"If I Lose Myself" is a song recorded by American pop rock band OneRepublic for their third studio album, Native (2013). It was released as the album's first official single on January 8, 2013.[1] The song was written by Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco, Brent Kutzle and Zach Filkins. It was produced by Tedder and Blanco while Kutzle served as the co-producer. The song peaked at number 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the Media Control Charts in Germany. In early 2014, the single was re-released in the UK after the huge success of "Counting Stars".

"If I Lose Myself"
Single by OneRepublic
from the album Native
ReleasedJanuary 8, 2013
Recorded2012
Length4:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ryan Tedder
  • Benny Blanco
  • Brent Kutzle
OneRepublic singles chronology
"Feel Again"
(2012)
"If I Lose Myself"
(2013)
"Counting Stars"
(2013)

Writing and inspiration

edit

OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder told Billboard about the song's lyrics: "It's actually about my buried, latent fear of flying and going down in an airplane, having that moment of sheer panic, looking out the window, seeing your life pass before you and somehow finding comfort in the fact that the person next to you is experiencing the same traumatic event."[2]

Composition

edit

"If I Lose Myself" runs for 4:01 minutes and has a tempo of 140 beats per minute.[3][4][5]

Live performances

edit

On March 28, 2013, OneRepublic performed "If I Lose Myself" on American Idol with former Idol contestant and NBC Smash star Katharine McPhee.[6] They also performed on Good Morning America, The Ellen Degeneres Show and Rachael Ray, as well as several other concerts and festivals.

Music video

edit

In an interview with fuse.tv, Tedder said, "The original concept [for the video] was borrowing from the opening scene of Garden State—the plane's going down and all the oxygen masks drop out and everyone's going crazy... We chased that for a minute but realized... It's one thing to watch that kind of video once, but you don't wanna sit there and hit repeat on watching a plane crash."[7]

The music video was released on January 24, 2013.[8] In the video, a group of people are sent a text from Ryan Tedder, of a picture of a wolf and the numbers 11.11.11 at the bottom. The camera follows the group around the city chasing clues that are spray painted on fire hydrants and street signs around the town that will help them guide their way to a secret concert that OneRepublic is holding. The video cuts to scenes of the band performing the song in a dark, smokey room with colored lights surrounding the room with a bunch of fans dancing. There are pictures of owls and foxes being projected around the room which are allusions to the album cover for Native. At the end of the video, there is a fox being projected on Tedder's face. The video was inspired by the movies 12 Monkeys and The Matrix.

The video has over 90 million views as of January 2021. It is one of the top ten most viewed OneRepublic music videos[citation needed].

Track listing

edit
  • Digital download[9]
  1. "If I Lose Myself" – 4:01
  • Digital download – remix[10]
  1. "If I Lose Myself" (OneRepublic vs Alesso) – 3:34
  1. "If I Lose Myself" (Album version) – 4:01
  2. "If I Lose Myself" (Love Thy Brother remix) – 4:03

Credits and personnel

edit

Recording[12]

Personnel[12]

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Certifications for "If I Lose Myself"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] 3× Platinum 210,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[45] Platinum 30,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[46] 2× Platinum 120,000
Canada (Music Canada)[47] Gold 40,000*
Germany (BVMI)[48] 3× Gold 450,000
Italy (FIMI)[49] Platinum 50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[50] Gold 7,500*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51] Gold 30,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[52] Gold 15,000
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[53] Gold 900,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Release dates and formats for "If I Lose Myself"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Italy February 8, 2013 Radio impact Universal [54]
Germany February 28, 2013 CD single [55]

Alesso vs. OneRepublic version

edit
"If I Lose Myself"
 
Single by Alesso vs. OneRepublic
from the album Forever
ReleasedMarch 30, 2013
GenreProgressive house
Length
  • 3:34 (album version)
  • 5:54 (original Alesso remix)
  • 6:52 (extended Alesso remix)
Label
  • Mosley
  • Interscope
Songwriter(s)
  • Ryan Tedder
  • Brent Kutzle
  • Zach Filkins
  • Benny Blanco
Producer(s)Alesso
Alesso singles chronology
"Years"
(2013)
"If I Lose Myself"
(2013)
"City of Dreams"
(2013)

A progressive house version of the song remixed by Swedish producer Alesso was played for the first time at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida on March 24, 2013, and was released in certain countries on March 30, notably Netherlands and Sweden, charting with a version credited to OneRepublic vs. Alesso.[56] "If I Lose Myself" was promoted and released in the United Kingdom and Australia in February 2014.[57] This remix was later featured on both the UK and US reissue of the group's album, Native, as well as Alesso's debut album, Forever (2015).

The remix was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical.[58] Alesso explained:

I haven’t been this happy about a remix I’ve done since "Pressure". I feel like I’ve got everything I want in this record, all what I could wish for musically. I do like the original and I wanted a kick that would preserve the ‘live’ feeling energy you get when you listen to it. I worked on it for like a month, going to the studio everyday, wondering what I was going to do, going backward, forward, trying different beats and drums and basslines, everything. I had an idea but didn’t really know how to make it sound the way I wanted. Then I thought, I’m not going to mess around for ages, I want to give it to them straight away. Sometimes people give just a preview, and you never know when it's coming out. This time I wanted to hear their thoughts immediately because I felt so excited by the record.[59]

Track listing

edit
  • Digital download[56]
  1. "If I Lose Myself" (OneRepublic vs. Alesso) – 3:34
  • Digital download — extended remix[60]
  1. "If I Lose Myself" (OneRepublic vs. Alesso) (extended remix) – 7:08

Charts

edit
Chart (2013–2014) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[61] 89
Ireland (IRMA)[62] 14
Scotland (OCC)[63] 6
UK Dance (OCC)[64] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[65] 8

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Sweden (GLF)[66] 4× Platinum 160,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] Platinum 600,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^ Schneider, Marc (January 8, 2013). "OneRepublic Going 'Native' in March, Release Single". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  2. ^ Greenwald, David (January 29, 2013). "OneRepublic's 'If I Lose Myself' Video: Go Behind the Scenes". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  3. ^ Ho, Alan. "Pop/rockers return in top form on spectacular third effort". Musiqtone.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  4. ^ Lansky, Sam (December 18, 2012). "OneRepublic's "If I Lose Myself": Hear Their New Single". Idolator. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013.
  5. ^ "BPM for 'if-i-lose-myself' by onerepublic - songbpm.com". songbpm.com.
  6. ^ Timmons, Lisa (March 29, 2013). "'American Idol': OneRepublic & Katharine McPhee Do "If I Lose Myself," Devin Velez Goes Home". Idolator. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  7. ^ "Fuse". Fuse.tv. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "OneRepublic - If I Lose Myself". YouTube. January 24, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  9. ^ "If I Lose Myself: OneRepublic". Amazon.de. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  10. ^ "If I Lose Myself (OneRepublic vs Alesso): OneRepublic". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "If I Lose Myself (2-Track)". Amazon.de. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  12. ^ a b Native (CD booklet). OneRepublic. United States: Mosley Music Group, Interscope Records. 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in French). Ultratip.
  17. ^ "OneRepublic Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 42. týden 2013 in the date selector.
  19. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in French). Les classement single.
  20. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  21. ^ "Classifiche – Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 34 del 2013". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (in Italian).
  22. ^ "Luxembourg Digital Songs - April 27, 2013". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  23. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself". Top 40 Singles.
  24. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  25. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Dance Top 50. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  26. ^ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2014-07-28." TopHit. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  27. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201325 into search.
  28. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201429 into search.
  29. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" Canciones Top 50.
  30. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself". Singles Top 100.
  31. ^ "OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself". Swiss Singles Chart.
  32. ^ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2014-08-04." TopHit. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  33. ^ "OneRepublic Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  34. ^ "OneRepublic Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  35. ^ "OneRepublic Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard.
  36. ^ "OneRepublic Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  37. ^ "OneRepublic Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  38. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2013". austriancharts.at. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  39. ^ "Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 2013" (in German). VIVA. Viacom International Media Networks. Archived from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  40. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart 2013" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  41. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2013" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  42. ^ "Dance/Mix Show Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  43. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart 2014" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  45. ^ "Austrian single certifications – OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  46. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  47. ^ "Canadian single certifications – OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself". Music Canada.
  48. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (OneRepublic; 'If I Lose Myself')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  49. ^ "Italian single certifications – OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  50. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  51. ^ "Spanish single certifications – OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  52. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('If I Lose Myself')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  53. ^ "Danish single certifications – OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself". IFPI Danmark.
  54. ^ "EarOne | Radio Date, le novità musicali della settimana".
  55. ^ "If I Lose Myself". Amazon Germany.
  56. ^ a b "iTunes - Music - If I Lose Myself (Alesso vs OneRepublic) - Single by OneRepublic & Alesso". iTunes.
  57. ^ "Music House - Euro Solution". Music-house.co.uk. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  58. ^ "56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees". Grammy Awards. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  59. ^ Mckay, Chris (May 3, 2013). "Interview with Alesso: 'I'm still working on my sound, I'm still evolving as an artist'". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  60. ^ "If I Lose Myself (Alesso vs. OneRepublic Extended Remix) [Mosley Music / Interscope Records] :: Beatport". Beatport. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  61. ^ "Alesso vs. OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  62. ^ "Chart Track: Week 07, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  63. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  64. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  65. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  66. ^ "OneRepublic vs. Alesso - If I Lose Myself" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  67. ^ "British single certifications – OneRepublic & Alesso – If I Lose Myself". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 11, 2023.