Remember your own mortality
Memento Mori is the fifteenth album by Depeche Mode. Released on March 24th, 2023. It is the first album made by the British band after their co-founder and keyboards player, Andrew Fletcher, died last year.
Memento Mori, the name
The title of the album refers to an old Latin expression that means “remember that you’ll die”, that it was used on the Roman Empire after military victories to lower the ego of the winners. In the context of this album and their lyrics, it invites us to remember our own mortality, nothing it’s too serious and nothing it’s forever, we just have to enjoy our time, until our last day.
The Songs
The album starts with My Cosmos Is Mine, dark, the typical Depeche Mode sound. Then it continues with Wagging Tongue, a self-love song. If the other person doesn’t want to be in a relationship with you, they can go away. Ghosts Again, touches the same vibe, a reflection after ending a love story “Lovers in the end, Whisper we’ll be ghosts again”, with a sweet melody.
Don’t Say You Love Me, shows the contrast in a couple. Beautiful, deeper, one of my favorite songs of the album.
My Favorite Stranger, the music reminds me of old Depeche Mode. Another person is impersonating the protagonist, imitating him, but in the end, it is the same person.
Soul With Me. Like any song sung by Martin Gore is beautiful and emotional. Tells the journey of a soul leaving its body. It’s a perfect tribute to Andy and also to any loved one that we have lost, especially during these crazy last years. Bittersweet piece.
Caroline’s Monkey, talks about something clinging to her, that accompanies her and whispers in her ears, like a weight on her shoulders. For me, it could be something like a depression that doesn’t leave her, that’s always there.
Before We Drown. He is trying to get back to a partner, because he feels lonely outside.
People Are Good. We have to keep on constantly remembering that people are good, to live in this society, because as we age, we get hurt by people, many times, bad experiences. The song says that if people do bad things to us, it is not their intention to mistreat us. However, ultimately, we have to fool ourselves and not get offended, or it would be impossible to carry on.
Always You. Love song, he clings to his partner to keep going.
Never Let Me Go. Love the bass in this song. It’s about the hope to be together, forever, as a couple. And in that way overcome all life challenges.
Speak To Me. A friend, Carlos (https://www.youtube.com/@crafotosconrelato283), who is a big Depeche Mode fan, told me this song seemed to him like a funeral hymn. It has a lugubrious tone, perfect to end this dark and exquisite album.