Best Day of My Life

"Best Day of My Life"
Single by American Authors
from the album Oh, What a Life
Released March 19, 2013 (2013-03-19)
Recorded 2012
Genre Indie rock, indie folk, alternative rock
Length 3:14
Label Mercury, Island
Writer(s) Aaron Accetta, Zachary Barnett, Shep Goodman, David Rublin, Matthew Sanchez, James Shelley
Producer(s) Aaron Accetta, Shep Goodman
American Authors singles chronology
"Believer"
(2012)		 "Best Day of My Life"
(2013)		 "Trouble"
(2014)
Music video
"Best Day of My Life" on YouTube
Oh, What a Life track listing

"Best Day of My Life" is a song by American indie rock band American Authors. The song was written by band members Zac Barnett, Dave Rublin, Matt Sanchez, and James Adam Shelley, along with producers Aaron Accetta and Shep Goodman. "Best Day of My Life" was originally recorded for release as a single by Mercury Records and Island Records on March 19, 2013, and later appeared as the second track on the band's third extended play American Authors (2013) and the third track on their debut studio album, Oh, What a Life (2014).

Music and lyrics

Zac Barnett told an interviewer for Blueprint Magazine, "Recently we have been experimenting with a lot of different instruments including banjo, mandolin and various percussion toys. Africa-influenced rhythms have been taking more of a prominent role in our songs which has then opened up our ideas on melodies. We're always open to trying new things and we get very excited to learn new instruments and experiment with new sounds. ... "Best Day of My Life" was an idea that James and I had been messing around with. We had the pre-chorus and chorus but once we showed the idea to the rest of the guys they came in and restructured the verses and added the stuttered "life" chorus. Looking back on it, the song changed a lot from the initial idea but that's what I love so much about it. I'll always remember that song being started on acoustic guitars in my tiny Bushwick bedroom, but all of us together as a band really took the song to a completely different place."[1]

(Barnett mentions "the stuttered 'life' chorus"—as in "the best day of my li-i-i-i-ife"; the "stuttering" also occurs in a recurrent "whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh"—by which he refers to a lyrical tradition of stuttering in rock music, popularized by Buddy Holly,[2][3] David Bowie ("Ch-Ch-Changes"),[4] Elton John,[5] and others.)

Bill Lamb, writing for About.com, praised the song's "opening banjo lick" as "a perfect first hook," its "irrepressibly upbeat lyrics," and "a blend of key elements from across a wide range of current successful pop music." He added, "The bass drum heavy backing percussion sounds a little like Imagine Dragons, and backed by a pop-punk style "Whoa Oh" chorus, "Best Day Of My Life" takes some of the most distinctive elements of a variety of current pop hit genres and blends them into something new."[6]

Packaging

The single art for the "Best Day of My Life" single features a photograph of the skyline of Midtown Manhattan, with the Empire State Building in the center of the shot, from Brooklyn looking north. The photograph is overwritten by the American Authors logo on the majority of the photograph and the words "American Authors", with "Best Day of My Life" written underneath it.

Commercial performance

The song received significant airplay on the radio for it to debut at No. 49 in the Hot Rock Songs and No. 40 in the Adult Top 40 for charts dated October 5, 2013. It began climbing the various rock charts and became a crossover hit on both alternative rock and Top 40 stations, becoming big hits on those formats and peaking at No. 2, No. 18 and No. 4 on the Hot Rock Songs, Alternative Songs, and Mainstream Top 40 charts.[7] It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 93 for the chart dated November 30, 2013, and eventually peaked at No. 11 on the charts dated April 19 and May 10, 2014. By March, 2014 it had reached No. 1 on the Adult Top 40. The song reached its first million sales mark in the U.S. in March, 2014,[8] and its second million in August, 2014.[9] The song was certified double platinum on July 16, 2014 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[10] The song was ranked number one on Billboard's chart of Adult Pop Songs for 2014.[11]

Usage in media

In media, the song has been featured in television advertisements for retail home improvement store Lowe's in the United States, which were aired during the Super Bowl,[12] automotive manufacturer Hyundai in the United Kingdom and France, an alcohol retailer in Australia and communications service provider Telecom New Zealand in New Zealand.[13]

The song additionally appears in the opening sequence for ESPN's coverage of the 2013 and 2014 World Series of Poker.

It appears in the movie trailer for the films Delivery Man, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty[14] in addition to the TV spots for St. Vincent.

The song has also been used in the Vampire Diaries episode "Total Eclipse of the Heart".[15]

The song was covered by Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) and Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) in the 2014 Glee episode "New New York".

NHL on NBC has been using this song as a theme song for the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Best Day Of My Life" was played at the conclusion of the 2015 Miss America pageant, during Kira Kazantsev's crowning moment.

The song is used in advertisements for Petron,[16] Datsun Go, Lays, Center Parks, Graton Casinos

The Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) use the song in the 2014-15 pregame activities.

"Best Day of My Life" was part of the FIFA 14 soundtrack before being removed shortly after the game's release.

"Best Day of My Life" appeared as a playable track for the video game Guitar Hero Live.

"Best Day of My Life" also appeared as a soundtrack in Konami video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 as opening track.

A portion of "Best Day of My Life" can also be heard in the animated film Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Tooth Cave and in the 2015 film, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Chipettes covered the song for their 2015 live stage tour Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Musical.

This song is used for the Datsun Go commercial in Indonesia.

American Authors performed the song while in Human Centipede position on Season 4 premiere of The Eric Andre Show.

Music video

The music video was released on October 18, 2013, via YouTube.[17] The video was filmed in Brooklyn, New York. It depicts a man engaging in various activities with a large furry monster, such as drinking in a bar called Sweet & Vicious in Nolita,[18] playing basketball, looking at the Brooklyn Bridge, getting matching tattoos, visiting a strip club, and going to a playground. At the end of the video it is implied that the monster is his imaginary friend, but then the puzzled bartender finds a photo of the two.

Zac Barnett, in an interview with the Jim & Kim Morning Show (Fresh 102.7 FM, New York, NY), explained that the video starts in Nolita and ends up in Brooklyn, and the journey of the man and his monster pal is the focus of the video. That journey is interweaved with shots of the band playing and singing as they also stroll through New York. "We started in Manhattan and walked across the bridge to the party which was down in DUMBO. What it was, we were kind of trying to do a reverse Where The Wild Things Are type thing. You know, instead of a human going into a monster dream world, what would it be like if a monster came into our world and experienced New York City and Brooklyn and all of these things. And playing off of that, it was kind of like an alter ego of a dude and these two, together, just showing each other the best days of their lives."[18]

Common Sense Media reviewed the video for parents: "There's nothing iffy to worry about in the song's upbeat, clean lyrics about having a positive outlook on life and never giving up, but the official music video shows a man and his furry monster friend drinking in a bar, going to a strip club, and getting tattoos. Kids will be more entertained by the adorable dog-version music video for Best Day of My Life, which shows one lucky bulldog's adoption day in an effort to promote pet adoption."[19]

Track listing

Digital download
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Best Day of My Life"  Aaron Accetta, Zachary Barnett, Shep Goodman, David Rublin, Matthew Sanchez, James ShelleyAccetta, Goodman 3:14

Personnel

Adapted from Oh, What a Life liner notes.[20]

American Authors
  • Zac Barnett – lead vocals, guitar
  • James Adam Shelley – lead guitar, banjo
  • Dave Rublin – bass
  • Matt Sanchez – drums
Technical personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 10
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 20
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 36
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[24] 15
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[25] 5
Canada AC (Billboard)[26] 3
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[27] 7
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[28] 3
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[29] 21
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[30] 13
Germany (Official German Charts)[31] 34
Ireland (IRMA)[32] 28
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[33] 95
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[34] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 72
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 13
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[37] 8
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[38] 15
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[39] 17
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[40] 13
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 65
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[43] 17
US Billboard Hot 100[44] 11
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[45] 2
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[46] 15
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[47] 2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[48] 1
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[49] 25
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[50] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[51] 77
Chart (2014) Position
Australia (ARIA)[52] 58
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[53] 24
Italy (FIMI)[54] 65
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[55] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[56] 31
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[57] 5
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[58] 22
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[59] 4
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[60] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[61] 28

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[63] Platinum 80,000^
Italy (FIMI)[64] Platinum 30,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[65] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[10] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States[66][67][68][69] March 19, 2013 Digital download Mercury Records
August 20, 2013 Modern rock radio Mercury Records, Island Def Jam
August 26, 2013 Hot adult contemporary radio
December 3, 2013 Contemporary hit radio Island Def Jam
United Kingdom[70] March 7, 2014 Digital download (Gazzo remix)
United States[71]
United Kingdom[72] April 29, 2014 Digital download (Just A Gent remix)
United States[73]
Germany[74] May 9, 2014 Compact disc Island Records

References

  1. ↑ Dersch, Alexandra (2013). "American Authors". Blueprint Magazine. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ Valdez, Stephen (2013). "Buddy Holly". In Stacy, Lee. Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 296. ISBN 1-57958-079-3. The Buddy Holly sound was unmistakable. His hiccuping, stuttering vocals...
  3. ↑ Jones, Chris (2009). "Buddy Holly, The Very Best of Buddy Holly and the Crickets: Review". BBC. Retrieved September 12, 2014. ...topped off with Holly's amazing nasal stutter. Quite literally, nothing had ever sounded like this before.
  4. ↑ "Changes by David Bowie". Song Facts. Retrieved September 12, 2014. Bowie's stuttered vocals in this song ("Ch-Ch-Changes") are some of the most famous stutters in rock.
  5. ↑ "Bennie and the Jets by Elton John". Song Facts. Retrieved September 12, 2014. It was Elton's idea to stutter the vocal: "B-B-B-Bennie..." Bernie Taupin thought this worked very well with the futuristic, robotic theme of his lyrics.
  6. ↑ Lamb, Bill (2013). "Review: American Authors "Best Day Of My Life"". About.com. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  7. ↑ Geller, Wendy (February 26, 2014). "Hear It First! American Authors Premiere Track From Debut Studio Album". Yahoo Music.
  8. ↑ Grein, Paul (March 19, 2014). "Chart Watch: "#Selfie" Is A #Smash". Yahoo Music. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  9. ↑ Grein, Paul (August 27, 2014). "Chart Watch: Nicki Minaj Zooms To #2". Yahoo! Music.
  10. 1 2 "American single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  11. ↑ "Adult Pop Songs". http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/adult-pop-songs. External link in |website= (help);
  12. ↑ "New Music to Know: American Authors Are Having the Best Days of Their Lives". radio.com. February 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ 2013 Telecom NZ Advertisement on YouTube
  14. ↑ "American Authors Release Debut Album 'Oh, What A Life' On March 4th 2014". Contact Music.
  15. ↑ Theo (February 10, 2014). "The Vampire Diaries Music Playlist For Season 5 Episode 13: "Total Eclipse of the Heart"". Alloy Entertainment. Retrieved September 12, 2014. Best Day of My Life by American Authors: Plays while Katherine (pretending to be Elena) is writing in her doppelganger's diary and rejoicing over how wonderful the world is and how she finally has everything she's ever wanted.
  16. ↑ Petron Fuel Happy on YouTube
  17. ↑ American Authors - Best Day Of My Life (Official Music Video) on YouTube
  18. 1 2 Steagall, Cameron (March 12, 2014). "American Authors Take Us Behind The Scenes Of Best Day Of My Life". Fresh 102.7 FM. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  19. ↑ Nojadera, Amanda (2014). "Best Day of My Life (CD Single)". Common Sense Media. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  20. ↑ Oh, What a Life (liner notes). American Authors. Mercury Records. 2014.
  21. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – American Authors – Best Day Of My Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – American Authors – Best Day Of My Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – American Authors – Best Day Of My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – American Authors – Best Day Of My Life" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  25. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for American Authors. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  26. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for American Authors. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  27. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for American Authors. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  28. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Canada Hot AC for American Authors. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  29. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201416 into search. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  30. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201426 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – American Authors – Best Day Of My Life". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 17, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  33. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for American Authors. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  35. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – American Authors – Best Day Of My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – American Authors – Best Day Of My Life". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-03-15". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  39. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201428 into search. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  40. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201426 into search. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – American Authors – Best Day Of My Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-03-08" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  44. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for American Authors. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  45. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for American Authors. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  46. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for American Authors. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  47. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for American Authors. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  48. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for American Authors. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  49. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for American Authors. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  50. ↑ "American Authors – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for American Authors. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  52. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2014". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  53. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  54. ↑ "FIMI - Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  55. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2014" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  56. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  58. ↑ "Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  59. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  61. ↑ "Pop Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  62. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  63. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". Music Canada.
  64. ↑ "Italian single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 9, 2015. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter American Authors in the field Filtra. Select 2014 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
  65. ↑ "British single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Best Day of My Life in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  66. ↑ "Best Day of My Life". 7digital (US). Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  67. ↑ "Alternative E-Weekly". All Access Music Group. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  68. ↑ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  69. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  70. ↑ "Best Day of My Life (Gazzo Remix) – Single by American Authors". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  71. ↑ "Best Day of My Life (Gazzo Remix) – Single by American Authors". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  72. ↑ "Best Day of My Life (Just A Gent Remix) – Single by American Authors". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  73. ↑ "Best Day of My Life (Just A Gent Remix) – Single by American Authors". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  74. ↑ "Best Day of My Life (2-Track)" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved July 3, 2014.

External links

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