Revisiting 3 Doors Down's Most Iconic Songs

During the time I was in high school, the rock band 3 Doors Down was widely popular. Their music consisted of a blend of alternative and hard rock that was well received by my fellow peers. While I can't say 3 Doors Down was one of my top favorite bands in high school, I enjoyed quite a few of their songs.

It's been so long since I've listened to any of their songs, their music being left behind along with other high school memories - of messy lockers, crowded lunch rooms, and the distinct sound of the dismissal bell.

And then I've come across the news of the recent February 7th passing of Brad Arnold - founding member and lead singer of 3 Doors Down and the lyrics of their songs after all these years came back to me.

It's no wonder why 3 Doors Down was so popular among my peers. They were one of the most influential rock bands of the 2000's helping to define post-grunge alternative rock and have even reached Billboard's top 100 charts.

Here are their most iconic songs and my thoughts on each one:

Kryptonite

No. 3 on the Billboard charts

This is easily the song 3 Doors Down is known for. It reached number 3 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for 11 weeks. The radio stations seemed to overplay it and for not being a hardcore 3 Doors Down fan myself, I overplayed it too.

The first notes, slow and steady, are iconic and stir your emotions the instant you hear them.

With inspiring lyrics and powerful heavy rock, "Kryptonite" is about friendship and what it means to be there for someone through the roughest of times.

Here Without You

No. 5 on the Billboard charts

Probably their second most popular song, this was another song by 3 Doors Down that was definitely overplayed.

It took some time for this song to grow on me. To me, it was just another overly emotional power ballad. I would have much rather heard any of their songs that were heavier on the rock and less heavy on the emotion.

"Here Without You" is another song that has an iconic and memorable intro. Picking up midway both in beat and emotion, its no wonder it reached all the way to number 5 on the charts.

After listening to it so many times and now again to stir my memories, I can conclude that this song isn't bad at all!

When I'm Gone

No. 4 on the Billboard charts

As I've mentioned, its been a while since I've listened to any 3 Doors Down song. At first the song title didn't ring a bell but surely for a song to reach number 4 on the charts, it would be highly unlikely that I've never heard it before.

My suspicions were confirmed just a few notes in of playing it and more memories of listening to 3 Doors Down came back to me. The rock song starts off with a softness before soon giving way to a heavier and edgier tone that draws you in instantly.

Let Me Go

No. 14 on the Billboard charts

This is probably one of their more mellow songs. More acoustic, it has a laid back beat but not without heavier rock tones.

3 Doors Down had quite a talent of combining the edginess of hard rock with more mellow tones to stir emotion and this song was a great example.

It's Not My Time

No. 17 on the Billboard charts

To me, this one is 3 Doors Down's best song since "Kryptonite"! I loved it the first time I heard it. The lyrics are powerful and inspiring. To me, it's about making the most out of life and fighting your way through life's obstacles.

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The rock and roll world lost another legend but their music will continue to live on and influence those who grew up with them and future generations.

Revisiting each one of these songs sent me on a nostalgic trip back through time. A time when I was back in high school and "Kryptonite" was sure to come on the radio and when it did, I'd crank the volume up.

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