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I Write Sins Not Tragedies
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"I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Single by Panic! at the Disco
from the album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Released
February 27, 2006 (2006-02-27)
Format
CD
7"
Recorded
August 2005
Genre
Pop punk[1][2]
emo[1][3]
baroque pop[4]
pop rock[4]
alternative rock[5]
Length
3:06
Label
Fueled by Ramen
Decaydance
Songwriter(s)
Ryan Ross
Brendon Urie
Spencer Smith
Producer(s)
Matt Squire
Panic! at the Disco singles chronology
"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage"
(2005) "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
(2006) "But It's Better If You Do"
(2006)
"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage"
(2005) "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
(2006) "But It's Better If You Do"
(2006)
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, and is the second single from their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005). It was released on April 27, 2006 on both CD and 7" vinyl. The pizzicato cello motif that the song is built upon was played by session musician Heather Stebbins. The song reached No. 7 on the United States Billboard Hot 100. This was the band's only top forty hit until the release of "Hallelujah" in 2015. While the song failed to hit the top 10 on the Alternative Songs chart peaking at No. 12 which was lower than their prior single, "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" which peaked at No. 5, the song's success on the Hot 100 and Mainstream Top 40 (at No. 2) charts was what made the song one of the biggest modern rock hits of 2006 and is still one of the band's most played songs on alternative radio stations to this day.[6]
In the UK, the song was released on February 27, 2006 as a limited edition single with a free sticker. Because the sticker was included with the CD single, the song was not eligible for the UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company rules state that stickers are not allowed in single releases. Later, in September 2006, due to the popularity of the track and following further single releases there of "Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" and "But It's Better If You Do", going top 40 there, the single was re-released on October 30, 2006. Despite receiving significant radio airplay upon its re-release, the single only reached No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart.[7]
Many U.S. radio stations, in response to the language found in the song, wanted an edited version. The lyrics "The poor groom's bride is a whore" and "Haven't you people ever heard of closing a goddamn door?" were changed by replacing "whore" with a "shhh" sound and removing "god" in "goddamn". Some stations — generally modern rock stations – still play the original version.[8]
The song was covered by Fall Out Boy, fellow Decaydance band, for their live album, ****: Live in Phoenix. (Fall Out Boy commonly uses the song's chorus as a lead-in to "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" in concert.)[9]
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" was ranked No. 3 in Billboard's Best 2000's Video poll.[10]
Contents
[hide]
1 Title
2 Music video
3 Track listing
4 Charts and certifications
4.1 Weekly charts
4.2 Year-end charts
4.3 Certifications
5 References
6 External links
Title[edit]
The title of the song refers to Douglas Coupland's novel Shampoo Planet, wherein the main character, Tyler Johnson, says: "I am writing a list of tragic character flaws on my dollar bills with a felt pen. I am thinking of the people in my universe and distilling for each of these people the one flaw in their character that will be their downfall — the flaw that will be their undoing. What I write are not sins; I write tragedies."[11]
Music video[edit]
Brendon Urie and Daniel Isaac in the music video.
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is Panic! at the Disco's first single to have a music video. ("The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" was the first single, but no video was filmed.) The video for the song takes place at a strange, circus-themed wedding played by the Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Cirque.
The video starts as the bride, played by Jessie Preston, and groom, Daniel Isaac McGuffey, are about to be married. Her family dress and behave formally, but are revealed later to have fallen asleep and have eyes painted on their eyelids. His family are lower-class entertainers and carnival folk, and interrupt the wedding. The ringmaster, played by vocalist Brendon Urie, acts as narrator and disrupts the events. After an argument between the two families, the bride runs out and is followed by one of her guests. The ringmaster drags the groom outside by his tie, where his fiancée is kissing the guest who followed her out of the church. The groom straightens up, looking shocked, and Urie and the groom bow to the camera. The ringmaster is revealed to be the groom's alter ego.[12]
The music video by director Shane Drake won the award for Video of the Year during the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. This marked the first occasion since the 1989 VMAs that the winner of Video of the Year did not win anything else. The video was also ranked No. 7 on VH1's list of the Top 100 Videos of 2006.[13]
The video was shot in December 2005. According to vocalist Brendon Urie, he and guitarist Ryan Ross suffered from the flu while filming the video clip.[14] In August 2011, the video won Best VMA Winning Video of All Time, in a worldwide poll on MTV's website.[15]
Track listing[edit]
UK 7" poster bag (February 2006)
A. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
UK CD single (February 2006)
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
"Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for Snacks" (demo version)
WMI CD single (May 2006)
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" – 3:10
"Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for Snacks" (demo version) – 3:57
"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" (Tommie Sunshine Brooklyn Fire Remix) – 5:04
Panic! at the Disco – "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
30-second sample from Panic! at the Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies", from the album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out.
Problems playing this file? See media help.
UK CD single (October 2006)
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
"Karma Police" (Live in Denver)
UK 7" gatefold sleeve (October 2006)
A. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
B. "But It's Better If You Do" (Live from Glasgow)
UK 7" picture disc (October 2006)
A. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
B. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" (Live in Denver)
Enhanced CD single (October 2006)
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
"Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for Snacks" (demo version)
"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage" (Tommie Sunshine Brooklyn Fire Remix)
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" (video)
Charts and certifications[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart (2006)
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16]
12
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[17]
12
Germany (Official German Charts)[18]
66
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19]
29
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20]
45
Ireland (IRMA)[21]
50
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22]
5
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[23]
23
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[24]
25
US Billboard Hot 100[25]
7
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[26]
12
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[27]
16
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[28]
2
Year-end charts[edit]
Chart (2006)
Position
Australia (ARIA)[29]
50
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[30]
247
US Billboard Hot 100[31]
20
Certifications[edit]
Region
Certification
Certified units/Sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[32]
Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[33]
4× Platinum 4,000,000
Ringtone
United States (RIAA)[34]
Gold 500,000^
*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b Tamsyn Wilce. "Track by track: Panic! At The Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die". gigwise.com.
Jump up ^ Rose, Ethan. "Best Early 2000s Pop Punk Songs". Rant Hollywood. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
Jump up ^ "Panic! At the Disco's 'This Is Gospel' review: Unstoppable". September 2, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
^ Jump up to: a b Stanton, Elleah (2016). "Panic! at the disco I write sins not tragedies analysis". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
Jump up ^ Crane, Matt (September 25, 2015). "Vinyl Theatre cover Panic! At The Disco's "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" (exclusive)". Alternative press. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
Jump up ^ "Billboard". Retrieved 24 December 2015.
Jump up ^ name=theodysseyonline> Wiener, Robert (2016). "10 Facts About Panic! At The Disco". theodysseyonline. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
Jump up ^ name=Songfacts> "I WRITE SINS NOT TRAGEDIES by PANIC! AT THE DISCO". Songfacts. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
Jump up ^ "I Write Sins Not Tragedies by Panic! At the Disco". secondhandsongs.
Jump up ^ name=theodysseyonline> Wiener, Robert (2016). "10 Facts About Panic! At The Disco". theodysseyonline. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
Jump up ^ name=Songfacts> "I WRITE SINS NOT TRAGEDIES by PANIC! AT THE DISCO". Songfacts. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
Jump up ^ video documenting the making of the music video on YouTube
Jump up ^ Watch the latest Music Video by Shakira from Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 | See Hips Don't Lie (featuring Wyclef Jean) Online|VH1.com
Jump up ^ "Panic! at the Disco - Interview 2006". Retrieved 2006-12-17.
Jump up ^ John Mitchell (2011-08-24). "Poll: Best VMA-Winning Video Of The Year Of All Time". MTV. Retrieved Feb 12, 2012.
Jump up ^ "Australian-charts.com – Panic! at the Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
Jump up ^ "Ultratop.be – Panic! at the Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
Jump up ^ "Musicline.de – Panic! at the Disco Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
Jump up ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Panic! at the Disco" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
Jump up ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Panic! at the Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Chart Track: Week 44, 2006". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Charts.org.nz – Panic! at the Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies". Top 40 Singles.
Jump up ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Panic at the Disco Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
Jump up ^ "Panic at the Disco Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Panic at the Disco Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Panic at the Disco Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
Jump up ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2006". Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "End of Year 2006" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Hot 100 Songs: Year End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
Jump up ^ "British single certifications – Panic at the Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies". British Phonographic Industry. Enter I Write Sins Not Tragedies in the search field and then press Enter.
Jump up ^ "American single certifications – Panic! at the Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
Jump up ^ "American single certifications – Panic! at the Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 12, 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
External links[edit]
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Official music video on YouTube
Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
[show]
v
t
e
Panic! at the Disco
Brendon Urie
Brent Wilson
Ryan Ross
Jon Walker
Spencer Smith
Dallon Weekes
Studio albums
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
Pretty. Odd.
Vices & Virtues
Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!
Death of a Bachelor
Pray for the Wicked
Live albums
...Live in Chicago
All My Friends We're Glorious
Singles
"The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage"
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
"But It's Better If You Do"
"Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off"
"Build God, Then We'll Talk"
"Nine in the Afternoon"
"Mad as Rabbits"
"That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)"
"Northern Downpour"
"The Ballad of Mona Lisa"
"Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind)"
"Let's Kill Tonight"
"Miss Jackson"
"This Is Gospel"
"Girls / Girls / Boys"
"Hallelujah"
"Victorious"
"Emperor's New Clothes"
"Death of a Bachelor"
"Say Amen (Saturday Night)"
Other songs
"New Perspective"
"LA Devotee"
"Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time"
"Crazy=Genius"
Tours
Vices & Virtues Tour
Summer Tour 2016
Death of a Bachelor Tour
Pray for the Wicked Tour
Related articles
Band members
Discography
List of songs recorded
The Young Veins
[show]
v
t
e
MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year (2000s)
2000
Eminem — "The Real Slim Shady"
2001
Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa and P!nk — "Lady Marmalade"
2002
Eminem — "Without Me"
2003
Missy Elliott — "Work It"
2004
OutKast — "Hey Ya!"
2005
Green Day — "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
2006
Panic! at the Disco — "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
2007
Rihanna (featuring Jay-Z) — "Umbrella"
2008
Britney Spears — "Piece of Me"
2009
Beyoncé — "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Complete list
(1980s)
(1990s)
(2000s)
(2010s)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Write_Sins_Not_Tragedies&oldid=833591860"
Categories:
2006 singles
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Songs written by Ryan Ross
Music videos directed by Shane Drake
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Hidden categories:
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