{{Short description|1989 single by Erasure}} {{For|similarly titled songs|Drama (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox song | name = Drama! | cover = Erasure single drama.jpg | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = Erasure | album = Wild! | B-side = * "Sweet, Sweet Baby" * "Paradise" | released = {{start date|1989|9|18|df=y}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1989/MW-1989-09-16.pdf|title=New Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=36|date=16 September 1989|access-date=26 July 2021}}</ref> | recorded = | studio = | genre = Hi-NRG | length = 4:08 | label = Mute | writer = * Vince Clarke * Andy Bell | producer = * Gareth Jones * Mark Saunders * Erasure | prev_title = Stop! | prev_year = 1988 | next_title = You Surround Me | next_year = 1989 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|4gwiInUNf_s|"Drama!"}}}} }} {{Listen |filename = Erasure_drama.ogg |pos = right|title = "Drama!" |description = A 5.5 second sample of "Drama!" demonstrating the layered vocals and the mob call out of "Guilty!"}}
"'''Drama!'''" is the first single released from English synth-pop duo Erasure's fourth studio album, ''Wild!'' (1989). Written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song begins with a low-key keyboard line and a subdued vocal from Bell. As the song progresses, the instrumentation and vocals become more hectic, ultimately ending as a full-blown dance track. "Drama!" contains a "Guilty!" exclamation throughout, provided by Scottish band the Jesus and Mary Chain, who were recording in the studio next door.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Gary |title=Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! – Andy Bell, Erasure |url=https://www.nme.com/music-interviews/rock-n-roll-kill-braincells-andy-bell-erasure-2475784 |website=NME.com |date=15 April 2019 |publisher=NME |access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref> The song was met with critical acclaim from both music critics and fans.
"Drama!" was issued by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the United States. The B-side, "Sweet, Sweet Baby", contains vocal samples from the 1968 Jane Fonda film ''Barbarella'' and the 1974 John Carpenter film ''Dark Star''.
==Critical reception== Ned Raggett from AllMusic remarked that "Drama!" "has a slightly hysterical tone to it, but its strong dancefloor surge and weirdly droning backing [Andy] Bell harmonies help make it another winner".<ref>{{cite web|first= Ned |last= Raggett |title= Erasure – ''Wild!'' |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 4 November 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/wild%21-mw0000202225}}</ref> The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith found that it is "the fastest song Erasure has ever recorded, beginning with a thunderclap and building to an exciting climax, all made even greater by the video that was made for it". He added, "Only Andy Bell can handle a mouthful lyric like 'one psychological drama after another' and make it mean something."<ref>{{cite web|first= Michael R. |last= Smith |title= ''Wild!'' – Erasure |publisher= The Daily Vault |date= 17 December 2006 |access-date= 20 November 2020 |url= http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=4633}}</ref> Chris Gerard from ''Metro Weekly'' complimented it as "a killer dance track with some great keyboard riffs, Bell's vocal is outstanding, and melodically and lyrically it's unforgettable".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Chris |last= Gerard |title= Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks |magazine= Metro Weekly |date= 17 September 2014 |access-date= 21 November 2020 |url= https://www.metroweekly.com/2014/09/erasures-40-greatest-tracks/}}</ref>
David Giles from ''Music Week'' named it "their best single yet", noting that Clarke "cranks up the tempo to almost Hi-NRG frenzy point". He concluded, "Where some of Erasure's earlier work has sounded a little complacent, this really goes for the jugular with Andy Bell in as fine voice as ever."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Giles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1989/MW-1989-09-23.pdf|title=Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=23 September 1989|page=27|access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref> Richard Lowe from ''Smash Hits'' felt "Drama" is "woefully predictable", describing it as a "synth-stuffed Hi-NRG romp with quite a good tune and lyrics about how horrible love can be".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Richard|last=Lowe|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/37440477332/in/album-72157685810053432/|title=Singles|magazine=Smash Hits|date=20 September 1989|page=73|access-date=11 March 2023}}</ref> Christopher Smith from Talk About Pop Music wrote that "with a clang of a bell, we are summoned back into the church of Erasure and treated to a quintessential piece of late 80's electro-pop perfection that builds and builds to its exciting climax".<ref>{{cite web|first= Christopher |last= Smith |title= Review: 'Wild!' – Erasure |publisher= Talk About Pop Music |date= 16 October 2019 |access-date= 21 November 2020 |url= https://talkaboutpopmusic.com/2019/10/16/review-wild-erasure/}}</ref>
==Chart performance== Released prior to ''Wild!'', "Drama!" continued Erasure's streak of hits on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number four. The single also fared well in Denmark, where it reached number three, and in Ireland, where it peaked at number five. "Drama!" did not continue Erasure's chart success in the United States, where it failed to enter the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, but it did reach number 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
==Music video== The single was promoted with a music video showing Erasure performing the song in an alley into which plastic bags and bottles are blown by the wind, followed by larger plastic items falling from above. As the items begin to fill up the alley, Clarke and Bell initially escape onto a rooftop, but are ultimately engulfed by the rising tide of plastic. Hands from the clouds point at them, proclaiming them 'Guilty!'
==Track listings== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''7-inch, cassette, and Japanese mini-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=Mute 89}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=C Mute 89}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Alfa Records|id=09B3-73}}</ref> # "Drama!" # "Sweet, Sweet Baby"
* '''12-inch and mini-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=12 Mute 89}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=UK mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=CD Mute 89}}</ref> # "Drama!" (Act 2) # "Sweet, Sweet Baby" (The Moo-Moo mix) # "Paradise"
* '''Limited-edition 12-inch and mini-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=UK limited 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=L12 Mute 89}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=UK limited mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=LCD Mute 89}}</ref> # "Drama!" (Krucial mix) # "Sweet, Sweet Baby" (Medi mix) # "Paradise" (Lost and Found mix) {{col-2}} * '''US and Canadian 12-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=US 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=9 21356-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=Canadian 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=92 13560}}</ref> # "Drama!" (Krucial mix) – 7:07 # "Sweet, Sweet Baby" (Medi mix) – 4:22 # "Paradise" (Lost and Found mix) – 5:47 # "Drama!" (Act 2) – 5:28 # "Sweet, Sweet Baby" (The Moo-Moo mix) – 5:14 # "Paradise" – 4:08
* '''US maxi-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Drama!|others=Erasure|year=1989|type=US maxi-CD single disc notes|publisher=Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records|id=9 21356-2}}</ref> # "Drama!" (Krucial mix) – 7:07 # "Drama!" (7-inch version) – 4:08 # "Sweet, Sweet Baby" (Medi mix) – 4:22 # "Paradise" (Lost and Found mix) – 5:47 # "Drama!" (Act 2) – 5:28 # "Sweet, Sweet Baby" (The Moo-Moo mix) – 5:14 # "Paradise" – 4:08 # "Sweet, Sweet Baby" (7-inch version) – 4:18 {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1989) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/3BAy4WE.gif|title=Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 14 June 2017|via=Imgur|access-date=14 June 2017}}</ref> |157 |- !scope="row"|Austria (Hitradio Ö3)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/oe3_archiv.asp?todo=show&week=19891210 |title=Ö3-HITPARADE - 10.12.1989 |first= |last= |publisher=austriancharts.at |date= |access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref> |13 |- !scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-10-21.pdf|title=Top 3 Singles in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=6|issue=42|page=VII|date=21 October 1989|access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> |3 |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-10-14.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=6|issue=41|page=IV|date=14 October 1989|access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> |12 |- !scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=75|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Erasure|page=75|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=23 June 2022|language=Finnish}}</ref> |15 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|5|song=Drama|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2019}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|35|artist=Erasure|song=Drama!|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2019}} |- !scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> |18 |- {{single chart|Switzerland|15|artist=Erasure|song=Drama!|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2019}} |- {{single chart|UK|4|date=19891007|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|11|artist=Erasure|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|10|artist=Erasure|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2019|note=with "Sweet, Sweet Baby"}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|13|artist=Erasure|rowheader=true|access-date=26 July 2021|note=with "Sweet, Sweet Baby"}} |- {{single chart|West Germany|12|artist=Erasure|song=Drama!|songid=2035|rowheader=true|access-date=11 October 2019}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1989) !Position |- !scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Year End Singles|magazine=Record Mirror|page=44|date=27 January 1990}}</ref> |61 |} {{col-end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Erasure}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Erasure (duo) songs Category:1989 singles Category:1989 songs Category:Mute Records singles Category:Reprise Records singles Category:Sire Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Gareth Jones Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Saunders Category:Songs written by Andy Bell (singer) Category:Songs written by Vince Clarke Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles