(Forever) Live and Die


" Live and Die" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released as the first single from their seventh studio album, The Pacific Age. Paul Humphreys sings lead vocals on the track. The single peaked at No. 11 on the UK singles chart and entered the top 10 in Canada and several European countries.

Critical reception and legacy

Lynden Barber of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that " Live and Die" is "almost worthy of prime period ABBA, its ethereal Euro synthetics melting around a chorus that ascends towards heaven." Billboard selected the single as one of their "pop picks" for the week of 20 September, adding that it "achieves Magical Mystery Tour spirit with '80s tech". Record Mirrors Andy Strickland referred to "an infectious little beast" with "some nice brass touches". Conversely, Simon Mills of Smash Hits portrayed the song as "limp, languid, wimpy and totally inoffensive".
In April 1987, English disc jockey Gary Crowley identified " Live and Die" as a "great single" and "one of favourite records of the last twelve months". In a later article, Spins James Hunter observed "the kind of emotionally transcendent dancepop Neil Tennant always strove for, an unqualified masterpiece of tears and aural compression, carnivalesque synth figures and Wednesday afternoon blues." Stewart Mason of AllMusic wrote that it "sounds oddly unfinished, albeit pleasant enough". Barenaked Ladies' drummer Tyler Stewart named the track as his favourite of OMD's, saying, "I really love ' Live and Die'. That's a great song."
" Live and Die" has been listed among the best tracks of 1986. The Pueblo Chieftains Jon Pompia named the "wonderful" song as one of the 10 greatest of the 1980s; it has also appeared in "all-time" lists compiled by CFNY-FM and Q101.

Track listings

7-inch and 7-inch picture disc
  1. " Live and Die" – 3:36
  2. "This Town" – 3:44
First 12-inch
  1. " Live and Die" – 5:45
  2. " Live and Die" – 3:36
  3. "This Town" – 3:44
Second 12-inch
  1. " Live and Die" – 5:50
  2. " Live and Die" – 3:36
  3. "This Town" – 3:44

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Austria 25