Drama!

Album: Wild! (1989)
Charted: 4
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a drama queen, the sort of person who makes a drama out of the slightest crisis. Erasure's vocalist Andy Bell is known for being quite flamboyant, and his lyrics and stage presence are a great balance for the more grounded Vince Clarke, who handles the programming. Clarke, who found Bell when he placed an ad in Melody Maker looking for a lead singer, was previously in Depeche Mode and Yazoo, where he wrote songs on his own. Speaking of collaborating with Bell on songs, he told us: "Up to Andy, it was a mystery to me how people write songs together. Andy I, we've been together a long, long time and we feel very comfortable around each other." (See our full Vince Clarke interview.)
  • The mob-shouted "Guilty!" chorus was provided in part by The Jesus And Mary Chain. They were recording in the next door studio at the time.

Comments: 3

  • Db from NyIn the solos, I think it's pretty clear he's addressing homophobes. In the chorus, I'm not sure, if he's addressing homophobes, or addressing homosexuals from the homophobes point of view?
  • Magnus Bing from Southern CaliforniaUm... No... This song is not about a drama queen because Vince Clarke is flamboyant. Seriously? Clearly, this was written by a straight person. This song is about the hypocrisy that gay people have experienced from the kind of straight people who try to deny or limit our right to exist, love, and live freely (Your shame is never, ever ending, Just one psychological drama after another. You are guilty and how you ever entered into this life. God only knows the infinite complexities of love.) Of course, this song was written in the late 80's when gay marriage seemed impossible, so the overarching primary theme is no longer. The secondary theme that what rights we have can easily be taken away is still a very valid concern. (We all have the ability. Our freedom is fragile. We all laugh and we cry don't we? We all bleed and we smile.)
  • Becca from Sykesville, Md, UsaGreat Song!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?