Song to Say Goodbye

2006 single by Placebo

"Song to Say Goodbye"

Single by Placebo

from the album Meds

Released

6 March 2006

Genre

Alternative rock

Length

3:36

Label

Virgin

Songwriter(s)

Steve Hewitt, Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal

Producer(s)

Dimitri Tikovoi

Placebo singles chronology

"Because I Want You"
(2006)

"Song to Say Goodbye"
(2006)

"Infra-Red"
(2006)

"Song to Say Goodbye" is a song by English alternative rock band Placebo from their fifth studio album, Meds (2006). It was released on 6 March 2006 as the lead single from Meds in all territories outside of the United Kingdom, where "Because I Want You" was released as the lead single instead. The song was written by Steve Hewitt, Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal, and produced by Dimitri Tikovoi. It develops around piano notes that repeat throughout it, and deals with heroin addiction and its influence on the relationships of the parties involved. The cover art features a blurred picture of vocalist Brian Molko.

There is a live version available of the song on the live EP Live at La Cigale.

The song reached the top ten in Finland, Greece, Italy and Spain.

Music video

The original video written and directed by Philippe André portrays a mentally challenged father while his son is trying to cope with his dad's condition. André made an 8-minute extended version of the music video. Placebo remixed the track for the film released on DVD by EMI. It was filmed in Los Angeles.

Track listing

7"

Side A - "Song to Say Goodbye" (Radio edit)
Side B - "Because I Want You" (Ladytron remix)

Slimline Wallet CD

"Song to Say Goodbye" (Radio edit)
"Because I Want You" (Russell Lissack Bloc Party remix)

Maxi CD

"Song to Say Goodbye" (album version)
"36 Degrees" (Live from Wembley)
"Because I Want You" (Russell Lissack Bloc Party remix)
"Because I Want You" (Ladytron Club mix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[1]	30
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[2]	44
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[3]	49
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[4]	18
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[5]	8
France (SNEP)^[6]	41
Germany (Official German Charts)^[7]	35
Greece (IFPI)^[8]	6
Italy (FIMI)^[9]	5
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[10]	7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[11]	38

Cover versions and remixes

Harakiri for the Sky version (2021)

"Song to Say Goodbye" was covered and released as a single by Austrian post-black metal band Harakiri for the Sky in January 2021.^[12] The song closes Harakiri for the Sky's album "Mӕre" just as it closes Placebo's album Meds.^[13]

References

^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye" (in French). Ultratop 50.
^ "Placebo: Song To Say Goodbye" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye" (in French). Les classement single.
^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ IFPI Greece Top 50 Singles
^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye". Top Digital Download.
^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye" Canciones Top 50.
^ "Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Harakiri for the Sky share cover of Placebo's "Song to Say Goodbye" | Metal Insider". 28 January 2021.
^ "Harakiri for the Sky - "Song to Say Goodbye" (Placebo Cover)". 29 January 2021.