(I Just) Died in Your Arms
Encyclopedia
" Died in Your Arms" is a power ballad written by Nick Van Eede
and introduced by his band, Cutting Crew
, in 1986. It was their biggest hit, peaking at #1 in the United States
, Canada
and Finland
, and reaching the top five in the UK
, South Africa
, Sweden
and Switzerland
.
in 1985, and the two made demos that led to a recording contract before bassist Colin Farley and drummer Martin Beadle joined in 1986. The band recorded and released an album of all original material that same year and had an international hit with the song.
The actual words "I just died in your arms tonight" originally came to him while he was having sex with his girlfriend, the French phrase "la petite mort", or "a little death", being an obscure metaphor for orgasm
. After writing down his version of the phrase, he later used it as the opening line to the song as well as using it as the chorus.
chart and (in a remix version) #37 on the Hot Dance/Club Play
chart. The song spent three weeks at #1 in Canada.
Nick Van Eede
Nick Van Eede is an English musician, producer and songwriter. He is best remembered for singing and writing the 1987 U.S...
and introduced by his band, Cutting Crew
Cutting Crew
The Cutting Crew is a pop rock band formed in England in 1985, best known for their #1 hit, " Died in Your Arms".-Career:Vocalist Nick Van Eede founded the group along with Canadian guitarist Kevin MacMichael in 1985, and the two made demos that led to a recording contract, before bassist Colin...
, in 1986. It was their biggest hit, peaking at #1 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and reaching the top five in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Background of the music and meaning of the title
Vocalist Van Eede founded the group along with Canadian guitarist Kevin MacMichaelKevin MacMichael
Kevin Scott MacMichael was a Canadian guitarist, songwriter and record producer, best known for being a member of the 1980s English based pop-rock band, Cutting Crew, who had a number-one hit in 1987 with " Died in Your Arms"...
in 1985, and the two made demos that led to a recording contract before bassist Colin Farley and drummer Martin Beadle joined in 1986. The band recorded and released an album of all original material that same year and had an international hit with the song.
The actual words "I just died in your arms tonight" originally came to him while he was having sex with his girlfriend, the French phrase "la petite mort", or "a little death", being an obscure metaphor for orgasm
La Petite Mort
La Petite Mort is the seventh album by German rapper King Orgasmus One.- Tracklist :# "Rollt auf Chrom"# "Elfenklänge"# "La petite mort"# "Es war einmal"...
. After writing down his version of the phrase, he later used it as the opening line to the song as well as using it as the chorus.
Music video
The music video was filmed both in color as well as in Black and White Photography in a film studio.Chart performance
First released in Britain, the song peaked at #4 on the UK charts in August 1986. Upon its release in the United States, the previously unknown band's debut single shot to number one on May 2, 1987, and stayed there for two weeks. It also reached #4 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, #24 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary TracksHot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart and (in a remix version) #37 on the Hot Dance/Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart. The song spent three weeks at #1 in Canada.
| Chart (1986/1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
24 |
| Canada | 1 |
| Norway | 1 |
| Finland | 1 |
| Sweden | 2 |
| Ireland | 2 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 4 |
| Germany | 4 |
| Switzerland | 4 |
| South Africa | 4 |
| Austria | 9 |
| Netherlands | 16 |
"(I Just) Died In Your Arms" in popular culture
The song has been featured in many various films and television shows:- The 1999 film Never Been KissedNever Been KissedNever Been Kissed is a 1999 comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell and starring Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, Michael Vartan, Molly Shannon, Leelee Sobieski, John C. Reilly, Jessica Alba, Marley Shelton, James Franco , Giuseppe Andrews, Jeremy Jordan and Garry Marshall...
starring Drew BarrymoreDrew BarrymoreDrew Blyth Barrymore is an American actress, film director, screenwriter, producer and model. She is a member of the Barrymore family of American actors and granddaughter of John Barrymore. She first appeared in an advertisement when she was 11 months old. Barrymore made her film debut in Altered...
. - The 2007 film Hot RodHot Rod (film)The soundtrack was composed by ex-Yes guitarist, Trevor Rabin. Several songs by the Swedish rock band Europe are in the movie, including "Cherokee" and "Rock the Night." The full trailer contains three Swedish rock band songs, Europe's "Cherokee" and "The Final Countdown," and The Hives' "See...
. - The 2010 film Hot Tub Time MachineHot Tub Time MachineHot Tub Time Machine is a 2010 American science fiction adult comedy film directed by Steve Pink. Four men, all of them bored with their adult lives, travel back to their 1980s teen-hood, courtesy of a time-shifting hot tub. It stars John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Kellee Stewart, Rob...
starring John CusackJohn CusackJohn Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
. - The 2011 film Summer Bay Slaughter: Part 1 starring Alf StewartAlf StewartAlfred Douglas "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ray Meagher. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988...
. - It is part of the soundtrack of the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityGrand Theft Auto: Vice CityGrand Theft Auto: Vice City is a 2002 open world action computer and video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the second 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise and sixth original title overall...
and was used in the 2008 video game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore. - It is sung in the shower by supporting character Rabb Himself in the 2003 film Haggard: The MovieHaggard: The MovieHaggard: The Movie is a 2003 American independent comedy film based on the true story of how reality television personality Ryan Dunn's promiscuous girlfriend cheated on him. The film was financed, directed and produced by Bam Margera.- Plot :...
. - It was featured in Season 25, Episode 14 of the television show Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
sketch "Wedding Singers", featuring Will FerrellWill FerrellJohn William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
and Horatio SanzHoratio SanzHoratio Sanz is a Chilean-born American actor and comedian best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998-2006. Sanz most recently starred alongside his former SNL castmate Chris Parnell in the Comedy Central series Big Lake.-Early life:Sanz, the youngest of three sons, was born in...
as musicians who keep starting the song before their cue from the groom. Finally, when given the cue, they confess that they only remembered the first two lines of the song. - A commercial for 1000 Ways To Die1000 Ways to Die1000 Ways to Die is a docufiction anthology television series that premiered on May 14, 2008 on Spike. The program recreates unusual supposed deaths and debunked urban legends and includes interviews with experts who describe the science behind each death...
- 2011 was the song in a Swedish TV-Program called: Now We Blowing Sweden (Nu Blåser Vi Sverige)
Covers and samples
- Covered in 1989 by SavageRoberto ZanettiRoberto Zanetti is an Italian singer, music producer, composer and businessman from Massa, Tuscany. As a singer he is known under the stage name Savage, and as a music producer he uses the alias Robyx....
- Covered in 1995 by Canadian freestyleFreestyle musicFreestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
artist Joée, who returned the song to #1 in Canada but only cracked the U.S. Hot 100 - Covered in 1999 by FinnishFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Gothic metalGothic metalGothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the aggression of doom metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music...
band To/Die/ForTo/Die/ForTo/Die/For is a gothic metal band from the town of Kouvola in southeast of Finland, assembled in 1993 as a hard rock band under the name Mary-Ann. In 1999, they decided to change their musical style to gothic metal, changing their band name as well... - Covered in 2000 by Nu MetalNu metalNu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
band Acrylic (band) - Covered in 2001 by EnglishEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rockRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band SmokieSmokie (band)Smokie is an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire who found success in Europe in the 1970s.-Early years:Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1964 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford as The Yen. The Yen's first gig was at Birkenshaw... - Covered in 2007 by Northern KingsNorthern KingsNorthern Kings is a Finnish symphonic metal cover supergroup, made up of four musicians who have already become well known in their existing bands: Jarkko Ahola from Teräsbetoni, ex-Dreamtale, Marco Hietala from Nightwish and Tarot, Tony Kakko from Sonata Arctica and Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto from...
- Covered in 2008 by Trust CompanyTrust Company (band)Trust Company is an American alternative metal/post-grunge band from Prattville, Alabama.-First run :...
- Covered in 2009 by David CookDavid Cook (singer)David Roland Cook is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol...
& band during his Declaration Tour - Covered (and redone in Metal Music) in 2011 by Dead Season on the Album: The Negative NUMBers
- In 2010 Jason DonovanJason DonovanJason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
recorded a cover version of "Died In Your Arms" for his 80s covers album "Soundtrack of the 80sSoundtrack of the 80sSoundtrack of the 80s is the fifth studio album by the Australian singer Jason Donovan, released in October 2010. The album consists of cover versions of Donovan's favourite 1980s hits, as well as three new original tracks....
". - AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n metalHeavy metal musicHeavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band LordLord (band)Lord is a heavy metal band from Wollongong, Australia. The group began as a solo project for "Lord Tim" Grose of Dungeon in 2003 and expanded into a complete band when Dungeon broke up in 2005. They have released three albums and an EP to date. Lord has appeared with major acts that include...
included a cover on their 2010 EP "Return of the TyrantReturn of the TyrantReturn of the Tyrant is the second EP release by Australian heavy metal band Lord. The title track is an almost ten-minute sequel to the song "Tarranno del Mar", which appeared on the Dungeon album One Step Beyond. Despite being over an hour in length, the band marketed this release as an EP...
" - Melody is sampled in MikaMika (singer)Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
's "Relax, Take It EasyRelax, Take It Easy"Relax, Take It Easy" is the debut single by British singer-songwriter Mika, from his debut album Life in Cartoon Motion. In the UK, it failed to chart upon its original release, but after "Grace Kelly" topped the charts in January 2007, it managed to peak at #67 on the UK Downloads Chart because...
" - RihannaRihannaRobyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
referenced the line in her song SOSSOS (Rihanna song)"SOS" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her second studio album, A Girl like Me. The song was produced by J. R. Rotem and written by Rotem and Evan "Kidd" Bogart. It was released as the lead single from the album...
: "Take me on, I could just die up in your arms tonight" - Covered by Canadian rock band Faber DriveFaber DriveFaber Drive is a four-piece, Canadian pop punk band from Mission, British Columbia.-Biography:Discovered by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, and signed to his 604 Records label after winning Fox Seeds, a local radio challenge, Faber Drive released their debut album, Seven Second Surgery, on May 15, 2007...
as a b-side for their debut album Seven Second SurgerySeven Second SurgerySeven Second Surgery is the debut album by Canadian pop punk band Faber Drive. It was released on May 1, 2007 under 604 Records."24 Story Love Affair" and "Sex and Love" from Faber Drive's previous EP were added onto "Seven Second Surgery".... - The synthesizer in the background can be heard sped up in the Ya BoyYa BoyWilliam Joseph Crawford , better known by his stage name Ya Boy, is an American rapper from the Fillmore District, San Francisco. He is a younger cousin of San Francisco rapper San Quinn and also the cousin of Bills WR Steve Johnson. Crawford graduated from El Camino High School in South San...
single "Holla At Ya Boy" (2007). - Interpolated into/a source of inspiration for the AmerieAmerieAmerie Mi Marie Rogers , known professionally as Amerie or Ameriie, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She debuted in 2002 with the album All I Have, primarily co-written and produced by Rich Harrison, and was well-received in the urban market...
song "I Just Died" - Interpolated in track "Died In Your Arms" by SmittySmittyVarick D. Bennet, better known as Smitty, is a American rapper and hip-hop ghostwriter from Little Haiti, a neighborhood in Miami, Florida.-Biography:...
featuring T-PainT-PainFaheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
, produced by DJ Felli FelDJ Felli FelJames Andrew Corrine, better known by his stage name DJ Felli Fel is a club and radio DJ for L.A.'s Power 106, record producer, and a recording artist recently signed to So So Def/Island Urban Music. He is also a member of The Heavy Hitters DJs.... - Interpolated in track "I Just Died in Your Arms" by Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
(original lyrics from "Moment of Clarity") - Sampled in many posthumous TupacTupacTupac is a relatively uncommon male name. Notable people with the name include:*Túpac Inca Yupanqui , tenth Sapa Inca of the Incan Empire*Túpac Amaru , last indigenous leader of the Inca people in Peru...
remixes - Remixed by Crooked ICrooked IDominick Wickliffe, better known by his stage name Crooked I, is an American rapper from Long Beach, California. He is a member of the hip hop group, Slaughterhouse with other members Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9. Slaughterhouse is currently signed to Shady Records / Interscope Records....
in 2007 as part of the Hip Hop Weekly series - Remixed by Go Mental (Jon Kyriacou aka DJ Kaos) in 1996, 1997 & 1999 (for the eurodanceEurodanceEurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
compilation Dancemania Speed 2Dancemania SpeedDancemania Speed is a sub-series of Toshiba EMI's Dancemania compilation series. This series features faster, further remixed versions of recordings from previously released Dancemania albums or faster remixed covers of various famous songs...
) - The Goth rock band DomminDomminDommin is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of Kristofer Dommin on vocals and guitar, Billy James on bass, Konstantine on keyboards, and Cameron Morris on drums...
has covered it during live shows, and it is a track on the special edition of their debut album Love Is Gone - Scottish Hip-HopHip hop musicHip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist Werd (S.O.S)Werd (S.O.S)Werd also known as Drew Devine, is an Edinburgh based hip hop artist signed to Sons of Scotland record publishing....
samples the song in his track "Died In Your Arms" on his mixtape Werd - Rap Re-Mixtape Vol.2 - Melody sampled in DJ BoboDJ BoboPeter René Cipiriano Baumann , better known as DJ BoBo, is a Swiss singer, songwriter, dancer and music producer. He has sold 14 million records worldwide and has released 10 studio albums as well as a few compilation albums which have included his previous hits in a reworked format...
's "Where Is Your Love" - Melody sampled in Britney SpearsBritney SpearsBritney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
's "Hold It Against MeHold It Against Me"Hold It Against Me" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, released as the first single from her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. It was written and produced by Max Martin, Dr. Luke and Billboard, with additional writing by Bonnie McKee. Luke explained that he wanted "Hold It...
" - Remixed by Lil Wayne feat. Lloyd Banks and Eminem
- Covered by russian singer Данко :ru:%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B5%D0%B2, %D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80 %D0%92%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%8C%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87 - "Я умру без твоей любви"