"Bittersweet" is a single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 by the cello rock

Cello rock

Cello rock and cello metal are subgenres of rock music and heavy metal characterized by the use of cellos as primary instruments, alongside or in place of more traditional rock instruments such as electric guitars, electric bass guitar, and drum set.Cellos, often in groups of three or more, are...

 band Apocalyptica

Apocalyptica

Apocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén...

 in collaboration with Ville Valo

Ville Valo

Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...

 (of HIM) and Lauri Ylönen

Lauri Ylönen

Lauri Ylönen is the frontman of the Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus.-Early days:Ylönen was born and grew up in Helsinki. He learned to play the piano when he was five years old, and later learned to play guitar and drums...

 (of The Rasmus

The Rasmus

The Rasmus are a Finnish rock band that formed in 1995 in Helsinki while the band members were still in upper comprehensive school. The original band members were Lauri Ylönen , Eero Heinonen , Pauli Rantasalmi and Janne Heiskanen...

). The music is by Apocalyptica, the lyrics - by Ville Valo, the vocals - by Ville Valo and Lauri Ylönen. The song is written for four cellos (quartet

Quartet

In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...

) and voice

Voice

Voice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message-In film:* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film* The Voice , a 2010 Turkish horror film directed by Ümit Ünal...

, but there are versions for just the cello quartet. The name "Bittersweet" reflects in the song itself, with Ville singing the "bitter", and Lauri singing the "sweet"

"Bittersweet" was released on November 29, 2004. The song picked #1 on Finnish Singles Chart. It also picked number 6 in Germany, #8 in Switzerland, #11 In Austria and #53 in Sweden.

Video

The video opens with Ville Valo and Lauri Ylonen sitting at opposite ends of a long table with red candles at each end, using a ouija board as they both sing. Occasional clips of Apocalyptica playing in a misty forest at what appears to be mid morning are strewn randomly throughout the video. As the video progresses the camera follows a woman dressed in black occasionally flashing back to Valo and Ylonen still singing. The woman runs through the same forest Apocalyptica is playing in, later Apocalyptica is shown playing upside down on the ceiling where Valo and Ylonen are sitting with their hair dangling just above them as they (being Valo and Ylonen) continue moving the dial of the ouija board. In the last few seconds of the video, the song ends and the woman is shown laying down to sleep as the moon descends into the horizon. Suddenly the candles at the table blow out, and the video ends with Ylonen and Valo glaring at the camera with wholly black eyes, presumably having been possessed by demons.

Track listing

1. "Bittersweet" (Edit) – 3:23
2. "Bittersweet" (Acoustic version) – 3:21
3. "Bittersweet" (Instrumental version) – 3:22
4. "Misconstruction" – 3:59
5. Apocalyptica Player Software