"Gotta Be Somebody" is the first official single released from Canadian rock bandNickelback's sixthstudio album,Dark Horse. It reached number 10 on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming their sixth and most recent top-10 hit in the United States.
Background
Originally, the lead single from the album was set to be "If Today Was Your Last Day"[3] but was changed instead to "Gotta Be Somebody". The song was digitally delivered to all formats on September 29, 2008.[4][5] "Gotta Be Somebody" has been covered by American country music singerBucky Covington in 2009, and English pop singerShayne Ward in 2010. It was used in a video package for the 2008Tribute to the Troops show.
Music video
In October 2008, it was reported that an official video from the commercial shoot had been shot with directorJessy Terrero.[6] However, after claims that the band was dissatisfied with the video,[citation needed] it was scrapped. A new video was shot in Vancouver with long-time collaboratorNigel Dick, three months after the release of the single.[7] The video debuted at AOL on Monday, December 15, 2008.[8]
The video for "Gotta Be Somebody" starts out inOuter Space, showing various planets before zooming in on Earth. Nickelback is shown playing at theColosseum inRome, which is empty. During the chorus, an earthquake occurs and cracks the ground the band is standing on. During the second verse, the band is then shown playing on theBrooklyn Bridge inNew York City. Another earthquake begins during the chorus and finally, the band is shown playing an outdoor concert to fans in aSouthwestern United States desert inside anAircraft boneyard for the third verse, bridge, and final chorus. One last earthquake is shown during the final chorus as well. After the band finishes the song, the video zooms out of the boneyard concert and back into outer space, focusing on Earth before fading out.
The video swept the 2009MuchMusic Video Awards, winning awards for best video, best rock video, and best post-production.[9]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Country artistBucky Covington released a version of the song as his fifth single on October 19, 2009. The song is the second single released from his second studio album,Good Guys.[50] The song debuted at number 58 on the U.S.BillboardHot Country Songs chart for the week of November 14, 2009 and ultimately peaked at number 51 a few weeks later. The music video, which was directed by Devin Pense, premiered onCMT on October 26, 2009.[51]
The song was covered by British pop singerShayne Ward for his third studio album,Obsession. It was the album's lead single, released on November 7, 2010.[53] Ward performed the single for the first time onThe X Factor results show on November 7, 2010.
Background
"Gotta Be Somebody" was produced byRay Hedges, Nigel Butler,Cutfather and David Kopatz. In an interview withDigital Spy Shayne Ward spoke about the decision to release a cover song as the album's lead single: "The whole transition from being rock to pop/R&B was really exciting for me and it's definitely made it into my own track. It's the perfect first single to kick-start myObsession album. I don't look it as a cover. It's just a great song. I hadn't heard the song for a while before I recorded it, but I got into it again straight away because it's got such a catchy chorus."[54] According to Ward, the song is about hope, "It's got a great message too – it's about hope, that there's someone out there for all of us. The music video for the single was shot inLos Angeles on 27 September 2010, and was directed byBille Woodruff. The video for "Gotta Be Somebody" premiered onYouTube on October 29, 2010.The single's B-side, "Future Love", written by Ryan Tedder and Evan Bogart, is a cover ofKristinia DeBarge's version of the Varsity Fanclub original.
"Gotta Be Somebody" debuted first on November 12, 2010 on theIrish Singles Chart at number 10, giving Ward his sixth top 10 hit in the country. On November 14, 2010, the single debuted on theUK Singles Chart at number 12; having been predicted to chart within the top 10 earlier that week.[55] This marks Ward's seventh top 20 hit and second single that failed to crack the top 10.
