Be Yourself (Audioslave song)

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"Be Yourself"
Beyourself.jpg
Single by Audioslave
from the album Out of Exile
B-side "Super Stupid" (originally performed by Funkadelic)
ReleasedFebruary 2, 2005 (2005-02-02)
Recorded2004
Genre
Length4:39
Label Interscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Rick Rubin
Audioslave singles chronology
"What You Are"
(2004)		"Be Yourself"
(2005)		"Your Time Has Come"
(2005)
"Be Yourself" on YouTube
Audio sample

"Be Yourself" is the first single from the second album of the American rock band Audioslave, Out of Exile . The song was released in 2005 and topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for seven weeks and the Modern Rock Tracks chart for four weeks in 2005.

Contents

Song meaning

The lyrics were inspired by events from the frontman's, Chris Cornell's, own life. "The 'be yourself' part really just came from a lot of things that I've gone through in my life and a lot of different changes and all the different tragedies and all the horrendously stupid mistakes I've made in my personal life, and wanting to be able to make up for those things and wanting to be able to not be ashamed, all that stuff," he explained. "You know, that's the one thing about getting older that's better, and this song kinda says it so simply, to a degree that 10 years ago I would've been embarrassed to put it in a song 'cause it is so simple. But there it is." [2]

Music video

The music video was filmed in an old hotel in downtown Los Angeles and directed by music video veteran Francis Lawrence. It largely consists of footage of the band performing the song in a dark, isolated room with large windows. During the last chorus, lights in the background flash colors of red. Cornell has said that the band modeled the concept after The Beatles' film Let It Be . He said: "If you watch Let It Be, the look of the film makes the band look like it's an important happening. I just wanted to look important, like things looked when I was a child." [3]

Track listing

  1. "Be Yourself" – 4:38
  2. "Like a Stone" (live version)
  3. "Show Me How to Live" (remix by T-Ray) – 4:48
  4. "Be Yourself" (video) – 4:48

Imported version

  1. "Be Yourself" – 4:38
  2. "Super Stupid" (Funkadelic cover) – 3:24
  3. "Show Me How to Live" (remix by T-Ray) – 4:48
  4. "Be Yourself" (video) – 4:48

Vinyl

A. "Be Yourself" – 4:38
B. "Super Stupid" (Funkadelic cover) – 3:24

Charts

Chart (2005-2006)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [4] 34
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [5] 73
Canada Rock Top 30 ( Radio & Records ) [6] 1
France (SNEP) [7] 74
Germany (GfK) [8] 87
Ireland (IRMA) [9] 48
Italy (FIMI) [10] 40
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [11] 91
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [12] 38
Scotland (OCC) [13] 34
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [14] 48
UK Singles (OCC) [15] 40
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [16] 4
US Billboard Hot 100 [17] 32
US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 9
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [19] 1
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [20] 1

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [21] Platinum60,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [22] Platinum30,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Cosores, Philip (July 4, 2017). "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound . p. 7. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Blabbermouth.net - AUDIOSLAVE Frontman Explains Lyrical Inspiration For 'Be Yourself'". Blabbermouth.net. April 8, 2005. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Blabbermouth.net - New AUDIOSLAVE Video Inspired By BEATLES' 'Let It Be'". Blabbermouth.net. April 8, 2005. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Audioslave – Be Yourself". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Audioslave – Be Yourself" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  6. ↑ "RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). p. 59. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Audioslave – Be Yourself" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Audioslave – Be Yourself" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Audioslave". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Audioslave – Be Yourself". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Audioslave – Be Yourself" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Audioslave – Be Yourself". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Audioslave – Be Yourself". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Audioslave Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Audioslave Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Audioslave Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Audioslave Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Audioslave – Be Yourself" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  22. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Audioslave – Cochise". Radioscope. Retrieved February 7, 2025.Type Cochise in the "Search:" field.
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