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The sensual lyrics of "Melt!" compare an intense sexual interlude with a lover to dying. Its lyrics can also allude to a S&M encounter ("...Handcuffed in lace, blood and sperm / Swimming in poison / Gasping in the fragrance / Sweat carves a screenplay / Of discipline and devotion...").
Dave Morrison of Select observed that "The Baudelairean imagery of 'Melt' evokes claustrophobic scents of opium, sex and sickly flowers, and lapses into morbidity with lines like, 'You are the melting man and, as you melt, you are beheaded'".
"Il est né, le divin Enfant" was an adaptation of a traditional French Christmas carol. This track was exclusive to this single, and remained unreleased on LP or CD for many years until the appearance of the Siouxsie and the Banshees box set Downside Up in 2004.
Release
"Melt!" was released on 26 November 1982 as a double A-sided single by record label Polydor. The single peaked at number 49 in the UK Singles Chart.
Track listing
7"
Side A
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Melt!"
3:47
Side B
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant"
2:32
12"
Side A
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Melt!"
3:47
Side B
No.
Title
Length
1.
"A Sleeping Rain"
4:20
2.
"Il est né, le divin enfant"
2:32
References
Morrison, Dave (November 1992). "Twice Upon a time Siouxsie and the banshees - review". Select.
