Since the beginning of their career, 3 Doors Down have proven they can write a slew of hit legends who have famously changed sounds. Additionally, their lead singer, Brad Arnold's unique voice, constantly set them apart, turning everything into gold.
During a time period when other artists were making a name for themselves, such as the Slipknot wore makes to stand out while performing, 3 Doors Down managed to carve out their own path thanks to their defining songs. They ended up on many Billboard charts and found their work being used by major entities such as World Wrestling Entertainment. This helped them gain exposure and cement their legacy.
10 Kryptonite
Album: The Better Life (2000)
In January 2000, the world was introduced to 3 Doors Down through their very first single, "Kryptonite." The song took off as fast as Superman could fly. It became an instant radio hit, securing the top spot on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. It even reached third place on the coveted Hot 100, giving the band instant credibility.
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The song was early proof of the band's ability to write catchy tunes. This was one of the first songs they ever penned, demonstrating that they were wise far beyond their years. After a year of its release, the song remained on four Billboard charts. By the end of the decade, it had maintained its prestige, landing in the 43rd spot on that particular Hot 100 chart. Now it has over one billion streams on Spotify.
9 Loser
Album: The Better Life (2000)
Debuting with one hit single is a great start, but being able to follow up with another truly begins to establish a band as a prominent force. This song, which came from a personal perspective, ranked on multiple Billboard charts, much like "Kryptonite." Although it did not reach as high on the Hot 100, it did achieve a first-place finish on the Mainstream Rock chart.
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The songs run on that particular chart became historic, as it stayed there for 21 weeks. This placed the band in the history books for this specific Billboard chart. In the song's early years, it continued to grow in popularity and significantly contributed to making their first album 7x platinum. With two major hits, their first record has become a must-listen.
8 When I’m Gone
Album: Away From The Sun (2002)
Following up a great debut is a crucial statement for musicians, ensuring they don't become a forgotten band. 3 Doors Down came back stronger than ever when they released Away from the Sun. The record was immediately off to a strong start when they put out the lead single, "When I'm Gone," an emotional tune about being away from love.
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The song reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 twice. Helping the track maintain its reach was its powerful music video, which showed the band performing on the USS George Washington in front of United States military personnel. There was also a second video released for the song, but the on-stage performance in particular added a stronger meaning to the tune.
7 Here Without You
Album: Away From The Sun (2002)
In addition to many other hits, the band's sophomore album also featured perhaps their biggest power ballad of all time, "Here Without You." Much like "When I'm Gone," this song also became an anthem for the United States military, which the band appreciated. It became especially important for the at the time, serving overseas in the Iraq War.
Throughout the years, the song's popularity has maintained, and this track alone has become 6x platinum.
This also marked yet another song for them that reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became a worldwide sensation, and yet another signature song for the band, quickly making their setlist a must-see. Throughout the years, the song's popularity has maintained, and this track alone has become 6x platinum.
6 Let Me Go
Album: Seventeen Days (2005)
It may seem like a tough situation for a band to not have their song used in a major motion picture, but 3 Doors Down were able to make the best of the situation with their hit "Let Me Go." Originally, the track was intended to be featured in Spider-Man 2; however, it didn’t happen. Since they enjoyed it so much, they used it as their lead single for their third studio album.
With this tune as the lead, the anticipation for Seventeen Days grew. The song, which the band has confirmed as a break-up anthem, performed well on the charts. Additionally, the music video was more than just the band playing the song; it told the story of life in turmoil. This added to its allure and made it yet another classic for the band.
5 Landing In London Ft. Bob Seger
Album: Seventeen Days (2005)
Over the course of their career, 3 Doors Down were not known for doing many collaborations, but when they did in 2005, they did it in the biggest way. For their song "Landing in London," the band was accompanied by the legendary Bob Seger. This was a case of perfect timing, as Seger was recording in the same studio as the band.
Since Seger was on the song, it became a tune that reminded many of his classic 1973 "Turn the Page."
This was yet another song for them that spoke about the struggles of being away from home. As the band continued to grow, this was a struggle they learned more about. Since Seger was on the song, it became a tune that reminded many of his classic 1973 "Turn the Page," which also spoke about life on the road.
4 It’s Not My Time
Album: 3 Doors Down (2008)
By the time the band's self-titled record came out in 2008, they had released many songs with powerful messages, but they weren't finished. "It's Not My Time" has become perhaps the most powerful song they have ever released. On so many occasions, this tune is a rallying cry that lifts individuals up when they need it the most.
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This was yet another track that the band had originally written with a film in mind, but once again it ended up not being used. Nonetheless, it worked out well for them as it became a huge hit on the radio and on television, as its music video was being played constantly on MTV. The video tells a powerful story about how precious every second of life is.
3 Train
Album: 3 Doors Down (2008)
For a band that has released so many emotional songs, their track "Train" was another addition to that list, but it was slightly different as the instrumentation is that of a pure hard rock tune. It begins with an immediate heavy instrumental, hooking listeners from the first note. The song features a catchy melody, which, along with strong vocals, creates perfection.
It was the ideal track to kick off their self-titled album and has proven perfect for opening concerts, as demonstrated during their tour in 2024. During the song's initial release, it reached multiple Billboard charts. The band themselves enjoyed the tune so much that they included the demo version of it on their 2011 album.
2 Every Time You Go
Album: Time Of My Life (2011)
One song by the band that deserves much more attention is "Every Time You Go." From the instrumental to the lyrics, this tune has everything that their classic hits possess, but it hasn't received as much recognition as they have. Nonetheless, it played a significant role in promoting their 2011 album, Time of My Life.
They enjoy writing straightforward messages, making it very easy to connect with them.
Additionally, this tune was also recorded acoustically, which was a fantastic rendition. Either version evokes an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, reminding listeners why 3 Doors Down is one of the most relatable bands ever. They enjoy writing straightforward messages, making it very easy to connect with them.
1 In the Dark
Album: Us And The Night
The seventh studio album from 3 Doors Down, titled Us and the Night, arrived in 2016. It features some of the strongest instrumentals they have ever released. One of the prime examples of this is the single "In the Dark." Along with being a single, the song was also accompanied by a music video that features a little nostalgia in the beginning, before telling a sultry story.
This song, along with a couple of other releases, helped this record place on multiple Billboard charts, including a Top 15 finish on the 200 and a second-place ranking on the Top Rock Albums chart. The record was praised for its lyrical content, with songs like "In the Dark" having a great chance to grow in legacy as more time es.