The Great Commandment (song)

Last updated
"The Great Commandment"
Camouflage - The Great Commandment.jpg
Single by Camouflage
from the album Voices & Images
B-side "Pompeji"
ReleasedSeptember 1987
Genre Synth-pop
Length
  • 4:17 (album version)
  • 3:12 (7″ remix)
Label Metronome
Songwriter(s)
Camouflage singles chronology
"The Great Commandment"
(1987)
"Strangers' Thoughts"
(1988)

"The Great Commandment" is a song by German synth-pop trio Camouflage. Originally recorded in 1983, the song was re-recorded in 1987 and released as their debut single in 1987. It was included on their 1988 debut album, Voices & Images .

Contents

The single gave Camouflage their only number one dance hit. "The Great Commandment" stayed at the top spot for three non-consecutive weeks. [1] The single became popular on independent stations and crossed over to the mainstream American pop charts, peaking at number 59 in February 1989. [2] In their native Germany, "The Great Commandment" went to number 14, and reached the top ten in more than twenty countries.

Music video

The music video depicts the band members amongst a crowd of children in a factory, who appear to be protesting against a spokesperson of some kind. One of the children discovers a control panel underneath the stage, and proves that the spokesperson is in fact a robot controlled by the mechanism. This causes the spokesperson to malfunction and fall over, after which the band and children leave.

Track listing

7″ single (Germany, 1987)
No.TitleLength
1."The Great Commandment" (7″ remix)3:15
2."Pompeji"3:28
Total length:6:43
12″ single (Germany, 1987)/CD single (Germany, 1988)
No.TitleLength
1."The Great Commandment" (extended dance mix)5:58
2."The Great Commandment" (extended radio mix)5:37
3."Pompeji" (extended version)5:23
Total length:16:18
12″ single (US, 1988)
No.TitleLength
1."The Great Commandment" (12″ version)6:10
2."The Great Commandment" (dub mix)7:52
3."The Great Commandment" (extended dance mix)5:58
4."Pompeji" (extended version)5:23
Total length:24:43
12″ single (UK, 1988)
No.TitleLength
1."The Great Commandment" (Justin Strauss remix)7:22
2."The Great Commandment" (Acid Commandment vocal)6:32
3."The Great Commandment" (Great Commandment Luongo mix 12″)6:16
Total length:20:10

Charts

Chart performance for "The Great Commandment"
Chart (1987–1989)Peak
position
France (SNEP) [3] 45
Germany (Official German Charts) [4] 14
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [5] 3
US Billboard Hot 100 [2] 59
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [5] 1

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI) [6] Gold250,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The Great Commandment 2.0

"The Great Commandment 2.0"
Camouflage - The Great Commandment 2.0.jpg
Single by Camouflage
Released9 April 2001
Recorded2001
Genre Synth-pop
Length3:55 (radio edit)
Label Polydor
Songwriter(s)
Camouflage singles chronology
"Thief"
(1999)
"The Great Commandment 2.0"
(2001)
"Me and You"
(2003)

In 2001, Camouflage re-recorded their debut single "The Great Commandment" and released it that year as a comeback attempt at their label's suggestion. Vocals were also re-recorded. The single was produced by London trio "Toy" and drums were provided by Christian Eigner, former tourmate of Depeche Mode. It reached number 85 on the charts.[ citation needed ]

Track listing

CD single
No.TitleLength
1."The Great Commandment 2.0" (radio edit)3:55
2."The Great Commandment 2.0" (Very. mix)5:23
3."The Great Commandment 2.0" (Johannes Heil remix)5:09
4."The Great Commandment 2.0" (instrumental)5:28
Total length:19:15
12″ single
No.TitleLength
1."The Great Commandment 2.0" (Johannes Heil remix)5:08
2."The Great Commandment 2.0" (Toy mix)5:26
3."The Great Commandment 2.0" (Very remix)4:53
Total length:15:37

Charts

Chart performance for "The Great Commandment 2.0"
Chart (2001)Peak
position
Germany (Official German Charts) [7] 85

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References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 49.
  2. 1 2 "The Hot 100". Billboard .
  3. "Camouflage – The Great Commandment" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. "Camouflage – The Great Commandment" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 redsox (4 October 2005). "History Of The US Charts- Part III (c)". UKMIX Forums. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  6. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Camouflage; 'The Great Commandment')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  7. "Camouflage – The Great Commandment 2.0" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 July 2024.