Only When I Lose Myself

"Only When I Lose Myself" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was made exclusively for their 1998 compilation The Singles 86>98 and released as a single on 7 September 1998. It is the first non-album studio single since "It's Called a Heart" in 1985 and is also one of the rare singles to have two limited editions ("L" and "XL" – the others being "Enjoy the Silence", "In Your Room" and "Suffer Well").

"Only When I Lose Myself"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album The Singles 86>98
B-side	"Surrender" "Headstar"
Released	7 September 1998 (1998-09-07)
Recorded	1998
Genre	Alternative rock[1] trip hop[2]
Length	4:41 (album version) 4:34 (single version) 3:52 (radio edit)
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Martin L. Gore
Producer(s)	Tim Simenon, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Useless" (1997) "Only When I Lose Myself" (1998) "Dream On" (2001)
Music video
"Only When I Lose Myself" on YouTube

Release

There are two B-sides on the single. "Surrender" was the first exclusive vocal B-side since "My Joy" in 1993 from the "Walking in My Shoes" single, and the other is an instrumental titled "Headstar". A rare remix of "Painkiller" from 1997 was re-released as a B-side on some versions. The release also includes a new remix of "World in My Eyes".

Music video

The music video for "Only When I Lose Myself" was directed by Brian Griffin, who had previously worked with Depeche Mode as a photographer, and did the cover art for Depeche Mode's first five albums. The soundtrack to the video is a unique version of the song, fading out at the last chorus and omitting the instrumental outro (like the radio version), but including the instrumental intro (which is missing from the radio version).

Track listing

All songs were written by Martin L. Gore

UK and Australian CD1[3][4] "Only When I Lose Myself" "Surrender" "Headstar" UK and Australian CD2; UK 12-inch single[5][6][7] "Only When I Lose Myself" (Subsonic Legacy remix) "Only When I Lose Myself" (Dan the Automator remix) "Headstar" (Luke Slater remix) UK and Australian CD3[8][9] "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play mix) "Painkiller" (Kill the Pain mix – DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode) "Surrender" (Catalan FC Out of Reach mix) "Only When I Lose Myself" (Gus Gus Short Play mix) "World in My Eyes" (Safar mix) UK limited-edition 12-inch single[10] A1. "Only When I Lose Myself (Gus Gus Long Play mix) B1. "Painkiller" (Kill the Pain mix – DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode) B2. "Surrender" (Catalan FC Out of Reach mix) UK cassette single[11] A1. "Only When I Lose Myself" A2. "Surrender" A3. "Headstar" B1. "Only When I Lose Myself" (Subsonic Legacy remix) B2. "Only When I Lose Myself" (Automator remix) B3. "Headstar" (Luke Slater remix)

US and Canadian maxi-CD single (grey cover)[12][13] "Only When I Lose Myself" (Dan the Automator remix) – 4:56 "Headstar" – 4:25 "Surrender" – 6:17 "Only When I Lose Myself" (Subsonic Legacy remix) – 7:03 "Headstar" (Luke Slater remix) – 5:47 US and Canadian maxi-CD single (green cover)[14][15] "Only When I Lose Myself" (Gus Gus Longplay mix) – 11:18 "Painkiller" (Kill the Pain mix – DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode) – 6:31 "Surrender" (Catalan FC Out of Reach mix) – 6:54 "Only When I Lose Myself" (Gus Gus Short Play mix) – 4:58 "World in My Eyes" (Safar mix) – 8:30 US 2×12-inch single[16] A1. "Only When I Lose Myself" (Dan the Automator remix) – 4:56 A2. "Painkiller" (Kill the Pain mix – DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode) – 6:31 B1. "Headstar" (Luke Slater remix) – 5:47 B2. "Surrender" (Catalan FC Out of Reach mix) – 6:54 C1. "Only When I Lose Myself" (Gus Gus Longplay mix) – 11:18 C2. "Headstar" – 4:23 D1. "Only When I Lose Myself" (Subsonic Legacy remix) – 7:00 D2. "Surrender" – 6:18

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Only When I Lose Myself" Chart (1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[17] 34 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 10 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[19] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 37 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[21] 5 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[22] 7 Denmark (Tracklisten)[23] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[24] 11 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 4 France (SNEP)[26] 29 Germany (GfK)[27] 2 Hungary (Single Top 40)[28] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[29] 28 Italy (FIMI)[30] 3 Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[31] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 89 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 14 Scotland (OCC)[34] 20 Spain (AFYVE)[23] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 16 UK Indie (OCC)[37] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[38] 17 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[39] 36 US Billboard Hot 100[40] 61 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[41] 2

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Only When I Lose Myself" Chart (1998) Position Germany (Media Control)[42] 77 Sweden (Hitlistan)[43] 94 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[44] 13 Chart (1999) Position US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[45] 44

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	7 September 1998	12-inch vinyl CD1 CD2	Mute	[46]
United States	15 September 1998	CD	Mute Reprise	[47]
Canada	22 September 1998			[48]
United Kingdom	28 September 1998	CD3	Mute	[49]