The Reason (Hoobastank song)

"The Reason" is a power ballad by American rock band Hoobastank. Released on January 26, 2004, as the second single from their second studio album of the same name, the song is Hoobastank's most commercially successful single, peaking at number two on the US "Billboard" Hot 100—behind Usher's "Burn"—and number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. In 2005, it was nominated for two categories at the 47th Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Internationally, "The Reason" reached number one in Italy and peaked within the top 10 in 10 other countries.
Chart performance.
On March 20, 2004, the song debuted on the US "Billboard" Hot 100 at number 62, becoming that week's "Hot Shot Debut". It reached its peak of number two after 13 more weeks on the listing, giving the band their highest-charting US single. It was also their last Hot 100 hit, remaining on the chart for a total of 38 issues. The single peaked atop the "Billboard" Adult Pop Songs, Modern Rock Tracks, and Mainstream Top 40 charts. In Canada, it topped "Radio & Records" CHR/Pop, Hot AC, and Rock charts.
In Europe, "The Reason" reached number one on the Italian Singles Chart and the UK Rock & Metal Chart for two weeks each. On the UK Singles Chart, it debuted and peaked at number 12. Across the rest of Europe, the track entered the top 10 in Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Wallonia. It was also successful in Oceania, reaching number seven in Australia and number five in New Zealand.
Music video.
The music video for the song was directed by Brett Simon. In it, the band members stage a diversion so they can carry out the elaborate theft of a ruby gem from a pawnshop, but those facts are only clear after enough of the action unfolds: nothing is as it seems. In the beginning of the video, a woman gets hit by a car and then turns out to be an accessory to the crime. After the "accident", while everyone's attention is diverted, the band members execute the heist. The viewer then realizes that she was in on the operation, as she gets up and rides off with an accomplice on a motorcycle at the end. The presumed owner of the pawnshop displays a look of realization, and the song ends with the band admiring their new acquisition, holding it up to the light and projecting red light-rays onto the ceiling. The accident's "victim" is also present. They then hear police sirens from above, and the video fades out.
Their music video "Same Direction" is intended as both a sequel and a prequel to the video for "The Reason" and further details the band member's roles, as well as showing the trouble they bring down on themselves from law enforcement.
Track listings.
US promo CD
UK 7-inch single
European CD single
European enhanced CD single 1
European enhanced CD single 2
In popular culture.
"The Reason" was featured in the series finale of American sitcom "Friends", "The Last One", which gave the song a boost in popularity. It also appeared on the PlayStation 2 music video game "SingStar". In January 2021, the song returned to attention when its lyric "I'm not a perfect person" became a hashtag on social networking service TikTok.