Make Me Wanna Die Explained

Make Me Wanna Die
Cover:The Pretty Reckless - Make Me Wanna Die.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:the Pretty Reckless
Album:The Pretty Reckless and Light Me Up
B-Side:"Zombie"
Studio:House of Loud
(Elmwood Park, New Jersey)
Label:Interscope
Producer:Kato Khandwala
Next Title:Miss Nothing
Next Year:2010

"Make Me Wanna Die" is a song by American rock band The Pretty Reckless from their eponymous debut extended play (2010) and their debut studio album, Light Me Up (2010). The song was written by Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips, and Kato Khandwala, and produced by the latter. It was released on April 14, 2010, as the lead single from both the EP and the album.

Background and release

"Make Me Wanna Die" was the first song written for Light Me Up.[1] Momsen has described it as a "tragic love song",[2] stating it was "focused on Romeo and Juliet and a passionate love that might've not been appropriate."[3]

Critical reception

Nick Levine of Digital Spy rated "Make Me Wanna Die" four out of five stars, stating the song "is actually a bit of a blast. To be precise, it's a great big slab of angsty grunge-pop with a screechalong chorus, some nice jaggedy guitar riffs and production as glossy/grungey as its singer's peroxide blonde dye job."[4] Chris Roberts of BBC Music felt that the song "packs every emo-romantic cliché into its punchy pat structure".[5]

Music videos

A promotional video for "Make Me Wanna Die", known as the "viral version", was directed by Patrick Dwyer and released on May 11, 2010.[6] [7] The video, shot at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City, features live performance clips and backstage footage of the band.[7]

The official music video, directed by Meiert Avis and Chris LeDoux, was filmed in Brooklyn, New York City, in March 2010.[8] Momsen explained the concept of the video to MTV News, saying, "[T]o try and emulate kind of an epic-y song that's almost like a film, it was a challenge to come up with a treatment. So I guess we sort of decided to make it like a death march. You can't live anymore in this world, and you're on your way to your death, and you're seeing everything you're passing, and stripping yourself of your belongings on your way to your grave."[9] According to Momsen, the video was "held up in legal for a long time because I was 16 when we shot that. We couldn't release it because, yes, I actually got naked."[10] The video was ultimately released on September 15, 2010 to the iTunes Store in the US.[11]

In film and television

The track plays during the end credits of the 2010 film Kick-Ass,[12] and is also included on its soundtrack.[13] In August 2010, the song was used in a trailer for the second season of The Vampire Diaries.[14] "Make Me Wanna Die" was featured in the ninth episode of the fourth season of Gossip Girl, "The Witches of Bushwick", which aired on November 5, 2010. It was playing when Jenny (Momsen's character), while impersonating Serena, pulls the curtain down to reveal Blair and Chuck talking together. The track was also used during the opening segment of the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.[15] The song also appeared on the March 30, 2017, episode of Supernatural, titled "Ladies Drink Free".[16]

Track listing

  1. "Make Me Wanna Die" – 3:54
  2. "Zombie" – 3:08

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Light Me Up.[18]

The Pretty Reckless

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (2010–11)Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[19] 57
US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[20] 4
US Rock Digital Songs (Billboard)[21] 18

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United KingdomApril 14, 2010Contemporary hit radioPolydor[22]
IrelandMay 13, 2010Digital download[23]
United KingdomMay 16, 2010[24]
AustraliaJune 11, 2010Digital download (one track)Universal[25]
July 9, 2010Digital download (two tracks)[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vena . Jocelyn . Taylor Momsen Calls Pretty Reckless' Light Me Up 'Honest' . https://web.archive.org/web/20201111202943/http://www.mtv.com/news/1661930/taylor-momsen-pretty-reckless-light-me-up/ . dead . November 11, 2020 . . April 13, 2011 . June 2, 2017.
  2. Stack . Tim . 'Gossip Girl' star Taylor Momsen talks her debut single, upcoming album, and why she doesn't like pants . . April 22, 2010 . May 21, 2017.
  3. Web site: Wise . Lauren . Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless Believes It's Unfair to the Listener to Explain Songs . . October 21, 2016 . May 21, 2017.
  4. Web site: Levine . Nick . The Pretty Reckless: 'Make Me Wanna Die' . . May 17, 2010 . June 9, 2014.
  5. Web site: Roberts . Chris . Review of The Pretty Reckless – Light Me Up . . August 26, 2010 . June 9, 2014.
  6. Web site: The Pretty Reckless – "Make Me Wanna Die (Viral Version)" . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203162252/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-pretty-reckless/741386/make-me-wanna-die-viral-version.jhtml . dead . December 3, 2013 . . May 14, 2010 . June 9, 2014.
  7. Web site: Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen premieres new clip for "Make Me Wanna Die" . HollywoodNews.com . May 11, 2010 . June 9, 2014.
  8. Web site: Avis . Meiert . Meiert Avis . The Pretty Reckless "Make Me Wanna Die" . MeiertAvis.com . April 10, 2012 . June 9, 2014.
  9. Web site: Montgomery . James . Taylor Momsen Says Pretty Reckless Album Is 'Sex, Drugs And Religion' . https://web.archive.org/web/20140716002919/http://www.mtv.com/news/1638389/taylor-momsen-says-pretty-reckless-album-is-sex-drugs-and-religion/ . dead . July 16, 2014 . MTV News . May 4, 2010 . June 9, 2014.
  10. Web site: Hoby . Hermione . Taylor Momsen: From Grinch to grunge . . December 8, 2010 . June 9, 2014.
  11. Web site: Music Videos – Make Me Wanna Die by The Pretty Reckless . January 2010 . iTunes Store (US) . June 9, 2014.
  12. Web site: Falconer . Daniel . 7 of the Best Bands in the Business . Female First . December 11, 2012 . June 9, 2014.
  13. Web site: Kick-Ass – Original Soundtrack . . June 9, 2014.
  14. Web site: WATCH! Nina Dobrev Gets Hot & Heavy With Paul Wesley & Ian Somerhalder In 'Vampire Diaries' Season Two! . Hollywood Life . August 19, 2010 . June 9, 2014.
  15. Web site: The Pretty Reckless' "Make Me Wanna Die" Makes A Splash On iTunes After Victoria's Secret Fashion Show . Icon vs. Icon . December 5, 2011 . June 9, 2014.
  16. Web site: Krupa . Jessy . Supernatural's 'Ladies Drink Free' Is a Dull Pit Stop on the Road to the Finalé . . April 3, 2017 . May 20, 2017.
  17. Web site: Make Me Wanna Die – Single by The Pretty Reckless . January 2010 . iTunes Store (UK) . June 9, 2014.
  18. . CD liner notes . . . 2011 . B0015304-02.
  19. European Hot 100: Week of June 05, 2010 . . September 8, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110330022042/http://www.billboard.com/charts/european-hot-100?chartDate=2010-06-05&order=gainer . March 30, 2011.
  20. The Pretty Reckless Chart History (Hot Singles Sales) . https://web.archive.org/web/20180518094024/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-pretty-reckless/chart-history/hot-singles-sales . dead . May 18, 2018 . Billboard . September 7, 2019.
  21. The Pretty Reckless Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales) . Billboard . November 1, 2018.
  22. Web site: Playlist . . June 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100419083357/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist . April 19, 2010.
  23. Web site: Make Me Wanna Die (2010) The Pretty Reckless . 7digital (Ireland) . June 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140502040324/http://ie.7digital.com/artist/the-pretty-reckless/release/make-me-wanna-die . May 2, 2014.
  24. Web site: Make Me Wanna Die: The Pretty Reckless: MP3 Downloads . Amazon (UK) . June 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715045218/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Wanna-Die-Pretty-Reckless/dp/B003L1ZTEW . July 15, 2014.
  25. Web site: The Pretty Reckless Store – Make Me Wanna Die . Getmusic (Australia) . June 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120419110742/http://www.getmusic.com.au/prettyreckless/store/detail?id=63837 . April 19, 2012.
  26. Web site: The Pretty Reckless Store – Make Me Wanna Die . Getmusic (Australia) . June 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120419110802/http://www.getmusic.com.au/prettyreckless/store/detail?id=64156 . April 19, 2012.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Make Me Wanna Die".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.