"Say (All I Need)" is a song by American pop rock band OneRepublic. It is the third single released from their debut album Dreaming Out Loud (2007) and follows the global success of their previous top ten singles, "Apologize" and "Stop and Stare". OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder has commented that "Say (All I Need") is his "favorite track on the album."[1] All five members of the band, Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Drew Brown, Eddie Fisher and Brent Kutzle share writing and composing credits on the song.[2] The single was released in the UK on June 2, 2008 and features their Live Lounge cover of Duffy's single "Mercy".[3] The single was released on June 24, 2008 in the United States.
| "Say (All I Need)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by OneRepublic | ||||
| from the album Dreaming Out Loud | ||||
| Released | June 2, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2007 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 3:50 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| OneRepublic singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song was recorded at Rocket Carousel Studios in Culver City by producer Greg Wells and engineer Drew Pearson. The chorus of the song was featured during the most recent season of The Hills. Also it featured in the pilot episode of the TV series, The Vampire Diaries. On July 3, 2008, OneRepublic made a guest appearance on So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. season 4) for a live performance of "Say (All I Need)". In France, the song was recorded as a duet with the French R&B singer Sheryfa Luna and was renamed as Say (À l'infini).[4]
Meaning
editThe song is about a relationship that appears to be in danger or is dying. Drummer Eddie Fisher said "There is a saying that broken hearts write the best love songs."[5]
Track listing
edit
|
|
Music video
editThe official music video for "Say (All I Need)" was filmed in Paris, France and directed by Anthony Mandler.[7] Filmed partially in black and white the video begins with the sound of church bells waking up Ryan Tedder. He dons a jacket and grabs a small black journal and leaves the house. As he leaves the house he passes by Chris Cornell, who makes a cameo appearance.[8] The music begins and we see Tedder walking and sometimes running throughout the city near such famous Paris landmarks as the Sacre Coeur, seemingly in search of something, while other members of the band are seen in different locations throughout the city. Drew Brown is seen riding a Vespa scooter and Zach Filkins, Eddie Fisher, and Brent Kutzle have individual close-ups on a bridge and walking down some graffiti covered alleys. The band is also seen performing the song in an ex-meat abattoir in Paris, now artists apartments. As the music swells and begins to climax Tedder races through the city, enters a building and climbs a winding staircase to the top. Reaching the top, he steps out onto a rooftop with a breathtaking view of the city at sunset. He then takes the small black journal from his pocket and writes, "just say," ending the music video.
Tedder has given this explanation for the meaning of the song, "This song is about being happy with what you have in life, and not obsessing over what you don't have. Whether it's a person or relationship, love, or success, or even fame." "We wanted to make a piece of art and do something beautiful and inspiring," said Tedder.[1]
Chart performance
editMonths before the single's official release, "Say (All I Need)" had already started appearing on the charts relying on downloads alone. Its first appearance was in November, (shortly after Dreaming Out Loud was released) on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs, debuting at number seventy-five.[9] It dropped out a few weeks after. The song reappeared on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs after its official release in the United Kingdom and peaked at number fifty-one. The song made its way up the UK charts and a few other European charts, after its official release. The song was released to radio in the US in the third week of June 2008.
| Chart (2007–2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] | 75 |
| Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[11] | 30 |
| Germany (GfK)[12] | 41 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] | 32 |
| Romania (Romanian Top 100)[14] | 81 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[15] | 51 |
| US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[16] | 57 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | June 2, 2008 | CD | Polydor | [17] |
| United States | June 24, 2008 | Contemporary hit radio | Interscope | [18] |
| Australia | July 21, 2008 | CD | Universal | [19] |
| Germany | August 8, 2008 | [20] |
References
edit- ^ a b "OneRepublic Recruit Chris Cornell for 'Say (All I Need)' Video". MTV. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008.
- ^ "ASCAP ACE - Search Results". Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2008.
- ^ "HMV | Music, Films, & Games | hmv.com". Hmv.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "OneRepublic - Say (A l'Infini) - Télécharger album - VirginMega.fr". Virginmega.fr. Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ "Say (All I Need) meaning". Songfacts. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ "Say (À l'infini) [French Duet Version] - Single by OneRepublic". January 2009 – via Apple Music.
- ^ "Application Error - Technorati". Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
- ^ "OneRepublic Recruit Chris Cornell For 'Say (All I Need)' Video". Mtvasia.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - OneRepublic
- ^ "OneRepublic Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 29. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ "OneRepublic – Say (All I Need)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – OneRepublic" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ "Romanian Top 100 – Issue nr: 18/2008 (12 Mai - 18 Mai 2008)" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ "OneRepublic Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ "Say". Amazon.co.uk.
- ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". fmqb.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Issue 960" (PDF). Webarchive.nla.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Say". Amazon.de.