ALMOST PERSONAL JESUS BY HILARY DUFF – “IT’S A LITTLE WEIRD” SAYS DAVE GAHAN

Very little is ever really said about the process that goes into giving the thumbs-up (or down) to other artists coving Depeche Mode songs.

Sometimes it appears that there is no restriction at all, but presumably many artists ask principal songwriter Martin Gore permission to rework a Depeche Mode song.

Back in 2008, however, singer Dave Gahan was asked about the release of Reach Out by US starlet Hilary Duff.

The song uses countless samples and many of the lyrics, and triggered all sorts of hand-wringing by fans who bemoaned the fact that popstress Duff was allowed to borrow so heavily from such a hallowed Depeche song.

He told the LA Times:

I don’t know what I think about it… It’s a little weird.

I think it was something that Martin didn’t really have any choice over, they kind of did it anyway. But, you know, it is what it is.

Still, there are some more important things for family man Gahan these days.

He went on to say:

Look, my daughter loves it. You know what she said to me? ‘But it’s not the same, Dad.’

Anyway, go figure, as the Americans like to say. Check the official record company uploads of the song on YouTube:

Hilary Duff’s Reach Out – 21.4 million views
Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus – 18.8 million views