Miss Murder
| "Miss Murder" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyAFI | ||||
| from the albumDecemberunderground | ||||
| Released | April 3, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | 2005 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Interscope | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Jerry Finn | |||
| AFIsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Miss Murder"is a song by AmericanrockbandAFI.It was released on April 3, 2006, as thelead singlefrom their seventh studio albumDecemberunderground.It was initially scheduled to premiere onLIVE 105on April 13, 2006; however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. "Miss Murder" was released to radio on April 25, 2006.[5]It was released in theUnited KingdomandAustraliaon April 24 and July 29, 2006. It was written byDavey Havokand produced by Jerry Finn.
The song received favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its musicianship.[6][7]It is the band's most commercially successful single to date, reaching number 24 on theBillboardHot 100and topping theAlternative Songschart. Internationally, the song was a moderate success, charting within the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. It won in the category Best Rock Song at the 2006MTV Video Music Awardsand was nominated for theKerrang! Award for Best Single.[8]An accompanyingmusic videowas directed byMarc Webb(who has previously directed videos for AFI) and premiered ontelevisionshortly after the single's release.
Composition
[edit]The song originated with guitaristJade Pugetplaying a bass hook on his guitar and vocalistDavey Havokcoming up with the "Miss Murder" lyric as a throwaway line which ended up sticking.[9]Havok toldKerrang:"We beat this song down. We reworked the chorus over and over again, and in some abyss I sang the melody of the chorus with a scratched lyric that went, 'Hey, miss murder, can I?'" Havok was skeptical of the unconventional hook, butInterscopeinsisted it should stay as it was.[10]Havok later revealed that he wanted to exclude the song fromDecemberunderground,opining that the unreleased "The View from Here" is a better song.[9]
There are several popular theories as to the meaning of the song. These includeSatan's fall from grace,Jesusabandoning humanity,Oscar Wilde's 1890 novelThe Picture of Dorian Gray(in which Gray sells his soul to preserve his beauty), or Havok's personal struggle with fame. Havok refuses to confirm or deny any rumors: "I don't necessarily need for people to understand specifically what it means. If they want to take something from it and use it in a personal way, I think that's great. I wouldn’t want to risk destroying that just so someone can get a better understanding of me personally."[11]
Music video
[edit]A music video directed byMarc Webbfor the song premiered on television shortly after the track's release. It was filmed atLos Angeles City Hall.
The music video opens with Davey Havok finding a note, possibly written by Miss Murder. The note features the threeblack rabbits symbolfeatured on the cover ofDecemberunderground.Havok appears at his desk singing the song, while the band members are shown performing the song in a large room. Havok then appears on a balcony, rallying a chanting crowd below, and unfolds large posters of the band members themselves. During the bridge of the song, black rabbits surround Havok's desk. After he looks down the balcony, the crowd has disappeared and instead sees Miss Murder staring back at him. He returns to his desk where Miss Murder approaches. She places her hand on his shoulder, then he shuts his eyes. The video ends with the black rabbit watching the murder.
An extended version of the music video was released afterward, featuring extra footage at the beginning of the video while the introductory track ofDecemberunderground,"Prelude 12/21"is playing. It features Miss Murder writing a note, then consuming the note, which appears in Havok's mouth. The band is shown performing the track as well.
Track listings
[edit]US promo single
- "Miss Murder" (edit) – 3:18
UK / AU single
- "Miss Murder" (edit) – 3:24
- "Don't Change" (INXScover) – 3:16
- "Silver and Cold" (live acoustic) – 4:07
- "Miss Murder" (music video)
7 "vinyl picture disc
- "Miss Murder" – 3:20
- "Don't Change" (INXS cover) – 3:16
10 "vinyl picture disc
- "Miss Murder" – 3:20
- "Rabbits are Roadkill on Route 37" – 3:51
Promo CDM
- "Miss Murder (VNV Nationremix) "– 6:00
- "Miss Murder (VNV Nation instrumental)" – 6:00
- "Miss Murder (Broken Spindlesremix) "– 4:12
- "Miss Murder (Broken Spindles instrumental)" – 4:12
Official versions
[edit]- "Miss Murder" (album version) – 3:27
- "Miss Murder" (edit) – 3:18
- "Miss Murder" (top 40 edit) – 3:05
- "Miss Murder" (VNV Nationremix) – 6:00
- "Miss Murder" (VNV Nationinstrumental) – 6:00
- "Miss Murder" (Broken Spindlesremix) – 4:12
- "Miss Murder" (Broken Spindlesinstrumental) – 4:12
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[12] | 14 |
| CanadaCHR/Top 40(Billboard)[13] | 46 |
| Czech Republic Modern Rock (IFPI)[14] | 13 |
| Germany (GfK)[15] | 93 |
| UK Singles(OCC)[16] | 44 |
| USBillboardHot 100[17] | 24 |
| USAlternative Airplay(Billboard)[18] | 1 |
| USMainstream Rock(Billboard)[19] | 13 |
| Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[20] | 5 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[21] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[22] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^"23 post-hardcore tracks that definitely ruled your iPods in the 2000s".Alternative Press.March 22, 2021.
- ^Pauker, Lance (January 22, 2014)."49 Phenomenally Angsty Pop-Punk Songs From The 2000s You Forgot Existed".Thought Catalog.RetrievedDecember 18,2021.
- ^"15 emo classics that helped to shape the genre".don't bore us.December 16, 2021. Archived fromthe originalon December 4, 2021.
- ^"11 AFI 'DECEMBERUNDERGROUND' lyrics that emblematize the emo era".Alternative Press.
- ^"FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock".Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived fromthe originalon March 22, 2013.RetrievedOctober 30,2016.
- ^"IGN: Decemberunderground Review".Archived fromthe originalon June 16, 2006.RetrievedJuly 19,2017.
- ^"AFI: Decemberunderground | NME".NME.May 26, 2006.
- ^"MTV Video Music Award".MTV.Archived fromthe originalon May 27, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 23,2010.
- ^ab"Backspin: AFI on 'Decemberunderground'".Yahoo!. February 17, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2021.RetrievedDecember 18,2020– via Youtube.
- ^"Miss Murder by AFI".Songfacts.RetrievedFebruary 11,2019.
- ^"AFI - Miss Murder Lyrics".Genius.RetrievedFebruary 11,2019.
- ^"AFI – Miss Murder ".ARIA Top 50 Singles.Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^"AFI Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)".Billboard.Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^"CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Miss Murder - AFI"(in Czech).IFPI Czech Republic.RetrievedJune 21,2023.
- ^"AFI – Miss Murder "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^"AFI: Artist Chart History".Official Charts Company.Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^"AFI Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^"AFI Chart History (Alternative Airplay)".Billboard.Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^"AFI Chart History (Mainstream Rock)".Billboard.Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ^"Pop Rock"(in Spanish). Record Report. November 4, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2006.
- ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.RetrievedJuly 7,2021.
- ^"British single certifications – Afi – Miss Murder".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedDecember 15,2023.
