Jump to content

Drive By (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Drive By (Train song))
"Drive By"
Single by Train
from the album California 37
ReleasedJanuary 10, 2012
Recorded2011
StudioNew York City
(Integrated Studios)
Venice, Los Angeles
(Ruby Red Studios)
GenrePop rock
Length3:16
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Train singles chronology
"Save Me, San Francisco"
(2011)
"Drive By"
(2012)
"50 Ways to Say Goodbye"
(2012)
Music video
"Drive By" on YouTube

"Drive By" is a song by American pop rock band Train from their sixth studio album, California 37. It was released in the United States as the album's lead single on January 10, 2012, three months before the release of California 37. The song was written by lead singer Pat Monahan and Norwegian songwriting duo Espen Lind, Amund Bjørklund, the same team responsible for Train's 2009 hit single "Hey, Soul Sister".[1]

"Drive By" peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's third (and final) top 10 hit in the US. It was awarded a double platinum certification by the RIAA on July 23, 2012, for more than 2 million sales in the US.[2] Internationally, the song became a top ten hit in 13 countries. Train performed the song on television series 90210 in the episode "Blood Is Thicker Than Mud", which aired on March 13, 2012.[3] Train also performed a parody entitled "Five By" with Elmo and Count von Count for an episode of Sesame Street.[4]

Background

[edit]

Singer Pat Monahan said, "'Drive By' was about meeting my wife and quickly falling in love, and being really scared about that because I was like, Man, I am not sure if this is a good idea — that something like this would happen so quickly. Because I think generally when you're looking for something big you're not gonna find it, and when you're not looking for that thing it's gonna probably show up and get you. And so, 'Drive By' was all about realizing that I have to not worry about it and just let it be what it is."[5]

Monahan said the lyric, "Hefty bag to hold my love" was inspired by when he used to work at a restaurant in Erie, Pennsylvania. He and his friends would sneak the owner's beer out of the fridge, hide it in trash bags in the dumpster, and then take it home and drink it when their shift was over. This made him associate Hefty bags with holding things that made him happy. When the song was released, Hefty sent him several boxes of garbage bags in gratitude for the shout-out. The "shy guy" in the lyrics came from his restaurant days, when he went to a party where he was scared to talk to anyone. A husband of his coworker, who was a very large but kind man, came up to him and called him "Shy guy."[5]

In July 2011, months before the song's official release, Monahan performed the song in a live performance at the Cricket Amphitheater in Chula Vista, California as part of the band's summer tour. [6]

Composition

[edit]

"Drive By" is a pop rock song. The instrumentation consists of "buoyant acoustic riffs and a hook-laden melody". Lead singer Pat Monahan sings in a characteristic "sing-talk vocal croon".[1]

The song is in the key of C♯ minor, the chord structure is based on the IV–I–V–vi chord progression, and its tempo is 122 BPM.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]

Billboard gave the song a positive review stating:

"Drive By" starts with a staccato guitar strum and a percussive thump that certainly recalls its predecessor, with a slight ethnic flavor that makes it recall a Bar Mitzvah reception. Frontman Pat Monahan semi-speaks the [verses] in tuneful, rap-like cadence, then turns to smooth pop singing for the choruses. The lyric, however, is a bit darker [...] Monahan pleads with enough joyful exuberance that she -- and we -- might just buy it.[8]

Writing for Idolator, Becky Bain called the song an "upbeat tune", though noting its potential to become "as big as Hey, Soul Sister" and generate similar backlash from listeners.[9]

Commercial performance

[edit]

The single has proved to be a worldwide success primarily in the US where it has been certified double platinum and was the 19th most successful song on the Hot 100 chart.[10] In the UK, "Drive By" sold 502,700 copies and was the 23rd best selling single of 2012.[11] It reached number 6 in the UK, making it their highest-charting single there since "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" in 2001.

Music video

[edit]

The music video was posted on YouTube on February 15, 2012, and was directed by Alan Ferguson.[12] In the video, Monahan portrays a character who reconciles with an old flame during a weekend trip to Wine Country, and features the other band members driving classic cars.[13]

The video starts with Pat Monahan on a phone call with his lover, who tells her, "You should be sorry, you're the one who left. Listen, I'm gonna be late for work. Bye." Monahan then drives to Wine Country in a 1967 Firebird.

Track listing

[edit]
Digital download
  1. "Drive By" – 3:18
CD single[14]
  1. "Drive By [Song Edit]" – 3:21
  2. "To Be Loved" (Pat Monahan, David Hodges) – 3:41

Credits and personnel

[edit]
Recording
Personnel
  • Pat Monahan – songwriter, producer, vocals
  • Espen Lind – songwriter, producer, engineer, additional guitars, bass, keyboards and backing vocals, programming
  • Amund Bjørklund – songwriter, producer, programming
  • Butch Walker – producer
  • Mark Endert – mixing
  • Francis Murray – engineer
  • Jake Sinclair – engineer
  • Jimmy Stafford – guitar
  • Scott Underwood – drums
  • Jerry Becker – keyboards
  • Hector Maldonado – bass

Credits adapted from "Drive By" CD single liner notes.[15]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Drive By"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[79] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[80] Gold 15,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[81] 4× Platinum 320,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[82] Gold 15,000^
Germany (BVMI)[83] Platinum 600,000
Italy (FIMI)[84] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[85] Platinum 20,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[86] Platinum 15,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[87] Gold 30,000
Sweden (GLF)[88] 4× Platinum 160,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[89] Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[90] 2× Platinum 1,200,000
United States (RIAA)[91] 5× Platinum 5,000,000
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[92] 3× Platinum 5,400,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates for "Drive By"
Country Date Format Label
United States 10 January 2012[93] Digital download Columbia Records, Sony Music
Germany 23 March 2012[14] CD single
United Kingdom 16 April 2012[94] Digital download

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Zemler, Emily (6 April 2012). "Train Tries To Follow A Massive Hit - Again - on 'California 37'". Billboard. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - March 14, 2013". RIAA. Retrieved 2013-03-14.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Gonzalez, Sandra (January 9, 2012). "Train to make musical stop on '90210' -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  4. ^ SesameStreet (September 19, 2012). Sesame Street: Train - "Five By" (YouTube).
  5. ^ a b Harris, Kristin (April 30, 2015). "Train's Pat Monahan Explains Some Of Their Most Iconic Lyrics". BuzzFeed. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Drive By (new song), Train, San Diego, CA, 2011". YouTube. July 25, 2011. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Train. "Train "Drive By" Sheet Music - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  8. ^ "Track Review: Train, 'Drive By'". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Listen To Train's New Single "Drive By"". Idolator.
  10. ^ "Hot 100 Songs : Jun 30, 2013 - (Chart position)". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  11. ^ "The Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles of 2012 revealed!". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  12. ^ TrainVEVO (February 15, 2012). Train - Drive By (YouTube).
  13. ^ Train - Drive By (Official Music Video), retrieved 2019-12-02
  14. ^ a b "Train - Drive By" (in German). Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  15. ^ Drive By (liner notes). Train. Columbia Records, Sony Music. 2012. 88691975282.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Train – Drive By". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  17. ^ "Train – Drive By" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. ^ "Train – Drive By" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. ^ "Train – Drive By" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. ^ "Train Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Train Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  22. ^ "Train Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "Train Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  24. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 17. týden 2012 in the date selector.
  25. ^ "Train – Drive By". Tracklisten.
  26. ^ "Train Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  27. ^ "Train: Drive By" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  28. ^ "Train – Drive By" (in French). Les classement single.
  29. ^ "Train – Drive By" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Airplay Charts Deutschland – Woche 14/2012". German Charts. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  31. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  32. ^ "Chart Track: Week 30, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
  33. ^ "Train – Drive By". Top Digital Download.
  34. ^ "The Official Lebanese Top 20 - Train". The Official Lebanese Top 20. December 30, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  35. ^ "Luxembourg Digital Songs - April 6, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  36. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 14, 2012" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  37. ^ "Train – Drive By" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  38. ^ "Train – Drive By". Top 40 Singles.
  39. ^ "Train – Drive By". VG-lista.
  40. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  41. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  42. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201214 into search.
  43. ^ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  44. ^ "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: January 07, 2012 to January 14, 2012)". Gaon Chart. December 15, 2012. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  45. ^ "Train – Drive By" Canciones Top 50.
  46. ^ "Train – Drive By". Singles Top 100.
  47. ^ "Train – Drive By". Swiss Singles Chart.
  48. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  49. ^ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2012-05-07." TopHit. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  50. ^ "Train Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  51. ^ "Train Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  52. ^ "Train Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  53. ^ "Train Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  54. ^ "Train Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  55. ^ "ARIA End of Year Singles 2012". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  56. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2012". austriancharts.at. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  57. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2012". Ultratop. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  58. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  59. ^ "Track Top-50 2012" (in Danish). hitlisterne.dk. Archived from the original on 2013-09-14. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  60. ^ "Myydyimmät singlet vuonna 2012" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish). IFPI Finland. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  61. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2012" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  62. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  63. ^ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2012" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  64. ^ "Classifica annuale 2012 (dal 02.01.2012 al 30.12.2012)" (in Italian). FIMI. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  65. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2012". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  66. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2012" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  67. ^ "End of Year Charts 2012". The Official NZ Music Charts. Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  68. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2012" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  69. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2012 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  70. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2012". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  71. ^ "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2012" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  72. ^ "Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  73. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  74. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  75. ^ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  76. ^ "Radio Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  77. ^ "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2013" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  78. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  79. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  80. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Train – Drive By" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  81. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Train – Drive By". Music Canada. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  82. ^ "Danish single certifications – Train – Drive By". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  83. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Train; 'Drive By')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  84. ^ "Italian single certifications – Train – Drive By" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.
  85. ^ "Single van Train goed voor platina" (in Dutch). NU.nl. October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  86. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Train – Drive By". Recorded Music NZ.
  87. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Train – Drive By". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  88. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Train" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  89. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Drive By')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  90. ^ "British single certifications – Train – Drive By". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  91. ^ "American single certifications – Train – Drive By". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  92. ^ "Danish single certifications – Train – Drive By". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  93. ^ iTunes - Music - Drive By - Single by Train
  94. ^ Praxis Media. "Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles ::: Charts, DJ Promos, Dance, Lyrics, Free Mp3 Samples Downloads". Radio1.gr. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
[edit]