I Disappear
"I Disappear" is a single by the band Metallica, leaked before its formal release with the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack on May 9, 2000. The music and lyrics were written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, and both men were joined by Bob Rock to produce the song.[1]
"I Disappear" | |
---|---|
Single by Metallica | |
from the album Music from and Inspired by Mission: Impossible 2 | |
Released |
|
Length | 4:26 |
Label | Hollywood |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
|
Music video | |
"I Disappear" on YouTube |
Music video
Most of "I Disappear"'s music video was shot in Monument Valley atop a sandstone butte on April 13, 2000. After accessing the butte by helicopter, Metallica and their instruments were alone on the plateau, circled by filming aircraft, for over twelve hours. By the end of the shoot, winds were so severe that the drum kit was blown over—this accident stayed in the video. Ulrich was later filmed on a skyscraper in Downtown Los Angeles for "action sequences, explosions, chaos and mayhem".[2]
The 2000 music video also featured a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Metallica band member James Hetfield. Hetfield was given the car after filming, and in 2003, listed it on eBay.[3] With 77,000 miles (124,000 km) on the odometer, the restored two-door car had an automatic transmission and was bidding at US$70,100 (equivalent to $97,427 in 2019) with seven days remaining in the auction; proceeds from the sale were earmarked for music education programs.[4]
Release
While still working on the song, Metallica learned in 2000 that a pre-release version was being aired on US radio stations. The band traced the source of the song to the peer-to-peer file sharing service Napster. After finding their entire catalog available on Napster, they became the first musicians to file lawsuit against the service (Metallica v. Napster, Inc.).[5] As of August 2019, "I Disappear" was available for streaming via the Napster streaming music service.[6]
"I Disappear" was formally released with the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack on May 9, 2000. The single was released as a CD maxi on June 2, 2000[8] under the Hollywood Records label. In Belgium and Italy, the song was released by Edel-Mega Records.[1][9] Metallica performed "I Disappear" 92 times from June 3, 2000 through August 10, 2013.[7]
Reception
Music critic Mike McGuirk (of the San Francisco Bay Guardian) described "I Disappear" as leaning on a reworking of "Enter Sandman" with an incorporation of some grunge aesthetic. Following Metallica's album Load, McGuirk said that the new song with a "mega" riff and "catchy as hell" melodic choruses proved that the band wasn't afraid to change things up.[6]
Chart (2000) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] | 25 |
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[1] | 12 |
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[10] | 15 |
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[11] | 11 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] | 2 |
France (SNEP)[13] | 45 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] | 14 |
Italy (FIMI)[9] | 8 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] | 36 |
Norway (VG-lista)[16] | 8 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[17] | 4 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] | 25 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 20 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] | 35 |
UK Rock and Metal (Official Charts Company)[21] | 2 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[22] | 11 |
US Billboard Hot 100[23] | 76 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[24] | 1 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[25] | Gold | 5,641[25] |
Sweden (GLF)[26] | Gold | 15,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Track listing
The CD maxi single[8] of I Disappear has only two tracks, the title song and its instrumental version.[27]
- "I Disappear" (James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich) – 4:26
- "I Disappear (Instrumental)" – 4:26
References
- "Ultratop.be – Metallica – I Disappear" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- Ulrich, Lars (April 13, 2019). "Lars Ulrich on Instagram: '19 years ago today, April 13 2000, we shot the video for "I Disappear" out in Monument Valley on The Navajo Nation Reservation. Filming…'". Instagram. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
- "Own a Piece of Metallica Video History". Metallica. September 22, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- Jones, Sefany (September 26, 2003). "Metallica's Hetfield Auctions Car on eBay; New Year's Eve Gig in Vegas". Los Angeles: KNAC. Reuters. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
Metallica's Hetfield Selling Restored Chevy on eBay
- Ulrich, Lars (July 11, 2000). "Testimony of Mr. Lars Ulrich, Member and Co-founder, Metallica" (Interview). Interviewed by United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. United States Capitol: United States Senate. Archived from the original on November 29, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- "I Disappear by Metallica". Napster. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
- "I Disappear". Metallica. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- "Austriancharts.at – Metallica – I Disappear" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- "Italiancharts.com – Metallica – I Disappear". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Ultratop.be – Metallica – I Disappear" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7254." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- "Metallica: I Disappear" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- "Lescharts.com – Metallica – I Disappear" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Metallica – I Disappear". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Metallica – I Disappear" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Metallica – I Disappear". VG-lista. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Spanishcharts.com – Metallica – I Disappear" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Metallica – I Disappear". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Swisscharts.com – Metallica – I Disappear". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Metallica Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Metallica Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Metallica Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- "Metallica" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
- "I Disappear". Metallica. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019.