"Loser"
Single by 3 Doors Down
from the album The Better Life
ReleasedJune 26, 2000 (2000-06-26)
StudioArdent (Memphis, Tennessee)
Length
  • 4:21 (album version)
  • 3:48 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Paul Ebersold
3 Doors Down singles chronology
"Kryptonite"
(2000)		 "Loser"
(2000)		 "Duck and Run"
(2001)

"Loser" is a song by American rock band 3 Doors Down. It was released on June 26, 2000, as the second single from their debut album, The Better Life (2000). The song spent 21 weeks at the number-one position on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, an all-time record for the listing. It additionally peaked at number four on the Canadian RPM Rock Report and rose to number five in Portugal in April 2003.

Content

According to lead lyricist Brad Arnold, the song is written from the perspective of a childhood friend of his who became addicted to cocaine. The lyrics subtly describe symptoms of depression and withdrawal and allude to suicide.[1]

Release and reception

Commercial performance

Released to American mainstream rock and active rock radio on June 26, 2000,[2] "Loser" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 76 on the chart dated October 21, 2000.[3] It spent 20 weeks on this chart, peaking at number 55 on December 2 of the same year.[4] On the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, the song spent 21 weeks at number one (from September 9, 2000, to January 27, 2001), becoming the chart's longest-running number one hit, and it is among the songs that spent the most weeks on the listing, remaining on the chart for 53 weeks.[5][6] In addition, it reached number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 36 on the Adult Top 40.[7][8] The Recording Industry Association of America awarded the record a gold disc on February 26, 2020, for sales and streams of over 500,000.[9] In Canada, it peaked at number four on the RPM Top 30 Rock Report in September 2000.[10]

Beginning in early 2001, "Loser" began to chart in other countries outside North America. In Germany, it debuted at number 99 on January 8, rose to its peak of number 78 the following week, then spent three more weeks on the Media Control chart before falling off.[11] It spent three weeks on the Dutch Single Top 100 in February, peaking at number 67 during its second week in.[12] In neighboring Belgium, the track appeared on Flanders' Ultratip Bubbling Under listing, peaking at number nine on March 10.[13] Later the same month, it debuted at number 42 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and rose to number 37, its peak, on April 1.[14] On the Australian Singles Chart, the song topped off at number 68 on May 7.[15] "Loser" experienced withstanding popularity in Portugal, not reaching the top 10 until April 2003, when it climbed to number five on the AFP ranking.[16]

Brad Arnold's response

When 3 Doors Down lead singer Brad Arnold discovered that "Loser" had topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 21 weeks, he was initially indifferent, explaining that they were still focusing on the success of their previous single, "Kryptonite". He said that although "Loser" was virtually ignored, it was the band's deal-maker along with "Duck and Run" and "Be Like That"; however, Arnold has stated that if "Loser" did not become a hit, neither would have the succeeding two singles.[17]

Music video

The music video, directed by Liz Friedlander, features the band performing the song in a dimly lit high school. According to Arnold, the video shoot took place in California.[18]

Live performances

"Loser" was first performed live on January 15, 1997, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. As of April 1, 2019, it has been performed 466 times, making it the second most performed song by 3 Doors Down.[19]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the European CD single liner notes.[20]

Studio

Personnel

  • Brad Arnold – writing
  • Matt Roberts – writing
  • Todd Harrell – writing
  • Paul Ebersold – production, recording
  • Matt Martone – recording
  • Toby Wright – mixing

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Loser"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States June 26, 2000 [2]
July 18, 2000 Alternative radio [28]
January 22, 2001 Hot adult contemporary radio [29]
January 23, 2001 Contemporary hit radio [30]
Australia April 23, 2001 Maxi-CD [31]

References

  1. ↑ Arnold, Brad (March 20, 2009). "Brad Arnold from 3 Doors Down" (Interview). Interviewed by Shawna Ortega. Songfacts. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1356. June 23, 2000. pp. 100, 104. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  3. ↑ "The Hot 100 – Week of October 21, 2000". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "3 Doors Down Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "3 Doors Down Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 633.
  7. 1 2 "3 Doors Down Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "3 Doors Down Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  9. 1 2 "American single certifications – 3 Doors Down – Loser". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 8645." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "3 Doors Down – Loser" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  12. 1 2 "3 Doors Down – Loser" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. 1 2 "3 Doors Down – Loser" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  14. 1 2 "3 Doors Down – Loser". Top 40 Singles.
  15. 1 2 "Issue 584" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 16. April 12, 2003. p. 14. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  17. ↑ Childers, Chad (August 26, 2020). "Brad Arnold's 'Backstage Pass to Life': From 3 Doors Down's 'The Better Life' to 'Wicked Man'". Loudwire. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  18. ↑ Reily, Emily (August 9, 2018). "3 Doors Down's Brad Arnold opens up about sobriety, 'Kryptonite' and math class". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Loser by 3 Doors Down song statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  20. 1 2 Loser (European CD single liner notes). 3 Doors Down. Universal Records, Republic Records. 2000. 158 668-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ↑ Loser (European & Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). 3 Doors Down. Universal Records, Republic Records. 2000. 158 669-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ↑ Loser (Australian maxi-single disc notes). 3 Doors Down. Universal Records, Republic Records. 2000. 015063-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 7, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  24. ↑ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-87.
  25. ↑ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-88.
  26. ↑ "The Year in Music 2001: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-70.
  27. ↑ "The Year in Music 2001: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-72.
  28. ↑ "Alternative: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1359. July 14, 2000. p. 156. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Hot AC: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1385. January 19, 2001. p. 84. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  30. ↑ "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1385. January 19, 2001. p. 43. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  31. ↑ "The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd April 2001" (PDF). ARIA. April 23, 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
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