Die in Your Arms

Background and composition

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. 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. "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. 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, 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.

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. Lyrically, "Die in Your Arms" is a song about an all-consuming passion and the affection that Bieber feels for his love interest. 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." 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."

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." While Sarah Deen of Metro deemed it as "a laidback pop song", 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." 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?" Tanar Anitai of MTV compared the song's style to the ones of Duffy, Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.

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

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). 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. 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. "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.

Live performances

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

Track listing

Credits and personnel

• Written and composed by Rodney Jerkins, Dennis Jenkins, Travis Sayles, Thomas Lumpkins, Kelly Lumpkins and Justin Bieber
• Produced by Rodney Jerkins, Dennis Jenkins and Travis Sayles
• Vocals produced by Kuk Harrell, Chris O'Ryan and Matt Champlin
• Recorded at 2nd Floor Studios, Los Angeles, CA and Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA
• Mixed by Manny Morroquin, Chris Galland, Delbert Bowers, Matt Champlin and Rodney Jerkins at Larrabee Studios, Universal City, CA
• Background vocals: Justin Bieber, Thomas Lumpkins and Greg Morgan
• Bass: Artie Reynolds III
• Live harpsichord, piano and drums: Rodney Jerkins
• Strings and piano: Travis Sayles
• Drums: Aganee 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

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. (October 25, 2011). "Justin Bieber Teams Up With Kanye West And Drake For New Album 'Believe'". [[Capital (radio network).
2. Vena, Jocelyn. (March 12, 2012). "Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend' Track Getting Early Buzz". [[MTV]]. [[MTV Networks]].
3. ''Believe'' liner notes. [[Island Records]]. (2012)
4. "Justin Bieber's Die in Your Arms sample of Michael Jackson's We've Got a Good Thing Going". WhoSampled.
5. ''Ben'' liner notes. [[Motown Records]]. (1972)
6. (May 29, 2012). "Die in Your Arms - Single by Justin Bieber". [[iTunes Store]]. [[Apple Inc..
7. Daw, Robbie. (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber's "Die In Your Arms": Listen". [[Idolator (website).
8. Sciaretto, Amy. (May 29, 2012). "JUSTIN BIEBER, 'DIE IN YOUR ARMS' – SONG REVIEW". Pop Crush.
9. Lipshutz, Jason. (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber Releases 'Die In Your Arms' Track: Listen". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
10. Collins, Leah. (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber releases new single, Die in Your Arms (listen to it here!)". [[Postmedia Network]].
11. Dolan, John. (June 5, 2012). "Die in Your Arms - Song Review". [[Wenner Media]].
12. Deen, Sarah. (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber's new single Die In Your Arms released online". [[Associated Newspapers]].
13. Bueno, Antoniette. (May 29, 2012). "JUSTIN BIEBER DROPS 'DIE IN YOUR ARMS'". Neri & Associates.
14. Juzwiak, Rich. (May 29, 2012). "Today's Song: Justin Bieber 'Die in Your Arms'". [[Gawker]].
15. Anitai, Tamar. (May 29, 2012). "New Song, Justin Bieber, 'Die In Your Arms'". MTV. MTV Networks.
16. "Justin Bieber, 'Die in Your Arms' | 50 Best Songs of 2012 | Rolling Stone".
17. Alessio, Devin. (May 29, 2012). "Listen to justin bieber's new single!". [[Hearst Corporation]].
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". Prometheus Global Media.
19. Trust, Gary. (June 7, 2012). "Chart Moves: Justin Bieber's 'Die' Debuts on Billboard Hot 100, the Wanted's 'Sun' Rises". Prometheus Global Media.
20. (June 10, 2012). "Justin Bieber - 'Die In Your Arms (Live Performance)". Capital FM.
21. Sager, Jessica. (June 10, 2012). "JUSTIN BIEBER FLASHES BELIEBERS AT 2012 CAPITAL FM SUMMERTIME BALL". Pop Crush.
22. Shetler, Scott. (June 10, 2012). "WATCH JUSTIN BIEBER PERFORM 'ALL AROUND THE WORLD' + 'AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME' ACOUSTIC". Pop Crush.
23. (May 29, 2012). "Justin Bieber Releases New Song 'Die In Your Arms' - Audio". Capital FM.