Miss Murder

"Miss Murder" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released on April 3, 2006, as the lead single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground. It was initially scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006; however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. "Miss Murder" was released to radio on April 25, 2006.[5] It was released in the United Kingdom and Australia on April 24 and July 29, 2006. It was written by Davey Havok and produced by Jerry Finn.

"Miss Murder"
Single by AFI
from the album Decemberunderground
ReleasedApril 3, 2006
Recorded2005
Genre
Length
  • 3:26 (album version)
  • 3:05 (top 40 edit)
  • 3:18 (edit)
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jerry Finn
AFI singles chronology
"Silver and Cold"
(2003)		 "Miss Murder"
(2006)		 "Love Like Winter"
(2006)

The song received favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its musicianship.[6][7] It is the band's most commercially successful single to date, reaching number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Alternative Songs chart. Internationally, the song was a moderate success, charting within the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. It won in the category Best Rock Song at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards and was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single.[8] An accompanying music video was directed by Marc Webb (who has previously directed videos for AFI) and premiered on television shortly after the single's release.

Composition

The song originated with guitarist Jade Puget playing a bass hook on his guitar and vocalist Davey Havok coming up with the "Miss Murder" lyric as a throwaway line which ended up sticking.[9] Havok told Kerrang: "We beat this song down. We reworked the chorus over and over again, and in some abyss I sang the melody of the chorus with a scratched lyric that went, 'Hey, miss murder, can I?'" Havok was skeptical of the unconventional hook, but Interscope insisted it should stay as it was.[10] Havok later revealed that he wanted to exclude the song from Decemberunderground, opining that the unreleased "The View from Here" is a better song.[9]

There are several popular theories as to the meaning of the song. These include Satan's fall from grace, Jesus abandoning humanity, Oscar Wilde's 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (in which Gray sells his soul to preserve his beauty), or Havok's personal struggle with fame. Havok refuses to confirm or deny any rumors: "I don't necessarily need for people to understand specifically what it means. If they want to take something from it and use it in a personal way, I think that's great. I wouldn’t want to risk destroying that just so someone can get a better understanding of me personally."[11]

Music video

A music video directed by Marc Webb for the song premiered on television shortly after the track's release. It was filmed at Los Angeles City Hall.

The music video opens with Davey Havok finding a note, possibly written by Miss Murder. The note features the three black rabbits symbol featured on the cover of Decemberunderground. Havok appears at his desk singing the song, while the band members are shown performing the song in a large room. Havok then appears on a balcony, rallying a chanting crowd below, and unfolds large posters of the band members themselves. During the bridge of the song, black rabbits surround Havok's desk. After he looks down the balcony, the crowd has disappeared and instead sees Miss Murder staring back at him. He returns to his desk where Miss Murder approaches. She places her hand on his shoulder, then he shuts his eyes. The video ends with the black rabbit watching the murder.

An extended version of the music video was released afterward, featuring extra footage at the beginning of the video while the introductory track of Decemberunderground, "Prelude 12/21" is playing. It features Miss Murder writing a note, then consuming the note, which appears in Havok's mouth. The band is shown performing the track as well.

Live performances

As of 1 April 2019, it has been performed 442 times, making it the sixth most performed song by AFI.[12]

Track listings

US promo single

  1. "Miss Murder" (edit) – 3:18

UK / AU single

  1. "Miss Murder" (edit) – 3:24
  2. "Don't Change" (INXS cover) – 3:16
  3. "Silver and Cold" (live acoustic) – 4:07
  4. "Miss Murder" (music video)

7" vinyl picture disc

  1. "Miss Murder" – 3:20
  2. "Don't Change" (INXS cover) – 3:16

10" vinyl picture disc

  1. "Miss Murder" – 3:20
  2. "Rabbits are Roadkill on Route 37" – 3:51

Promo CDM

  1. "Miss Murder (VNV Nation remix)" – 6:00
  2. "Miss Murder (VNV Nation instrumental)" – 6:00
  3. "Miss Murder (Broken Spindles remix)" – 4:12
  4. "Miss Murder (Broken Spindles instrumental)" – 4:12

Official versions
  • "Miss Murder" (album version) – 3:27
  • "Miss Murder" (edit) – 3:18
  • "Miss Murder" (top 40 edit) – 3:05
  • "Miss Murder" (VNV Nation remix) – 6:00
  • "Miss Murder" (VNV Nation instrumental) – 6:00
  • "Miss Murder" (Broken Spindles remix) – 4:12
  • "Miss Murder" (Broken Spindles instrumental) – 4:12

Charts
Chart (2006) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 14
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[14] 46
Czech Republic Modern Rock (IFPI)[15] 13
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 93
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 44
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 24
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[19] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[20] 13
Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[21] 5

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] Platinum 70,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "23 post-hardcore tracks that definitely ruled your iPods in the 2000s". Alternative Press. March 22, 2021.
  2. Pauker, Lance (January 22, 2014). "49 Phenomenally Angsty Pop-Punk Songs From The 2000s You Forgot Existed". Thought Catalog. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. "15 emo classics that helped to shape the genre". don't bore us. December 16, 2021. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021.
  4. "Top 38 Best Emo Songs Of All Time". November 13, 2022.
  5. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  6. "IGN: Decemberunderground Review". Archived from the original on June 16, 2006. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  7. "AFI: Decemberunderground | NME". NME. May 26, 2006.
  8. "MTV Video Music Award". MTV. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  9. "Backspin: AFI on 'Decemberunderground'". Yahoo!. February 17, 2017. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2020 – via Youtube.
  10. "Miss Murder by AFI". Songfacts. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  11. "AFI - Miss Murder Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  12. "Miss Murder by AFI song statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  13. "AFI – Miss Murder". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  14. "AFI Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  15. "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Miss Murder - AFI" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  16. "AFI – Miss Murder" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  17. "AFI: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  18. "AFI Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  19. "AFI Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  20. "AFI Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  21. "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. November 4, 2006. Archived from the original on July 16, 2006.
  22. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
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