Policy of Truth

"Policy of Truth" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 7 May 1990 as the third single from their seventh studio album Violator (1990). It is the only Depeche Mode single to chart higher on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart (number 15) than on the UK Singles Chart (number 16), and it became the band's second chart-topper on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

"Policy of Truth"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Violator
B-side	"Kaleid"
Released	7 May 1990 (1990-05-07)
Studio	Puk (Gjerlev) Logic (Milan)[1] The Church (London)
Genre	Synth-pop[2] alternative rock[3] funk[4]
Length	4:55
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Martin L. Gore
Producer(s)	Depeche Mode Flood
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Enjoy the Silence" (1990) "Policy of Truth" (1990) "World in My Eyes" (1990)
Alternative cover
Cover art for the limited-edition 12-inch single
Music video
"Policy of Truth" on YouTube

Background and composition

Recorded initially during the Puk sessions, "Policy of Truth" went through many changes before being almost completely re-recorded at the Church. According to Alan Wilder, the band went through over 100 different variants of the lead riff, trying numerous instruments before settling on a slide guitar. The intro melody uses a loop of a single note to obtain a vibrato effect.^[5]

Critical reception

Jon Wilde from Melody Maker wrote "Depeche has never sounded so cute as they did on their recent hit "Enjoy the Silence". Then again, they have rarely sounded quite as ineffectual as this, not since the days when they were busy composing jingles for the mix 'n' match department of Woolworths (Basildon)."^[6]

Remixes

François Kevorkian mixed a new single version for the release, extending it slightly while lowering the tempo, and also making Dave Gahan's vocals more prominent. He also mixed the "Beat Box" mix (the 12-inch version of the single mix) and the "Pavlov's dub". The "Trancentral" mix is by the KLF, a popular acid house band at that time that only did remix work for other artists on 3 occasions (the others being "So Hard" and its B-side "It Must Be Obvious" by the Pet Shop Boys and "What Is Dub?" by Moody Boys). The "Capitol" mix uses the sample "I want to tell you my side of the case" from the Checkers speech by Richard Nixon. A version of "Kaleid" was used as intro music for Depeche Mode's World Violation Tour in 1990.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Policy of Truth" is directed by Anton Corbijn and appears on the VHS collection Strange Too.

Track listings

All songs were written by Martin L. Gore.

UK 7-inch and cassette single[7][8] "Policy of Truth" "Kaleid" UK 12-inch single[9] A1. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box) B1. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) B2. "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix) UK limited-edition 12-inch single[10] A1. "Policy of Truth" (Trancentral mix) AA1. "Kaleid" (remix) AA2. "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub) UK CD single[11] "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box) "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) "Kaleid" (remix) UK limited-edition CD single[12] "Policy of Truth" (Trancentral mix) "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix) "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub) "Policy of Truth" (7-inch version) "Kaleid" (7-inch version) US 12-inch single[13] A1. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) – 8:00 A2. "Policy of Truth" (Trancentral mix) – 5:53 B1. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box mix) – 7:14 B2. "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix) – 5:23 The Trancentral mix is mislabelled as Pavlov's dub on the liner notes

US maxi-CD single[14] "Policy of Truth" (single version) – 3:40 "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) – 8:00 "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box mix) – 7:13 "Kaleid" (remix) – 4:36 "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub) – 6:02 Pavlov's dub is mislabelled as the Trancentral mix on the liner notes US maxi-cassette single[15] A1. "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) – 8:00 A2. "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub) – 5:53 B1. "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box mix) – 7:14 B2. "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix) – 5:23 Japanese CD EP[16] "Policy of Truth" "Kaleid" "Policy of Truth" (Beat Box) "Policy of Truth" (Capitol mix) "Kaleid" (When Worlds mix) "Policy of Truth" (Trancentral mix) "Kaleid" (remix) "Policy of Truth" (Pavlov's dub)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Policy of Truth" Chart (1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[17] 143 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 21 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 14 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[20] 21 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 5 France (SNEP)[22] 31 Ireland (IRMA)[23] 11 Italy (Musica e dischi)[24] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[25] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 37 Spain (AFYVE)[27] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 12 UK Singles (OCC)[30] 16 UK Indie (OCC)[31] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[32] 15 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[33] 1 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[34] 2 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[35] 1 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[36] 17 West Germany (GfK)[37] 7

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Policy of Truth" Chart (1990) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[38] 91 Germany (Media Control)[39] 63 US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[40] 21 US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[41] 35 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[42] 2

Certifications

Certifications for "Policy of Truth"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[43]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Policy of Truth"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	7 May 1990	7-inch vinyl	Mute	[44]
	21 May 1990	12-inch vinyl		[45]
	29 May 1990	Limited-edition 12-inch vinyl		[46]
Japan	25 June 1990	CD		[47]

See also

• List of Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Number Ones of the 1990s