It's Called A Heart

Notes

Dave and Fletch appeared on 'Saturday Picture Show: Pop Profile' in September 1985, and they took a note from Martin with them on which Martin wrote the meaning of this song:

Interviewer: Now, your new single is called...?

Dave: It's Called A Heart.

Interviewer: Thank you. And what's that about?

Dave: (nods towards Fletch)

Fletch: Well basically... let me get my instructions out from the songwriter!

Dave: Andy phoned up Martin this morning, let's find out about it.

Fletch: Basically, the heart, Martin thought it was quite a mystical thing and the centre where good and evil were supposed to stem from...

Dave: (opens a note, hands the note to Fletch)

Fletch: ...that's right, yeah, where good an evil are supposed to stem from, yeah that's what the song is about.

Quotes from the documentary on the DVD of the Black Celebration remaster from 2006:

Martin Gore: "We just didn't have a song that was good and suitable to go on that compilation at that time, and we ended up recording It's Called A Heart, which is probably my least favourite track that we ever released."

Alan Wilder: "I remember I was vehemently against it, because I felt it was really going backwards, it was so poppy and trite, and he had other songs that were much better, like Fly On The Windscreen, because that was the B-side. It was a much, much stronger song, and I tried to argue to get it flipped over to become the A-side, but I think the first word is "death", and Neil Ferris said "NO". And I was outvoted, really, but I wasn't happy about it, and I sulked for a long time."

Dates with available recordings of It's Called A Heart

There are currently 62 recordings of It's Called A Heart available.

• 1986-03-31 New Conference Centre, Brighton, England, UK/Source 1
• 1986-04-02 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland/Source 1
• 1986-04-06 S.E.C.C., Glasgow, Scotland/Source 1
• 1986-04-07 Icerink, Whitley Bay, England, UK/Source 1
• 1986-04-10 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK/Source 1
• 1986-04-10 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK/Source 2
• 1986-04-10 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK/Source 3
• 1986-04-12 Manchester Apollo, Manchester, England, UK/Source 1
• 1986-04-14 International Centre, Bournemouth, England, UK/Source 1
• 1986-04-16 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1986-04-16 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 2
• 1986-04-16 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 3
• 1986-04-16 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 4
• 1986-04-16 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 5
• 1986-04-16 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 6
• 1986-04-17 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK/Source 1
• 1986-04-24 Skedsmohallen, Oslo, Norway/Source 1
• 1986-04-25 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden/Source 1
• 1986-04-26 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden/Source 1
• 1986-04-28 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 1
• 1986-04-29 Eilenriedehalle, Hannover, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-04-30 Eurogress, Aachen, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-02 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-02 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany/Source 2
• 1986-05-02 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany/Source 3
• 1986-05-03 Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, Munich, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-06 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1986-05-07 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France/Source 1
• 1986-05-08 Palais des Sports, Lyon, France/Source 1
• 1986-05-10 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium/Source 1
• 1986-05-11 Philipshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-11 Philipshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany/Source 2
• 1986-05-13 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-16 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-16 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 2
• 1986-05-17 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-18 Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-20 Münsterlandhalle, Münster, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-22 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-05-22 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany/Source 2
• 1986-05-24 Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands/Source 1
• 1986-05-25 Walter-Köbel-Halle, Rüsselsheim, Germany/Source 1
• 1986-06-01 Wang Theatre, Boston, MA, USA/Source 1
• 1986-06-03 Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, USA/Source 1
• 1986-06-08 Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY, USA/Source 1
• 1986-06-13 Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA/Source 1
• 1986-06-14 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, USA/Source 1
• 1986-06-24 St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, MN, USA/Source 1
• 1986-07-01 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver, CO, USA/Source 1
• 1986-07-13 The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA/Source 1
• 1986-07-14 Irvine Meadows, Irvine, CA, USA/Source 1
• 1986-07-21 Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan/Source 1
• 1986-07-22 Koseinenkin Hall, Nagoya, Japan/Source 1
• 1986-07-23 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan/Source 1
• 1986-08-04 Arènes de Frejus, Fréjus, France/Source 1
• 1986-08-04 Arènes de Frejus, Fréjus, France/Source 2
• 1986-08-06 Stadio Comunale, Rimini, Italy/Source 1
• 1986-08-08 Les Arenes, Nimes, France/Source 1
• 1986-08-12 Arènes de Bayonne, Bayonne, France/Source 1
• 1986-08-16 Valbyparken, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 1
• 1986-08-16 Valbyparken, Copenhagen, Denmark/Source 2
• Something Went Wrong (compilation)

Dates where It's Called A Heart was played

1986 Black Celebration Tour

It's Called A Heart was played 76 times during this tour.

• 1986-03-00 Black Celebration Tour Rehearsals, Nomis Studios, London, England, UK
• 1986-03-29 Apollo, Oxford, England, UK
• 1986-03-31 New Conference Centre, Brighton, England, UK
• 1986-04-02 RDS Arena, Dublin, Ireland
• 1986-04-04 Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland
• 1986-04-06 S.E.C.C., Glasgow, Scotland
• 1986-04-07 Icerink, Whitley Bay, England, UK
• 1986-04-09 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK
• 1986-04-10 N.E.C., Birmingham, England, UK
• 1986-04-12 Manchester Apollo, Manchester, England, UK
• 1986-04-13 Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol, England, UK
• 1986-04-14 International Centre, Bournemouth, England, UK
• 1986-04-16 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK
• 1986-04-17 Wembley Arena, London, England, UK
• 1986-04-24 Skedsmohallen, Oslo, Norway
• 1986-04-25 Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden
• 1986-04-26 Johanneshov Isstadion, Stockholm, Sweden
• 1986-04-28 Valbyhallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1986-04-29 Eilenriedehalle, Hannover, Germany
• 1986-04-30 Eurogress, Aachen, Germany
• 1986-05-02 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany
• 1986-05-03 Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, Munich, Germany
• 1986-05-04 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1986-05-06 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
• 1986-05-07 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
• 1986-05-08 Palais des Sports, Lyon, France
• 1986-05-10 Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
• 1986-05-11 Philipshalle, Düsseldorf, Germany
• 1986-05-13 Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany
• 1986-05-14 Saarlandhalle, Saarbrücken, Germany
• 1986-05-16 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1986-05-17 Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
• 1986-05-18 Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany
• 1986-05-20 Münsterlandhalle, Münster, Germany
• 1986-05-21 Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany
• 1986-05-22 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
• 1986-05-24 Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• 1986-05-25 Walter-Köbel-Halle, Rüsselsheim, Germany
• 1986-06-01 Wang Theatre, Boston, MA, USA
• 1986-06-03 Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, USA
• 1986-06-04 Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, USA
• 1986-06-06 Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY, USA
• 1986-06-07 Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY, USA
• 1986-06-08 Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY, USA
• 1986-06-10 Blossom Music Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
• 1986-06-12 Finger Lakes, Rochester, NY, USA
• 1986-06-13 Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY, USA
• 1986-06-14 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, USA
• 1986-06-17 Verdun Auditorium, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 1986-06-18 Kingswood Music Theatre, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 1986-06-20 Kingswood Music Theatre, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 1986-06-21 Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI, USA
• 1986-06-22 Poplar Creek Music Fest, Chicago, IL, USA
• 1986-06-24 St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, MN, USA
• 1986-06-26 Will Rogers Auditorium, Fort Worth, TX, USA
• 1986-06-28 City Coliseum, Austin, TX, USA
• 1986-06-29 Southern Star Amphitheater, Houston, TX, USA
• 1986-07-01 Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver, CO, USA
• 1986-07-03 Park West, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
• 1986-07-05 Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA, USA
• 1986-07-06 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountainview, CA, USA
• 1986-07-08 Expo Theatre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
• 1986-07-11 Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, USA
• 1986-07-13 The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA
• 1986-07-14 Irvine Meadows, Irvine, CA, USA
• 1986-07-15 Irvine Meadows, Irvine, CA, USA
• 1986-07-21 Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan
• 1986-07-22 Koseinenkin Hall, Nagoya, Japan
• 1986-07-23 NHK Hall, Tokyo, Japan
• 1986-08-04 Arènes de Frejus, Fréjus, France
• 1986-08-05 Stadio Comunale, Pietra Ligure, Italy
• 1986-08-06 Stadio Comunale, Rimini, Italy
• 1986-08-08 Les Arenes, Nimes, France
• 1986-08-09 Stade D'Annecy Le Vieux, Annecy, France
• 1986-08-12 Arènes de Bayonne, Bayonne, France
• 1986-08-16 Valbyparken, Copenhagen, Denmark

1987-1988 Music For The Masses Tour

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

1990 World Violation Tour

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

1993 Devotional Tour

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

1994 Exotic Tour

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

1997 Ultra Parties

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

1998 The Singles Tour

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

2001 Exciter Tour

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

2003 Paper Monsters Tour (Dave Gahan solo)

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

2003 "A Night With Martin L. Gore" (Martin L. Gore solo)

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

2005-2006 Touring The Angel

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

2009-2010 Tour Of The Universe

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

2013-2014 Delta Machine Tour

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.

2017-2018 Global Spirit Tour

• It's Called A Heart was not played during this tour.