The Great Commandment (song)
"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 Great Commandment" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Camouflage | ||||
| from the album Voices & Images | ||||
| B-side | "Pompeji" | |||
| Released | September 1987 | |||
| Genre | Synthpop, new wave | |||
| Length | 4:17 (album version) 3:12 (7" remix) | |||
| Label | Metronome Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Heiko Maile, Marcus Meyn, Oliver Kreyssig | |||
| Camouflage singles chronology | ||||
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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 fifty-nine in 1988. In their native Germany, "The Great Commandment" went to number fourteen, and reached the top ten in over twenty countries.
Music video
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
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Great Commandment (7" Remix)" | 3:15 |
| 2. | "Pompeji" | 3:28 |
| Total length: | 6:43 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| "The Great Commandment 2.0" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Camouflage | ||||
| Released | 9 April 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 2001 | |||
| Genre | Synthpop | |||
| Length | 3:55 (radio edit) | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Heiko Maile, Marcus Meyn and Oliver Kreyssig | |||
| Camouflage singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 #85 on the charts.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 49.

