Depeche Mode is in their fifth decade of churning out synth-pop classics, but “Enjoy the Silence” still stands as the band’s most popular song. It is also their most covered song, as more than 250 artists have tried their hand at interpreting it. What makes “Enjoy the Silence” irresistible to those who listen to and play it? It could be the simple but catchy guitar riff, the bouncy synth bass line, David Gahan’s icy cool vocals, or most likely, the way everything comes together.
The hit from Depeche Mode’s Violator album might be impossible to top, but many of the cover versions are worth a listen. These five include some of the most popular takes on the song, and each puts “Enjoy the Silence” in a unique musical context, far from the synth-pop environment we all associate with it.
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Tori Amos
Tori Amos’ arrangement, which consists of her on vocals and piano with string accompaniment, may sound miles away from Depeche Mode’s. However, Martin Gore initially wrote the song as a ballad backed only by organ. Of the remakes featured here, Amos’ version probably matches Gore’s original vision for the song the best.
The song appears on Amos’ 2001 covers album Strange Little Girls. Each of the songs on the album was originally written and recorded by a male artist. Amos not only remade each song from a female perspective, but she adopted a different persona for each number. For “Enjoy the Silence,” she took on the role of a veteran Las Vegas showgirl named Isis. When Amos sings Can’t you understand / Oh my little girl, she is singing it from the perspective of an older woman who is looking out for her younger colleagues. Amos also changes the line Words are meaningless and forgettable to Words are meaningless and unforgettable, changing the entire tone of the message.
Lacuna Coil
“Enjoy the Silence” is the lone cover on the 2006 album Karmacode by the Italian metal band Lacuna Coil. While this version maintains the otherworldly feel of the original, the crunchy guitars that permeate the chorus give Lacuna Coil’s rendition a much harder feel. Andrea Ferro’s backing vocals, particularly when they are whispered under Cristina Scabba’s lead vocals, contribute to this version’s more menacing mood.
With more than 36 million streams, “Enjoy the Silence” is Lacuna Coil’s most popular song on Spotify. As the second single released from Karmacode, it spent 34 weeks on the Official UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart, peaking at No. 3. It did not chart in the U.S., though Karmacode went to No. 28 on the Billboard 200.
Anberlin
Anberlin contributed this track to the 2006 compilation Punk Goes 90’s, and while it veers towards the pop side of punk, it’s still a notable departure from the original. The mere absence of synths on Anberlin’s cover gives it an entirely different vibe, and the chug of the guitar in the verses infuses this rendition with more energy than Depeche Mode’s version. If the original makes for a great soundtrack for driving through the city at night, this one is meant for cruising on the open highway on a sunny day.
The Central Florida-based band did not release their cover of “Enjoy the Silence” as a single. Nonetheless, it ranks as one of their five most-streamed songs on Spotify, having been played more than 17 million times.
Nada Surf
Nada Surf’s arrangement of “Enjoy the Silence” is truly novel. Synths play a key role in the song’s sound, but they glide rather than percolate. As a result, this version feels breezy with no hint of angst or urgency. Matthew Caws also takes a different approach to the vocals. Rather than mimic Gahan’s familiar phrasing, he tinkers with it, at times altering the melody. For example, he draws out the final line of both verses, making us wait a few extra seconds for the chorus.
The track was included on Nada Surf’s 2010 covers album If I Had a Hi-Fi. With the possible exception of their version of The Moody Blues’ “Question,” it is the most recognizable song the band covered on the album. With over 4.5 million streams, it is by far the most popular track on Spotify from If I Had a Hi-Fi.
Wild Earp
Of the versions featured here, this 2024 single from Wild Earp is the least well-known, but it needs to be filed under “must-listen.” The piano introduction to the song lets you know you’re in for something entirely different, and then the Chicago-based country artist’s band launches into the familiar riff. The rendition that ensues is gorgeous and spacious. It also offers some surprises along the way, such as when the music completely stops for three full seconds between the first chorus and the following post-chorus. Augmenting Earp’s dulcet vocals are backing vocals by Kiley Bree and haunting pedal steel performed by Doc Brown.
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