Death (Melanie Martinez song) explained

Death
Cover:Melanie Martinez - Death.png
Type:single
Artist:Melanie Martinez
Album:Portals
Label:Atlantic
Producer:
Prev Title:The Bakery
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Void
Next Year:2023

"Death" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez. It is the lead single from her third studio album, Portals.[1] It was released as a single on March 17, 2023, through Atlantic Records.[2] It is her first song to chart in the Billboard Hot 100 since 2012, peaking at number 95.[3]

Background

After being on two-year hiatus for music, Martinez started to archive all of her Instagram posts and teased the upcoming album on February 18, 2023.[4] The singer also released a twelve-second snippet with no cover, on Spotify.[5]

In March 2023, Martinez uploaded a post to Instagram featuring a cryptic message and a photo showcasing the alter-ego pink fairy or nymph character "emerging from a prone human form". The post also showed a set of lyrics, a release date, and the title of the lead single.[6] The song was later released on March 17, 2023.[7]

Music video

The video begins with five masked dancers glancing into Cry Baby’s grave, where they place plants. Cry Baby is in the grave with an open wound on her heart. A version of Martinez with pink skin, multiple eyes, and fairy-like wings then appears from Cry Baby's heart and elevates to the surface. Throughout the video, the camera cuts to the dancers on an island with Cry Baby's grave, and this version of Martinez with blue hair singing or on a hoop performing tricks with dancers, still elevating. She then stabs Cry Baby's corpse with nine swords. Near the end, the elevating Martinez rips a cord connecting her alter-ego, Cry Baby, trying to escape the grave. As the dancers finish burying Cry Baby, Martinez pops out of the ground and the video ends.[8]

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia Hitseekers (ARIA)[9] 12
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[10] 7

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] 94

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label
VariousMarch 17, 2023Atlantic[12]

Notes and References

  1. Mier . Tomás . February 22, 2023 . Melanie Martinez Transforms Into a Pink Creature for New Album 'Portals' . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230222203522/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/melanie-martinez-portals-album-1234684602/ . February 22, 2023 . February 22, 2023.
  2. Web site: Fabris . Andres . March 20, 2023 . Melanie Martinez Releases Comeback Single "Death" . March 28, 2023 . Music Daily . en-US.
  3. Web site: 2023-03-28 . "Death" by Melanie Martinez Debuts at #95 on the Hot 100. It Marks Her First ... - Latest Tweet by Pop Crave LatestLY . 2023-03-29 . LatestLY . en.
  4. Web site: February 19, 2023 . Melanie Martinez Takes a Fresh Start After Cleaning Most of Her Instagram Photos . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311023028/https://www.latestly.com/socially/entertainment/melanie-martinez-seems-to-be-starting-her-new-era-after-clearing-most-of-her-instagram-latest-tweet-by-pop-base-4856413.html . March 11, 2023 . March 10, 2023 . Latestly.
  5. Web site: February 18, 2023 . Melanie Martinez Gives a Glimpse of Her 2023 Single; Singer Releases 12 Seconds Audio of Her New Song on Spotify . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311024536/https://www.latestly.com/socially/entertainment/melanie-martinez-has-released-a-12-second-snippet-on-spotify-latest-tweet-by-pop-base-4856872.html . March 11, 2023 . March 16, 2023 . Latestly.
  6. Web site: Rivera . Kelsey . March 15, 2023 . Melanie Martinez to release first single 'Death' from upcoming album 'Portals' on Friday . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311021526/https://en.as.com/entertainment/a-look-into-melanie-martinez-alien-inspired-new-album-portals-n/ . March 11, 2023 . March 15, 2023 . Diario AS.
  7. Web site: March 18, 2023 . Melanie Martinez is back from the dead with new song 'Death' . March 28, 2023 . Music-News . en-US.
  8. Web site: Martinez . Melanie . Melanie Martinez - Death (Official Video) . March 24, 2022 . YouTube . en . March 29, 2023 .
  9. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 27 March 2023. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1725. 25. March 27, 2023.
  10. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart . . March 27, 2023 . March 25, 2023.
  11. Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2023. Billboard. December 9, 2023.
  12. Web site: Martinez . Melanie . March 17, 2023 . Death . March 10, 2023 . Apple Music (US) .