"Gotta Be Somebody" is the first official single released from Canadian rock band Nickelback's sixth studio album, Dark Horse. It reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their sixth and final top-10 hit.

"Gotta Be Somebody"
Single by Nickelback
from the album Dark Horse
ReleasedSeptember 29, 2008 (2008-09-29)
RecordedMarch–July 2008
StudioMountain View (Abbotsford, British Columbia)
Genre
Length4:13
LabelRoadrunner
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Nickelback singles chronology
"Side of a Bullet"
(2007)
"Gotta Be Somebody"
(2008)
"Something in Your Mouth"
(2008)
Music video
"Gotta Be Somebody" on YouTube

Background

edit

Originally, the lead single from the album was set to be "If Today Was Your Last Day"[2] but was changed instead to "Gotta Be Somebody". The song was digitally delivered to all formats on September 29, 2008.[3][4] "Gotta Be Somebody" has been covered by American country music singer Bucky Covington in 2009, and English pop singer Shayne Ward in 2010. It was used in a video package for the 2008 Tribute to the Troops show.

Music video

edit

In October 2008, it was reported that an official video from the commercial shoot had been shot with director Jessy Terrero.[5] However, after claims that the band was dissatisfied with the video,[citation needed] it was scrapped. A new video was shot in Vancouver with long-time collaborator Nigel Dick, three months after the release of the single.[6] The video debuted at AOL on Monday, December 15, 2008.[7]

The video for "Gotta Be Somebody" starts out in Outer Space, showing various planets before zooming in on Earth. Nickelback is shown playing at the Colosseum in Rome, which is empty. During the chorus, an earthquake occurs and cracks the ground the band is standing on. During the second verse, the band is then shown playing on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. Another earthquake begins during the chorus and finally, the band is shown playing an outdoor concert to fans in a Southwestern United States desert inside an Aircraft boneyard for the third verse, bridge, and final chorus. One last earthquake is shown during the final chorus as well. After the band finishes the song, the video zooms out of the boneyard concert and back into outer space, focusing on Earth before fading out.

The video swept the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards, winning awards for best video, best rock video, and best post-production.[8]

Track listings

edit

International CD Single

  1. "Gotta Be Somebody"
  2. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"

Japanese Promo "Best of" EP[9]

  1. "Gotta Be Somebody" (edit)
  2. "Photograph"
  3. "Far Away"
  4. "If Everyone Cared"
  5. "Rockstar"
  6. "Someday"
  7. "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good"
  8. "How You Remind Me"
  9. "Too Bad"
  10. "Breathe"
  11. "Leader Of Men"
  12. "Gotta Be Somebody" (album version)

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Silver 200,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Bucky Covington version

edit
"Gotta Be Somebody"
Single by Bucky Covington
from the album Good Guys
ReleasedOctober 19, 2009
Length3:48
LabelLyric Street
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mark Miller
Bucky Covington singles chronology
"I Want My Life Back"
(2009)
"Gotta Be Somebody"
(2009)
"A Father's Love (The Only Way He Knew How)"
(2010)

Country artist Bucky Covington released a version of the song as his fifth single on October 19, 2009. The song is the second single released from his second studio album, Good Guys.[46] The song debuted at number 58 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of November 14, 2009 and ultimately peaked at number 51 a few weeks later. The music video, which was directed by Devin Pense, premiered on CMT on October 26, 2009.[47]

Charts

edit
Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[48] 51

Shayne Ward version

edit
"Gotta Be Somebody"
 
Single by Shayne Ward
from the album Obsession
B-side"Future Love"
ReleasedNovember 7, 2010
Recorded2009–2010
Length3:42
LabelSony
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Shayne Ward singles chronology
"Breathless"
(2007)
"Gotta Be Somebody"
(2010)
"Obsession"
(2011)

The song was covered by British pop singer Shayne Ward for his third studio album, Obsession. It was the album's lead single, released on November 7, 2010.[49] Ward performed the single for the first time on The X Factor results show on November 7, 2010.

Background

edit

"Gotta Be Somebody" was produced by Ray Hedges, Nigel Butler, Cutfather and David Kopatz. In an interview with Digital Spy Shayne Ward spoke about the decision to release a cover song as the album's lead single: "The whole transition from being rock to pop/R&B was really exciting for me and it's definitely made it into my own track. It's the perfect first single to kick-start my Obsession album. I don't look it as a cover. It's just a great song. I hadn't heard the song for a while before I recorded it, but I got into it again straight away because it's got such a catchy chorus."[50] According to Ward, the song is about hope, "It's got a great message too – it's about hope, that there's someone out there for all of us. The music video for the single was shot in Los Angeles on 27 September 2010, and was directed by Bille Woodruff. The video for "Gotta Be Somebody" premiered on YouTube on October 29, 2010. The single's B-side, "Future Love", written by Ryan Tedder and Evan Bogart, is a cover of Kristinia DeBarge's version of the Varsity Fanclub original.

Track listing

edit
CD single
  1. "Gotta Be Somebody" – 3:42
  2. "Future Love" – 3:08
Digital download
  1. "Gotta Be Somebody" – 3:42
  2. "Gotta Be Somebody" (Moto Blanco remix) – 5:38
  3. "Gotta Be Somebody" (Almighty mix) – 7:02

Chart performance

edit

"Gotta Be Somebody" debuted first on November 12, 2010 on the Irish Singles Chart at number 10, giving Ward his sixth top 10 hit in the country. On November 14, 2010, the single debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 12; having been predicted to chart within the top 10 earlier that week.[51] This marks Ward's seventh top 20 hit and second single that failed to crack the top 10.

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[52] 10
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[53] 64
UK Singles (OCC)[54] 12

Release history

edit
Country Date Format
United Kingdom November 7, 2010 Digital download
November 8, 2010 CD single

References

edit
  1. ^ Bill Lamb. "Top 100 Pop Songs of 2008 (100-91) - Page 4". About.com Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  2. ^ Nickelback Currently Recording New Album Archived September 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Nickelback.com. Accessed September 8, 2008
  3. ^ Nickelback announce new album Roadrunnerrecords.com. Accessed September 21, 2008
  4. ^ Mainstream Top 40 Add Dates Archived June 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine FMQB.com. Accessed September 25, 2008
  5. ^ "Video Static: Music Video News: SHOT: Nickelback - Jessy Terrero, director". VideoStatic. Archived from the original on October 18, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  6. ^ "Video Static: Music Video News: SHOT: Nickelback - Nigel Dick, director". VideoStatic. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  7. ^ "AOL Radio - Listen to Free Online Radio - Free Internet Radio Stations and Music Playlists". Music.aol.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  8. ^ Gotta Be Somebody Songfacts
  9. ^ "Nickelback". Discogs. Discogs.com. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  10. ^ "Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  11. ^ "Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  12. ^ "Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  13. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  14. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  15. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  16. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  17. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 08. týden 2009 in the date selector.
  18. ^ "Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  19. ^ "Nielsen Music Control Airplay - Germany Top 5". Nielsen Music Control on behalf of BVMI. Archived from the original on November 8, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Nickelback" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  22. ^ "Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  23. ^ "Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200852 into search.
  26. ^ "Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  27. ^ "Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  28. ^ "Nickelback: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  29. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  30. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  31. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  32. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  33. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  34. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  35. ^ "Nickelback Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  36. ^ "2008 Annual ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  37. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 - Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  38. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 - Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  39. ^ "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz. Mahasz.
  40. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  41. ^ "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  42. ^ "Adult Pop Songs - Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  43. ^ "Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs : Page 1". Billboard. March 18, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  45. ^ "British single certifications – Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  46. ^ Bjorke, Matt (September 17, 2009). "Bucky Covington - "Gotta Be Somebody"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
  47. ^ CMT Videos: Music Binge - 10.26.09 : Gotta Be Somebody
  48. ^ "Bucky Covington Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  49. ^ Nick Levine, Tom Mansell (September 24, 2010). "Exclusive: Listen to the new Shayne Ward single". Digital Spy. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  50. ^ Levine, Nick (October 5, 2010). "Music - News - Shayne Ward defends cover single - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  51. ^ "How are Take That, Shayney & SuBo doing? - Music Blog". Digital Spy. November 9, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  52. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Gotta Be Somebody". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  53. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201050 into search.
  54. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.