It's No Good

{{Short description|1997 single by Depeche Mode}} {{Use British English|date=March 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox song | name = It's No Good | cover = DepecheModeItsNoGood.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Depeche Mode | album = Ultra | B-side = Slowblow | released = {{start date|1997|3|31|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = * Abbey Road, Eastcote, Westside, Strongroom, RAK (London) * Electric Lady (New York City) * Larrabee West (Los Angeles) | genre = * Synth-pop<ref>{{cite web|title= Mister Sushi's Synthpop Playlist |work= 1883 Magazine |access-date= 23 July 2013 |url= http://www.1883magazine.com/music-features/music-features/mister-sushis-synthpop-playlist- |archive-date= 2 April 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160402160652/http://www.1883magazine.com/music-features/music-features/mister-sushis-synthpop-playlist- |url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine|first= Leslie |last= Richin |title= 20 Alternative Rock Hits Turning 20 in 2017 |magazine= Billboard |date= 12 January 2017 |access-date= 5 August 2018 |url= https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/1997-alternative-rock-songs-turning-20-2017-7640665/}}</ref> * alternative rock<ref name="Billboard"/> * electropop<ref name = billboard>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |author-link= Larry Flick |title= Reviews & Previews: Singles |magazine= Billboard |page= 72 |date= 5 April 1997 |access-date= 4 December 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-04-05.pdf}}</ref> | length = * 5:58 (album version) * 4:06 (radio edit) | label = * Mute * Reprise | writer = Martin L. Gore | producer = Tim Simenon | prev_title = Barrel of a Gun | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = Home | next_year = 1997 | misc = {{Audio sample | type = single | file = Depeche Mode - It's No Good.ogg | description = "It's No Good" }} {{External music video|{{YouTube|_-QPvffO1gs|"It's No Good"}}}} }}

"'''It's No Good'''" a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 31 March 1997 by Mute and Reprise Records as the second single from their ninth studio album, ''Ultra''. It was written by Martin L. Gore and produced by Tim Simenon, and was commercially successful, reaching No. 1 in Denmark, Spain, Sweden and on the US ''Billboard'' Dance Club Play chart. The single also entered the top 10 in Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 5.

On 15 May 1997, the band went on ''The Tonight Show'' with Jay Leno and performed the song, a recording made available at the official Depeche Mode website.<ref>{{cite web|title= The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC/USA - May 15th, 1997) |website= Depechemode.com |date= 15 May 1997 |url= http://archives.depechemode.com/video/television/tonight_show1997.html |archive-date= 31 October 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071031022930/http://archives.depechemode.com/video/television/tonight_show1997.html}}</ref> The B-side is an instrumental, called "Slowblow".

==Critical reception== Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' magazine stated that the song is "considerably more low-key" than their "more caustic" previous hit, "Barrel of a Gun". He added, "In fact, this is the single that diehard Depeche Mode disciples have been starved for, in that it somewhat revisits the stylistic days of 'Master and Servant'. The music cruises at a funky, electro-pop pace with minimal sound-effect clutter. Rather, the focus is on Dave Gahan's forlorn performance and Martin Gore's sensitive lyrics."<ref name = billboard></ref> Dominic Pride from ''Music & Media'' noted that the band "return with a sound which programmers and audiences can instantly recognise and identify with", adding that Gahan's voice "soars above the minimal electronics, which are interspersed with some spartan synth interludes, in a song that glides along smoothly to its conclusion."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Dominic |last= Pride |title= Reviews/Spotlight: Singles |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 14 |issue= 13 |page= 7 |date= 29 March 1997 |access-date= 8 December 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-03-29.pdf}}</ref>

Alan Jones from ''Music Week'' described it as "a superbly retro track which harks back to their old style. Powerful and synth-based, it is a sublime and slightly disturbing piece that totally contradicts its title."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Talking Music |magazine= Music Week |page= 8 |date= 22 March 1997 |access-date= 13 May 2022 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-03-22.pdf}}</ref> Later, he also declared it "a brooding and menacing monster of a track."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Alan|last=Jones|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-04-12.pdf|title=Talking Music|magazine=Music Week|date=12 April 1997|page=27|accessdate=16 May 2022}}</ref> A reviewer from ''Sunday Mirror'' wrote, "Although the first verse sounds scarily like Jimmy Nail to me, by the time the chorus sets in you recognise that proper Mode sound right away. Not as noisy as the last single but there's a stackful of harder remixes to please the mental, mental crowd".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper= Sunday Mirror |date= 30 March 1997 |page= 29|title=Title missing}}</ref>

==Legacy== In 2017, ''Billboard'' magazine ranked "It's No Good" number 52 in their list of "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997", writing, "The sixth and to date final top 40 hit for U.K. synth-rock greats Depeche Mode was a sleek sleaze-pop banger, delightfully cheesy enough that singer Dave Gahan pretty much had to play a lounge singer in the video. Still, the thing works because of the bass tremors unsettling the crooning underneath, and the zooming synths that crest and crash like ocean waves around Gahan, giving "It's No Good" just enough edge to keep Depeche Mode relevant amidst the rise of electronica."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Andrew|last=Unterberger|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/greatest-pop-songs-1997-7849063/|title=The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997: Critic's Picks|magazine=Billboard|date=29 June 2017|access-date=7 November 2024}}</ref>

==Track listings== All songs were written by Martin L. Gore. {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} *'''UK CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= UK CD single liner notes |publisher= Mute Records |id= CD Bong 26}}</ref> #"It's No Good" #"Slowblow" (Darren Price mix) #"It's No Good" (Bass Bounce mix) #"It's No Good" (Speedy J mix)

*'''UK 12-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= UK 12-inch single sleeve |publisher= Mute Records |id= 12 BONG 26}}</ref> :A1. "It's No Good" (Hardfloor mix) – 6:43 :A2. "It's No Good" (Speedy J mix) – 5:04 :AA1. "It's No Good" (Motor Bass mix) – 3:48 :AA2. "It's No Good" (Andrea Parker mix) – 6:14 :AA3. "It's No Good" (Bass Bounce mix) – 7:16

*'''UK cassette single and US 7-inch single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= UK cassette single sleeve |publisher= Mute Records |id= C BONG 26}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= US 7-inch single vinyl disc |publisher= Reprise Records, Mute Records |id= 7-17390}}</ref> #"It's No Good" – 5:59 #"Slowblow" – 5:25

*'''European CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= European CD single liner notes |publisher= Mute Records |id= 74321482762}}</ref> #"It's No Good" (Hardfloor mix) #"Slowblow" #"It's No Good" (Andrea Parker mix) #"It's No Good" (Motor Bass mix)

*'''US CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= US CD single disc notes |publisher= Reprise Records, Mute Records |id= 9 17390-2, 2-17390}}</ref> #"It's No Good" – 6:00 #"Slowblow" (Darren Price mix) – 6:27 #"It's No Good" (Bass Bounce mix) – 7:15 {{col-2}} *'''US and Canadian maxi-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= US maxi-CD single liner notes |publisher= Reprise Records, Mute Records |id= 9 43845-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes |publisher= Reprise Records, Mute Records |id= CDW 43845}}</ref> #"It's No Good" #"It's No Good" (Hardfloor mix) #"Slowblow" #"It's No Good" (Speedy J mix) #"It's No Good" (Bass Bounce mix)

*'''US 12-inch maxi-single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= US 12-inch maxi-single vinyl disc |publisher= Reprise Records, Mute Records |id= 0-43845}}</ref> :A1. "It's No Good" (Hardfloor mix) – 6:41 :A2. "It's No Good" (Bass Bounce mix) – 7:15 :B1. "It's No Good" (Speedy J mix) – 5:00 :B2. "Slowblow" (Darren Price mix) – 6:27

*'''Japanese CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= It's No Good |year= 1997 |type= Japanese CD single liner notes |publisher= Mute Records |id= TOCP-50226}}</ref> #"It's No Good" (original mix) #"Slowblow" (Darren Price mix) #"It's No Good" (Dom T Bass Bounce mix) #"It's No Good" (Speedy J mix) #"It's No Good" (Hardfloor mix) #"Slowblow" (original mix) #"It's No Good" (Andrea Parker mix) #"It's No Good" (Motor Bass mix) {{col-end}}

==Credits and personnel== Credits are taken from the ''Ultra'' album booklet.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= Ultra |title-link = Ultra (Depeche Mode album) |year= 1997 |type= UK CD album booklet |publisher= Mute Records |id= CD STUMM 148}}</ref>

'''Studios''' *Recorded at Abbey Road, Eastcote, Westside, Strongroom, RAK (London), Electric Lady (New York City), and Larrabee West (Los Angeles) *Mastered at The Exchange (London)

'''Personnel''' *Martin Gore – writing (as Martin L. Gore) *Dave Clayton – keyboards, keyboard programming *Victor Indrizzo – percussion *Tim Simenon – production, mixing *Q. – mixing, engineering *Kerry Hopwood – programming *Mike Marsh – mastering

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "It's No Good" !Chart (1997) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite book|first= Gavin |last= Ryan |title= Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 |year= 2011 |publisher= Moonlight Publishing |location= Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref> |52 |- {{single chart|Austria|28|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|43|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Wallonia|14|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- !scope="row"|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Depeche Mode Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs) |magazine= Billboard |access-date= 14 February 2022 |url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/depeche-mode/chart-history/cns/}}</ref> |14 |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|36|chartid=3238|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Canadarock|2|chartid=3229|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- !scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI)<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Hits of the World |magazine= Billboard |date= 10 May 1997 |page= 49 |volume= 109 |issue= 19 |issn= 0006-2510 |id= See last week peak position |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Kg8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22it%27s+no+good+depeche+mode%22&pg=PA49}}</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Hits of the World |magazine= Billboard |date= 26 April 1997 |volume= 109 |issue= 17 |page= 59 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=DA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22eurochart%22&pg=PA59}}</ref> |10 |- {{single chart|Finland|5|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Germany|5|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|songid=3433|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2018}} |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|title= Íslenski Listinn Topp 40: Nr. 225 Vikuna 12.6. '97 – 18.6. '97 |newspaper= Dagblaðið Vísir |page= 20 |date= 13 June 1997 |access-date= 12 July 2018 |url= https://timarit.is/page/2955691?iabr=on#page/n1/mode/2up |language= is }}</ref> |6 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|13|artist=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- !scope="row"|Italy (FIMI)<ref>{{cite web|title= History |publisher= FIMI |access-date= 2 June 2022 |url= https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/history.kl#/history |language= it}} With "Ricerca per" set on "Titolo", search "It's No Good" and then click "Classifiche".</ref> |1 |- !scope="row"|Italy Airplay (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-05-17.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=Music & Media|volume=14|issue=20|page=23|date=17 May 1997}}</ref> | 1 |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)<ref>{{cite web |title= Tipparade-lijst van week 20, 1997 |publisher= Dutch Top 40 |access-date= 2 April 2023 |url= https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/1997/week-20 |language= nl}}</ref> |7 |- {{single chart|Dutch100|50|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Norway|11|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|7|date=19970412|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- !scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite book|first= Fernando |last= Salaverri |title= Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |edition= 1st |date= September 2005 |publisher= Fundación Autor-SGAE |location= Spain |isbn= 84-8048-639-2 |language= es}}</ref> |1 |- {{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|30|artist=Depeche Mode|song=It's No Good|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|UK|5|date=19970412|rowheader=true|access-date=23 July 2013|refname="UK"}} |- !scope="row"|UK Indie (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-04-26.pd|title=Independent Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=19 April 1997|page=36|issn=0265-1548|via=World Radio History}}</ref> | 1 |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|38|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=28 June 2023}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|31|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=28 June 2023}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|4|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=28 June 2023}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=28 June 2023}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|13|artist=Depeche Mode|rowheader=true|access-date=28 June 2023}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Year-end chart performance for "It's No Good" !Chart (1997) !Position |- !scope="row"|Canada Rock/Alternative (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title= '97 Year End... Top 50 Alternative Tracks |magazine= RPM |via= Library and Archives Canada |volume= 66 |issue= 15 |date= 15 December 1997 |access-date= 7 December 2016 |url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3415&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3415.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3415}}</ref> |26 |- !scope="row"|Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|title= Jahrescharts – 1997 |publisher= Offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts |archive-date= 9 May 2015 |url= https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1997 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150509002428/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1997 |language= de}}</ref> |68 |- !scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|title= Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997 |publisher= Romanian Top 100 |url= http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1997.html |language= ro |archive-date= 22 September 2005 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050922001105/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1997.html}}</ref> |38 |- !scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{cite web|title= Årslista Singlar, 1997 |publisher= Sverigetopplistan |access-date= 28 May 2025 |url= https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1997&dspp=1 |language= sv}}</ref> |63 |- !scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title= The Year in Music 1997: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles |magazine= Billboard |date= 27 December 1997 |volume= 109 |issue= 52 |page= YE-44 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=SL680-PA44}}</ref> |48 |- !scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title= The Year in Music 1997: Hot Modern Rock Tracks |magazine= Billboard |date= 27 December 1997 |volume= 109 |issue= 52 |page= YE-73 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=SL680-PA73}}</ref> |28 |} {{col-end}}

== Certifications == {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Depeche Mode|title=It's No Good|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=2025|access-date=April 1, 2025}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Release dates for "It's No Good" !Region !Date !Format(s) !Label(s) !{{abbr|Ref.|References}} |- !scope="row"|United States |19 March 1997 |Modern rock radio |{{hlist|Reprise|Mute}} |align="center"|<ref name="sexton">{{cite magazine|first= Paul |last= Sexton |title= Depeche Mode Back from the Brink |magazine= Billboard |volume= 109 |issue= 11 |date= 15 March 1997 |page= 20 |quote= ...'It's No Good,' due to go to modern rock March 19 and top 40 April 15... |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-03-15.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Here's a Spring Break from All of Us to All of You... |magazine= Radio & Records |issue= 1188 |page= 56 |date= 14 March 1997 |quote= On your desk and on the air March 19th.}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |31 March 1997 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |Mute |align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|title= New Releases: Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 29 March 1997 |page= 41}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United States |15 April 1997 |Contemporary hit radio |{{hlist|Reprise|Mute}} |align="center"|<ref name="sexton"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title= New Releases |magazine= Radio & Records |issue= 1192 |date= 11 April 1997 |page= 33}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |21 April 1997 |12-inch vinyl |rowspan="2"|Mute |align="center"|<ref>{{cite magazine|title= New Releases: Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 19 April 1997 |page= 35}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Japan |18 June 1997 |CD |align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title= リミックス・コレクションVol.2～イッツ・ノー・グッド～ {{!}} デペッシュ・モード |trans-title= Remix Collection Vol.2 ~It's No Good~ {{!}} Depeche Mode |publisher= Oricon |access-date= 6 October 2023 |url= https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/111737/products/262638/1/ |language= ja}}</ref> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://archives.depechemode.com/discography/singles/33_itsnogood.html Single information from the official Depeche Mode website] *[http://www.allmusic.com/song/its-no-good-mt0012312880 AllMusic song review] *[http://www.allmusic.com/album/its-no-good-mw0000666203 AllMusic US single review] {{Rating|4|5}}

Category:1997 singles Category:1997 songs Category:Depeche Mode songs Category:Mute Records singles Category:Number-one singles in Denmark Category:Number-one singles in Spain Category:Number-one singles in Sweden Category:Reprise Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Bomb the Bass Category:Songs written by Martin Gore Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles Category:Number-one singles in Italy