Released in July 2022, "Romantic Homicide" was famously recorded by David Burke (d4vd) in his sister’s closet using only an iPhone, a pair of EarPods, and the BandLab app.
The song blew up on TikTok in late 2022, eventually reaching the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified 3x Platinum. d4vd - Romantic Homicide
As of 2026, the song's "story" has taken a dark turn due to a high-profile criminal case involving d4vd. Released in July 2022, "Romantic Homicide" was famously
d4vd "Romantic Homicide" Official Lyrics & Meaning | Verified d4vd "Romantic Homicide" Official Lyrics & Meaning |
2. The Real-World Case: The Murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez
The cinematic, dark tone was inspired by a manga d4vd was writing about a detective with a murderous alter ego named "Itami" (Japanese for "pain").
d4vd has stated the song is about the emotional aftermath of a breakup. He used "homicide" as a metaphor for "killing" the memory of a former lover in the back of his mind so he could move on.