Song Of The Week: 5/24/20

Song: "Pages" (acoustic version)

Artist: 3 Doors Down

Album: "Where My Christmas Lives" EP

Year: 2009

Place Of Origin: Escatawpa, Mississippi

Years Active: 1996 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Here's what 3 Doors Down lead singer Brad Arnold had to say about "Pages". "It's a beautiful thing that we do, you just pour your heart out onto a page," says Brad Arnold, explaining his inspiration for this song. "And I don't mind anybody looking at my heart." He especially loves when his fans interpret his lyrics in their own way, to suit their own personal situations. "Pouring your heart onto a page leaves you there, vulnerable, waiting for somebody to maybe even care to read what you wrote. And then if they read it, do they really see it? And if they see it, do they relate? And is it comfortable for them? Or is it a crutch for them? And it almost seems like sometimes you hold up a lot of weight with what you say. I mean, you're obligated to."
At the same time, the lead singer says with a laugh, "That song is just kind of griping about being a songwriter in a way. And a lot of people kind of like that introspective view." I chose the acoustic version of "Pages" for my song of the week. The original studio version can be found on 3 Doors Down's 2008 album "3 Doors Down".

3 DOORS DOWN DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2000 - The Better Life (Universal Records)
* #7 on the Billboard 200
* certified 7X platinum

2002 - Away From The Sun (Universal/Republic Records)
* #8 on the Billboard 200
* certified 4X platinum

2005 - Seventeen Days (Universal/Republic Records)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified platinum

2008 - 3 Doors Down (Universal/Republic Records)
* #1 on the Billboard 200
* certified gold

2011 - Time Of My Life (Universal/Republic Records)
* #3 on the Billboard 200

2016 - Us And The Night (Republic Records)
* #14 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON 3 DOORS DOWN

3 Doors Down formed as a band back in 1996, hailing from Mississippi. The band released an early version of the song "Kryptonite" which started getting some real buzz in their home state of Mississippi. When they released a new version of the song on their 2000 debut album, "The Better Life", the band exploded on popular modern rock radio. Their debut album has sold almost 6 million copies in the United States alone. The album also featured other successful singles like "Loser", "Duck And Run" and "Be Like That". Album two was no slouch for the band as well, selling almost 4 million copies in the U.S. on the back of successful singles like "When I'm Gone", "Here Without You" and "Away From The Sun". Success would continue for 3 Doors Down as their next two albums, 2005's "Seventeen Days" and 2008's "3 Doors Down", both would reach the number one slot on the Billboard 200 music charts. After the band released their 2011 album "Time Of My Life", their bassist, Todd Harrell, was involved in a vehicular homicide. He was found to be under the influence of prescription pain killers and subsequently was imprisoned for two years. The band would part ways with him and cancel their tour out of respect for the victim in Harrell's accident. Tragedy would find the band again after the release of their most recent album, 2016's "Us And The Night". Former bandmember Matt Roberts died of a drug overdose on August 20, 2016. Though he was no longer in the band, the guys still took the news very hard, often paying tribute to him during their live performances. The last thing 3 Doors Down has done was perform a tour of America with the bands Collective Soul and Soul Asylum in 2018. I got no news as to whether they are working on new material at this time. 3 Doors Down is your typical mainstream rock outfit. They rely on melodic hooks and sing-a-long choruses, perfect for arena crowds. They came out of the gate hot. Their first album exploded on radio and MTV, back when MTV showed music videos! The song "Kryptonite" was enormous for 3 Doors Down and basically sprung them to headlining act almost instantly. Like many people, that song was my first time hearing of 3 Doors Down. Their first two albums are my personal favorites from 3 Doors Down. I think they're a good band but their sound is kinda generic. Being from down south, they do incorporate a little bit of southern rock feel to their mainstream sound. They tend to get some crap because they are one of the few rock and roll bands that have conservative political views. Playing at some Donald Trump rally's made them a bit polarizing as well. I really don't choose what I listen to based on political views. I listen to them for the music so their politics don't bother me at all. 3 Doors Down has been a very successful band. Personally, I think they're a good band but definitely rock music that is safe and lacks some balls. Think Nickelback, but I think they're a better band than them by far. I'd call them like a second tier mainstream rock band.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Staind
Three Days Grace
Seether
Thousand Foot Krutch
12 Stones

TEN 3 DOORS DOWN SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Away From The Sun
2. Kryptonite
3. Here Without You
4. Be Like That
5. When I'm Gone
6. Let Me Go
7. It's Not My Time
8. Landing In London
9. In The Dark
10. Every Time You Go