Famous Last Words (My Chemical Romance song)

"Famous Last Words" is a song by American rock band My Chemical Romance. It was released as the band's second single on January 22, 2007 from their third studio album, The Black Parade. It is also the band's ninth overall single, and the final track on The Black Parade (if the hidden track "Blood" is not counted). The music video premiered on December 12, 2006 on MTV2 and on December 13, 2006 on the Much Music program, and on MuchOnDemand in Canada.

"Famous Last Words"
Single by My Chemical Romance
from the album The Black Parade
B-side
  • "My Way Home Is Through You"
  • "Kill All Your Friends"
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2007
RecordedJune 2006
Genre
Length
  • 4:59 (album version)
  • 4:18 (alternate version)
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)My Chemical Romance
Producer(s)
My Chemical Romance singles chronology
"Welcome to the Black Parade"
(2006)		 "Famous Last Words"
(2007)		 "I Don't Love You"
(2007)
Additional covers
Alternate CD cover
Music video
"Famous Last Words" on YouTube

In the United Kingdom and other territories, the single was released as a two-part square shaped vinyl picture disc. Part one came in a gatefold stickered clear sleeve, with a space to 'slot' part two into.

Promotion

"Famous Last Words" was released to radio on January 9, 2007.[4] The video was officially premiered in the United States on the January 11 episode of Total Request Live, and debuted on the countdown the following Tuesday at No. 5, the band's highest TRL debut for a video. It went on to become their third No. 1 video on the countdown (following "Helena" and "The Ghost of You"). On March 26, 2007, the video retired at No. 5 on TRL. On March 12, 2007, they performed the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. It was made available for download for the video game Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360 on August 15, 2007, along with "Teenagers", and "This Is How I Disappear"; included with the game already was the song "Dead!".[5]

Chart performance

"Famous Last Words" debuted at No. 68 on the UK Singles Chart on downloads alone on January 14, 2007. It was physically released as a single on January 22. It climbed to No. 38 in its second week, still on downloads. "Famous Last Words" marked My Chemical Romance's second top 10 hit in the UK, reaching No. 8. On January 24, 2007, the video for "Famous Last Words" reached the No. 1 spot on TRL after a seven-day climb to the top from their debut at No. 5.[6] In early February, the song debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at No. 93 before reaching its peak at No. 88.[7]

Music video

The official video for "Famous Last Words" was directed by Samuel Bayer. It was filmed before the band had even named the song, and the day after they filmed the "Welcome to the Black Parade" video.[8][9] The music video shows the Black Parade float that the band performed on in "Welcome to the Black Parade" burning and destroyed. The rest of the background is scattered with burning props from the "Welcome to the Black Parade" video, and fire is seen all around. Lead singer Gerard Way is wearing makeup that makes him look particularly rough.This makeup is similar to that worn by The Patient in the "Welcome to the Black Parade" video. The band's condition deteriorates as the song goes on until they revert to thrashing around in the dirt while performing.

Although this video appears to represent a relatively basic concept in comparison to past videos, it is regarded by fans as by far the darkest video the band has created. In an interview for the music video, Way said that it was written at "the darkest period in this band's career."[8] A shortened edit of the song is used in the video, with one bridge and two chorus repeats removed. The instrumentals at the end of the song continue in the video, with a sustained guitar chord accompanying the last few vocal lines; in the album version, they were faded out by engineer Chris Lord-Alge until only Way's voice and a harmony of other band members can be heard, along with a backing of soft organ chords.

Several members sustained injuries, some serious, during the filming of the video.[10] Drummer Bob Bryar sustained second and third degree burns on the back of his legs while shooting, yet persisted in staying until the recording was finished. This burn later resulted in gangrene. Way tore muscles in his leg and foot when Frank Iero tackled him while he was in a kneeling position, leaving him in a hospital for several days. Way recalls that, during the filming, they were all "mortified" from the engulfing flames surrounding the set. After the stay in the hospital, the doctors refused to let them perform in San Diego as the band originally planned. Ray Toro fractured his fingers also during shooting and Bob Bryar received multiple blisters around his hand as a result of extreme playing over a long period of time.[8]

The video premiered in the United States on Total Request Live on January 11, 2007.[11] On January 24, 2007, the video reached the No. 1 spot on TRL, and spent nine days at the top of the countdown, before becoming the band's first video to retire on the countdown on March 26, 2007. The US version of the video is mostly the same as the version first seen in the UK, the only difference being that it completely cuts out Bryar's incident with the heat at the end of the video. This version has started to air on British television, or at least on the music channels Scuzz TV and Kerrang! TV.

As of September 2021, the song has 122 million views on YouTube.

Equipment

Track listing

Version 1 (promotional CD)

No.TitleLength
1."Famous Last Words" (album version)4:59
2."Famous Last Words" (alternate version)4:18

Version 2 (CD and 7" vinyl)

No.TitleLength
1."Famous Last Words"4:18
2."My Way Home Is Through You"2:58[12]

Version 3 (7" vinyl)

No.TitleLength
1."Famous Last Words"4:59
2."Kill All Your Friends"4:31[13]

Version 4 (CD)

No.TitleLength
1."Famous Last Words"4:18
2."My Way Home Is Through You"2:58
3."Kill All Your Friends"4:31[14]

Version 5 (digital download)

No.TitleLength
1."Famous Last Words" (live)4:53
2."My Way Home Is Through You"2:58
3."Kill All Your Friends"4:31

Charts and certifications

References
  1. Chris Hansen Orf (March 29, 2008). "My Chemical Romance highlights start of Tempe Music Fest". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  2. "My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade". chorus.fm. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  3. Shepherd, Tom (October 21, 2021). "Every Song On My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade, Ranked From Worst To Best — Kerrang!". Kerrang.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  4. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  5. Arendt, Susan (14 August 2007). "My Chemical Romance Tracks Available for Guitar Hero 2". Wired. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  6. TRL Archive - January 2007 Archived 2007-02-04 at the Wayback Machine, Popfusion.net.
  7. "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  8. "My Chemical Romance - Famous Last Words [Making Of The Video]". 26 October 2009.
  9. "Exclusive: Ex-MCR drummer shares his memories of recording 'The Black Parade'". 22 September 2016.
  10. Whitt, Cassie (23 October 2019). "'The Black Parade' by My Chemical Romance was cursed—here's proof".
  11. "MCR News". 11 January 2007. Archived from the original on 16 January 2007.
  12. "Famous Last Words" in the U.S. Amazon.com Store
  13. "Famous Last Words" in the Interpunk.com Store
  14. "Famous Last Words" in the U.K. Amazon.co.uk Store
  15. "My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  16. "My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  17. "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  18. "My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Famous Last Words". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  20. "My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  21. "My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words". VG-lista. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  23. "My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  25. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  26. "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  27. "My Chemical Romance Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  28. "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. 2007-02-03. Archived from the original on 2006-11-24.
  29. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2007" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  30. "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  31. "British single certifications – My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  32. "American single certifications – My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
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