The Great Commandment (song)

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"The Great Commandment"
Single by Camouflage
from the album Voices & Images
B-side"Pompeji"
ReleasedSeptember 1987
GenreSynth-pop
Length4:17 (album version)
3:12 (7" remix)
LabelMetronome Records
Songwriter(s)Heiko Maile, Marcus Meyn, Oliver Kreyssig
Camouflage singles chronology
"The Great Commandment"
(1987)
"Strangers' Thoughts"
(1988)

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

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[edit]

The music video depicts the band members amongst a crowd of children, 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.

Track listings[edit]

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

The Great Commandment 2.0[edit]

"The Great Commandment 2.0"
Single by Camouflage
Released9 April 2001
Recorded2001
GenreSynthpop
Length3:55 (radio edit)
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Heiko Maile, Marcus Meyn and Oliver Kreyssig
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[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 49.
  2. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard.