Best Day of My Life

For other uses, see Best Day of My Life (disambiguation).

"Best Day of My Life"
Single by American Authors
from the album Oh, What a Life
ReleasedMarch 19, 2013 (2013-03-19)
Recorded2012
Genre
Length3:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Aaron Accetta
  • Shep Goodman
American Authors singles chronology
"Believer"
(2013) 		"Best Day of My Life"
(2013) 		"Luck"
(2014)
Music video
"Best Day of My Life" on YouTube

"Best Day of My Life" is a song by American pop rock band American Authors, released on March 19, 2013, by Mercury Records and Island Records as the lead single from their third extended play, American Authors (2013), and the second single from their debut studio album, Oh, What a Life (2014). 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.

Composition

[edit]

The song is written in D major with a tempo of 100 beats per minute.[1]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

Dave Rubin spoke in a podcast of Songfacts where he disclosed that the song was being written when the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting happened in 2012. They were inspired to write the song to "make people happy and make people feel positive because that was missing from rock and songwriting, just something so simplistic that can be an earworm, that can carry people."[2]

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."[3]

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,[4][5] David Bowie ("Changes"),[6] Elton John ("Bennie and the Jets"),[7] 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."[8]

The song also uses the millennial whoop.[citation needed]

Packaging

[edit]

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

[edit]

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, and was a sleeper hit.[9]

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 United States in March 2014,[10] and its second million in August 2014.[11] The song was certified 2× Platinum on July 16, 2014, by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[12] The song was ranked number one on Billboard's chart of Adult Pop Songs for 2014.[13] To date, it remains the only single by the band to break the top 40 in the United States.[citation needed]

Usage in media

[edit]

Commercials

[edit]

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,[14] automotive manufacturer Hyundai in the United Kingdom and France, an alcohol retailer in Australia and communications service provider Telecom New Zealand in New Zealand.[15] The song is used in advertisements for Petron,[16] Datsun Go, Lay's, Center Parcs and Graton Casinos. The song was used in commercials for Best Western hotels. The song was used in a Ford sales event commercial and is used by Alaska Communications in adverts. In the Philippines, back in 2017, this song is featured in the Petron commercial as their new jingle.

Film

[edit]

It appears in the movie trailer for the films Delivery Man, Yes Day, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty[17] in addition to the TV spots for St. Vincent. Portions of the song are played throughout the 2014 film "Moms Night Out" and in the 2015 film, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. The song was used in the 2015 film Top Cat Begins, and also plays during the credits. It was also used in the US version of the adult animated film Bad Cat.[citation needed] A 2024 cover of the song, a poppunk version by Ivyvox, has been used in the Dutch film Verliefd op Bali made by movie director Johan Nijenhuis.[18]

Television

[edit]

The song has also been used in the Vampire Diaries episode "Total Eclipse of the Heart".[19] The song was covered by Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) and Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) in the 2014 Glee episode "New New York". American Authors performed the song while in Human Centipede position on season four premiere of The Eric Andre Show. The BBC used the track during their closing montage for their 2016 United States presidential election coverage. An instrumental version of the song is used as the news theme for Tegna-owned stations.

Sports

[edit]

The song was heard in the opening sequence for ESPN's coverage of the 2013 and 2014 World Series of Poker as well as during their coverage of the 2013 Little League World Series. NHL on NBC used this song as a theme song for the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) used the song in the 2014–15 pregame activities.

Video games

[edit]

"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" also 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 the opening track.

Live

[edit]

"Best Day of My Life", was the official song of the 2017 Maltese Labour Party's General Election Campaign, entitled "L-aqwa żmien ta' pajjiżna." (The Best time for our country). "Best Day of My Life" was played at the conclusion of the 2015 Miss America pageant, during Kira Kazantsev's crowning moment. The song was used as a fanfare to welcome the Singapore Armed Forces Parachute Team (better known as the Red Lions) during the National Day Celebrations of 2014 in Singapore.

Music video

[edit]

The music video was released on October 18, 2013, via YouTube.[20] 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,[21] 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 City), 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."[21]

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."[22]

Track listing

[edit]
Digital download
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Best Day of My Life"
  • Accetta
  • Goodman
3:14

Personnel

[edit]

Adapted from Oh, What a Life liner notes.[23]

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

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Best Day of My Life"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[73] 4× Platinum 280,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[74] 3× Platinum 180,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[75] 7× Platinum 560,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[76] Platinum 300,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[77] Platinum 30,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[78] Platinum 60,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[79] Platinum 60,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[80] 3× Platinum 120,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[81] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[12] 6× Platinum 6,000,000‡
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[82] Platinum 2,600,000†

* Sales 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 "Best Day of My Life"
Country Date Format Label
United States[83][84][85][86] March 19, 2013 Digital download Mercury
August 20, 2013 Modern rock radio
August 26, 2013 Hot adult contemporary radio
December 3, 2013 Contemporary hit radio Island Def Jam
United Kingdom[87] March 7, 2014 Digital download (Gazzo remix)
United States[88]
United Kingdom[89] April 29, 2014 Digital download (Just a Gent remix)
United States[90]
Germany[91] May 9, 2014 Compact disc Island

References

[edit]
  1. ^ American Authors "Best Day of My Life" Sheet Music
  2. ^ O'Flanagan, Corey. "Dave Rublin of American Authors: Songfacts Podcast". Songfacts. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Dersch, Alexandra (2013). "American Authors". Blueprint Magazine. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  4. ^ Valdez, Stephen (2013). "Buddy Holly". In Stacy, Lee (ed.). Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 296. ISBN 978-1-57958-079-7. The Buddy Holly sound was unmistakable. His hiccuping, stuttering vocals...
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Lamb, Bill (2013). "Review: American Authors "Best Day Of My Life"". About.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  9. ^ Geller, Wendy (February 26, 2014). "Hear It First! American Authors Premiere Track From Debut Studio Album". Yahoo Music.
  10. ^ Grein, Paul (March 19, 2014). "Chart Watch: "#Selfie" Is A #Smash". Yahoo Music. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  11. ^ Grein, Paul (August 27, 2014). "Chart Watch: Nicki Minaj Zooms To #2". Yahoo! Music.
  12. ^ a b "American single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "Adult Pop Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  14. ^ "New Music to Know: American Authors Are Having the Best Days of Their Lives". radio.com. February 20, 2014. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  15. ^ 2013 Telecom NZ Advertisement on YouTube
  16. ^ Petron Fuel Happy on YouTube
  17. ^ "American Authors Release Debut Album 'Oh, What A Life' On March 4th 2014". Contact Music.
  18. ^ "Get your popcorn because VERLIEFD OP BALI is out now! On February 2nd 2024". Bell Music Supervision.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ American Authors – Best Day of my Life (Official Music Video) on YouTube
  21. ^ a b Steagall, Cameron (March 12, 2014). "American Authors Take Us Behind The Scenes Of Best Day Of My Life". Fresh 102.7 FM. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  22. ^ Nojadera, Amanda (2014). "Best Day of My Life (CD Single)". Common Sense Media. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  23. ^ Oh, What a Life (liner notes). American Authors. Mercury Records. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of my Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  25. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of my Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  26. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of my Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  27. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of my Life" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  28. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  29. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  30. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  31. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 16. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  33. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 26. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  34. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of my Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  35. ^ "Chart Track: Week 17, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  36. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  37. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  38. ^ "Top 20 Inglés Del 2 al 8 de Junio, 2014". Monitor Latinoaccessdate=2018-05-02. June 8, 2014.
  39. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 11, 2014" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  40. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of my Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  41. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of my Life". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  42. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  43. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  44. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201428 into search. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  45. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201426 into search. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  46. ^ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  47. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of my Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  48. ^ "American Authors – Best Day of My Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  49. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  50. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  51. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  52. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  53. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  54. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  55. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  56. ^ "American Authors Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  57. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  58. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2014". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  59. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  60. ^ "FIMI – Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  61. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2014" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  62. ^ "SloTop50 | Slovenian official year-end singles charts" (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  63. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2014" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  64. ^ "Hot 100 Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  65. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  66. ^ "Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  67. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  68. ^ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  69. ^ "Pop Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  70. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  71. ^ "Decade-End Charts: Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  72. ^ "Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs : Page 1". US Adult Pop Songs. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  73. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  74. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  75. ^ "Canadian single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". Music Canada. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  76. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (American Authors; 'Best Day of My Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  77. ^ "Italian single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  78. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved October 6, 2021. Type American Authors in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Best Day in My Life in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  79. ^ "Spanish single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  80. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – American Authors" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  81. ^ "British single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  82. ^ "Danish single certifications – American Authors – Best Day of My Life". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  83. ^ "Best Day of My Life". 7digital (US). Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  84. ^ "Alternative E-Weekly". All Access Music Group. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  85. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  86. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  87. ^ "Best Day of My Life (Gazzo Remix) – Single by American Authors". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. January 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  88. ^ "Best Day of My Life (Gazzo Remix) – Single by American Authors". iTunes Store (US). Apple. January 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  89. ^ "Best Day of My Life (Just A Gent Remix) – Single by American Authors". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. January 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  90. ^ "Best Day of My Life (Just A Gent Remix) – Single by American Authors". iTunes Store (US). Apple. January 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  91. ^ "Best Day of My Life (2-Track)" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Best_Day_of_My_Life&oldid=1258569961"