The Jam, Soft Cell, the Spands, even bloody Bow Wow Wow to choose from and you had to go for those talentless turds Depeche Mode. I'll admit that "Just Can't Get Enough" was nice but all the pop flash they had departed along with Vince Clarke. I can't believe you'd praise something so obviously dull and without merit. If they're light years ahead then I'd hate to see what's in the future. Thankfully they've had their last hit and we won't be hearing from them again. Mark my words.

Richard, Skegness

We'll hold you to that. Send us a crate of Skegness Rock to the address above if the Deps do manage to eek out another hit.

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WELL DONE: Depeche Mode made the cover of the latest issue and you print a glowing review of their latest single, the wondrous "See You". I suppose I ought to be grateful that Smash Hits has finally decided to pay attention to Basildon's finest but I can't help but be overwhelmed by a sense of anticlimax. What took you so long?

Depeche Mode have been slowly gaining momentum over the past year and it has been disappointing that Smash Hits has mostly ignored them in favour of Haircut One Hundred and Toyah. What do they have that the Mode doesn't? Do third form students jot down Toyah lyrics in the margins of their notebooks in the middle of geography lessons? Do the Haircuts inspire a dreamscape of art and brilliant people and philosophy? I think not.

Hail Depeche Mode, the future of pop!

Nancy, Braintree

We imagine that Toyah and the Haircuts inspire a love of pop music, as do Depeche Mode. But our apologies nonetheless. The next time synth-noodlers from an English New Town emerge from the shadows we'll be right on them.

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DID YOU know that if you rearrange the letters of 'Depeche Mode' you get 'Deedee chop me'?

Simon, Arundel

So what? Kim Wilde is an anagram for 'wide milk' and Duran Duran spells 'And and ru ru'. We're currently working on one for Dexys Midnight Runners. Suggestions to the address above.

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I NOTICE that Mark Ellen still hasn't written in to complain that his beloved "See You" failed to hit Number One as he so confidently predicted it would. Does it rankle that the supposedly tune-free "Town Called Malice" has been dominating the charts instead? He couldn't even be bothered to mention its nearly as wonderful double A-side companion "Precious". If Depeche Mode (or any other group for that matter) want to get to the top of the charts, they'd be wise to put out a single when Paul, Bruce and Rick are otherwise occupied. Mr. Ellen should know better than to doubt The Jam.
Barry, Scunthorpe

Our boy Mark did indeed compose a letter complaint as promised but he sent it off to the folks who compile the charts. This space is reserved for the gripes of our beloved readers, our writers may do so elsewhere.