"Die in Your Arms"
Promotional single by Justin Bieber
from the album Believe
ReleasedMay 29, 2012
GenrePop
Length3:56
LabelIsland, RBMG, Schoolboy
Songwriter(s)Rodney Jerkins, Dennis "Aganee" Jenkins, Travis Sayles, Thomas Lumpkins, Kelly Lumpkins, Herb Rooney, Alphonso Mizell, Berry Gordy Jr., Deke Richards, Freddie Perren
Producer(s)Darkchild, Aganee, Travis Sayles
Justin Bieber promotional singles chronology
"Turn to You (Mother's Day Dedication)"
(2012) 		"Die in Your Arms"
(2012) 		"I'll Show You"
(2015)

"Die in Your Arms" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber from his third studio album, Believe (2012). The track was written and produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Dennis "Aganee" Jerkins, and Travis Sayles, while additional lyrics were written by Bieber, Thomas Lumpkins, Kelly Lumpkins, and Herb Rooney. The pop song samples Michael Jackson's "We've Got a Good Thing Going" (1972), and lyrically (staff-written), features Bieber singing about an all-consuming passion and the affection that he feels for his love interest. "Die in Your Arms" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who compared the song's style to the ones of Jackson 5, Duffy and Bruno Mars, among others. The song has charted in several countries such as Australia, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States.

Background and composition

"Die in Your Arms"
A 22-second sample of the song's chorus features Bieber singing over a hip hop beats, finger snaps, melodic piano chords and a sample of Michael Jackson's "We've Got a Good Thing Going".[1][2] ORIGINAL DRUMSAMPLE = "Melvin Bliss - Synthetic Substitution"
Problems playing this file? See media help.

In late 2011, Bieber confirmed to radio network Capital FM that he was recording material for his third studio album, which was originally going to be released in early 2012.[3] He later spoke to MTV News and revealed that Believe would surprise people in different ways, since it musically is a departure from his previous works.[4] "Die in Your Arms" was written and produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Dennis "Aganee" Jerkins, and Travis Sayles, while additional lyrics were written by Bieber, Thomas Lumpkins, Kelly Lumpkins, and Herb Rooney.[5] The track samples Michael Jackson's "We've Got a Good Thing Going" (1972), written by Alphonso Mizell, Berry Gordy Jr., Deke Richards and Freddie Perren,[2][6] and Melvin Bliss' Synthetic Substitution, written by Herb Rooney. "Die in Your Arms" was released as a promotional single to iTunes Store on May 29, 2012 through The Island Def Jam Music Group.[7]

The pop track incorporates hip hop beats, finger snaps and melodic piano chords in its instrumentation and is similar to early tracks by Jackson 5.[8][1] Lyrically, "Die in Your Arms" is a song about an all-consuming passion and the affection that Bieber feels for his love interest.[9] During the song's chorus, the singer states, "If I could just die in your arms /I wouldn’t mind / Because every time you touch me / I just die in your arms / It just feels so right."[9] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard deemed it as "a more classically arranged pop offering" when compared to Bieber's previous single "Boyfriend".[10] Leah Collins of the National Post described the song as a "Baby 2.0", adding that "like 'Baby', 'Die in Your Arms' has a certain old-fashioned pop flavour."[11]

Reception

Critical response

"Die in Your Arms" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone described it as "the sound of Bieber rounding third base, custom-made to get played in Mom's minivan on the way to Little League practice."[12] While Sarah Deen of Metro deemed it as "a laidback pop song",[8] Antoniette Bueno of The Insider noted that the song was written for his female fan base. Bueno added that Bieber also "sounds a lot more like his younger self in this practically guaranteed hit."[13] Rich Juzwiak of Gawker praised "Die in Your Arms", and commented, "the break that Bieber sings over makes me melt in the same way his anime eyes makes little girls melt (Bieber still has them melting, right?). There is an in-your-ear-not-your-mouth joke to be made, but I will refrain because, ugh, I just died in your arms this year, Bieber. Even the robo-melisma doesn't bug. What is happening to me?"[14] Tanar Anitai of MTV compared the song's style to the ones of Duffy, Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.[15]

Rolling Stone named the track the 45th best song of 2012.[16]

Chart performance

Following its release on iTunes Store, "Die in Your Arms" reached number three on the store's chart, just behind Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" (2011) and Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" (2011).[17] After a full week of sales, the track sold a total of 185,000 digital downloads in the United States, debuting at number 4 on the Hot Digital Songs chart.[18] The following week, it plummeted 75 positions to number 92, the third biggest drop in the history of the chart. The song also debuted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.[19] "Die in Your Arms" attained top ten positions in Denmark and Norway, while reaching the top thirty in Ireland and New Zealand, and the top forty in Australia, Scotland, and United Kingdom.[20][21]

Live performances

Bieber performed "Die in Your Arms" at the Capital FM Summertime Ball 2012.[22] For the performance, he sported fingerless gloves, a Union Jack tank with matching vest, and jeans.[23] The singer also performed the track during a promotional concert in Europe on June 4, 2012, along with "Boyfriend" and "All Around the World".[24]

Track listing

Digital download[7]
No.TitleLength
1."Die in Your Arms"3:57
US Promo[7]
No.TitleLength
1."Die in Your Arms"3:57

Credits and personnel

The song included a sample of the recording "We Got a Good Thing Going" performed by Michael Jackson and samples of the recording "Synthetic Substitution" performed by Melvin Bliss.

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[25] 31
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 47
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[26] 32
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[27] 14
Denmark (Tracklisten)[28] 9
France (SNEP)[29] 63
Ireland (IRMA)[30] 28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 41
Norway (VG-lista)[32] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 21
Scotland (OCC)[34] 38
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35] 50
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 34
US Billboard Hot 100[36] 17

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37] Gold 35,000‡
United States (RIAA)[38] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Worldwide[39] May 29, 2012 Digital download The Island Def Jam Music Group

References

  1. ^ a b Daw, Robbie (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber's "Die In Your Arms": Listen". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Justin Bieber's Die in Your Arms sample of Michael Jackson's We've Got a Good Thing Going". WhoSampled. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  3. ^ "Justin Bieber Teams Up With Kanye West And Drake For New Album 'Believe'". Capital FM. October 25, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  4. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (March 12, 2012). "Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend' Track Getting Early Buzz". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  5. ^ Believe liner notes. Island Records. (2012)
  6. ^ Ben liner notes. Motown Records. (1972)
  7. ^ a b c "Die in Your Arms - Single by Justin Bieber". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. May 29, 2012. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Deen, Sarah (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber's new single Die In Your Arms released online". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Sciaretto, Amy (May 29, 2012). "JUSTIN BIEBER, 'DIE IN YOUR ARMS' – SONG REVIEW". Pop Crush. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  10. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber Releases 'Die In Your Arms' Track: Listen". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  11. ^ Collins, Leah (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber releases new single, Die in Your Arms (listen to it here!)". National Post. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  12. ^ Dolan, John (June 5, 2012). "Die in Your Arms - Song Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  13. ^ Bueno, Antoniette (May 29, 2012). "JUSTIN BIEBER DROPS 'DIE IN YOUR ARMS'". theinsider.com. Neri & Associates. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  14. ^ Juzwiak, Rich (May 29, 2012). "Today's Song: Justin Bieber 'Die in Your Arms'". Gawker. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  15. ^ Anitai, Tamar (May 29, 2012). "New Song, Justin Bieber, 'Die In Your Arms'". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  16. ^ "Justin Bieber, 'Die in Your Arms' | 50 Best Songs of 2012 | Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2017-11-25. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
  17. ^ Alessio, Devin (May 29, 2012). "Listen to justin bieber's new single!". Seventeen. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  18. ^ Caulfield, Keith (June 6, 2012). "John Mayer's 'Born and Raised' Scores Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart; Regina Spektor Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  19. ^ Trust, Gary (June 7, 2012). "Chart Moves: Justin Bieber's 'Die' Debuts on Billboard Hot 100, the Wanted's 'Sun' Rises". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on June 15, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  22. ^ "Justin Bieber - 'Die In Your Arms (Live Performance)". Capital FM. June 10, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  23. ^ Sager, Jessica (June 10, 2012). "JUSTIN BIEBER FLASHES BELIEBERS AT 2012 CAPITAL FM SUMMERTIME BALL". Pop Crush. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  24. ^ Shetler, Scott (June 10, 2012). "WATCH JUSTIN BIEBER PERFORM 'ALL AROUND THE WORLD' + 'AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME' ACOUSTIC". Pop Crush. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  25. ^ "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  26. ^ "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  27. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  28. ^ "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms". Tracklisten. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  29. ^ "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  30. ^ "Chart Track: Week 22, 2012". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  31. ^ "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  32. ^ "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms". VG-lista. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  33. ^ "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  35. ^ "Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  36. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  37. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  38. ^ "American single certifications – Justin Bieber – Die in Your Arms". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  39. ^ "Justin Bieber Releases New Song 'Die In Your Arms' - Audio". Capital FM. May 29, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
Categories