You Surround Me

"You Surround Me"
Single by Erasure
from the album Wild!
B-side	"Supernature", "91 Steps"
Released	27 November 1989
Format	12", 7", CD, 3" CD
Recorded	1989
Genre	Synthpop
Length	3:57
Label	Mute (UK) Sire (U.S.)
Writer(s)	Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer	Gareth Jones, Mark Saunders, Erasure
Erasure singles chronology
"Drama!" (1989) "You Surround Me" (1989) "Blue Savannah" (1990)
Limited edition "Supernature" 12" single cover

"You Surround Me" is a song by Erasure that was issued in 1989 by Mute Records as the second single from the band's fourth studio album Wild!. The song was not released in the United States.

History

Upon release, "You Surround Me" became Erasure's tenth consecutive Top 20 hit on the UK singles chart, peaking at #15. It reached #10 on the Irish singles chart, and became a Top 40 hit in Germany, where it reached #38.

The track, a love song, was written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell and is a heavily-synthesized ballad with a dramatic chorus featuring Bell's falsetto. Clarke has stated that this song was his attempt at writing a James Bond film theme^{[citation needed]}.

This release has become more notable for the B-sides^{[citation needed]} that were included with "You Surround Me". First was a cover version of Cerrone's environmental anthem "Supernature". The song, also previously recorded by Lene Lovich, led to a collaboration^{[citation needed]} between Erasure and Lovich for the song "Rage", which later appeared on a PETA benefit album. Erasure's recording was remixed by William Orbit and became a popular hit in dance clubs^{[citation needed]}.

Also included on the single as a B-side is "91 Steps", an instrumental with complex synthesizer programming^{[citation needed]} and unusual time signature which prompted listeners to think their CD players were skipping^{[citation needed]}. The track utilizes repeating cycles in which the first seven bars use a 7/4 time signature, followed by one bar in 3/4 time.

Track listings

7" single (MUTE99) / Cassette Single (CMUTE99)

1. "You Surround Me"
2. "91 Steps"

12" single (12MUTE99) / CD single (CDMUTE99)

1. "You Surround Me" (Syrinx Mix)
2. "Supernature"
3. "91 Steps" (+24 Mix)

Limited 12" single (L12MUTE99) / Limited CD single (LCDMUTE99)

1. "You Surround Me" (Remix)
2. "Supernature" (William Orbit Remix)
3. "91 Steps" (6 Pianos Mix)

Limited "Supernature" 12" single (XL12MUTE99)

1. "Supernature" (Daniel Miller & Phil Legg Mix)
2. "You Surround Me" (Gareth Jones Mix)
3. "Supernature" (Mark Saunders Mix)

Chart performance

Chart (1989)	Peak position	Total weeks
German Singles Chart	38	10
Irish Singles Chart	10	5
UK Singles Chart	15	9