"Meet Me on the Equinox"
Single by Death Cab for Cutie
from the album The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
ReleasedSeptember 13, 2009 (2009-09-13)
Recorded2009
Genre
Length3:44
LabelChop Shop
Atlantic
Songwriter(s)Ben Gibbard
Producer(s)Chris Walla
Death Cab for Cutie singles chronology
"Little Bribes"
(2009) 		"Meet Me on the Equinox"
(2009) 		"You Are a Tourist"
(2011)

"Meet Me on the Equinox" is a song by American indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie that was released as the first single from the soundtrack to the 2009 film The Twilight Saga: New Moon.[1] The song debuted on September 13 during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.[2] The music video, directed by the Walter Robot team, premiered in October.[3]

Background and lyrics

Alexandra Patsavas, music supervisor on New Moon, provided scenes from the film to some of the artists featured on the soundtrack as a guide.[4] Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla said he had read two of the books in the Twilight series at the time of the song's recording and noted that the lyrics are more suggestive than literal.[4]

Singer Ben Gibbard admitted that he hadn't read all of the books in the Twilight series and said that the song is more about his personal life than Stephenie Meyer's fictional world.[5] Gibbard said of the song's meaning, "The song at its core is just about meeting another halfway, because life is very short, because there's only a brief period of time to really connect with people, and that it's important to recognize that."[5] Gibbard added, "I just wanted something that kind of tonally matched the story and the scenes within the film, so they could kind of be put alongside but not be telling a narrative you're watching on the screen."[5]

Reception

Evan C. Jones of Billboard praised the song's guitars and melodies and said its lyrics "convey an eerie sensuality appropriate for a teen-vampire love story."[6] Peter Gason of Spin described the song as Death Cab for Cutie's "most unabashed stab at pop crossover yet."[7]

Chart performance

In September 2009, the song entered the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart, where it has peaked at number eight.[8] The song has peaked at number 30 in Australia, number 34 in New Zealand, and number 86 on the UK Singles Chart.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 30
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[10] 8
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[11] 13
Canada Rock (Billboard)[12] 43
Czech Republic (Modern Rock)[13] 6
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 71
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 34
Scotland (OCC)[16] 85
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[17] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 86
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[19] 2
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[20] 17

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 48

References

  1. ^ First Twilight Saga: New Moon Music Video
  2. ^ Schwartz, Terri (2009-09-14). "New Moon Soundtrack's First Single 'Meet Me On The Equinox' Has Debuted: Listen Now!". MTV. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  3. ^ Montgomery, James (2009-10-07). "Exclusive: Watch Death Cab For Cutie's 'Meet Me On The Equinox' Video". MTV. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  4. ^ a b Sisario, Ben (2009-09-16). "Record Labels Develop a Taste for Vampires". New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  5. ^ a b c "Death Cab For Cutie's 'Meet Me At The Equinox'". MTV. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  6. ^ Jones, Evan C. (2009-09-26). "Single Reviews - 'Meet Me On The Equinox'". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Archived from the original on 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  7. ^ Gaston, Peter (2009-10-08). "Watch: Death Cab for Cutie's Twilight Video". Spin. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  8. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Album & Song Chart History". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  9. ^ "death cab for cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "death cab for cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "death cab for cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  12. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Death Cab for Cutie" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "death cab for cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  15. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  17. ^ "death cab for cutie – Meet Me On The Equinox" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  19. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  20. ^ "Death Cab for Cutie Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  21. ^ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
Categories