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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
Length
  • 4:17 (album version)
  • 3:12 (7″ remix)
LabelMetronome
Songwriter(s)
Camouflage singles chronology
"The Great Commandment"
(1987)
"Strangers' Thoughts"
(1988)

"The Great Commandment" is a song by German synth-pop trio Camouflage. Originally recorded in 1983, the song was re-recorded in 1987 and released as their debut single in 1987. It was included on 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

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The music video depicts the band members amongst a crowd of children in a factory, 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. This causes the spokesperson to malfunction and fall over, after which the band and children leave.

Track listing

[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

Charts

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Chart performance for "The Great Commandment"
Chart (1987–1989) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[3] 45
Germany (GfK)[4] 14
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[5] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 59
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[5] 1

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[6] Gold 250,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The Great Commandment 2.0

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"The Great Commandment 2.0"
Single by Camouflage
Released9 April 2001
Recorded2001
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:55 (radio edit)
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
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

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "The Great Commandment 2.0"
Chart (2001) Peak
position
Germany (GfK)[7] 85

References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 49.
  2. ^ a b "The Hot 100". Billboard.
  3. ^ "Camouflage – The Great Commandment" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Camouflage – The Great Commandment" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b redsox (4 October 2005). "History Of The US Charts- Part III (c)". UKMIX Forums. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Camouflage; 'The Great Commandment')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Camouflage – The Great Commandment 2.0" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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