It's Been Awhile

"It's Been Awhile"
"It's Been Awhile"
Single by Staind
from the album Break the Cycle
Released	March 27, 2001
Genre	Post-grunge; nu metal; alternative metal; hard rock;
Length	4:25
Label	Flip; Elektra;
Songwriters	Aaron Lewis; Mike Mushok; Johnny April; Jon Wysocki;
Producer	Josh Abraham
Staind singles chronology
Music video
	"It's Been Awhile" on YouTube

"It's Been Awhile" is a song by American rock band Staind, released on March 27, 2001, as the lead single from their third studio album, Break the Cycle (2001). The song is Staind's most successful, becoming a number-five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 2001. It spent a second-best 20 weeks at number one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart (behind "Loser" by 3 Doors Down) and a then-record 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.^[7] Worldwide, the single became a top-20 hit in Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Background

Aaron Lewis originally wrote this song around 1996 along with "Outside" slightly prior to the release of Dysfunction and performed it with a short-lived acoustic side project called J-CAT, before abruptly shelving it until 2000 during the recording sessions of Break the Cycle.^[8]^[9]

Reception

Eric Aiese of Billboard reviewed the song favorably, saying that the group handles the ballad well and packs "a lot of punch into the cut." Aiese said that the song "may be the group's greatest splash yet."^[10]

Music video

The music video was directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. It had its world premiere on MTV's Total Request Live program on April 13, 2001.^[11] The music video begins with Aaron Lewis going through some old photographs, one of which is a picture of his wife. The video switches between him writing a letter to his wife and the band performing in a room full of candles. There are brief shots of Aaron alone in the streets and looking at himself in the mirror while having second thoughts. Throughout the video, Aaron is seen smoking cigarettes. At the end of the video, one of those cigarettes falls onto the floor and burns down his apartment.

Track listings

UK CD1^[12]

"It's Been Awhile" (clean edit) – 3:51
"Suffocate" – 3:17
"It's Been Awhile" (album version) – 4:25
"It's Been Awhile" (enhanced video)

UK CD2^[13]

"It's Been Awhile" (live version) – 4:40
"Spleen" – 4:40
"It's Been Awhile" (acoustic version) – 4:31

European CD single^[14]

"It's Been Awhile" (edit) – 3:56
"It's Been Awhile" (acoustic version) – 4:31

Australian maxi-CD single^[15]

"It's Been Awhile" (edit) – 3:56
"It's Been Awhile" (acoustic version) – 4:31
"Suffocate" – 3:17

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "It's Been Awhile"
Chart (2001–2002)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[16]	24
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[17]	54
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[18]	46
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)^[19]	4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[20]	39
Germany (GfK)^[21]	43
Ireland (IRMA)^[22]	18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[23]	7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[24]	19
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[25]	13
Scotland (OCC)^[26]	12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[27]	23
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[28]	79
UK Singles (OCC)^[29]	15
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[30]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[31]	5
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[32]	9
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[33]	6
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[34]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[35]	1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[36]	3
US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)^[37]	4

Year-end charts

2001 year-end chart performance for "It's Been Awhile"
Chart (2001)	Position
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)^[38]	6
New Zealand (RIANZ)^[39]	50
US Billboard Hot 100^[40]	14
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[41]	22
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[42]	1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[43]	13
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[44]	2
US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)^[41]	23

2002 year-end chart performance for "It's Been Awhile"
Chart (2002)	Position
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)^[45]	80
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[46]	28

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "It's Been Awhile"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[47]	Gold	35,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[48]	Platinum	30,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[49]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[50]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "It's Been Awhile"
Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	March 27, 2001	Active rock alternative radio	Flip Elektra	^[51]
United States	May 22, 2001	Contemporary hit radio		^[52]
Australia	June 18, 2001	CD		^[53]
United Kingdom	September 3, 2001	CD cassette		^[54]

References

^ Geffen, Sasha (October 7, 2013). "In Defense of Post-Grunge Music". Consequence. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
^ Graves, Wren (May 20, 2024). "50 Best Post-Grunge Songs". Consequence. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
^ "10 Nü-Metal Songs That Don't Totally Suck". September 12, 2019.
^ Gary Suarez (December 12, 2012). "Aaron Lewis: The Road". PopMatters. Retrieved May 2, 2021. Strip off a few pesky layers of grime from a nu metal power ballad like "It's Been Awhile" or "Outside" and you'll find a country song hidden at its core.
^ Grierson, Tim. "Top 10 Essential Alt-Metal Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
^ Ramanand, Liz (June 28, 2012). "No. 34: Staind, 'It's Been Awhile' - Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 595.
^ "J-CAT - It's been Awhile". Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
^ Halbersberg, Elianne (September 2001). "Staind". mixonline. Mix Online. Retrieved September 1, 2001.
^ Aiese, Eric (May 12, 2001). "Billboard". Google Books. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
^ "UTRL - daily recap". Archived from the original on March 24, 2002. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
^ It's Been Awhile (UK CD1 liner notes). Staind. Flip Records, Elektra Records. 2001. E7252CD1, 7559-67252-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ It's Been Awhile (UK CD2 liner notes). Staind. Flip Records, Elektra Records. 2001. E7252CD2, 7559-67253-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ It's Been Awhile (European CD single liner notes). Staind. Flip Records, Elektra Records. 2001. 7559-67248-5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ It's Been Awhile (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Staind. Flip Records, Elektra Records. 2001. 7559-67228-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Staind – It's Been Awhile". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^ "Staind – It's Been Awhile" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^ "Staind – It's Been Awhile" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^ "Canadian Top 20 in 2001" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 39. September 22, 2001. p. 11. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
^ "Staind – It's Been Awhile" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's Been Awhile". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Staind" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^ "Staind – It's Been Awhile" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Staind – It's Been Awhile". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Staind – It's Been Awhile". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^ "Staind – It's Been Awhile". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
^ "Staind: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Staind Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Staind Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Staind Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Staind Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
^ "Staind Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
^ "Staind Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 42. October 20, 2001. p. 67.
^ "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 1, 2002. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
^ "End of Year Charts 2001". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "The Year in Music 2001". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-82.
^ "The Year in Music 2001: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-70.
^ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 60.
^ "The Year in Music 2001: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-72.
^ "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
^ "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 16.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – Staind – It's Been Awhile". Radioscope. Retrieved December 30, 2024. Type It's Been Awhile in the "Search:" field.
^ "British single certifications – Staind – It's Been Awhile". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "American single certifications – Staind – It's Been Awhile". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1394. March 23, 2001. pp. 98, 105. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
^ "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1402. May 18, 2001. p. 39. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
^ "The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 18th June 2001" (PDF). ARIA. June 18, 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
^ "New Releases – For Week Starting September 3, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 1, 2001. p. 23. Retrieved August 16, 2021.

[1] Geffen, Sasha (October 7, 2013). "In Defense of Post-Grunge Music". Consequence. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

[2] Graves, Wren (May 20, 2024). "50 Best Post-Grunge Songs". Consequence. Retrieved April 1, 2025.

[3] "10 Nü-Metal Songs That Don't Totally Suck". September 12, 2019.

[4] Gary Suarez (December 12, 2012). "Aaron Lewis: The Road". PopMatters. Retrieved May 2, 2021. Strip off a few pesky layers of grime from a nu metal power ballad like "It's Been Awhile" or "Outside" and you'll find a country song hidden at its core.

[5] Grierson, Tim. "Top 10 Essential Alt-Metal Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2021.

[6] Ramanand, Liz (June 28, 2012). "No. 34: Staind, 'It's Been Awhile' - Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved January 4, 2024.

[7] Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 595.

[8] "J-CAT - It's been Awhile". Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via YouTube.

[9] Halbersberg, Elianne (September 2001). "Staind". mixonline. Mix Online. Retrieved September 1, 2001.

[10] Aiese, Eric (May 12, 2001). "Billboard". Google Books. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved September 15, 2016.

[11] "UTRL - daily recap". Archived from the original on March 24, 2002. Retrieved August 12, 2022.

[12] It's Been Awhile (UK CD1 liner notes). Staind. Flip Records, Elektra Records. 2001. E7252CD1, 7559-67252-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[13] It's Been Awhile (UK CD2 liner notes). Staind. Flip Records, Elektra Records. 2001. E7252CD2, 7559-67253-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[14] It's Been Awhile (European CD single liner notes). Staind. Flip Records, Elektra Records. 2001. 7559-67248-5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[15] It's Been Awhile (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Staind. Flip Records, Elektra Records. 2001. 7559-67228-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Australia_Staind-16] "Staind – It's Been Awhile". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

[sc_Austria_Staind-17] "Staind – It's Been Awhile" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

[sc_Flanders_Staind-18] "Staind – It's Been Awhile" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

[19] "Canadian Top 20 in 2001" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved April 11, 2024.

[20] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 39. September 22, 2001. p. 11. Retrieved July 18, 2020.

[sc_Germany_Staind-21] "Staind – It's Been Awhile" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

[sc_Ireland2_-22] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's Been Awhile". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[sc_Dutch40_Staind-23] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Staind" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

[sc_Dutch100_Staind-24] "Staind – It's Been Awhile" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_Staind-25] "Staind – It's Been Awhile". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[sc_Scotland_-26] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[sc_Sweden_Staind-27] "Staind – It's Been Awhile". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

[sc_Switzerland_Staind-28] "Staind – It's Been Awhile". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 21, 2011.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Staind-29] "Staind: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2021.

[sc_UKrock_-30] "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Staind-31] "Staind Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_Staind-32] "Staind Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[sc_Billboardadultpopsongs_Staind-33] "Staind Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_Staind-34] "Staind Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Staind-35] "Staind Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Staind-36] "Staind Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.

[37] "Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 42. October 20, 2001. p. 67.

[38] "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 1, 2002. Retrieved March 26, 2022.

[39] "End of Year Charts 2001". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[40] "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.

[usat40ye-41] "The Year in Music 2001". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-82.

[42] "The Year in Music 2001: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-70.

[43] "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 60.

[44] "The Year in Music 2001: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-72.

[45] "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022.

[46] "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 16.

[AustraliasingleCertRef-47] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[New_ZealandStaindIt's_Been_AwhilesingleCertRef-48] "New Zealand single certifications – Staind – It's Been Awhile". Radioscope. Retrieved December 30, 2024. Type It's Been Awhile in the "Search:" field.

[United_KingdomStaindIt's_Been_AwhilesingleCertRef-49] "British single certifications – Staind – It's Been Awhile". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[RIAA-50] "American single certifications – Staind – It's Been Awhile". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[51] "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1394. March 23, 2001. pp. 98, 105. Retrieved April 21, 2021.

[52] "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1402. May 18, 2001. p. 39. Retrieved April 21, 2021.

[53] "The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 18th June 2001" (PDF). ARIA. June 18, 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved April 21, 2021.

[54] "New Releases – For Week Starting September 3, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 1, 2001. p. 23. Retrieved August 16, 2021.

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v t e Staind
Aaron Lewis Mike Mushok Johnny April Sal Giancarelli Pete McEwan Jon Wysocki
Studio albums	Tormented Dysfunction Break the Cycle 14 Shades of Grey Chapter V The Illusion of Progress Staind Confessions of the Fallen
Compilation albums	The Singles: 1996–2006
Video albums	The Videos
Singles	"Just Go" "Mudshovel" "It's Been Awhile" "Outside" "Fade" "For You" "Price to Play" "So Far Away" "How About You" "Right Here" "Everything Changes" "King of All Excuses" "Believe" "This Is It" "Not Again" "Eyes Wide Open" "Now"
Related articles	Discography

It's Been Awhile

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It's Been Awhile

It's Been Awhile

It's Been Awhile

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It's Been Awhile

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