The band achieved its first commercial success on Myspace as an unsigned act. In late 2002, after OneRepublic played shows throughout the Los Angeles area, several record labels approached the band with interest, but the band signed with Velvet Hammer, an imprint of Columbia Records. They made their first album with producer Greg Wells during the summer and fall of 2005 at his studio, Rocket Carousel, in Culver City, California. The album was scheduled for release on June 6, 2006, but the group was dropped by Columbia two months before the album was released. The lead single of that album, "Apologize", was released on April 30, 2006, on Myspace, eventually reaching number one on the Myspace charts.
In 2007, OneRepublic released their debut album, Dreaming Out Loud. Their lead single, "Apologize", was remixed by Timbaland, becoming a huge international success, reaching number one in sixteen countries and subsequently earning them a Grammy Award nomination. The second single, "Stop and Stare", mirrored its predecessor's success. The album was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The band's second album, Waking Up (2009), produced the singles "All the Right Moves", "Secrets", "Marchin On", and "Good Life", with the last reaching the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100.
OneRepublic's third album, Native (2013), became the band's first top ten album on the Billboard 200, and highest-charting album to date, charting at number four. The lead single, "If I Lose Myself", charted within the top ten in several countries, while the album's third single, "Counting Stars", became the band's most successful single in recent years, obtaining top-five placements in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, the US, and the UK. This marks their highest-charting single in the United Kingdom to date. It also peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, matching the group's highest peak of "Apologize" in 2007.
On October 7, 2016, OneRepublic released Oh My My, their fourth studio album, featuring several collaborators, including Cassius, Peter Gabriel, and Santigold. Preceded by the singles "Wherever I Go", released on May 13, 2016, and "Kids", released on August 12, 2016, it was recognized as a change in their sound from previous albums by critics and by the band. In 2017, the band released the singles "No Vacancy", "Truth to Power", "Stranger Things" with Kygo and "Rich Love" with Seeb. Their fifth studio album, Human, was released in 2021. The band has sold approximately over 16 million records worldwide.
On November 1, 2021, OneRepublic released the song "Sunshine". The song is used as the theme song to the 2021 film Clifford the Big Red Dog.
In February 2022, OneRepublic released the song "West Coast". The song is the lead single from OneRepublicβs upcoming sixth studio album. The song is an ode to the American state of California and evokes classic 1960s California sounds, stemming from groups such as The Beach Boys and The Mamas and the Papas, along with inspiration from Gorillaz. It has been both a band favorite and a fan favorite for a long time, and it ultimately became a tone-setter for their sixth studio effort. They first started working on βWest Coastβ during the production process of their 2016 album, Oh My My, but ended up shelving it for later. An earlier version of the song was used for U2βs 2017 hit, βSummer of Love,β which actually turned the original demo into an anti-war track.
After years of anticipation and re-tooling, the final version of βWest Coastβ was officially made public on February 25, 2022.
On April 1, 2022, OneRepublic released "You Were Loved" as a single with DJ and producer Gryffin. On May 13, 2022, the band released "I Ain't Worried", the second single from the soundtrack for the film Top Gun: Maverick. It will also be featured on their upcoming sixth studio album which is rumored to be released by the end of the summer. On January 31, 2023, Ryan Tedder confirmed in The Great Creators with Guy Raz that he will upload song teasers on social media, and let the public choose the next single.
OneRepublic's varied style of music has been described by Ryan Tedder: "We're no respecter of genre. If it's a good song or a good artist whether rock, pop, indie or hip hop, they've probably influenced us on some level... nothing's new under the sun, we're a sum of a bunch of parts." Specific artists whom OneRepublic has cited as influences include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Beatles, U2, M83, and Prince.
OneRepublic has won several music awards and landed many nominations, including for American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, World Music Awards, and Grammy Awards. Separately, lead singer Ryan Tedder has won three Grammy Awards due to his songwriting credits for Adele and Taylor Swift.
Don't Look Down
OneRepublic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say, don't look down, don't look down.
Hey, I can hear you preaching
Say don't leave me fall, fall.
In OneRepublic's song Don't Look Down, the lyrics convey a message of perseverance and overcoming obstacles. The first two lines, "Hey, I can hear you talking. Say, don't look down, don't look down," can be interpreted as someone trying to encourage another person to stay positive and not give up, even when things get tough. This is reinforced by the next two lines, "Hey, I can hear you preaching. Say don't leave me fall, fall," where the singer is asking for support and help to keep from falling down, both physically and emotionally.
Throughout the song, there are references to climbing mountains and taking risks, which symbolize the challenges and struggles that come with achieving one's goals. The repeated phrase "don't look down" is a metaphor for not letting fear and doubt control you, and instead, pushing through and reaching for greatness. The song's powerful build-up and catchy chorus serve as an anthem for anyone who has faced obstacles and overcome them through perseverance and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, I can hear you talking
I am aware that you are discussing something.
Say, don't look down, don't look down.
Please do not lose hope and despair.
Hey, I can hear you preaching
I acknowledge your words of advice.
Say don't leave me fall, fall.
Please do not abandon me to my fate of failure.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BRENT MICHAEL KUTZLE, RYAN TEDDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tilly
I absolutely adore this song, it gives me the chills, and I remember them opening with it live and all the lights were down and it was the most intense and beautiful atmosphere ever, you couldn't see them or anyone else, and all you could hear was this. Incredible!
Jasmine McGarigle
This song makes me feel like I'm up in a golden sky, and I'm looking down on the earth. Β <3
Marykate Herrera
Always brings tears to my eyes and gives me goosebumps
Brendan G
One of the most beautiful songs ever!
Josemar Martins
Perfeição β€
Alan-Michael
What some people aren't realizing is how this song transitions straight from Preacher and ends the basic album, but is used as a transitional song for the rest of the album. Think of it as a continuation of Preacher.Β
Also, not all songs HAVE to be long. There is power is short pieces as well.
Monica Azzad
OneRepublic never disappoints<3
David
What I would do for this song to be full length! One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and when it's over I'm still wanting more!
Just Chilling
β€ Beautiful β€. I wish they made a longer version. Too good to be too short.
maria silva Rodrigues
It means that whatever happens , wherever we are, we are connected to the people we love the most and that even if we are distant from them , we are always together.
'' Don't leave me fall '' , help me, guide me, take care of me, be with me every time, let me share this moment with you, to show you how much i love you