Master and Servant

This article is about a song by Depeche Mode. For other uses, see Master and servant.

"Master and Servant" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 20 August 1984 as the second single from their fourth studio album, Some Great Reward (1984).^[4] Its subject matter is BDSM relationships, which caused some controversy, though it has an underlying political theme that is often overlooked by media. It reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart,^[5] number 49 on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart^[6] and number 87 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[7]

"Master and Servant"
12″ single cover
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Some Great Reward
B-side	"(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me"
Released	20 August 1984 (1984-08-20)
Recorded	May 1984
Studio	Music Works (Highbury, London) Hansa Mischraum (Berlin)
Genre	Synth-pop[1][2] industrial[3]
Length	3:46 (7"/single version) 3:27 (radio edit) 9:38 (12" version) 4:12 (album version)
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Martin L. Gore
Producer(s)	Daniel Miller Depeche Mode Gareth Jones
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"People Are People" (1984) "Master and Servant" (1984) "Blasphemous Rumours" / "Somebody" (1984)
Music video
"Master and Servant" on YouTube

Background and recording

The overtly sexual, BDSM-themed lyrics of 'Master and Servant'—complete with synthesized whip-and-chain sound effects—reportedly led to the song being banned by many radio stations in the United States, although the song reached the Billboard Hot 100 anyway, albeit only at number 87^[7] and for only a three-week chart stay. The song derived from Martin Gore going to various S&M clubs at the time, which he began to form an idea for the song after "seeing a correlation between what's happening there and life and politics and stuff."^{[citation needed]}

The song narrowly avoided a radio ban by the BBC as well: "Master and Servant" might have been banned if the one BBC staffer who wanted to ban the record had not been away on holiday at the time the other staffers voted on whether to add "Master and Servant" to their playlist.^[8][9]

The band included sampled sounds on "Master and Servant", such as the whip effect, which is based on Daniel Miller standing in the studio hissing and spitting.^[8] According to the band, they tried to sample a real whip, but "it was hopeless".^[8] Another sampled sound was of Andrew Fletcher spanking Martin Gore.^[9]

Track listings

All tracks written by Martin L. Gore.

• 7-inch single

A. "Master and Servant" – 3:46

B. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12

• US 7-inch single

A. "Master and Servant" (edit) – 3:27

B. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12

• 12-inch single

A. "Master and Servant" (Slavery Whip Mix/12" Version) – 9:38

B1. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" (Release Mix) – 8:49

B2. "Master and Servant" (Voxless) – 4:00

• UK and German limited-edition 12-inch single

A. "Master and Servant" (An ON-USound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic) – 4:34

B1. "Are People People?" – 4:29

B2. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" (7" Mix) – 4:12

Track 1 was re-released on the 2- and 3-disc CD versions of Remixes 81–04 (2004), while track 2 only appears on the 3-disc version.

• US 12-inch single

A. "Master and Servant" (US Black & Blue Version) – 8:02 (edited by Joseph Watt)

B1. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" (12" Mix) – 7:59 (edited by Joseph Watt)

B2. "Are People People?" – 4:29

• CD single (1990)

1. "Master and Servant" (Slavery Whip Mix) – 9:38
2. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" (Release Mix) – 8:49
3. "Master and Servant" (Voxless) – 4:00
4. "Master and Servant" (7" Version) – 3:46

• CD single (1991)

1. "Master and Servant" – 3:46
2. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" – 4:12
3. "Master and Servant" (Slavery Whip Mix) – 9:38
4. "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" (Release Mix) – 8:49
5. "Master and Servant" (Voxless) – 4:00

Released as part of the 2 (Singles 7–12) box set.

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Master and Servant" Chart (1984–1985) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 89 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 6 Denmark (IFPI)[12] 4 Europe (European Top 100 Singles)[13] 5 France (SNEP)[14] 34 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[16] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 41 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 7 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[5] 9 UK Indie (MRIB)[20] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[7] with "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" 87 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[6] with "(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me" 49 West Germany (GfK)[21] 2

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Master and Servant" Chart (1984) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 92 West Germany (Official German Charts)[23] 33