"Helena" (alternatively titled "Helena (So Long & Goodnight)") is a song by the American rock band My Chemical Romance from their second studio album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004). It was released as the album's second single on March 8, 2005. An emo song, it was created in memory of band members Gerard Way and Mikey Way's late grandmother, who died while the band was touring and unable to visit her during the last year of her life. Although it was one of the last tracks on the album to be written, the direction that Gerard Way took it in influenced the rest of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge<nowiki/>'s tracks. A music video, directed by Marc Webb and filmed at a church in Los Angeles, was also released.
The song and its music video were well received by critics. It was a commercial success, charting in several countries and becoming the band's first major hit on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as reaching number one on the UK Rock & Metal chart. It has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, British Phonographic Industry, and Recorded Music NZ. The song was nominated for five awards at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, although it did not win in any of the categories.
"Helena" is often considered by journalists to be the band's breakout hit, a contributor to the commercial success of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, and an influential track on the emo music genre. Some have considered it as one of My Chemical Romance's best songs, as well as one of the best emo and goth songs in history. It is among the band's most played songs at live concerts, typically being used as a closing track.
Background and release
While touring in 2003 for their first studio album, My Chemical Romance began writing material for their second studio album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004). By the time the band had concluded the tour in November, a large part of the album was already written, and they had also signed a record deal with Reprise Records to publish it.' The same day that the band had finished touring, the grandmother of band members Gerard and Mikey Way, whose name was Elena, died. The brothers were heavily impacted by her death, with Gerard being upset over how he was unable to see her one final time.' Determined to honor her legacy, Gerard began writing "Helena".'
While "Helena" was one of the latter tracks from Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge to be created, the direction that Gerard took the song in influenced how the rest of the album would be produced.' He said that "the emotions I went through [when she died] and over the next six days were what completely fuelled Revenge", and that every emotion that someone could cope with loss with was present on the album.' The band began recording the album in 2004 after concluding a short, already scheduled tour in the United Kingdom.' The album, including "Helena", was produced by Howard Benson.
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge was released on June 8, 2004, through Reprise; "Helena" is the album's opening track. On streaming services such as iTunes, its full title is "Helena (So Long & Goodnight)". A live recording of the track, performed at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey was released on iTunes on May 23. "Helena" was later included on the band's greatest hits album, May Death Never Stop You, released on March 25, 2014. Additionally, a remastered version of the track, produced by Rich Costey, appeared on a deluxe edition of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, alongside a 2005 live recording from BBC Radio 1's The Lock Up.