So Far Away (Staind song)

Last updated

"So Far Away"
So Far Away (Staind song).jpg
Single by Staind
from the album 14 Shades of Grey
ReleasedJune 23, 2003 (2003-06-23)
Genre Post-grunge [1]
Length4:03
Label
Songwriters
Producer Josh Abraham
Staind singles chronology
"Price to Play"
(2003)		"So Far Away"
(2003)		"How About You"
(2003)

"So Far Away" is a song by the American rock band Staind, released to post modern radio on June 23, 2003, as the second single from their fourth album, 14 Shades of Grey . The song found success on both rock and mainstream radio, reaching number one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 14 consecutive weeks (one of the longest runs in the chart's history) and on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks for seven non-consecutive weeks. It also became the band's second top-40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 24.

Contents

In May 2021, for the 40th anniversary of Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, Billboard ranked "So Far Away" at number 20 on its list of the 100 most successful songs in the chart's history; [2] [3] in September 2023, the magazine ranked the song at number 89 on a similar retrospective list for the 35th anniversary of the Modern Rock Tracks chart (which by then had been renamed to Alternative Airplay). [4] [5]

Reception

Bram Teitelman of Billboard reviewed the song favorably, predicting a rock radio smash due to "the lyrics' sunny disposition and a return to the sonic qualities that radio previously embraced." Teitelman called it a "midtempo song anchored by frontman Aaron Lewis' expressive vocals." [6] Katherine Turman described the song as "an honest and grateful musing on success"; [7] fans however feel that the song represents Aaron Lewis moving on in life and speaking of hope and uncertainty, [8] along with the running theme of 14 Shades of Grey . The song was featured in the ninth episode of the third season of the series Smallville , and was used for a TV spot for the 2004 Marvel superhero film The Punisher . The song was also featured on twelfth episode of the fourth season of the TV series SEAL Team .

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Nigel Dick, and is a collage of clips of the band's live performances, some shots of Aaron Lewis' oldest daughter Zoe Jane (who was 1 at the time of filming), and other tour footage. It was filmed during a live performance at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky.

Track listings

Australian release

  1. "So Far Away" (radio edit)
  2. "Novocaine"
  3. "Zoe Jane" (live at KROQ)

UK release

  1. "So Far Away" (radio edit)
  2. "Mudshovel" (live)
  3. "Home-Grown Promo Footage" (multimedia)

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [21] Gold15,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United StatesJune 23, 2003 [22] [23]
July 28, 2003 [24]
AustraliaAugust 25, 2003CD [25]
United KingdomSeptember 15, 2003
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • DVD
 [26]

References

  1. ↑ "The 15 Greatest (and 10 Worst) Post-Grunge Songs of All Time". Nu Metal Agenda. April 11, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  2. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin. "Shinedown & Days of the New Rule Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Charts". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  4. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (September 7, 2023). "Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, 'Monsters' New Top Song". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  6. ↑ Teitelman, Bram (July 5, 2003). "Billboard". Google Books. Billboard Magazine. p. 31. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  7. ↑ "14 Shades of Grey: Staind". Amazon. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
  8. ↑ "So Far Away by Staind". Songfacts. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
  9. ↑ "Staind Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Staind Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Staind Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Staind Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Staind Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  14. ↑ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 22.
  15. ↑ "2003 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard. December 27, 2003. Archived from the original on March 27, 2004. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. December 27, 2003. p. YE-75. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  17. ↑ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor . Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 26.
  18. ↑ "2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 22.
  20. ↑ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 49.
  21. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Staind – So Far away". Radioscope. Retrieved December 30, 2024.Type So Far away in the "Search:" fieldand press Enter.
  22. ↑ "Post Modern: Upcoming New Releases" (PDF). Hits . Vol. 17, no. 847. June 13, 2003. p. 30. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records . No. 1509. June 20, 2003. p. 32.
  24. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1514. July 25, 2003. p. 22.
  25. ↑ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 25th August 2003" (PDF). ARIA. August 25, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  26. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . September 13, 2003. p. 29.
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