New Song: Depeche Mode’s New Stunning Cover, “Universal Soldier,” For ‘Help(2)’ Charity LP – Great Music, Great Cause
It’s weird how I find new music these days. Back when I was in high school, I typically eschewed the company of my family (I thought they were lame, after all). I’d retreat to my room and if I didn’t have homework to labor over I’d turn on the radio. If there was new stuff to hear it’d eventually pop up on the speakers.
Now I begrudgingly follow my favorite bands/acts on social media to find out if they have a new song/album coming out. Even then, I often miss stuff because I’m not hanging around on “the socials” that much. I’m not even on Facebook. My father joined Facebook in the early days and within a week two of my ex “companions” had reached out thinking it was me. I couldn’t help but ask what picture my father was using on his account… and asking him to please close the portal to my past. I’m a married man now…
I was out on my streaming platform, a sentence I never thought I’d type, and saw a playlist entitled “Release Radar.” As I’m always looking for new stuff, I immediately “dove in.” It was there – not on any radio, terrestrial or otherwise – I found a new track from Depeche Mode, one of my favorite bands, entitled “Universal Soldier.”
Finding a new Depeche track this soon after the release of the recent live LP, Momento Mori: Mexico City, with its four fabulous outtakes from the Momento Mori album, I was delighted. Does this herald a new Depeche Mode album in 2026? The answer is no, but I actually think the story is better.
Depeche’s version of “Universal Soldier” is a cover track from a charity album entitled Help(2). The album was put together by War Child productions and per Wikipedia it was done “in order to raise funds for their work involving helping children living through war.” There seems to be a lot more war around these days, especially on the heels of the launch of the disastrous war in Iran, so the children of the world need our help.
The album is a sequel of sorts to an album, The Help Album, which came out in 1995 and featured a variety of performances from Paul McCartney (in a “supergroup”) to Oasis. This album is similar in that it features a variety of artists including Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Olivia Rodrigo, and the aforementioned Depeche Mode. Beth Gibbons does a wonderful cover of the Velvet Underground‘s “Sunday Morning.”
Any stream or purchase of the album or a T-shirt raises money for these distressed children in war torn areas. I can’t think of a better cause to raise money for than that? I guess we’re never going to get away from forever, senseless wars. I think it was Napoleon who said, “War is when your government tells you who the enemy is, Revolution is when you figure it out for yourself.” Maybe we need more of the latter and less of the former.
For me, the attraction to the record was this wonderful cover song by Depeche Mode. “Universal Soldier” was originally written by Buffy St Marie and her version was released in 1964. It has been covered by a number of acts including (perhaps most famously) Donovan and Glen Campbell. The song has gotten around, sadly because so has war.
Depeche Mode’s version was recorded, as were all the tracks, over a week in November 2025. This song sounds like it was meant to be done by Depeche. Martin Gore comes in with menacing keyboards and beat. The percussion is like a heartbeat. Then Dave Gahan’s voice comes in like an avenging angel. “This is not the way we put an end to war.”
It’s sad that these lyrics, written by St Marie, who had run into some U.S. soldiers returning from Vietnam, are still relevant today with soldiers across the world still on the battle field from the Ukraine to the Middle East.
The lyrics really hit home:
“He’s a Catholic, a Hindu, an Atheist, a Jain
A Buddhist, and a Baptist, and a Jew
And he knows he shouldn’t kill, and he knows he always will
Kill you for me, my friend, and me for you”
How many reasons will the world invent to send our young people into war? Religion, politics, especially oil, and of course for a myriad of even stupider reasons.
Here is Depeche Mode’s version of “Universal Soldier”:
This is the standout track for me, but I’m on record as a huge Depeche fan. I urge everybody to check this whole Help(2) album. You’ll be rewarded with good music and you’re doing it for a good cause so you’ll get a good boost on your karma.
Like the man said, “Give Peace A Chance,” Cheers!