Does it surprise you that “Enjoy the Silence” is Depeche Mode‘s highest charting single on the Hot 100? Because it surprises me. Obviously Depeche Mode had way more hits in the UK than in the US. But, being sentient in 1989 when Violator came out, it felt like “Personal Jesus” was the bigger hit. Well, it is their biggest US hit and is also their most covered song by over 100 versions. And it’s their most streamed song. So it’s indisputably their biggest song, no matter what I thought.
This kind of popularity can pose a challenge for musicians who want to cover a song. When a song is so familiar and there are so many cover versions – nearly 300 in this case – it may be hard to come up with a distinct version. Fortunately, French covers institution Nouvelle Vague have a niche and it’s a niche that is pretty unique.
Nouvelle Vague have been recording loungey, Bossa Nova-adjacent covers of mostly New Wave songs for over two decades. Their songs are usually sung by a rotating stable of women vocalists. However, for their cover of “Enjoy the Silence,” they are joined by both a man and a woman: Skye Edwards of trip hop legends Morcheeba and Larry Love of dance blues rockers Alabama 3.
As is their wont, Nouvelle Vague appear to drop all electronic instruments. Instead, there’s accordion, or some facsimile, Bossa Nova-esque acoustic guitar and percussion. Edwards handles the first verse and chorus while Love handles the second. They join together on the second chorus with a backing vocal coming in too, possibly by Edwards. An additional percussion instrument – or keyboard masquerading as such – joins for the final chorus and the instrumental break.
The pace is leisurely and the vibe is definitely loungey. But given the lyrics, Nouvelle Vague’s niche really suits the song. Yeah, the lyrics are a little intense, but they are about lying together and not speaking – chilling if you will. And the chill vibe of this cover fits that.
