“The Reason” is a song by American rock band Hoobastank. Released on January 26, 2004, as the second single from their second studio album of the same name, the power ballad[4][5] is Hoobastank’s most commercially successful single, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. In 2005, it was nominated for two categories at the 47th Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[6] Internationally, “The Reason” reached number one in Canada and Italy and peaked within the top 10 in 10 other countries.
Chart performance
On March 20, 2004, the song debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 62, becoming that week’s “Hot Shot Debut”.[7] It reached its peak of number two after 13 more weeks on the listing, giving the band their highest-charting US single. Though it remained on the chart for 38 issues, it was their last Hot 100 hit.[8] The single peaked atop the Billboard Adult Pop Songs, Modern Rock Tracks, and Mainstream Top 40 charts.[9][10][11] In Canada, it topped Radio & Records’ CHR/Pop, Hot AC, and Rock charts.[12][13][14]
In Europe, “The Reason” reached number one on the Italian Singles Chart and the UK Rock & Metal Chart for two weeks each.[15][16] On the UK Singles Chart, it debuted and peaked at number 12.[17] Across the rest of Europe, the track entered the top 10 in Austria,[18] the Czech Republic,[19] Greece,[20] the Netherlands,[21] Norway,[22] Sweden,[23] Switzerland,[24] and Wallonia.[25] It was also successful in Oceania, reaching number seven in Australia and number five in New Zealand.[26][27]
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Brett Simon.[28] In it, the band members stage a diversion so they can carry out the elaborate theft of a ruby gem from a pawnshop, but those facts are only clear after enough of the action unfolds: nothing is as it seems. At the beginning of the video, a woman (played by Serbian model Nevena Milicevic)[29] gets hit by a car driven by vocalist Doug Robb. After the “accident”, while everyone’s attention is diverted, Chris Hesse and Dan Estrin execute the heist. The viewer then realizes that she was in on the operation, as she gets up and rides off with an accomplice on a motorcycle at the end. The presumed owner of the pawnshop displays a look of realization, and the song ends with the band admiring their new acquisition, holding it up to the light and projecting red light-rays onto the ceiling. The accident’s “victim” is also present. They then hear police sirens from above, and the video fades out.
Their music video “Same Direction” is intended as both a sequel and a prequel to the video for “The Reason” and further details the band member’s roles, as well as showing the trouble they bring down on themselves from law enforcement.[30]
Track listings
UK CD1[31]
"The Reason" – 3:52
"Crawling in the Dark" (acoustic version) – 3:09
UK CD2[32]
"The Reason" – 3:52
"Out of Control" (live) – 2:52
"Running Away" – 2:59
"The Reason" (video) – 3:52
UK 7-inch single[33]
A. "The Reason" – 3:53
B. "Out of Control" (live) – 2:52
European CD single[34]
"The Reason" (album version) – 3:52
"Meet Hoobastank" – 5:49
Australian CD single[35]
"The Reason" (album version) – 3:52
"Meet Hoobastank" – 5:49
"Crawling in the Dark" (acoustic version) – 3:09
"The Reason" (video)
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the US promo CD liner notes and The Reason booklet.[36][37]
Studios
Recorded at Bay 7 Studios (Valley Village, Los Angeles) and Sparky Dark Studios (Calabasas, California)
Strings recorded at Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California)
Mixed at Image Recording (Hollywood, California)
Mastered at Precision Mastering (Los Angeles)
Personnel
Daniel Estrin – music, guitar
Douglas Robb – lyrics, vocals
Markku Lappalainen – bass
Chris Hesse – drums
Howard Benson – production
Mike Plotnikoff – recording
Casey Stone – recording (strings)
Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
Deborah Lurie – string arrangement
Tom Baker – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts
2004 weekly chart performance for “The Reason” Chart (2004) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[26] 7
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[38] 12
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[25] 7
Canada AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[39] 3
Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[12] 1
Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[13] 1
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[14] 1
Czech Republic (IFPI)[19] 2
Denmark (Tracklisten)[40] 20
Germany (Official German Charts)[41] 15
Greece (IFPI)[20] 8
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[42] 20
Ireland (IRMA)[43] 35
Italy (FIMI)[15] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44] 16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[22] 9
Scotland (OCC)[45] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 6
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 12
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[16] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[46] 17
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[9] 1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[10] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[47] 4
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 1
2021 weekly chart performance for “The Reason” Chart (2021) Peak
position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[48] 25
Year-end charts
Year-end chart performance for “The Reason” Chart (2004) Position
Australia (ARIA)[49] 58
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[50] 31
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[51] 97
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[52] 55
Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 75
Italy (FIMI)[54] 48
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[55] 28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[56] 96
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[57] 43
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[58] 82
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[59] 44
UK Singles (OCC)[60] 177
US Billboard Hot 100[61] 6
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[62] 2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[63] 2
All-time charts
All-time chart performance for “The Reason” Chart Position
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[64] 27
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[65] 52
Certifications
Certifications and sales for “The Reason” Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[66] Gold 35,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[67] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[68] Gold 150,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[69] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[71]
Digital 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[72]
Mastertone Gold 500,000*
Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Release history
Release dates and formats for “The Reason” Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 26, 2004 Alternative radio Island [73]
February 4, 2004
Mainstream rockactive rock radio
[74]
February 23, 2004
Contemporary hithot adult contemporary radio
[75]
Australia May 17, 2004 CD [76]
United Kingdom May 31, 2004 7-inch vinyl Mercury [77]
In popular culture
The song appeared on the PlayStation 2 music video game SingStar.[78] “The Reason” also appeared in the first episode of the 2023 Netflix comedy-drama series Beef.[4]
“The Reason” is a song by American rock band Hoobastank. Released on January 26, 2004, as the second single from their second studio album of the same name, the power ballad[4][5] is Hoobastank’s most commercially successful single, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. In 2005, it was nominated for two categories at the 47th Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[6] Internationally, “The Reason” reached number one in Canada and Italy and peaked within the top 10 in 10 other countries. Chart performance
On March 20, 2004, the song debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 62, becoming that week’s “Hot Shot Debut”.[7] It reached its peak of number two after 13 more weeks on the listing, giving the band their highest-charting US single. Though it remained on the chart for 38 issues, it was their last Hot 100 hit.[8] The single peaked atop the Billboard Adult Pop Songs, Modern Rock Tracks, and Mainstream Top 40 charts.[9][10][11] In Canada, it topped Radio & Records’ CHR/Pop, Hot AC, and Rock charts.[12][13][14]
In Europe, “The Reason” reached number one on the Italian Singles Chart and the UK Rock & Metal Chart for two weeks each.[15][16] On the UK Singles Chart, it debuted and peaked at number 12.[17] Across the rest of Europe, the track entered the top 10 in Austria,[18] the Czech Republic,[19] Greece,[20] the Netherlands,[21] Norway,[22] Sweden,[23] Switzerland,[24] and Wallonia.[25] It was also successful in Oceania, reaching number seven in Australia and number five in New Zealand.[26][27] Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Brett Simon.[28] In it, the band members stage a diversion so they can carry out the elaborate theft of a ruby gem from a pawnshop, but those facts are only clear after enough of the action unfolds: nothing is as it seems. At the beginning of the video, a woman (played by Serbian model Nevena Milicevic)[29] gets hit by a car driven by vocalist Doug Robb. After the “accident”, while everyone’s attention is diverted, Chris Hesse and Dan Estrin execute the heist. The viewer then realizes that she was in on the operation, as she gets up and rides off with an accomplice on a motorcycle at the end. The presumed owner of the pawnshop displays a look of realization, and the song ends with the band admiring their new acquisition, holding it up to the light and projecting red light-rays onto the ceiling. The accident’s “victim” is also present. They then hear police sirens from above, and the video fades out.
Their music video “Same Direction” is intended as both a sequel and a prequel to the video for “The Reason” and further details the band member’s roles, as well as showing the trouble they bring down on themselves from law enforcement.[30] Track listings
UK CD1[31]
UK CD2[32]
UK 7-inch single[33]
European CD single[34]
Australian CD single[35]
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the US promo CD liner notes and The Reason booklet.[36][37]
Studios
Personnel
Charts Weekly charts 2004 weekly chart performance for “The Reason” Chart (2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[26] 7 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[38] 12 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[25] 7 Canada AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[39] 3 Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[12] 1 Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[13] 1 Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[14] 1 Czech Republic (IFPI)[19] 2 Denmark (Tracklisten)[40] 20 Germany (Official German Charts)[41] 15 Greece (IFPI)[20] 8 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[42] 20 Ireland (IRMA)[43] 35 Italy (FIMI)[15] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 9 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 5 Norway (VG-lista)[22] 9 Scotland (OCC)[45] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[17] 12 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[16] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 2 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[46] 17 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[9] 1 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[10] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[47] 4 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 1 2021 weekly chart performance for “The Reason” Chart (2021) Peak position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[48] 25
Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for “The Reason” Chart (2004) Position Australia (ARIA)[49] 58 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[50] 31 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[51] 97 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[52] 55 Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 75 Italy (FIMI)[54] 48 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[55] 28 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[56] 96 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[57] 43 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[58] 82 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[59] 44 UK Singles (OCC)[60] 177 US Billboard Hot 100[61] 6 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[62] 2 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[63] 2 All-time charts All-time chart performance for “The Reason” Chart Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[64] 27 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[65] 52
Certifications Certifications and sales for “The Reason” Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[66] Gold 35,000^ Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[67] Gold 45,000‡ Germany (BVMI)[68] Gold 150,000‡ Italy (FIMI)[69] Gold 25,000‡ United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Gold 400,000‡ United States (RIAA)[71] Digital 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡ United States (RIAA)[72] Mastertone Gold 500,000*
Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Release history Release dates and formats for “The Reason” Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref. United States January 26, 2004 Alternative radio Island [73] February 4, 2004
Mainstream rockactive rock radio
[74] February 23, 2004
Contemporary hithot adult contemporary radio
[75] Australia May 17, 2004 CD [76] United Kingdom May 31, 2004 7-inch vinyl Mercury [77] In popular culture
The song appeared on the PlayStation 2 music video game SingStar.[78] “The Reason” also appeared in the first episode of the 2023 Netflix comedy-drama series Beef.[4]