Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was released as a single from the Batman Forever soundtrack album on June 5, 1995. A number one single in their home country of Ireland, as well as in seven other countries, it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, number sixteen on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts. The song received Grammy Award nominations for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Song. The song is included on the compilation album The Best of 1990–2000 and the live album From the Ground Up: Edge’s Picks from U2360°.
Tracklist:
- Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
- Themes from Batman Forever (by Elliot Goldenthal)
The animated music video to the song (interspersed with clips from the film) was directed by Kevin Godley and Maurice Linnane. It features the band performing in Gotham City, with Bono battling between two of his alter egos from the Zoo TV Tour: “The Fly” and “MacPhisto.” The band also chases the Batwing, using a yellow supercar and their guitars as flamethrowers. The animated sequence also features characters dressed as The Riddler, Dr. Chase Meridian, and Dick Grayson, in scenes similar to those in the movie.
At one brief point of the video, a neon sign can be seen that reads “Mister Pussey’s”. In another scene, U2 are seen walking down the street when Bono is run over by a car (driven by Elvis) while reading a copy of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. The next scene shows Bono in the hospital flatlining and about to die, when a bolt of red lightning strikes his heart monitor turning his skin white, his shirt red, and causing his fingernails to grow, thus transforming him into MacPhisto. He makes his appearance, terrifying the doctors and the other band members. The video ends with an orchestra of Batmen playing the outro on strings, then a shot from above of MacPhisto repeatedly transforming into Batman and MacPhisto alternately.
Credits
Bono: vocals
The Edge: guitar, string arrangement
Adam Clayton: bass guitar
Larry Mullen Jr.: drums
Marius de Vries: keyboards, programming
Craig Armstrong: string arrangement
