Join Me in Death

Infobox Single
Name = Join Me in Death


Artist = HIM
from Album = Razorblade Romance
Released = 2 November 1999
Format = CD single
Recorded =
Genre = Alternative rock
Length =
Label = BMG
Producer = John Fryer
Last single = "It's All Tears (Drown in This Love)"
(1999)
This single = "Join Me in Death"
(1999)
Next single = "Right Here in My Arms"
(2000)
Misc =

"Join Me (in Death)" is the first single by the Finnish band HIM taken from their second studio album "Razorblade Romance". It was also released as "Join Me", since they weren't allowed to include "Death" in the title for the US version. This song is the band's best-known song in Europe, where it made HIM a household name after being featured in the sci-fi movie The Thirteenth Floor.

Overview

Four versions of the song's video exist: three "lazer versions", two of which includes different scenes from the Thirteenth Floor movie, and the fourth - "ice version", with a vague "Romeo and Juliet" theme also attributed to the song. This has met with controversy regarding its subject matter. "A couple of people blamed me for a suicide someone committed over here saying that 'Join Me' is an invitation to kill yourself," HIM frontman Ville Valo told the European magazine "Metal Hammer" in 2003. "What I was trying to do was sort of rip-off 'Don't Fear the Reaper' by Blue Öyster Cult, making a rock track of "Romeo And Juliet"." ["Cold Fusion" by Martin Carlsson. "Metal Hammer", April 2003.] Lyrics such as "Would you die tonight for love?" have contributed to the misconception that the song is about suicide, which Valo denies, claiming the lyrics refer to giving things up for the sake of love. "It's not about suicide, that song. It's about giving it all away," Valo told the magazine "Modern Fix". [ [http://www.modernfix.com/features/37/him.htm "HIM - interview"] by Erin Broadley. "Modern Fix", issue 37.]

In addition to its release on "Razorblade Romance" and in the film "The Thirteenth Floor" (though not on its soundtrack), "Join Me" was included on the in 2004. The band Gregorian covered "Join Me" with Sarah Brightman on their album and on Brightman's Limited Edition "The Harem Tour" album. Another Gregorian version exist with vocals performed by Amelia Brightman.

HIM performed this song for the (first time) in Ilosaarirock, Finland on the 12th of September, 1998, which featured a whole extra verse which is not included in the studio versions.

Track listing

International Release

#"Join Me" - 3:39
#"Join Me" (13th Floor Mix) - 3:39
#"It's All Tears (Unplugged)" - 3:48
#"Rebel Yell" (Live) - 5:12

wedish Release

#"Join Me in Death" - 3:39
#"Rebel Yell" (Live) - 5:12

German Release

#"Join Me in Death" - 3:39
#"It's All Tears (Unplugged)" - 3:48
#"Rebel Yell" (Live) - 5:12
#"Dark Sekret Love" Limited Edition Bonus Track - 5:17

Dance Versions/Remixes

A Club remix of Join by Lightforce appeared on 'Transcendental' Euphoria which was mixed by Dave Pearce and released in November 2000 [ [http://www.davepearce.co.uk/biography/discography/transcendentaleuphoria/ "The Official Dave Pearce Discography"] ]

Charts

References