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How You Remind Me
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| "How You Remind Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Nickelback | ||||
| from the album Silver Side Up | ||||
| B-side | "Little Friend" | |||
| Released | July 17, 2001 | |||
| Studio | Greenhouse (Burnaby, British Columbia) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:43 | |||
| Label | Roadrunner | |||
| Composer | Nickelback | |||
| Lyricist | Chad Kroeger | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Nickelback singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "How You Remind Me" on YouTube | ||||
"How You Remind Me" is a song by the Canadian rock band Nickelback, released on July 17, 2001, as the lead single from their third studio album, Silver Side Up (2001). Considered Nickelback's signature song,[1] "How You Remind Me" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. By 2010, it had been played more than 1.2 million times on US radio, making it the most-played song of the decade.[2]
The song was ranked fourth on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade and 75th on the UK decade-end chart.[3] It was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. "How You Remind Me" was also rated the number-one rock song and number-four alternative song of the decade of the 2000s by Billboard. In 2024, Consequence included the song in their list of "50 Kick-Butt Post-Grunge Songs We Can Get Behind".[4]
Background
[edit]Lead singer Chad Kroeger had the first four lines of "How You Remind Me", a post-grunge,[5][6][7] hard rock[8] and alternative rock song,[9] written in his black book of notes. One day he got into an argument with his then-girlfriend in their Vancouver apartment. He went to the basement, turned on his recording microphone, and started improvising and singing the song loudly, hoping she would get the message how upset he was. Instead, she told him it sounded great. "Somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour, I had the whole thing fleshed out: lyrics, melody, chords, the whole nine yards," he said.[10]
He added, "It wasn't supposed to be a vengeful anthem; it was supposed to be what it was. I think it always felt like that in the moment, because we just had an argument, and I felt like striking back. But I find it to be a sarcastic look at relationships. [Like the line] 'Are we having fun yet?' That's full sarcasm."[10]
Kroeger brought a skeleton version of the song to his band as a last-minute addition a week before they were to start recording Silver Side Up, and they worked on the song together.[11]
Chart performances and awards
[edit]"How You Remind Me" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Nickelback's only American chart-topper. Due to its high sales and massive airplay, "How You Remind Me" was ranked as the top single of 2002 by Billboard magazine. The single was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2022, for sales and streams of over 4,000,000 units.[12] The song went on to rack up four Billboard Music Awards and four Juno Awards. "How You Remind Me" was the number one Most Played Song of 2002 in the United States, across all formats, according to Billboard Monitor. In 2003, the song was nominated for Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards. "How You Remind Me" was the number one song on the Billboard's 2002 Year-End Hot 100 Singles Chart, and VH1 ranked the song as the 16th-greatest power ballad.[13]
The song was listed at number 36 on Billboard's All Time Top 100.[14] In 2021, for the 40th anniversary of the Mainstream Rock chart, Billboard ranked "How You Remind Me" as the fourth-biggest hit in the chart's history;[15][16] the same magazine later ranked the song as the 20th-biggest hit in the history of Alternative Airplay in 2023, for that chart's 35th anniversary.[17][18] The song also hit number one on the Kerrang! feature, 21st Century's Official 100 Rock Best Sellers. The song was the 75th best-selling single of the 2000s in the United Kingdom.[19] In Germany, it's not just the band's best-charting single by reaching number 3 on the German Singles Chart, it's also Nickelback's longest-staying single on that chart, namely a total of 30 weeks.[20] In 2011, Fuse TV named it the number one song of the decade. It was listed as number 9 at the Billboard Hot 100 top 100 Rock Songs of the last 50 years. Loudwire listed the song as number 30 on its list "Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs".[21]
Music video
[edit]The music video for "How You Remind Me" was directed by Greg and Colin Strause and features Nickelback playing a small venue with focus on a female audience member. Kroeger admitted to disliking the idea of a small venue performance at first, opting for a bigger scale arena concert; however, he found the outcome of the video satisfying.
In the video, in scenes that alternate with the concert setting, Kroeger plays a man who is haunted by the memory of his ex-girlfriend (played by model Annie Henley). He constantly imagines or perceives her presence, making the world around him seem vibrant; when he realizes she is not there, the lighting changes to a blue-gray filter. At the end, she attends the concert, where Kroeger's character is also in the crowd. She approaches him but he rejects her; he is depicted physically pushing her away in the memory setting, as well as aggressively singing the song's lyrics at her in the concert setting. She is left alone in the dully lit setting.[22]
Another version of the video exists, and has been played on some UK and Australian music channels. The video simply features the footage of the band playing from the main video, added to footage of the band's live performances and tour movies.
Track listings
[edit]|
US CD single[23]
UK CD single[24]
UK cassette single[25]
|
European CD single[26]
European maxi-CD and Japanese CD single[27][28]
Australian CD single[29]
|
Credits and personnel
[edit]Credits are taken from the Silver Side Up booklet.[30]
Studios
- Recorded at Greenhouse Studios (Burnaby, British Columbia)
- Mixed at Armoury Studios (Vancouver, British Columbia)
- Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)
Personnel
- Nickelback – music, production
- Chad Kroeger – lyrics, lead vocals, guitars
- Ryan Peake – guitars, vocals
- Mike Kroeger – bass
- Ryan "Nik" Vikedal – drums
- Rick Parashar – production
- Joey Moi – engineering, digital editing
- Pat "Sajak" Sharman – assistant engineering
- Alex Aligizakis – assistant engineering, Pro Tools
- Geoff Ott – assistant engineering
- Kevin "Chief" Zaruk – production cooradination
- Randy Staub – mixing
- George Marino – mastering
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
All-time charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[99] | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[100] | Gold | 20,000* |
| Belgium (BRMA)[101] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[102] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| France (SNEP)[103] | Gold | 250,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[104] | Gold | 250,000^ |
| Italy (FIMI)[105] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[106] | 5× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[107] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| Sweden (GLF)[108] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[109] | Gold | 20,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[110] | 4× Platinum | 2,400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[12] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | July 17, 2001 | Roadrunner | [111] | |
| Australia | September 10, 2001 | CD | [112] | |
| United States | October 9, 2001 | Contemporary hit radio | [113] | |
| United Kingdom | February 25, 2002 | CD | [114][115] | |
| Japan | March 21, 2002 | [116] |
Avril Lavigne version
[edit]| "How You Remind Me" | |
|---|---|
Two-track CD edition cover | |
| Promotional single by Avril Lavigne | |
| from the album One Piece Film: Z and Avril Lavigne | |
| A-side | "Bad Reputation" |
| Released | December 12, 2012 |
| Recorded | 2012 |
| Studio | Conway (Los Angeles)[117] |
| Length | 4:05 |
| Label | |
| Songwriters |
|
| Audio | |
| "How You Remind Me" on YouTube | |
Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne recorded a version of "How You Remind Me" for the anime film One Piece Film: Z. It was reported on October 17, 2012, that Lavigne would be contributing two cover songs to the film: the latter track and a cover of Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation".[118] Lavigne later confirmed the new recording on November 5, 2012.[119] It was released on December 12, 2012, as a digital download from the One Piece Film: Z Original Soundtrack.[120] The 2-track promotional CD single was released on the next day, exclusive to Japan.[citation needed]
The song was re-released on December 19, 2013, by iTunes Stores as a digital download promotional single for her self-titled fifth album.[121] Later, it was included in the Japan, Taiwan and China Tour Edition of the album as one of the bonus tracks.[122]
Background
[edit]Lavigne was in the studio with Kroeger working on her fifth studio album when she was asked to contribute a song to the film, but didn't have time to write another song during the studio sessions they had left. Kroeger later explained that it was Lavigne's idea to cover the song, stating:
"Avril jokingly suggested to cover a Nickelback song, but then we both figured it'd actually be a good idea to do "How You Remind Me". We recorded a version more similar to the original, but we both were not happy with it, thinking it needs its own spin. Avril then rearranged the song and we all liked it."
An audio-only video was put on Lavigne's official Vevo on January 8, 2013.[123]
Track listings
[edit]CD single
- "How You Remind Me" – 4:05
- "Bad Reputation" – 2:42
Digital download[121]
- "How You Remind Me" – 4:05
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | December 12, 2012 | CD | Sony Japan | |
| United States | December 19, 2013 | Digital download | Epic | [121] |
| Canada | [124] |
Other versions
[edit]Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti released a cover of the song entitled "Όλα αυτά που φοβάμαι" ("All My Fears") in her 2004 album Να σε δω να γελάς (To See You Laugh).[125][126]
In popular culture
[edit]The song played a large role in a Saturday Night Live skit on March 10, 2018, with Sterling K. Brown in which the lyrics are a dying old woman named Mrs. Gomez (Melissa Villaseñor)'s final words.[127]
References
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How You Remind Me
View on GrokipediaOriginal Nickelback version
Background and development
The song "How You Remind Me" was inspired by a heated argument between Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger and his then-girlfriend Jodi, stemming from their dysfunctional relationship while living together in a Vancouver apartment in 2000.[5][6] Kroeger channeled his frustration and lingering affection into the lyrics, aiming for a sarcastic tone to deliver what he described as a "back-handed slap" to her, with lines like "It's not like you to say sorry" reflecting the emotional turmoil.[7] Following the argument, Kroeger quickly composed the track in his basement, completing the initial writing process in approximately 45 minutes during a late-night session; he had the chorus and title ready and simply added the verses on the spot.[1] He demoed the lyrics by shouting them into a microphone, an early version that his girlfriend unexpectedly enjoyed, which somewhat undermined his intent.[7] This rapid creation marked a pivotal moment, as the band refined the demo with added dynamic elements, such as pauses in the chorus suggested by guitarist Ryan Peake, before full production.[7] The song was recorded in 2001 at Greenhouse Studios in Burnaby, British Columbia, under the production of Rick Parashar, with Kroeger on vocals and guitar, Peake on guitar, Mike Kroeger on bass, and Ryan Vikedal on drums.[8][9] Initially viewed as a potential album track, it was ultimately selected as the lead single for Nickelback's third studio album, Silver Side Up, after the band reconsidered alternatives like "Never Again"; this choice came amid high stakes, as the album was positioned as a make-or-break effort following modest sales of their prior independent and early major-label releases.[7] Nickelback's shift from independent status—having self-released their 1996 debut Curb and issued 1998's The State through smaller Canadian labels—to signing with major label Roadrunner Records in 1999 significantly shaped the song's polished production style, providing greater resources and international distribution for Silver Side Up.[10][11] This transition allowed for a more professional recording environment and broader sonic experimentation, aligning with the band's ambition to achieve mainstream breakthrough.[7]Composition and lyrics
"How You Remind Me" is classified as a post-grunge song with elements of hard rock and alternative rock, drawing influences from 1990s grunge through its raw emotional delivery and guitar-driven sound.[12][13] The track follows a standard verse-chorus form, structured around introspective verses building to anthemic choruses, and is performed in the key of C minor at a tempo of 172 beats per minute (BPM), with a half-time feel at 86 BPM, and a total duration of 3:43.[14][15][16] Musically, it features prominent distorted electric guitars providing a heavy riff backbone, driving drum patterns that emphasize the mid-tempo groove, and bass lines that support the rhythmic foundation, all underpinned by lead singer Chad Kroeger's raspy, emotive vocals.[17][18] Lyrically, the song explores themes of regret and emotional turmoil in a dysfunctional, toxic relationship, where the narrator confronts personal flaws and the pain of constant criticism from a partner; central lines such as "This is how you remind me / Of what I really am" encapsulate the self-recrimination and heartbreak at its core.[5][19] Songwriting credits are attributed to the band's four members—Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake, and Ryan Vikedal—with Kroeger primarily responsible for the lyrics.[20][16][19]Music video
The music video for "How You Remind Me" was directed by brothers Greg and Colin Strause and filmed in Vancouver, Canada, in 2001.[21][22] It intercuts high-energy live concert footage of the band performing at a small venue with a narrative storyline featuring lead singer Chad Kroeger as a man haunted by memories of his ex-girlfriend, played by model Annie Henley, following their breakup.[23][22] Kroeger confronts the tension in their past relationship through symbolic scenes of emotional confrontation and rejection, culminating in him turning away from her plea for forgiveness as she stands heartbroken.[23] The visual style employs dramatic lighting shifts—bright and warm for positive memories, dark and shadowy for painful ones—alongside intense performance shots to convey the song's themes of regret and emotional turmoil.[22] Behind the scenes, Kroeger expressed initial concerns about the video's intimate, low-key scale compared to the band's growing arena performances but ultimately appreciated its focus on authenticity.[22] Released in August 2001, the video received heavy rotation on MTV and VH1, playing a key role in the song's mainstream breakthrough.[21][24]Critical reception
Upon its release in 2001 as the lead single from Nickelback's album Silver Side Up, "How You Remind Me" garnered mixed critical reception, with reviewers praising its anthemic chorus and raw emotional delivery while critiquing its adherence to post-grunge conventions. The song's structure, building from introspective verses to a powerful, guitar-driven hook, was highlighted for its cathartic impact and Chad Kroeger's vulnerable baritone vocals, which conveyed relationship turmoil with a sense of authenticity. In a retrospective analysis, Stereogum lauded the track as "pretty fucking good," noting its effective use of quiet-to-loud dynamics and its ability to rock in a way that suits solitary listening, assigning it an 8/10 rating.[25] However, contemporary reviews often dismissed the song as formulaic, emblematic of Nickelback's repetitive post-grunge sound lacking innovation. Rolling Stone's album review described the material, including "How You Remind Me," as professionally executed but derivative, with nearly every track sounding alike and offering little originality, resulting in a 2.5-out-of-5-star rating for Silver Side Up.[26] Similarly, NME critiqued the single's bland, coffee-shop-ready sincerity, portraying it as unremarkable arena rock from a band that seemed more suited to background playlists than bold artistic statements.[27] Retrospective views have solidified "How You Remind Me" as Nickelback's signature hit, enduring as an earworm and karaoke staple despite the band's intense backlash in the 2010s, fueled by online memes and widespread mockery of their music. While some outlets like Vice revisited Silver Side Up harshly, calling it "audio sludge" with hollow sentiments over distorted riffs, others acknowledged the song's lasting appeal in capturing post-grunge angst at its commercial peak.[28][29] This mixed legacy reflects broader criticisms of Nickelback's lyrics, including accusations of misogynistic undertones in their relational themes—though "How You Remind Me" centers more on self-reproach—contrasted by its validation through massive popularity.[30]Commercial performance
Chart performance
"How You Remind Me" achieved significant commercial success on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number one for four consecutive weeks from December 8, 2001, to January 5, 2002.[25] The track spent a total of 58 weeks on the chart, marking it as one of the longest-running singles of its era. It also topped the year-end Billboard Hot 100 for 2002 and ranked fourth on the decade-end Hot 100 Songs of the 2000s.[31][32] On rock-oriented formats, the song performed exceptionally well, holding the number-one position for 13 weeks on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and 13 weeks on the Alternative Airplay chart. Its radio dominance extended across the decade, with "How You Remind Me" becoming the most-played song on U.S. radio during the 2000s, accumulating over 1.2 million spins by the end of 2009.[25][13] Internationally, the single reached number one in several markets, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, while entering the top 10 in countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany. In Ireland, it peaked at number seven. The following table summarizes select peak positions on major national charts:| Country | Peak Position | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 1 | https://top40-charts.com/songs/main.php?sid=1082&sort=chartid |
| Canada (RPM) | 1 | https://www.billboard.com/artist/nickelback/ |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 8 | https://top40-charts.com/songs/main.php?sid=1082&sort=chartid |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 7 | https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/nickelback-how-you-remind-me/ |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 1 | https://www.facebook.com/Nickelback/posts/its-been-21-years-since-how-you-remind-me-spent-11-weeks-at-1-on-the-billboard-r/667363998085395/ |
| United Kingdom (OCC) | 4 | https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/nickelback-how-you-remind-me/ |
| United States (Billboard Hot 100) | 1 | https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2001-12-08/ |
Awards and certifications
"How You Remind Me" received multiple accolades following its release, including three Billboard Music Awards in 2002 for Hot 100 Single of the Year, Hot 100 Airplay Single of the Year, and Top 40 Track of the Year.[33] At the 2002 Juno Awards, the track won Single of the Year, while Nickelback secured additional honors for Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year for its parent album Silver Side Up, resulting in three Juno Awards tied to the song's impact.[34] In 2002, "How You Remind Me" was awarded the SOCAN Songwriting Award for Rock Music, recognizing its top radio airplay performance in Canada for 2001.[35] The song received a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003.[1] It was also nominated for Best Song at the 2002 MTV Europe Music Awards.[36]| Region | Certification | Accredited Units | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ | October 1, 2002 |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Diamond | 800,000 | 2008 |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000 | April 22, 2022 |
| United States (RIAA) | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000 | November 11, 2022 |
Release details
Track listings and formats
"How You Remind Me" was initially released as a single in 2001 by Roadrunner Records in various physical formats, including CD singles, maxi-singles, and cassettes, with track configurations varying by region to include the album version alongside B-sides such as acoustic renditions and additional tracks like "Little Friend" or "Leader of Men (acoustic)."[42] Regional differences were notable; for instance, the European releases often featured three tracks on CD maxi-singles, while U.S. versions were typically two-track CD singles.[43] Promotional formats included CD-Rs with alternative mixes, and an acoustic version was issued separately in 2002 as a promo CDr.[44] The single was later adapted for digital distribution, with downloads available on iTunes starting in 2003 and streaming on platforms like Spotify introduced in the 2010s as part of the album Silver Side Up.[41]| Format | Region | Track Listing | Catalog Number | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD Single | US | 1. "How You Remind Me" (LP version) – 3:43 2. "Leader of Men" (acoustic version) – 3:29 | Not specified | 2001 | Standard commercial release with acoustic B-side.[45] |
| CD Maxi-Single | Europe (Netherlands) | 1. "How You Remind Me" – 3:45 2. "How You Remind Me" (acoustic) – 3:30 3. "Little Friend" – 3:48 | RR 5098.2 | 2001 | Includes additional non-album track "Little Friend" as B-side.[43] |
| Cassette Single | Europe | 1. "How You Remind Me" – 3:45 2. "How You Remind Me" (acoustic) – 3:30 | 23 203324 | 2001 | Two-track version focused on the title track and its acoustic remix.[46] |
| CDr Promo (Single) | Europe | 1. "How You Remind Me" (acoustic version) – 3:28 | Not specified | 2002 | Promotional release featuring the 2002 acoustic remix.[44] |
| Digital Download | Global | 1. "How You Remind Me" – 3:43 | N/A | 2003 | iTunes release of the album version. |
| Streaming | Global | 1. "How You Remind Me" – 3:43 | N/A | 2010s | Available on Spotify as part of digital catalog expansion.[41] |

