Description:

Hello, my name is Brian.
I run an all volunteer film company called En Queue Film in British Columbia, Canada.
I too am a Depeche Mode fan. They and Muse are the only two bands I've seen in concert, twice.
I'm also a musician, and have covered the band myself, but that's just an aside.
I've been waiting for a Genero project to pique my interest, so when I saw Enjoy the Silence, I checked it out. I listened to it on my laptop, sort of letting it play in the background while I was working on something or other. I immediately liked the direction that Mr. Whitacre had taken with the arrangement and tone. So I plunked on my ear goggles and gave it a really good listen. Then I cried. Real tears came outta my face! It happens from time to time, but it's pretty damn rare. I listened to the song three more times, then I played it for my wife.
I decided the next day I had to come up with an idea. I knew that I wanted not only to relate a version of the lyrics, but also pay homage to the band and their videos. Anton Corbijn's work with Depeche Mode are some of my favourite videos of all time and his over saturated, spaghetti western style fits into my list of influences somewhere between Kurosawa and Leone. I also hoped to attain something as moving and powerful as Mr. Whitacre's choral arrangement.
I think Enjoy the Silence is about knowing the ultimate comfort and ultimate distress of true love. Love is as high or as low as you can get, depending on how well it's going for you. It seems for Depeche Mode that "words" keep getting in the way of their enjoyment of the silence. I can't help but wonder what type of "words" these might be, save for an argument with a loved one over something you'd rather not talk about, like say... addiction. Thus the story unfolded and I tip my hat to the members of Depeche Mode themselves. Hopefully my commentary is as clear to all as theirs was to me when they had Dave sing the words, "All I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here in my arms."
I think maybe Eric Whitacre might agree? Maybe not.
At any rate, it sounds to me like he does.
Thank you for your interpretation Eric, it's magnificent.


Lyrics:
Silence, Silence,
Words like violence
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand
Oh my little girl

All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm

Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable

All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm

All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm

Do harm, Do harm

Enjoy The Silence