Drama!

"Drama!" is the first single released in September 1989 by Erasure from their fourth studio album Wild!. It was issued by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the United States. Written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the synthpop 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.[1] The song has been acknowledged to influence indie music throughout the 90’s and 20’s including Oasis, Arctic Monkeys and New Order. It is also Simon Davolls’ favourite song of 1989.

For similarly titled songs, see Drama (disambiguation).
"Drama!"
Single by Erasure
from the album Wild!
B-side"Sweet Sweet Baby", "Paradise"
Released18 September 1989
Recorded1989
GenreSynthpop
Length4:08
LabelMute (UK)
Sire (U.S.)
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer(s)Gareth Jones, Mark Saunders, Erasure
Erasure singles chronology
"Stop!"
(1988)		 "Drama!"
(1989)		 "You Surround Me"
(1989)

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 3 and in Germany, where it hit number 12. "Drama!" did not continue Erasure's chart success in the United States, where it failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100. It did, however, climb to number 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

The b-side, "Sweet Sweet Baby" contains a vocal sample from the 1968 Jane Fonda film "Barbarella".

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.

Track listings

7" single (MUTE89) / Cassette Single (CMUTE89)

  1. "Drama!"
  2. "Sweet Sweet Baby"

12" single (12MUTE89) / CD single (CDMUTE89)

  1. "Drama!" (Act 2)
  2. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (The Moo-Moo Mix)
  3. "Paradise"

Limited 12" single (L12MUTE89) / Limited CD single (LCDMUTE89)

  1. "Drama!" (Krucial Mix)
  2. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (Medi Mix)
  3. "Paradise" (Lost and Found Mix)

US maxi-single (21356-2)

  1. "Drama!" (Krucial Mix)
  2. "Drama!" (7" Version)
  3. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (Medi Mix)
  4. "Paradise" (Lost and Found Mix)
  5. "Drama!" (Act 2)
  6. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (The Moo-Moo Mix)
  7. "Paradise"
  8. "Sweet Sweet Baby" (7" Mix)

Charts
Chart (1989) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[2] 157
Denmark (IFPI)[3] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[4] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[5] 35
Spain (AFYVE)[6] 18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[7] 15
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 4
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[9] 11
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[10]
with "Sweet, Sweet Baby"		 10
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[11]
with "Sweet, Sweet Baby"		 13
West Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 12

References
  1. Ryan, Gary. "Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! – Andy Bell, Erasure". NME.com. NME. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  2. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 14 June 2017". Imgur.com. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  3. Danish Singles Chart 6 October 1989
  4. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Drama". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  5. "Charts.nz – Erasure – Drama!". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  6. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  7. "Swisscharts.com – Erasure – Drama!". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  9. "Erasure Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  10. "Erasure Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  11. "Erasure Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – Drama!". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
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