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The Reason (Hoobastank song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = The Reason
| cover = hoobastank_the_reason.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Hoobastank
| album = The Reason
| B-side = "Out of Control" (live)
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
* Bay 7 (Valley Village, Los Angeles)
* Sparky Dark (Calabasas, California)
| genre =
* Alternative rock
* pop rock
| length = 3:53
| label =
* Island
* Mercury
| composer = Daniel Estrin
| lyricist = Douglas Robb
| producer = Howard Benson
| prev_title = Out of Control
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Same Direction
| next_year = 2004
| misc =
}}
"'The Reason'" is a song by American rock band Hoobastank. Released on January 26, 2004, as the second single from their second studio album of the same name, the power ballad is Hoobastank's most commercially successful single, peaking at number two on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100behind Usher's "Burn"and number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. In 2005, it was nominated for two categories at the 47th Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Internationally, "The Reason" reached number one in Italy and peaked within the top 10 in ten other countries.
Chart performance
On March 20, 2004, the song debuted on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 at number 62, becoming that week's "Hot Shot Debut". It reached its peak of number two after 13 more weeks on the listing, giving the band their highest-charting US single. Though it remained on the chart for 38 issues, it was their last Hot 100 hit. The single peaked atop the 'Billboard' Adult Pop Songs, Modern Rock Tracks, and Mainstream Top 40 charts. In Canada, it topped 'Radio & Records' CHR/Pop, Hot AC, and Rock charts.
In Europe, "The Reason" reached number one on the Italian Singles Chart and the UK Rock & Metal Chart for two weeks each. On the UK Singles Chart, it debuted and peaked at number 12. Across the rest of Europe, the track entered the top 10 in Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Wallonia. It was also successful in Oceania, reaching number seven in Australia and number five in New Zealand.
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Brett Simon. In it, the band members stage a diversion so they can carry out the elaborate theft of a ruby gem from a pawnshop, but those facts are only clear after enough of the action unfolds: nothing is as it seems. At the beginning of the video, a woman gets hit by a car driven by vocalist Doug Robb. After the "accident", while everyone's attention is diverted, Chris Hesse and Markku Lappalainen execute the heist. The viewer then realizes that she was in on the operation, as she gets up and rides off with an accomplice (Dan Estrin) on a motorcycle at the end. The presumed owner of the pawnshop displays a look of realization, and the song ends with the band admiring their new acquisition, holding it up to the light and projecting red light-rays onto the ceiling. The accident's "victim" is also present. They then hear police sirens from above, and the video fades out.
Their music video "Same Direction" is intended as both a sequel and a prequel to the video for "The Reason" and further details the band member's roles, as well as showing the trouble they bring down on themselves from law enforcement.
Track listings
'US promo CD'
# "The Reason" 3:52
# "The Reason" (call out) 0:10
'UK 7-inch single'
:A. "The Reason" 3:53
:B. "Out of Control" (live) 2:52
'European CD single'
# "The Reason" (album) 3:52
# "Meet Hoobastank" 5:49
'European enhanced CD single 1'
# "The Reason" 3:52
# "Meet Hoobastank" 5:49
# "Crawling in the Dark" (acoustic) 3:09
# "The Reason" (video)
'European enhanced CD single 2'
# "The Reason" 3:52
# "Out of Control" (live) 2:52
# "Running Away" 2:59
# "The Reason" (video) 3:52
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the US promo CD liner notes and 'The Reason' booklet.
'Studios'
* Recorded at Bay 7 Studios (Valley Village, Los Angeles) and Sparky Dark Studios (Calabasas, California)
* Strings recorded at Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California)
* Mixed at Image Recording (Hollywood, California)
* Mastered at Precision Mastering (Los Angeles)
'Personnel'
* Daniel Estrin music, guitar
* Douglas Robb lyrics, vocals
* Markku Lappalainen bass
* Chris Hesse drums
* Howard Benson production
* Mike Plotnikoff recording
* Casey Stone recording (strings)
* Chris Lord-Alge mixing
* Deborah Lurie string arrangement
* Tom Baker mastering
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications
Release history
In popular culture
The song appeared on the PlayStation 2 music video game 'SingStar'.
References
Category:2000s ballads
Category:2003 songs
Category:2004 singles
Category:Hoobastank songs
Category:Island Records singles
Category:Mercury Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Brett Simon
Category:Number-one singles in Italy
Category:Pop ballads
Category:Rock ballads
Category:Song recordings produced by Howard Benson
Category:Songs written by Dan Estrin
Category:Songs written by Doug Robb
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