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 OneRepublic’s 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 “West Coast” 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 U2’s 2017 hit, “Summer of Love,” which actually turned the original demo into an anti-war track.
After years of anticipation and re-tooling, the final version of “West Coast” 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.
Something's Gotta Give
OneRepublic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know that something's got to
Something's gotta give
And then you told yourself
You found a modern Mona Lisa
You gave her all your love
You said I pray this fool could keep her
It doesn't mean a thing
You got time
And time is everything
Knock all night
Stay awake
Listening to
Records that you like
Now you're saying
I-I-I, I'm sinking in
You know that something's got to
Something's gotta give, oh
And then you showed yourself
All the colors that you fear
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
It doesn't mean a thing
You got love
So you got everything
Talk all night
Stay awake
Listening to
Records that we like
I-I-I, I'm sinking in
You know that something's got to
Something's gotta give
It's gotta give
Oh whoa oh, whoa oh
Oh whoa oh, whoa oh
Oh whoa oh, whoa oh
Oh whoa oh, whoa oh
Something's gotta give
It's gotta give
It's gotta give
Oh whoa oh, whoa oh
The lyrics to OneRepublic's song Something's Gotta Give express the idea of feeling lost and sinking in an overwhelming situation. The first lines "I-I-I, I'm sinking in, you know that something's got to" start the song off with a sense of hopelessness and desperation. The repetition of "something's gotta give" throughout the song creates a sense of urgency and a need for change.
There is a shift in the lyrics when the singer talks about finding a "modern Mona Lisa" and giving this person all their love. However, there is a hint of doubt when the singer says "I pray this fool could keep her." This line implies that the singer does not feel worthy of love and may not be able to hold onto it. This insecurity is further highlighted in the line "You got no money, it doesn't mean a thing."
The chorus repeats the same lines, emphasizing the need for change and the feeling of sinking in the situation. The bridge brings a sense of reflection, as the singer acknowledges their fears and anxieties. The line "you showed yourself all the colors that you fear" suggests a moment of self-discovery and facing one's inner demons. The final lines of the song, "It's gotta give, oh whoa oh, whoa oh" show a willingness to let go of the old and embrace change.
Overall, the lyrics to Something's Gotta Give express a struggle with feeling lost and stagnant, a desire for change and self-discovery, and a willingness to let go of the past and embrace a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
I-I-I, I'm sinking in
The singer is expressing that they are in a difficult situation or feeling overwhelmed.
You know that something's got to
The situation is untenable, and something must change to improve it.
Something's gotta give
Reinforcement of the central message that the current situation is unsustainable and must be changed.
And then you told yourself
The artist shifts focus from themselves to the listener or another person.
You found a modern Mona Lisa
The listener has found someone they love or admire greatly, perhaps describing their significant other.
You gave her all your love
The listener has given their all and devoted themselves to this person.
You said I pray this fool could keep her
The listener expresses concern for their relationship with this person, perhaps fearing that they are not good enough for them.
You got no money
The listener lacks financial resources or stability.
It doesn't mean a thing
Despite the lack of money, the listener can still find happiness and meaning in life.
You got time
Even if the listener lacks money or other resources, they still have time to spend with loved ones or pursue their passions.
And time is everything
Time is just as valuable as other resources, and the listener recognizes its importance.
Knock all night
The artist describes staying up late leaving a message for someone important.
Stay awake
The singer suggests they are unable to sleep, perhaps due to worry or stress.
Listening to
The singer is listening to music, which may be a source of comfort or inspiration.
Records that you like
The singer is specifically listening to music that the listener enjoys, further emphasizing the importance of individual passions.
Now you're saying
The artist shifts focus back to the listener or another person.
All the colors that you fear
The artist suggests that the listener is coming to terms with their fears and insecurities.
It doesn't mean a thing
Again, the singer emphasizes that fear and insecurity should not define one's life or happiness.
You got love
The singer suggests that love is more important than other resources or fears.
So you got everything
Because the listener has love, they truly have everything they need, according to the artist.
Talk all night
The artist suggests staying up late and talking about important topics or feelings with someone important.
Stay awake
Repetition of the earlier phrase, suggesting that the artist remains unable to sleep or dealing with something important.
Listening to
Repetition of the earlier phrase, indicating that music remains a source of comfort or inspiration.
Records that we like
The artist now includes themself in this phrase, indicating that they and the listener share a connection over shared interests and passions.
It's gotta give
Reinforcement of the central message that change must occur to improve the situation.
Oh whoa oh, whoa oh
A repeated vocalization, possibly indicating a sense of longing or anticipation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HUBERT BLANC FRANCARD, PHILIPPE ZDAR, RYAN TEDDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Geniune Grace
I honestly think that this song is grossly underrated. It's one of the best tracks on the album, and it invokes a kind of nostalgia in me. I just love it.
Jalyn Perez
Like, every one of their songs make you feel like you're in a movie. I luv them!!!
InsecureFro
Haven't heard this song in a while-I love it and the vibe and feel to it
Anan Brooke
This song is so underrated!!
Seany
Anna Wener yep
avrilroxxss
are there any live performances of this song? this is one of my favorites off the album!
Acca
<3 One Republic, The Worlds Greatest Band <3
eden
Acca you mean ONE of the world's greatest bands. can't forget imagine dragons
Chris Smith
I really really hope 1R would someday release songs like this as a single, along with Colors, Tyrant, Can't Stop, etc
Lei
This song should've been on the standard version of the album, not as a bonus track! I absolutely love this tune.