Too Young to Die (song)

"Too Young to Die" is the second single taken from British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai's debut studio album, Emergency on Planet Earth. The original version of the track runs at 10:18; however, both the single and album versions were cut, running at 3:22 and 6:05, respectively. The single peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top 50 in France, Iceland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. The track's stems were made available to the public in March 2013 as part of a remix competition for the song; as such, there is an abundance of bootleg remixes to the song in addition to the official remixes. The competition was won by Australian DJ and music producer Late Nite Tuff Guy.[1]

"Too Young to Die"
Single by Jamiroquai
from the album Emergency on Planet Earth
B-side"Too Young to Die" (instrumental)
Released1 March 1993 (Sony Soho Square)
Recorded1992
Genre
Length6:05
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jason Kay
Jamiroquai singles chronology
"When You Gonna Learn"
(1992)		 "Too Young to Die"
(1993)		 "Blow Your Mind"
(1993)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Too Young to Die" on YouTube

Background

The commercial single includes all three versions of the track. The song's lyrics are about the fear of war and death due to political machinations. A music video was shot for "Too Young to Die". It was directed by W.I.Z., and consisted mainly of Jay Kay singing in what appears to be a desert military installation. The single's cover art depicts Jay Kay in the background, looking into the camera, with a sky-blue "grill" of the Buffalo Man in the left, as hollow spots, which are slowly morphing into solid blue crosses (specifically, headstones), which are the polar opposites to the meaning of the buffalo man. This morphing happens as one moves their eyes from left to right over the cover of the single. There is also a banner near the bottom of the sleeve which has several images on it, including a picture of a baby with a caption beside it reading "Too Young to Die", an image of the mushroom cloud, and a Swastika, with the latter having a red "X" over it.

Critical reception

Music & Media wrote, "An uplifting strings intro heralds Jamiroquai's follow-up to last year's massive When You Gonna Learn. Jay's "Stevie Wonder"-ful voice grabs the melody and envelopes itself in a warm overcoat of horns, funky guitar and intricate percussion accompaniment worthy of a Roy Ayers set. "Real" music for the acid jazzed amongst you."[2] Tony Cross from Smash Hits gave the song 4 out of 5, commenting, "Led by the young (but still Stevie Wonder sounding) lead singer Jay, Jamiroquai have updated dark and dirty '70s funk. This is a stylish anti-war song that has really got what it takes. The obscenely talented Jamiroquai will go from strength to strength."[3]

Track listings

UK CD single[4]

  1. "Too Young to Die" (7" Edit) - 3:22
  2. "Too Young to Die" (Extended Version) - 10:18
  3. "Too Young to Die" (Original) - 6:05
  4. "Too Young to Die" (Instrumental) - 6:22

Japanese CD single[5]

  1. "Too Young to Die" (7" Edit) - 3:22
  2. "When You Gonna Learn" (Digeridoo) - 3:48
  3. "Too Young to Die" (Original) - 6:05
  4. "When You Gonna Learn" (Cante Hondo Mix) - 5:49

UK 12-inch vinyl[6]

  1. "Too Young to Die" (Extended Version) - 10:18
  2. "Too Young to Die" (Original) - 6:05
  3. "Too Young to Die" (Instrumental) - 6:22

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 53
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 38
France (SNEP)[9] 33
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[10] 25
Netherlands (Tipparade)[11] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 41
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 30
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 21
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 10

References
  1. "Late Nite Tuff Guy remixes Jamiroquai and tours Europe". inthemix. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. "New Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 February 1993. p. 10. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  3. "New Singles". Smash Hits. 3 March 1993. p. 53. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  4. http://funkin.com/music/singles/too_young_to_die/
  5. http://funkin.com/music/singles/too_young_to_die/
  6. http://funkin.com/music/singles/too_young_to_die/
  7. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  8. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  9. "Lescharts.com – Jamiroquai – Too Young to Die" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  10. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (5.–11. ágúst)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 5 August 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  11. "Jamiroquai - Too Young To Die" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jamiroquai – Too Young to Die" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  13. "Swedishcharts.com – Jamiroquai – Too Young to Die". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  14. "Swisscharts.com – Jamiroquai – Too Young to Die". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
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