"Bittersweet Memories" is a power ballad by the Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. It is the third single from the band's third studio album, Fever. The music video for "Bittersweet Memories" was released on 25 November 2010.

"Bittersweet Memories"
Single by Bullet for My Valentine
from the album Fever
A-side"Bittersweet Memories (Radio Edit)"
B-side"The Last Fight (Live at XFM)"
Released14 December 2010
GenreEmo[1][2]
Length5:09
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)Don Gilmore, Jason James, Michael Paget, Michael Thomas, Matthew Tuck
Producer(s)Don Gilmore
Bullet for My Valentine singles chronology
"The Last Fight"
(2010)
"Bittersweet Memories"
(2010)
"Fever"
(2011)

Background

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The band told Noisecreep:

" 'Bittersweet Memories' is a classic Bullet for My Valentine fucked up love song about a relationship breakup. [...] You know when you go through all the painful memories, but at the same time you're fucking happy that you are now single, and you feel better off as you can now move on in your life? I guess it was chosen as the single as it's the closest thing we've got to a big ballad on our album, and it sounds great on the radio!"[3]

Music video

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The music video for "Bittersweet Memories" starts with Matt Tuck in a room with no shirt on, singing the song. He then walks through a ruined shopping mall and it flicks to Jason James boarding up the windows and looking scared. Matt still wanders the mall. The music video shows Michael Paget playing his guitar. In the music video, Michael "Moose" Thomas smashes things with a baseball bat. Then, Matt is out of the mall, on the roof and he decides to run to the edge. However, he doesn't jump and the song ends.[4]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Bittersweet Memories" (Radio Edit)3:52
2."The Last Fight" (Live at XFM)4:18
Total length:8:11

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart (2010-2011) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[5] 7
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[6] 21
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[7] 50
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[8] 50

Critical reception

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"Bittersweet Memories" did not seem to be as welcomed as the other tracks off Fever; critics like BBC classified it as a song "[...] with lyrics of childish despair and forlorn desire, the weakest track here".[9] Or PopMatters, who also disliked the song, thinks it "[...] is absolutely terrible, having more in common with My Chemical Romance than any other band".[10] The song, however, was one of AllMusic's track picks.

References

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  1. ^ "Bullet For My Valentine - Fever". Talia Soghomonian. Archived from the original on 1 May 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Bullet For My Valentine - Fever Review". Chad Bowar. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  3. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine, 'Bittersweet Memories' - New Song". Noisecreep.com. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  4. ^ Bullet For My Valentine - Bittersweet Memories on YouTube
  5. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "Bullet for My Valentine Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Music - Review of Bullet for My Valentine - Fever". BBC. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  10. ^ Colgan, Chris. "Bullet for My Valentine: Fever". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
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