Kryptonite

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"Kryptonite"
Single by 3 Doors Down
from the album The Better Life
Released	September 12, 2000
Format	CD
Genre	Post-grunge
Length	3:53
Label	Universal Republic Records, Universal Records/Universal Republic Group
Writer(s)	Brad Arnold
Certification	Platinum (RIAA)[1]
3 Doors Down singles chronology
"Kryptonite" (2000) "Loser" (2001)

"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. Later, it was recorded for their first major label album The Better Life. It was successful on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, staying at number one for eleven consecutive weeks, becoming their first song to do so. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending November 11, 2000.^[2]

Song meaning

Lead singer Brad Arnold stated in an interview with Songfacts that "Kryptonite" is not asking the questions in the lyrics, but a hidden question is being asked. The lyrics "If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman?" is really asking "If I fall, will you still be there for me?" while the lyrics "if I'm alive and well, will you be there holding my hand?" is asking "if I'm doing good, will you be there for me? Will you not be jealous of me?"

Arnold was 15 at the time of writing Kryptonite, which was his fourth song ever written.^[3]

Release and inception

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.

Music video

Directed by Dean Karr, the music video presents an old man, who was either a big time action hero on TV, or possibly a real hero in his heyday (it is 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 skylight and "catches" the bad guy off guard.

Track listing

US Version

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

See also

• Kryptonite
• Superman in popular music

References