To Live and Die in L.A. (Wang Chung song)

"To Live and Die in L.A."
Single by Wang Chung
from the album To Live and Die in L.A. soundtrack
B-side"Black–Blue–White"
Released25 September 1985 (1985-09-25)
GenreNew wave
Length4:53 (album version)
3:53 (single version)
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jolley & Swain
Wang Chung singles chronology
"Wait"
(1984)
"To Live and Die in L.A."
(1985)
"Wake Up, Stop Dreaming"
(1985)
Music video
"To Live and Die in L.A." on YouTube

"To Live and Die in L.A." is a single from the soundtrack of the same name by the English new wave band Wang Chung. Released on 25 September 1985, the song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 41.

Cashbox said that the song "melds its own synth dance fusion with a clear cut pop sensibility which is alluring and ultimately triumphant" and that it captures "the city’s sense of 'loneliness within a maze of people.'"[1]

On the To Live and Die in L.A. DVD audio commentary, director William Friedkin stated to Wang Chung that he "didn’t want a theme song for To Live and Die in L.A." One day, though, Jack Hues and Nick Feldman gave Friedkin a copy of "To Live and Die in L.A." (to his dismay). Surprisingly, Friedkin was impressed and decided to keep the song as part of the film and soundtrack.

The album version includes additional lyrics not included in the single version.

  1. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. October 12, 1985. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-08-02.