You Could Be Mine
single
CoverYou Could Be Mine (Guns N' Roses single).jpg
ArtistGuns N' Roses
AlbumUse Your Illusion II
B-side"Civil War"
ReleasedJune 25, 1991
Studio
Genre
Length5:44
Label
Writer
Producer
Prev year1989
Next year1991

"You Could Be Mine" is a song by the American rock band Guns N' Roses from their fourth album, Use Your Illusion II (1991). The song was released on June 25, 1991, as the first single from the album. The song was also included in the 1991 science fiction action film Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Backed with "Civil War", also from Use Your Illusion II, the single reached number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 1 in Finland and Spain. It became a Top 10 hit in more than ten additional countries.

History

Slash states that the song's writing began at the first preproduction session for Appetite for Destruction.[1] "You Could Be Mine" was selected to be included in the James Cameron film Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Arnold Schwarzenegger had the band members over for dinner at his home to negotiate the deal.[2]

Composition

"You Could Be Mine" was described by Sam Law of Kerrang! as "unchained hard rock.",[3] and by Greg Prato of Ultimate Guitar as exemplifying the band's primary hard rock and heavy metal sound.[4]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan, Stan Winston and Jeffrey Abelson.[5] A T-800 Terminator is assembled, given the appearance of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and dispatched to assassinate the band at one of their concerts. The video consists of clips from the movie, including its teaser trailer, intercut with footage of the band performing the song as the T-800 makes his way to the front of the crowd. After the song ends, he confronts the band as they leave the venue through a back door and analyzes each member individually; Izzy Stradlin is absent at this point, replaced by keyboardist Dizzy Reed. The T-800 scans Axl Rose last and concludes that killing the band would be a "Waste of Ammo". Lowering his shotgun, he gives Rose a brief smirk and walks away.

As the video features clips from the movie, it could not be put on the DVD Welcome to the Videos due to licensing issues. The video was also not included on any of the DVD releases of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, although it was included with a special double tape edition of the film, released on VHS in 1993.

On October 6, 2022, a music video of "You Could Be Mine", with only a mix of scenes from a concert in New York at the Ritz Theatre recorded on May 16, 1991, was released to promote the Use Your Illusion (Super Deluxe Edition) box set.[6]

Other usage

The song was featured in Terminator Salvation during the scene where John Connor tries to hijack a Moto-Terminator. It also includes direct references to the film.

Track listings

  • 7-inch single (GEFS7-19039)[7]
  1. "You Could Be Mine" (LP version) – 5:48
  2. "Civil War" (LP version) – 7:38
  • European CD single (GED 19039)[8]
  1. "You Could Be Mine" (LP version) – 5:48
  2. "Civil War" (LP version) – 7:58

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Canada (The Record)[9]3
Denmark (IFPI)[10]2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11]2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12]1
Greece (IFPI)[13]6
Italy (Musica e dischi)[14]2
Japan (Oricon)[15]23
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[16]9
Portugal (AFP)[17]3
Spain (AFYVE)[18]1
UK Airplay (Music Week)[19]48

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)Position
Australia (ARIA)[20]5
Belgium (Ultratop)[21]54
Germany (Media Control)[22]27
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23]36
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24]32
New Zealand (RIANZ)[25]4
Sweden (Topplistan)[26]4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27]8
UK Singles (OCC)[28]50

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesJune 25, 1991CassetteGeffen · Uzi Suicide[29]
United KingdomJuly 1, 19917-inch vinyl · 12-inch vinyl · CD · cassette[30]
JapanJuly 21, 1991Mini-CDGeffen[15]

References

  1. ^ Bozza, Anthony, & Slash (2007). Slash. Harper Entertainment: New York. page 166
  2. ^ "Arnold Schwarzenegger Biography (1947–)". filmreference.com. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  3. ^ Law, Sam (June 24, 2021). "The 50 best albums from 1991". Kerrang!. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Prato, Greg (December 15, 2025). "Did This Soft Rock Song Inspire a Guns N' Roses Hit? 'Axl Raved About What a Great Singer I Was'". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  5. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com – Guns 'n' Roses – "You could be mine"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  6. ^ "The official music video for You Could Be Mine, Live in New York filmed in 1991 is out now!". No. 1578052462849585155. Oct 6, 2022.
  7. ^ You Could Be Mine (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Geffen Records, Uzi Suicide Records. 1991. GEFS7-19039.
  8. ^ You Could Be Mine (European CD single liner notes). Geffen Records, Uzi Suicide Records. 1991. GED 19039.
  9. ^ "HITS OF THE WORLD". Billboard. October 12, 1991. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  10. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 36. September 7, 1991. p. 23. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 35. August 31, 1991. p. 25. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  12. ^ Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Otava Publishing Company Ltd, 2003. ISBN 951-1-21053-X
  13. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 40. October 5, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  14. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 37. September 14, 1991. p. 42. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  15. ^ "ガンズ・アンド・ローゼズ". Oricon. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  16. ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles. July 21, 1991.
  17. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 32. August 10, 1991. p. 19. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  18. ^ "Hits of the World – Spain". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 41. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 12, 1991. p. 73. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  19. ^ "Playlist Chart". Music Week. August 3, 1991. p. 18. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  20. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1991". ARIA. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  23. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1991". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  24. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  25. ^ "End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  26. ^ "Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on February 25, 2001. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  27. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991" (in German). Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  28. ^ "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. January 11, 1992. p. 20.
  29. ^ riaa
  30. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 29, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved July 10, 2021.