It Doesn't Have to Be

"It Doesn't Have to Be"
Single by Erasure
from the album The Circus
B-side	"In the Hall of the Mountain King"
Released	16 February 1987
Format	12", 7", CD
Recorded	1986
Genre	Synthpop
Length	3:53
Label	Mute (UK) Sire (U.S.)
Writer(s)	Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer	Flood
Erasure singles chronology
"Sometimes" (1986) "It Doesn't Have to Be" (1987) "Victim of Love" (1987)

"It Doesn't Have to Be" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released in February 1987. It was issued as a single six weeks before the release of the duo's second album, The Circus.

Following the number-two UK placing of previous single "Sometimes", "It Doesn't Have to Be" became Erasure's second Top 20 hit in the UK (peaking at number twelve) and their third German Top 20 hit (number sixteen).

The single's B-side, "In the Hall of the Mountain King", is taken from Grieg's Peer Gynt suite.

Track listings

7" single (MUTE56)

1. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
2. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

12" single (12MUTE56)

1. "It Doesn't Have to Be" (Boop Oopa Doo Mix)
2. "Who Needs Love Like That" (Betty Boop Mix)
3. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

Limited 12" single (L12MUTE56)

1. "It Doesn't Have to Be" (Cement Mix)
2. "Heavenly Action" (Holger Hiller Mix)
3. "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (New Version)

CD single (CDMUTE56)

1. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
2. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"
3. "It Doesn't Have to Be" (Boop Oopa Doo Mix)
4. "Who Needs Love Like That"

CD single (Special Edition CDMUTE56)

1. "It Doesn't Have to Be"
2. "Sometimes"
3. "Oh L'amour"
4. "Heavenly Action"
5. "Who Needs Love Like That"
6. "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (Remix)
7. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

Chart performance

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Dutch Singles Chart	35
German Singles Chart	16
Irish Singles Chart	19
Swiss Singles Chart	19
UK Singles Chart	12