Kryptonite (song)

Single infobox
Name = Kryptonite


Artist = 3 Doors Down
from Album = The Better Life
Released = August 29, 2000
Format = CD
Genre = Post-grunge
Length = 3:54
Label = Universal Republic Records, Universal Records/Universal Republic Group
Writer = Brad Arnold
Chart position = * #3 (US Billboard Hot 100)
** #1 (US Modern Rock)
Last single = -
This single = "Kryptonite" (2000)
Next single = "Loser" (2000)

"Kryptonite" is a song by American rock band 3 Doors Down from their first album The Better Life. It was successful on the Modern Rock Tracks, staying at #1 for 11 consecutive weeks, becoming their first song to do so, and reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song may be inspired by the rural town in Escatawpa City, Mississippi called Smallville, referring to Smallville from the Superman series of comic books. Fact|date=March 2008

Lyrical Meanings

The meaning of the lyrics of this song may vary upon listeners. One meaning may be about someone who has had to overcome certain events in his or her life that may have been painful. Some may also refer to this song as about someone who, like a superhero, may have gone through hard times such as addictions but is always around and caring for the people that he or she loves, hence the name Kryptonite and the lyric in the chorus "If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman".

Release and Inception

After the song's release, it began to garner much radio play. This allowed it to reach its high position in the charts and give 3 Doors Down their breakthrough. 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 fans have considered it to be their signature song.

Music video

Directed by Dean Karr, the video presents an old man, who was either a big time action hero on TV, or possibly a real hero in his heyday (it's never specified). 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 sky light and 'catches' the bad guy off guard.

Notes

*The song was used in an advertisement for Dragon Ball GT. Fact|date=March 2008
*The album version of Kryptonite features a slightly different arrangement than the original demo version originally played by WCPR-FM circa 1998. WCPR-FM still includes the original version in its rotation.
*The song was used in the comedy film Corky Romano Starring Chris Kattan.
*For a period of time, Nickelodeon had a jukebox in the credits of their shows that played a song when a certain show was about to come on, and each show had its own song on the jukebox. Danny Phantom's song was Kryptonite.
*Jason Varitek, catcher for the Boston Red Sox currently uses the song as his walk-up music.
*David Pedersen, from , released a cover of the song on his debut album Wild at Heart.
* Before MDK was kicked out of Independent Wrestling Company Battle Zone Wrestling for drug charges and intentional causing of injuries to another wrestler, Kryptonite was used as his theme song.
* Kryptonite was used in the US Navys Fighter Fling 2000 @ 11.54 mins
* The song was performed live by the band, along with It's Not My Time at the 2008 State Farm Home Run Derby.

ee also

* Kryptonite
* Superman in popular music