Pet Sematary-Ramones.
It is a single composed by the historic punk band Ramones. It is included in the album Brain Drain (1989) and is a fundamental part of the soundtrack of the film Pet Sematary, based on a novel by Stephen King and directed by Mary Lambert.
History and Genesis of the Song
At the time of the song, the Ramones lineup consisted of:
Joey Ramone (vocals)
Johnny Ramone (guitar)
Dee Dee Ramone (bass)
Marky Ramone (drums)
It all started with the publication of the novel Pet Sematary in 1983. The book was a great success. For the related film, director Mary Lambert was considered; she had previously made a name for herself by directing several music videos for Madonna, Eurythmics, and Janet Jackson.
Stephen King himself took care of the screenplay and strongly wanted the Ramones for the soundtrack, being a huge fan of the band. This is also evidenced by the fact that the group is mentioned in the novel itself.
Drummer Marky Ramone recalls the birth of the song clearly in his 2014 book “Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone.”
The group was invited to dinner at King’s house in Bangor, Maine, in 1982, after playing for a radio station owned by the writer.
On that occasion, King handed Dee Dee a copy of the novel. According to Marky, the bassist composed the song in the writer’s basement in about forty minutes that same night, trying to write lyrics related to the events described in the novel. That very night, Dee Dee announced his intention to leave the band.
However, it should be noted that King never confirmed this story. In fact, he called it nonsense. He said that the Ramones had never been to his house and that the dinner took place in a restaurant.
Therefore, the truth behind the birth of the song remains unknown.
The Video
The video for this irresistible ballad could only be set in a cemetery. It also features Debbie Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie.
It was Dee Dee’s last appearance in a Ramones video, and the bass on the song was not played by him.
The chosen cemetery was Sleepy Hollow, where the band is seen singing inside a grave. The Ramones played with the idea of being a live and vibrant band in a cemetery. In the video, a fake tombstone for Monte Melnick, the band’s tour manager, can be seen.
Reception
The film, the book, and the song received very mixed reviews. The song even received a Razzie Award nomination for “Worst Original Song” in 1989.
It seems incredible considering what it has become over time: one of the most famous and well-known songs of a historic and indispensable band for the entire punk movement.
Pet Sematary-Ramones
Here’s the link to the video: Pet Sematary-Ramones
Click here to read our article on Pet Sematary
