Christmas Island

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Christmas Island
Song Christmas Island
By Depeche Mode
Songwriter Martin L. Gore
Alan Wilder
Produced by Depeche Mode
Gareth Jones
Daniel Miller
Recorded at Westside
Genetic (London)
Hansa Mischraum
Length (mm:ss) 3:50
Tempo 162 BPM
Time signature 4
4
Key G Major
Programmed by Martin L. Gore
Engineering assistance Richard Sullivan
Peter Schmidt
Additional engineering Kevin Paul
Kevin Vanbergen
Roger Johnson
Additional mixing Kevin Paul
Mastered by Tim Young
Mastering engineer Tim Young
Remastering engineer Simon Heyworth
Recording Dave Allen
Recording assistance Phil Tennant
Photography Jamie Long
Peter Ashworth
Recorded Early 1986
Originally released 14 April 1986
Live performances as Depeche Mode 74 times *
Total live performances 74 times *

"Christmas Island" is an instrumental song recorded by Depeche Mode during the production of the 1986 album Black Celebration. It was released as a B-side on the "A Question Of Lust" single on 14 April 1986.

Notes

Andy Fletcher told Swiss fanzine 'New Life' (translated from German):

"We're very proud of [this song], it's so special, so unique. When Martin wrote it, he wanted to capture the atmosphere that must have prevailed on the islands. You know, the British conducted their nuclear tests there. The somewhat oriental melody is meant to emphasize the exotic nature of the islands, and the eerie, dark underlying theme, the spreading radioactivity; the wailing sounds, the voices of the displaced, resettled natives. Martin, and all of us, have been thinking a lot about these nuclear tests lately, especially because of the Greenpeace affair [recent Chernobyl disaster]. We think it's one of our best songs ever!"

He told the same fanzine in a later interview (translated from German):

"'Christmas Island' only took us two days to record! It was because it was a B-side and we didn't have much time because we were in the middle of tour rehearsals when we recorded it."

Live performances

Main article: Available recordings of "Christmas Island"
Main article: List of dates where "Christmas Island" was played


1981-1985: Ice MachineShoutAny Second NowNow, This Is FunOberkorn (It's A Small Town)The Great OutdoorsWork HardFoolsIn Your Memory(Set Me Free) Remotivate MeFlexibleFly On The Windscreen
1986-1989: But Not TonightBreathing In FumesBlack DayChristmas IslandAgent OrangePimpfPleasure, Little TreasureRoute 66StjärnaSonata No. 14 in CDangerous
1990-1998: MemphistoSibelingKaleidHappiest Girl (Jack Mix)Sea Of Sin (Tonal Mix)My JoyDeath's DoorPainkillerSlowblowSurrenderHeadstar
2001-2009: Easy TigerDirtZenstationFreeNewbornBetter DaysOh Well
2013-2017: All That's Mine
2000-2008: New York NightsDon't Look Back
2003-2008: Stand UpMaybeCloserTomorrowLove Will Leave
2003-2015: Life Is StrangeLeft Hand Luke And The Beggar BoysDe NadaGifting