Precious (Depeche Mode song)


"Precious" is a song by English electronic band Depeche Mode from their studio album, Playing the Angel. It was released on 3 October 2005 in the United Kingdom by Mute Records and 11 October 2005 in the United States by Sire Records and Reprise Records as the album's lead single. The song reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 23 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also topped the charts in Denmark, Italy, Spain and Sweden, and it peaked within the top 10 in Austria, Wallonia, Canada, Finland, Germany and Norway.
It was the band's first single of original music in more than three years. "Precious" was released to international radio stations and as a digital download on 22 August 2005.

Music video

The music video for "Precious" features the band performing on an empty, computer-generated cruise ship, before walking out into an alien-looking forest. The video was directed by Uwe Flade, who directed the "Enjoy the Silence 04" video. It is streamable for free on the Depeche Mode website in the archives.

B-sides

"Free" is the B-side to "Precious". It's a techno beat with an old school feel. It was unavailable in the US, aside from importing, but is now available on iTunes. It also appears as a bonus track on the Japanese version of Playing the Angel. There is no remix of the song, aside from an early version that was heard at the Touring the Angel press conference, as shown on the Playing the Angel Electronic Press Kit, however, the full/stand-alone version is not available for download or purchase at this time.

Chart performance

UK

The single was released to digital downloads and to shops on the same day, 3 October 2005. It was added to XFM's playlist in mid-September. It also made it to BBC Radio 2's A-List. On 2 October 2005 it reached No. 49 on the UK airplay chart, jumping to No. 27 on 16 October 2005. On 9 October 2005 the single debuted at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, giving them their highest UK chart position in eight years, and also matching that of "People Are People" in 1984. The single spent a total of five weeks on the chart.

US

"Precious" reached No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 23 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It was Depeche Mode's first single to make either chart since 2001's "Dream On". The song also topped both the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and the Hot Dance Singles Sales charts.
"Precious" was originally released to US radio and digital download on 22 August 2005. Soon after this release, it reached No. 70 on the Billboard Pop 100, No. 53 on the Hot Digital Songs chart, and No. 47 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart.
Over the next two months, grew to be supported by 53 US alternative rock radio stations. During this time, it climbed up the Modern Rock Tracks from an original debut at No. 38 on 8 October 2005 to No. 24 on 25 November 2005. It remained at No. 24 throughout December and finally peaked at No. 23 on 7 January 2006.
"Precious" was released to stores in the US on 11 October 2005. One week later, on the chart dated 29 October 2005, it reached at No. 3 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart and also debuted on the Hot 100 at No. 99, after "bubbling under" the week before. This same day it topped both the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and the Hot Dance Singles Sales charts and reached No. 27 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The next week, on 5 November 2005, "Precious" reached No. 1 on the Singles Sales chart. This propelled it to No. 71 on the Hot 100 and No. 52 on the Pop 100.
"Precious" debuted at No. 39 on the Adult Top 40 on 3 December 2005. It reached No. 32 on 31 December 2005.

Formats and track listing

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Precious"
7": Mute / Bong35
  1. "Precious" – 4.10
  2. "Precious " – 3.33
12": Mute / 12Bong35
  1. "Precious " – 10:32
  2. "Precious " – 9:40
12": Mute / L12Bong35
  1. "Precious " – 5:41
  2. "Precious " – 7:18
  3. "Precious " – 6:37
  4. "Precious " – 6:51
CD: Mute / CDBong35
  1. "Precious " – 4:10
  2. "Precious " – 5:45
CD: Mute / LCDBong35
  1. "Precious " – 7:15
  2. "Precious " – 5:41
  3. "Free" – 5:10
DVD: Mute / DVDBong35
  1. "Precious "
  2. "Precious " – 6:37
  3. "Precious " – 3.33
Promo 12": Mute / P12Bong35
  1. "Precious " – 10:32
  2. "Precious " – 9:40
Promo 12": Mute / PL12Bong35
  1. "Precious " – 5:41
  2. "Precious " – 7:18
  3. "Precious " – 6:37
  4. "Precious " – 6:51
Radio Promo CD: Mute / RCDBong35
  1. "Precious " – 3:45
;Club Promo CD: Mute / PCDBong35
  1. "Precious " – 7:33
  2. "Precious " – 7:15
  3. "Precious " – 7:18
  4. "Precious " – 5:41
  5. "Precious " – 6:51
  6. "Precious " – 6:37
;12": Reprise / 0-42831
  1. "Precious "
  2. "Precious "
  3. "Precious "
  4. "Precious "
  5. "Precious "
  6. "Precious "
  7. "Precious "
CD: Reprise / 2-42831
  1. "Precious "
  2. "Precious "
  3. "Precious "
  4. "Precious "
  5. "Precious "
  6. "Precious "
Promo CD: Reprise / PRO-CDR-101611
  1. "Precious " – 4:07
  2. "Precious " – 4:14
Promo CD: Reprise / PRO-CDR-101656
  1. "Precious "
  2. "Precious "
  3. "Waiting for the Night "
Promo CD: Reprise / PRO-CDR-101658
  1. "Precious " – 12:04
  2. "Precious " – 5:44
  3. "Precious " – 7:10
  4. "Precious " – 9:51
  5. "Precious " – 7:18
  6. "Precious " – 5:41
  7. "Precious " – 6:51
  8. "Precious " – 6:37
Digital Downloads
  1. "Precious " – 9.51
  2. "Precious " – 4.17
  3. "Precious " – 12.07
  4. "Precious " – 4.28
  5. "Precious " – 9.52
  6. "Precious " – 9.52
  7. "Precious " – 4.26
  8. "Precious " – 3.47
  9. "Precious " – 3.33

    Credits: Music Video

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications