Kryptonite (song)

"Kryptonite"
Single by 3 Doors Down
from the album The Better Life
Released	January 17, 2000
Format	CD
Genre	Post-grunge, alternative rock
Length	3:56 (Album Version) 3:44 (Top 40 Edit)
Label	Universal Republic Records, Universal Records/Universal Republic Group
Writer(s)	Brad Arnold, Matt Roberts, Todd Harrell
Certification	2x Platinum (RIAA)
3 Doors Down singles chronology
"Kryptonite" (2000) "Loser" (2000)

"Kryptonite" is a song by the American rock band 3 Doors Down. It was originally released as a demo for local play by 97.9 WCPR-FM in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Composition and Inspiration

The song was written by drummer/vocalist Brad Arnold in a mathematics class when he was fifteen, and was one of the first songs he ever wrote.

In terms of the song's meaning Arnold has said

"that song seems like it's really just kind of like asking a question. Its question is kind of a strange one. It's not just asking, “If I fall down, will you be there for me?” Because it's easy to be there for someone when they're down. But it's not always easy to be there for somebody when they're doing good. And that's the question it's asking. It's like, “If I go crazy, will you still call me Superman?” It's asking, “If I'm down, will you still be there for me?” But at the same time, “If I'm alive and well, will you be there holding my hand?” That's kind of asking, “If I'm doing good, will you be there for me? Will you not be jealous of me?” That's the basic question that song's asking, and maybe throughout the years of singing that song, I might have come up with more meanings for it than it actually might have originally had."

Release and reception

After the song's release, it began to garner significant radio play. This allowed it to reach its high position in the charts and give 3 Doors Down their breakthrough hit. As a result of the popularity of the single, along with the fame of the other less known singles, The Better Life went on to sell over six million copies. The song still remains 3 Doors Down's best known song to this day, and many fans consider it to be their signature song. The song plays during the freestyle of Superman monster truck at Monster Jam events.

In September 2009 "Kryptonite" was included on the setlist for the music video game Guitar Hero 5. Users on the Guitar Hero website have voted the song as the most popular from the game's main setlist. It was also released at Downloadable Content for "Rock Band".

Music video

Directed by Dean Karr, the music video presents an old man who was a big time action hero on TV. The scene cuts between the band hanging around on the roof of the apartments where the old man lives, spying on a man harassing a woman. When the man drags her away, the old man dons his trusty suit and follows. In between shots of the old hero chasing the bad guy and failing to protect himself against a group of goths, the band is shown playing in a club with several other elderly people dressed as caricatures of comic villains. The video comes to a close when the old man dives through the skylight and catches the bad guy off guard, possibly knocking him out by falling on top of him. The video ends with the old man smiling, giving a thumbs up to the camera.

Track listing

U.S. version

1. "Kryptonite" (Top 40 Edit) - 3:44
2. "Kryptonite" (Album version) - 3:54

U.S. version enhanced

1. "Kryptonite" (LP version) - 3:55
2. "Wasted Me" (Previously unreleased) - 3:11
3. "Duck and Run" (LP version) - 3:52

UK version

1. "Kryptonite" (LP version) - 3:55
2. "Smack" (LP version) - 2:30

AUS version enhanced

1. "Kryptonite" (LP version) - 3:55
2. "Wasted Me" - 3:11
3. "Duck and Run" (Album version) - 3:52
4. "Kryptonite" (Video) - 3:53

German version

1. "Kryptonite" (LP version) - 3:55
2. "Wasted Me" - 3:11
3. "Life of My Own" (Live from Atlanta) - 4:36
4. "Kryptonite" (Acoustic)

Dutch version enhanced

1. "Kryptonite" (LP version) 3:55
2. "Wasted Me" - 3:11
3. "Duck and Run" (LP version) 3:52
4. "Kryptonite" (Video) 3:53

Chart performance

Peak positions

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	8
Canadian RPM Singles Chart	6
Canadian RPM Rock/Alternative Chart	1
German Singles Chart	85
Netherlands Singles Chart	21
New Zealand Singles Chart	13
UK Rock Chart	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	3
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40	4
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2000)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	15

Preceded by "Stiff Upper Lip" by AC/DC	Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks number-one single April 8, 2000 – June 3, 2000	Succeeded by "I Disappear" by Metallica
Preceded by "Otherside" by Red Hot Chili Peppers	Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks number-one single May 20, 2000 – July 29, 2000	Succeeded by "Last Resort" by Papa Roach
Preceded by "Jumpin', Jumpin'" by Destiny's Child	Billboard Pop Songs number-one single September 30, 2000 - October 21, 2000	Succeeded by "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed
Preceded by "Everything You Want" by Vertical Horizon	Canadian RPM Rock/Alternative 30 number-one single May 8, 2000 – June 5, 2000 June 26, 2000 – July 24, 2000	Succeeded by "Bent" by Matchbox 20 "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed

See also

• Kryptonite
• Superman in other media

External links

• "Kryptonite" Official music video on YouTube