I Feel You


"I Feel You" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 15 February 1993 by Mute Records as the first single from their eighth studio album, Songs of Faith and Devotion. The song was written by Martin Gore and produced by the band with Flood. It peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart and also made number one and number three on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It is one of the band's highest-charting singles worldwide. The accompanying music video was directed by Anton Corbijn.

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "In a similar vein to 'Personal Jesus' the track may not have quite the momentum to go Top 3 and is unlikely to win them any new fans." David Quantick from NME viewed it as "a song which takes INXS's arena bluster and turns it into a dark and mean glitter stomp." Sam Wood from Philadelphia Inquirer described it as "a screeching blast of hellish white noise. A claustrophobic electro-blues shackled to a two-note guitar figure, 'I Feel You' trumpets the onrush of a terrifying mystical experience." Andrew Harrison from Select noted the "easy brutality" and "raging noise" that opens the track.

Music video

The black-and-white music video for "I Feel You" was directed by Dutch photographer, film director and music video director Anton Corbijn. The woman in the video is English actress Lysette Anthony. There is also a music video for "One Caress", directed by Kevin Kerslake, that was filmed during one of the off-days of the Devotional Tour in the US. It is a promotional video that was later released on The Videos 86>98. Prior to its inclusion on The Videos 86>98, the music video for "One Caress" was frequently broadcast on MTV's Alternative Rock video block 120 Minutes and Sky One. On 2 September 1993, "I Feel You" was nominated in the MTV Video Music Awards.

Track listings

  1. "I Feel You" – 4:34
  2. "One Caress" – 3:30
  • UK 12-inch single
  • UK limited-edition 12-inch and CD single
  1. "I Feel You" – 8:35
  2. "I Feel You" – 7:28
  3. "I Feel You" – 4:58
  4. "I Feel You" – 6:41
  • UK and Japanese CD single
  1. "I Feel You" – 4:34
  2. "One Caress" – 3:30
  3. "I Feel You" – 6:47
  4. "I Feel You" – 7:53
  • US 12-inch and maxi-cassette single
  • US maxi-CD single 1
  1. "I Feel You" – 4:35
  2. "One Caress" – 3:31
  3. "I Feel You" – 6:47
  4. "I Feel You" – 7:53
  • US maxi-CD single 2
  1. "I Feel You" – 8:33
  2. "I Feel You" – 7:26
  3. "I Feel You" – 4:58
  4. "I Feel You" – 6:41
The "Life's Too Short" mix and the "Swamp" mix are by Brian Eno; the "Throb" mix and the "Helmet at the Helm" mix are by Mike Stent; the "Babylon" mix is by John Crossley and Supereal; and the "Afghan Surgery" mix is by Danny Briottet and Renegade Soundwave.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Notable cover versions

  • Placebo covered the song in 1999, and was released as a single-sided cassette. It was later released on Sleeping with Ghosts for the 2 CD version, which included a covers album.
  • Apollo 440 recorded a cover on the tribute album For the Masses.
  • Former The Smiths songwriter and guitarist Johnny Marr released a cover of the song in support of Record Store Day 2015.