Universal then released their first album, 'The Better Life', and they garnered a big fan response. They received international fame with their first single, "Kryptonite", in particular. The album went on to sell over 6 million copies.
In 2002, 'Away From The Sun' was released with the single "When I'm Gone". The ballad "Here Without You" became another multi-format success, doing especially well in the adult contemporary space, while the singles "The Road I'm On" and "Away From The Sun" were minor hits. The album went on to sell over 3 million copies.
3 Doors Down released their third studio album, Seventeen Days, in 2005, and it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Music Chart. The album achieved platinum status in less than a month. Its first single, "Let Me Go", received much airplay, and was followed by a second song called "Behind Those Eyes."
In 2007, they made a music video with the upcoming track "Citizen Soldiers" for the National Guard.
In May of 2008 3 Doors Down released their 4th full length studio album the self titled "3 Doors Down". The first single is It's Not my Time. They also launched a world tour in March in support.
Early years (1996-2000)
3 Doors Down was formed by drummer vocalist Brad Arnold, guitarist Matt Roberts and bassist Todd Harrell. The three were friends who had grown up together in Escatawpa, and who all shared a common interest in rock music. The band began playing locally around the city, playing a mix of both cover songs and original songs that would eventually be recorded on their first release. Brad Arnold eventually ended up not only drumming, but also acting as the group's singer, mainly because, as he puts it, "nobody else would do it, but I did and enjoyed it." Arnold is also their lyricist, and wrote some of their early hits when he was 15, often working on songs during math class.
The band eventually began to tour outside of their city, and it was during a trip to Foley, Alabama that they came up with their official name. When the three men were walking through the town, they saw a building where some letters had fallen off of its sign, and it read "Doors Down." Since at the time they consisted of three people, they added the "3" to create "3 Doors Down."
A couple years after performing together, Todd Harrell asked guitarist Chris Henderson to join the band in order to make the sound more full. They recorded a demo CD of their original songs at Lincoln Recording Studio in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Radio station 97.9 WCPR started playing the EP version of "Kryptonite", and it became the #1 requested song on the station for over 15 weeks and led to Universal Records signing the band.
The Better Life (2000-2001)
3 Doors Down's first album, The Better Life was released on February 2 , 2000, and went on to become the 11th best-selling album of that year, selling over 3 million copies. It has since been certified 6x platinum, thanks in large part to the international hit singles, "Kryptonite", "Loser", and "Duck and Run". A fourth single, "Be Like That", also did well and was actually re-recorded for the 2001 film American Pie 2, with alternate lyrics for the first 3 lines. This version is known as "The American Pie 2 Edit".
For recording the album, Brad Arnold recorded both the vocal and drum parts. However, when touring to support The Better Life, the band hired a drummer so that Arnold could perform at the front of the stage.
Away from the Sun (2002)
Session drummer Josh Freese was hired to record drums for Away from the Sun. Also, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson produced and performed on three tracks for the record, "Dangerous Game", "Dead Love", and "Wasted Me", but only "Dangerous Game" would appear on the finished product. The band hired Canadian Daniel Adair to play drums for the Away From the Sun tour. He would go on to record the drums for the band's next studio release, and was with the band aboard the U.S.S George Washington (CVN 73) to film the music video "When I'm Gone".
Another 700 Miles (2003)
In 2003, 3 Doors Down released a live E.P. entitled Another 700 Miles consisting of recordings from a live performance by the band in Chicago, Illinois. Another 700 Miles has since been certified Gold in the United States. Besides featuring some of 3 Doors Down's hit singles from their previous two albums, the E.P. also contains a version of the popular Lynyrd Skynyrd song "That Smell".
In 2003, the band began hosting the annual "3 Doors Down and Friends" benefit concert, through the band's own charity The Better Life Foundation. In 2006, this event was held at the Mobile Convention Center, with proceeds benefiting Hurricane Katrina survivors. As residents of Escawtawpa, the members of the band saw the effects of Katrina's devastation.[3]
Seventeen Days (2005-2007)
The band's third studio album, 2005's Seventeen Days, has since been certified platinum. "Let Me Go" and "Behind Those Eyes" charted with the most success. "Live for Today", "Landing in London" (on which Bob Seger provided back-up vocals and guitar), and "Here by Me" were also released as singles. During the Seventeen Days tour, the band appeared alongside southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as headlined many shows of their own.
Also in 2005, the band released a live DVD entitled Away from the Sun: Live from Houston, Texas. The DVD was produced and directed by Academy Award nominated Alex Gibney and Doug Biro. It features songs from both The Better Life and Away from the Sun, and even some early sketches of "It's Not Me" and "Father's Son", which were both eventually released on Seventeen Days.
- Greg Upchurch, formerly of Puddle of Mudd, replaced Daniel Adair in 2005, when Adair left to accept the position as drummer and contributing member of Nickelback.[4]
[edit] 3 Doors Down (2008-present)
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3 Doors Down released their self-titled fourth album on May 20, 2008. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 154,000 copies in its first week. It is the band's second consecutive #1 album on the chart after Seventeen Days, as well their fourth album to reach the Top Ten.[5] The album contains the hit singles "It's Not My Time", "Train", "Let Me Be Myself" (currently featured in a GEICO commercial) and "Citizen/Soldier", a song written as a tribute to the National Guard. The band has just recently begun writing their next record. It is rumored that they are going back in the studio near the end of the year to record their new album which can be expect to be out by spring/summer 2010.[6][dead link]
In 2009, 3 Doors Down, along with The Soul Children of Chicago, released the song “In The Presence Of The Lord” on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.[7]
[edit] Charity work
[edit] The Better Life Foundation
The Better Life Foundation
3 Doors Down started The Better Life Foundation (TBLF) in 2003, with a goal in mind to give as many children as possible a better life. Since its inception TBLF has supported numerous charities nationwide, as well as providing aid and assistance to the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina.
When the Mississippi town of Waveland took an especially hard hit from Katrina, the charity was able to purchase three police cars and a fire truck to help with rescue efforts. Also, in connection with Wal-Mart, were able to supply the town with three semi-trucks full of rescue supplies. There was also extensive support from TBLF in providing funding for rebuilding efforts in the town
3 Doors Down and The Better Life Foundation host a yearly show in at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, MS to raise money for the charity. In addition to a concert from 3 Doors Down and friends, there is also an auction, which includes numerous items from musical friends, sports icons, and other various supporters of the band and the charity. There is an average of sixty items auctioned off yearly, and proceeds are given to TBLF.
This year's show will feature 3 Doors Down, MuzikMafia, and Switchfoot.
The band has shared the stage with artists such as Daughtry, Megadeth, Staind, Nickelback, Alter Bridge, Breaking Benjamin, Theory of a Deadman, Seether, Shinedown, Hinder, Mentors, ZZ Top, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. .
Website: http://www.3doorsdown.com/
Information about the charity can be found at http://www.thebetterlifefoundation.org
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
* Brad Arnold - lead vocals
* Chet Roberts - lead guitar, backing vocals
* Chris Henderson - rhythm guitar
* Todd Harrell - bass guitar
* Greg Upchurch - drums, percussion, backing vocals
[edit] Past members
* Matt Roberts - lead guitar, backing vocals
* Daniel Adair - drums, percussion
* Richard Liles — drums, percussion
Be Like That
3 Doors Down Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching the stars on the big screen
And then he lies awake and he wonders
Why can't that be me?
'Cause in his life he is filled
With all these good intentions
He's left a lot of things
Just before he says goodnight
He looks up with a little smile at me
And he says
If I could be like that
Well I would give anything
Just to live one day in
In those shoes
If I could be like that
What would I do?
What would I do?
Now in dreams we run
She spends her days up in the north park
Watching the people as they pass
And all she wants is just a little piece of this dreams
Is that too much to ask?
With a safe home and a warm bed
On a quiet little street
All she wants is just that something to hold on to
That's all she needs
Yeah, if I could be like that
Well I would give anything
Just to live one day in
In those shoes
If I could be like that
What would I do?
What would I do? Yeah yeah yeh oh oh
I'm falling into this
In dreams we run away
If I could be like that
Well I would give anything
Just to live one day
In those shoes
If I could be like that
What would I do?
What would I do?
If I could be like that
I would give anything
Just to live one day
In those shoes
If I could be like that
What would I do?
What would I do?
If I could be like that
I would give anything
Just to live one day
In those shoes
If I could be like that?
What would I do?
Lord what would I do? Yeah yeah
Falling in
I feel I am falling in
To this again
The lyrics of 3 Doors Down’s Be Like That express the desire to live another person’s life for just a day. The first verse describes a man who spends his nights in California watching the stars on the big screen, but still feels unfulfilled and wonders why he can’t have that life. Despite his good intentions, he feels dissatisfied with his current situation and longs for something more. The second verse depicts a woman who spends her days in the park and dreams of having just a little piece of what others have, a safe home and a warm bed on a quiet street. She too feels like something is missing in her life and desires more.
The chorus, “If I could be like that, Well I would give anything, Just to live one day in, In those shoes” encapsulates the message of the song. Both characters long to experience the life of others, even if it’s just for a day. The bridge repeats this sentiment of wanting to escape into another reality with the line, “In dreams we run away”. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the desire to escape one's current situation and reveals that the answer to the question “What would I do?” is to give everything to live life like someone else.
This song’s message of longing to escape from the mundanity of life and feel fulfilled is relatable to many people. Its popularity can be attributed to this universal message, as well as its catchy melody and emotive vocals. The music video features the band performing in the rain, with flashbacks of the characters’ lives. The visuals mirror the introspective nature of the song and evoke a sense of melancholy. Overall, Be Like That is an emotive song that captures the desire to live a fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
He spends his nights in California
He spends his evenings in California
Watching the stars on the big screen
He watches stars on the big screen in California
And then he lies awake and he wonders
He lies awake and wonders
Why can't that be me?
Why can't he be like the stars he watches?
'Cause in his life he is filled
His life is full
With all these good intentions
He has good intentions
He's left a lot of things
He left many things
He'd rather not mention right now
He doesn't want to mention them at the moment
Just before he says goodnight
Just before he goes to bed
He looks up with a little smile at me
He looks up at me with a smile
And he says
He says
If I could be like that
If he could be like the stars he watches
Well I would give anything
He would give anything to be like them
Just to live one day in
To live for one day in
In those shoes
To be in their shoes
What would I do?
What would he do?
What would I do?
What would he do?
Now in dreams we run
Now we run in dreams
She spends her days up in the north park
She spends her days in north park
Watching the people as they pass
She watches people passing by
And all she wants is just a little piece of this dream
All she wants is a small piece of this dream
Is that too much to ask?
Asking for it is too much?
With a safe home and a warm bed
She has a safe home and a warm bed
On a quiet little street
She lives on a peaceful street
All she wants is just that something to hold on to
All she wants is something to hold on to
That's all she needs
That's all she needs
Yeah, if I could be like that
Yeah, if she could be like what she wants
Well I would give anything
She would give anything to be like that
Just to live one day in
To live for one day in
In those shoes
To be in those shoes
What would I do?
What would she do?
What would I do?
What would she do?
Yeah yeah yeh oh oh
Agreement and emphasis
I'm falling into this
She is falling into it
In dreams we run away
In dreams, we run away
If I could be like that
If she could be like that
Well I would give anything
She would give anything to be like that
Just to live one day
To live one day
In those shoes
To be in those shoes
If I could be like that
If she could be like that
What would I do?
What would she do?
What would I do?
What would she do?
If I could be like that
If she could be like that
I would give anything
She would give anything to be like that
Just to live one day
To live one day
In those shoes
To be in those shoes
If I could be like that?
If she could be like that?
What would I do?
What would she do?
Lord what would I do?
She wonders what she would do
Yeah yeah
Agreement and emphasis
Falling in
Fall into
I feel I am falling in
She feels like she is falling into it
To this again
To this once again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY KIRK ARNOLD, CHRISTOPHER LEE HENDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@italianpoboy8874
I'm almost 42, got to experience the awesomeness of the 90's and early 2000's at just the right age. This song now makes me sad. The life I could have had. I miss the past so much.
@hcaballero57
I just turned 42 this past March, hearing this just makes me wish I was 21 yrs old again or even younger. I miss it so much too, living with all the regrets we made back then and wishing we can change things from the passed always gets me.
@VirtualSatyr
Amen brother.
@italianpoboy8874
@@hcaballero57 I always say the best part of my life was 1980-2000, hands down. I will never have as many great memories or enjoy life as much as I did back than.
@codyandjessisalazar3429
I’m 38 and grew up in 90’s early 00’s…the past was great at times! Wish I could go back all the time!! And this song… Oh my God… The memories!
@davidkrupinski7909
Yes brother ✌🏼
@ostcyr
God I miss music like that. In my twenties in late 90’s early 2000’s. Best decade ever. It ain’t the same no more.
@2698555
I would go back to that decade in a heartbeat!!!
@taniafleming4859
100% agree. I loved that decade. Still love this band. I always will.
@victorsimpson8847
I grow up in that decade 💪🦾💯