When I Die (The Real Milli Vanilli song)

"When I Die" is a song originally released by the Real Milli Vanilli on their 1991 album The Moment of Truth, and later by Try 'N' B on their 1992 debut album. The song achieved more exposure when Germany-based American Eurodance group No Mercy covered it for their 1996 debut album, My Promise.

"When I Die"
Song by the Real Milli Vanilli
from the album The Moment of Truth
Length	4:00
Label	Hansa
Songwriter(s)	Frank Farian Dietmar Kawohl Peter Bischof-Fallenstein Diane Warren
Producer(s)	Frank Farian

No Mercy version

"When I Die"
Single by No Mercy
from the album No Mercy and My Promise
B-side	"For Eternity"
Released	18 November 1996 (1996-11-18)
Genre	Pop
Length	4:28
Label	MCI BMG Arista
Songwriter(s)	Frank Farian Dietmar Kawohl Peter Bischof-Fallenstein Diane Warren
Producer(s)	Frank Farian
No Mercy singles chronology
"Where Do You Go" (1996) "When I Die" (1996) "Please Don't Go" (1997)

No Mercy's version of "When I Die" was released as the third single from their 1996 debut album, No Mercy, and its North American counterpart, My Promise, in November 1996. This version reached number one in Austria and the Netherlands, number two in Australia, number three in Switzerland, and number five in Germany and Spain.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "With this lovely and instantly memorable pop ballad, Arista aims to cement the future of this charming male vocal trio as more than merely a flash in the disco pan. It's a realistic goal, given the strength of their performance here—it's warmly soulful and technically far more flexible than what the act has displayed on its previous dance hits. In a sea of jeep-styled sound-alike slow jams, this Latin-flavored gem should stand out quite nicely with its plush keyboards and delicate acoustic guitar lines. Not to be missed."^[1] The magazine's Paul Verna described it as a "brooding ballad", "which allows singer Marty Cintron to fully flex his boyish, star-powered charm."^[2] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Proving they're also adept when it comes to tackling a ballad, this Miami trio slows it down and blends some sweet harmony into a pretty melody."^[3] Diana Valois from The Morning Call felt it has Marty Cintron "sounding like a coy and eager Prince".^[4]

Track listings

• CD single

1. "When I Die" (radio) – 4:28
2. "For Eternity" (Manumission club mix) – 5:56

• European CD maxi

1. "When I Die" (radio edit) – 4:28
2. "When I Die" (extended) – 6:16
3. "For Eternity" (Manumission club mix) – 5:56
4. "When I Die" (unplugged) – 4:12
5. "Message of Love" – 3:08

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] 27 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] 53 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 8 Germany (GfK)[11] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 1 Spain (AFYVE)[14] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 41 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[17] 14 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[18] 37 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[19] 21

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Australia (ARIA)[20] 30 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 35 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 26 Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 19 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 17 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[27] 21 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 12

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29]	Platinum	70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[30]	Platinum	50,000*
Germany (BVMI)[31]	Gold	250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[32]	Platinum	75,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Europe	18 November 1996	CD	MCI BMG	[11]
Japan	22 January 1997		BMG Japan	[33]
United States	29 April 1997	Contemporary hit radio	Arista	[34]
	6 May 1997	CD		[11]

References

1. Flick, Larry (26 April 1997). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
2. Verna, Paul (30 November 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 79. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
3. Sholin, Dave (25 April 1997). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2152. p. 54. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
4. Valois, Diana (1 February 1997). "Disc Reviews". p. A34. The Morning Call.
5. "No Mercy – When I Die". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
6. "No Mercy – When I Die" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
7. "No Mercy – When I Die" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
8. "No Mercy – When I Die" (in French). Ultratop 50.
9. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3239." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 8. 22 February 1997. p. 11. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
11. "No Mercy – When I Die" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 7, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
13. "No Mercy – When I Die" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
14. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
15. "No Mercy – When I Die". Swiss Singles Chart.
16. "No Mercy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
17. "No Mercy Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
18. "No Mercy Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
19. "No Mercy Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
20. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
21. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1997" (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2018.
22. "Jaaroverzichten 1997" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
23. "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. 7. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
24. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
25. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
26. "Jaaroverzichten 1997" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
27. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997". Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 September 2005.
28. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1997" (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2018.
29. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
30. "Austrian single certifications – No Mercy – When I Die" (in German). IFPI Austria.
31. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (No Mercy; 'When I Die')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
32. "Dutch single certifications – No Mercy – When I Die" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter When I Die in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1997 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
33. "ホエン・アイ・ダイ | ノー・マーシー" [When I Die | No Mercy] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
34. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1194. 25 April 1997. p. 37.