One Last Breath (Creed song)

Last updated

"One Last Breath"
Creed one last breath.png
Single by Creed
from the album Weathered
ReleasedApril 15, 2002 (2002-04-15)
RecordedMid–late 2001
Studio J. Stanley Productions (Ocoee, Florida, US)
Length3:58
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Creed singles chronology
"Bullets"
(2002)		"One Last Breath"
(2002)		"Hide"
(2002)
Music video
"One Last Breath" on YouTube

"One Last Breath" is a power ballad by American rock band Creed. The band's lead vocalist, Scott Stapp, wrote the song over a period of three weeks and recorded at J. Stanley Productions Inc in Ocoee, Florida. The lyrics of the song are about reflecting on past mistakes and seeking comfort from friends who want to help. It was released in April 2002 as the third single from their third studio album, Weathered (2001).

Contents

The song reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their fourth and final top-10 hit. It also reached number five on the Mainstream Rock chart and Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, number four on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, and number two on the Adult Top 40 chart. Worldwide, the song peaked at number 43 in Australia, number 29 in New Zealand, number 47 in the United Kingdom, where the song was released as a double A-side with "Bullets", and reached number 41 on the Irish Singles Chart.

Writing and recording

We would get excited after we wrote a song because we felt it. We used to have this saying: “Does it pass the goosebump test?” If it didn’t give us goosebumps, we didn’t want to put it on our records. And with “One Last Breath,” we felt it. We knew it was special to us. We knew that we had written something that inspired and resonated with us. And when that happened, we knew it was going to resonate with our fans.

— Scott Stapp, on the writing process for "One Last Breath" [1]

Prior to recording the Weathered album, Creed had agreed that during the tour for Human Clay that no new songs could be written, so that the band members could "live life and have experiences". The band also agreed that they would not listen to any music between the ending of the Human Clay tour and the start of writing sessions for Weathered, so as not to allow any other music to subconsciously influence the band's writing process and to ensure that all the songs came completely from them. "One Last Breath" was written within a three-week period along with all the other material from the album, which was done primarily in Scott Stapp's living room during four-hour sessions, as well as on his Sea Ray cruiser. [2]

Stapp recalls the writing process for the song in a 2024 interview with Spin , stating "I didn’t feel any particular pressure to write a particular kind of song. I don’t think we ever thought that way; we just wrote what we felt. We just got together and created whatever came out, and we put on a record if we liked it." Stapp noted that after they had completed writing the song, the band felt that they had written something inspiration that would resonate with both them and the fans alike. The band would also use something they called "the goosebump test", where the song would have to give them literal goosebumps after the song was completely written, as they did not want to put any material on the record if it did not pass the test. [1]

The song was recorded and mixed at J. Stanley Productions Inc. recording studio in Ocoee, Florida, during the mid to late 2001 using Pro Tools. [3]

Music and lyrics

As with all of Creed's songs, the music was written by guitarist Mark Tremonti. The song is written in the key of D major, with Tremonti playing in standard E tuning and Stapp singing in his traditional baritone with his vocal range spanning from D3-B4. [4] [5] Tremonti stated in an interview with Songfacts that the song contains one of his favorite guitar lines and musical compositions that he ever wrote. [6]

"One Last Breath' is one of my favorite guitar lines, so it's one of my favorite musical compositions for Creed. It's a song that turned out to be one of our biggest songs we ever put out. I think it had some of the most views we've ever had on YouTube, so it's a very important one for the Creed camp." — Tremonti [6]

The lyrics, according to Stapp, were contributed by both he and Tremonti. Stapp recalls writing the lyrics to the verses over a loop of Tremonti's guitar picking, stating that they "came from the bottom of our hearts." He also recalls the artistic chemistry that he and Tremonti had, as well as the spiritual, emotional, and mental connection that would see them each provide lines that they found themselves articulating for each other. Stapp states, "We were on the same wavelength. [A specific lyrical line] may have come from a different place, but it was still one voice, and it was very special. And always straight from the heart." [1]

According to Stapp, the song is about someone crying out for help and realizing the mistakes they've made in their past, as well as being able to lean on one's friends and keeping them close. Stapp also expresses sentiments about how in the minds of "normal, well-adjusted" people, any thoughts of moving beyond this life are not real, and how these surreal thoughts are just flashes-in-the-pan and they would never act upon them. [7]

Further expanding on the meaning behind the song, Stapp recalls that lyrically, "One Last Breath" fit exactly where he personally was at the time, both in mind and spirit. The physical, emotional, and spiritual burnout he was experiencing at the time, which he attributes to the pressure on the band to constantly release new records as well as the aggressive touring schedule, was catching up to him. This, compounded with the taxing effect of the band's meteoric rise in previous years, eventually led him to go down several wrong paths in choosing how to cope with the pressure that would eventually lead to the band's breakup. [1] Mark Tremonti also recalls the song perfectly reflected where the band was at the time, as it was written during the initial stages of the band breaking apart. Calling that period the "darkest time for the band," "One Last Breath" is one of the band's most truthful songs and was "genuinely sung by Scott and genuinely played by us," according to Temonti. [1]

Release and reception

Released on April 15, 2002, [8] as the third single from Weathered, the song was a chart success both in the United States and internationally. "One Last Breath" gave Creed their fourth and final top-10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending a total of 34 weeks on the chart and peaking at number six on the week of September 28, 2002. [9] The song also reached number five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, number four on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, and number two on the Adult Top 40 chart. [10] [11] [12] Internationally, the song peaked at number 43 in Australia and number 29 in New Zealand. [13] [14] In the United Kingdom and Ireland—where the song was released as a double A-side with "Bullets"—it peaked at number 47 on the UK Singles Chart and number 41 on the Irish Singles Chart. [15] [16] It also charted in Germany, peaking at number 89. [17]

Music video

Salvador Dali (pictured in 1939) served as an artistic inspiration to both Stapp and Meyers for the music video Salvador Dali 1939.jpg
Salvador Dalí (pictured in 1939) served as an artistic inspiration to both Stapp and Meyers for the music video

The video was directed by Dave Meyers, who had previously directed the videos for "What If", "With Arms Wide Open" and "My Sacrifice". He would go on to co-direct the video for the band's next single, "Don't Stop Dancing", along with Stapp. Stapp drafted the treatment for the video and explained his ideas to Meyers. They soon found out they both had a shared love and affection for Salvador Dalí, a Spanish painter known for his surrealist artwork. Most of the video was shot against a green screen with computer-generated animations to create the setting in which the band performs in as well as the otherworldly visuals. [7]

"We've used surreal imagery in our artwork since the beginning, but this is the first video we've fully explored it in. "My Sacrifice" kind of started the surrealism vibe, but we took this one to a different level. There are backdrops kind of like 'Star Wars,' with all these computer-generated cities and scenes that look real but they're not." — Stapp [7]

On the day of the shoot, Stapp was involved in an automobile accident. On April 19, 2002, around 1:40 in the afternoon, Stapp, while driving his Cadillac SUV on Interstate 4 in Florida was struck from behind by a Ford SUV. According to Stapp, the vehicle was going at "probably 50 or 60 miles per hour". Stapp was sent flying forward in his vehicle, with his body hitting the steering wheel and his head hitting the windshield. Stapp, concerned about the wellbeing of the person who hit him, got out of his vehicle to check on the other driver. Although initially the officer on the scene reported no injuries, Stapp soon realized he had not gone unscathed while calling his manager after the accident. He had suffered a concussion from the whiplash and from hitting the windshield. Stapp claims that the police on the scene didn't note any injuries in their report because he refused to call an ambulance or go to the hospital. [18] [19]

Due to prior commitments with director Dave Meyers, Stapp managed to show up to shoot the video the very next day where shooting began at 6:00 a.m. Actress Dawn Cairns, who appeared in the "My Sacrifice" video, also makes an appearance as the woman crying bloody tears into a bowl. The band flew her in from Argentina where she had just finished a shoot two days earlier. Beginning to feel the effects of the accident, Stapp had to be medicated during the shoot to deal with the pain in his head, neck, and spine, and was also suffering from a headache. A doctor and a masseuse were on site during the shooting of the video, and a body double was used for certain scenes Stapp was unable to complete. Stapp was limited in the video as he mainly just stood and sang with little movement or gesticulation. Meyers told Stapp during the shoot that his facial expressions from the pain actually helped in getting the emotion of the song to come across better and noted that he could tell Stapp was in terrible pain during the last shot of the video. [7] [18]

After the shooting was completed, Stapp's pain continued to worsen, and after an MRI on his neck and back it was revealed that the extent of his injuries were worse than once thought. Doctors discovered he had a bulging disk between two vertebrae in his neck and a smashed disk in his lower back. An adjacent missing disk from a congenital condition likely worsened the situation. [18]

Appearances in media

On September 16, 2014, "One Last Breath" was made available as downloadable content as part of the "Creed 5-Song Pack" for the video game Rocksmith 2014 along with "Higher", "My Own Prison", "My Sacrifice" and "With Arms Wide Open". [20]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [36] Gold30,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "One Last Breath"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesApril 15, 2002 Wind-up [8]
May 13, 2002 [37]
United KingdomJuly 22, 2002CD
 [38]
AustraliaSeptember 23, 2002 [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creed (band)</span> American rock band

Creed is an American rock band from Tallahassee, Florida formed in 1994. Creed was prominent in the post-grunge movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s, releasing three consecutive multi-platinum albums; their second, Human Clay (1999) received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Creed has sold over 28 million records in the United States, has sold over 53 million albums worldwide, and was the ninth best-selling musical act of the 2000s.

<i>Weathered</i> 2001 studio album by Creed

Weathered is the third studio album by American rock band Creed, released on November 20, 2001. It was the last Creed album to be released until Full Circle came out in October 2009, with Creed disbanding in June 2004. It is the only Creed album to be recorded as a three-member band, as bassist Brian Marshall departed in August 2000. Vocalist Scott Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti wrote most of the material for the album during a three-week period in late 2000, following their successful tour to support their second album, Human Clay. Manager Jeff Hanson once again paired the band with longtime producer John Kurzweg, who rented out a private residence/recording studio in Ocoee, Florida owned by Jay Stanley, where the band would set up their studio inside to record the album. Recording sessions for the album began in July 2001, with Tremonti taking on bass guitar duties in Marshall's absence, and would last four months to complete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Stapp</span> American singer, lead vocalist of Creed

Scott Stapp is an American singer and the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Creed. He has also fronted the band Art of Anarchy and has released four solo albums: The Great Divide (2005), Proof of Life (2013), The Space Between the Shadows (2019), and Higher Power (2024).

<i>My Own Prison</i> 1997 studio album by Creed

My Own Prison is the debut studio album by American rock band Creed, released in 1997. The album was issued independently by the band's record label, Blue Collar Records, on April 14, 1997, and re-released by Wind-up Records on August 26, 1997. Manager Jeff Hanson matched Creed up with John Kurzweg, and My Own Prison was recorded for $6,000, funded by Hanson. The band wrote several songs, trying to discover their own identity, and in their early days, the members had jobs, while bassist Brian Marshall got a degree. Creed began recording music and released the album on their own, distributing it to radio stations in Florida. The band later got a record deal with Wind-up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blurry</span> 2001 single by Puddle of Mudd

"Blurry" is a song by American rock band Puddle of Mudd. It was released on October 16, 2001, as the second single from the band's debut album Come Clean (2001). It was 2002's most successful rock song in the United States, topping the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Tracks charts as well as their year-end listings. "Blurry" also found success outside the US, reaching the top 20 in Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Creed album) 2004 greatest hits album by Creed

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American rock band Creed. It was released on November 22, 2004, soon after the announcement that the band had broken up in June, and that lead singer Scott Stapp and the other members of the band would go their separate ways. It consists of every one of Creed's U.S. singles from their first three albums: My Own Prison (1997), Human Clay (1999), and Weathered (2001), only leaving out their international single, "Hide"; the song "What's This Life For" has censored lyrics on this release, and is cut down to 3 minutes and 32 seconds in length. The album also includes a DVD that contains all of the band's music videos and several live performances.

<i>Human Clay</i> 1999 studio album by Creed

Human Clay is the second studio album by American rock band Creed, released on September 28, 1999, through Wind-up Records. Produced by John Kurzweg, it was the band's last album to feature Brian Marshall, who left the band in August 2000, until 2009's Full Circle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Tremonti</span> American rock musician

Mark Thomas Tremonti is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his tenures with the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands, and has also collaborated with many other artists over the years. He formed his own band Tremonti in 2011 and has released five albums with them, including A Dying Machine, which was adapted by Tremonti and science fiction novelist John Shirley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How You Remind Me</span> 2001 single by Nickelback

"How You Remind Me" is a song by Canadian rock band Nickelback. With lyrics written by lead singer Chad Kroeger and music composed by the band, the track was released on July 17, 2001, as the lead single from their third studio album, Silver Side Up (2001). A "Gold Mix" was made for latter editions of the single, with the heavier guitars edited out of the chorus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With Arms Wide Open</span> 2000 single by Creed

"With Arms Wide Open" is a power ballad by American rock band Creed. It was released on April 18, 2000, as the third single from their second studio album, Human Clay. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 2000, becoming the band's first and only song to top the chart. The song also received honors at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2001, being nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, as well as Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti winning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Higher (Creed song)</span> 1999 single by Creed

"Higher" is a song by American rock band Creed. It was released on August 31, 1999, as the lead single from their second studio album, Human Clay. The song became the band's breakthrough hit as it was their first song to reach the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at number seven in July 2000. It spent a total of 57 weeks upon the survey, the longest stay for any Creed song on the Hot 100. "Higher" also became the band's second chart-topping hit on rock radio as it topped both the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, for a then-record of 17 weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullets (Creed song)</span> 2002 single by Creed

"Bullets" is the second single from Creed's third album, Weathered. The song serves as the opening track to the album and is considered to be one of the band's heaviest songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One (Creed song)</span> 1998 single by Creed

"One" is a song by American rock band Creed. It is the fourth single as well as the tenth and final track from the band's 1997 album My Own Prison. It was also included as a B-side on the maxi-single for "With Arms Wide Open" in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's This Life For</span> 1998 single by Creed

"What's This Life For" is a song by American rock band Creed. It is the third single and ninth track off their 1997 debut album, My Own Prison. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the U.S., becoming their first number one hit on this chart. It remained on top for six weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What If (Creed song)</span> 2000 single by Creed

"What If" is a song by Creed, released as the second single from their 1999 album Human Clay on January 31, 2000 and it was also the lead single for the soundtrack to Scream 3, for which the band helped to produce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Own Prison (song)</span> 1997 single by Creed

"My Own Prison" is a song by Creed and the titular lead single from their 1997 debut album of the same name. It first appeared on the WXSR-FM compilation album Locals Only and would prove to be the band's breakout hit. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

"Weathered" is a song by American rock band Creed. It was released on November 6, 2002, as the last single from their album, Weathered. The song was the band's last single until “Overcome” in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Sacrifice</span> 2001 single by Creed

"My Sacrifice" is a song by American rock band Creed. It was released on October 16, 2001, as the lead single from their third studio album, Weathered. The song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of February 9, 2002, and reached number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for nine consecutive weeks, beginning in December 2001. Worldwide, the song was a top-20 hit in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2003 at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wherever You Will Go</span> 2001 single by the Calling

"Wherever You Will Go" is the debut single of American band the Calling. The song was released on May 22, 2001, as the first single from their debut studio album, Camino Palmero (2001). It remains their most successful hit, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Adult Top 40 for 23 weeks, the second-longest-running number one in the chart's history. Outside the United States, the song topped the music charts of Italy, New Zealand, and Poland, reached number three in the United Kingdom, peaked at number five in Australia, and became a top-10 hit in several European countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creed discography</span>

American post-grunge band Creed has released four studio albums, two compilation albums, one extended play (EP), eighteen singles, one video album, and fifteen music videos. Formed in Tallahassee, Florida in 1994, Creed consists of vocalist Scott Stapp, guitarist and vocalist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips. Signed to Wind-up Records, the band released its debut album My Own Prison in August 1997, which reached number 22 on the US Billboard 200. The album was certified six times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). All four singles from the album reached the top three of the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Klopp, Bill. "Creed's Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti on the 'Goosebump Moment' of Writing 2001's 'One Last Breath'". www.spin.com/. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  2. ↑ Eliscu, Jenny (November 2, 2001). "Creed Take You Higher". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ J. Stanley Productions Inc. "Clients". www.jstanleyproductions.com/. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  4. ↑ "One Last Breath". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved November 20, 2001.
  5. ↑ "One Last Breath". inwhatkey.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Derrough, Leslie (September 17, 2015). "Mark Tremonti (Creed, Alter Bridge)". www.songfacts.com. Songfacts. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Wiederhorn, John (May 10, 2002). "New Creed Video Looks Like Salvador Dali Meets 'Star Wars'". www.mtv.com. MTV. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1448. April 12, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Creed Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Creed Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Creed Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Creed Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Creed – One Last Breath". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Creed – One Last Breath". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  16. 1 2 "Irish-charts.com – Discography Creed". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Creed – One Last Breath" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 Wiederhorn, John (May 2, 2002). "Scott Stapp Discusses Accident That Derailed Creed Tour". www.mtv.com. MTV. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  19. ↑ Wiederhorn, John (April 29, 2002). "Scott Stapp In Car Accident; Creed Tour Cancelled". www.mtv.com. MTV. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Rocksmith® 2014 – Creed Song Pack". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  21. ↑ One Last Breath / Bullets (UK CD single liner notes). Creed. Epic Records, Wind-up Records. 2002. 672826 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ↑ One Last Breath / Bullets (UK DVD single liner notes). Creed. Epic Records, Wind-up Records. 2002. 672826 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ↑ One Last Breath (European CD single liner notes). Creed. Epic Records, Wind-up Records. 2002. WIN 672611 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ↑ One Last Breath (Australian & New Zealand CD single liner notes). Creed. Epic Records, Wind-up Records. 2002. 6729842.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ↑ "Canadian Radio Airplay". Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Canadian Top 20 in 2002" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Creed Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002" (PDF). Airplay Monitor . Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 14. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  32. ↑ "The Year in Music 2002: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. December 28, 2002. p. YE-87.
  33. ↑ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 10. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Most-Played Modern Rock Songs of 2002" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 42. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2003" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 22. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Creed – One Last Breath" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1452. May 10, 2002. p. 32. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  38. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 July 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . July 20, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  39. ↑ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd September 2002" (PDF). ARIA. September 23, 2002. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.