50 Ways to Say Goodbye
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox song
| name = 50 Ways to Say Goodbye
| cover = Train 50 Ways to Say Goodbye.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Train
| album = California 37
| B-side = Brand New Book
| released = {{start date|2012|06|11}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{Flat list|
| length = 4:08
| label = {{Flat list|
| writer = {{Flat list|
| producer = {{Flat list|
| prev_title = Drive By
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Bruises
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|GSBFehvLJDc|"50 Ways to Say Goodbye"}}}}
}}
"50 Ways to Say Goodbye" is a song by American pop rock band Train. It is the second single from their sixth studio album, California 37 and is the fifth track on the album. It is considered to be adult contemporary pop radio music. It was released in the United States on June 11, 2012. It is their most recent Top 40 hit, peaking at number 20 on the Hot 100. It was certified gold by the RIAA on September 20, 2012, and has since been certified triple platinum.{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|title=Gold & Platinum - RIAA|website=Recording Industry Association of America }}
Composition
"50 Ways to Say Goodbye" is a pop rock song in the key of E{{music|flat}} minor. It is in common time with a tempo of 140 beats per minute. It utilizes electric guitars and a mariachi influenced brass section and acoustic guitar.
Singer Pat Monahan said the song "was just a gag about a girl breaking up with a boy and being just so immature that the only way to handle it was just to tell your friends that she's dead."{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristinharris/trains-pat-monahan-explains-some-of-their-most-iconic-lyrics|title=Train's Pat Monahan Explains Some Of Their Most Iconic Lyrics |last=Harris|first=Kristin|website= BuzzFeed|date=April 30, 2015 |accessdate=August 11, 2021}}
The lyrics are a tongue-in-cheek narrative where to save face, the singer claims he will say his girlfriend died in a variety of outlandish ways rather than admit she dumped him. The song had some inspiration from Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and was originally going to be titled "50 Ways to Kill Your Lover". That title was tossed as it could attract controversy.{{cite web |url=http://wxerfm.com/news/articles/2012/sep/27/train-frontman-reveals-original-gruesome-title-of-50-ways-to-say-goodbye/ |title=Train Frontman Reveals Original Gruesome Title of "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" |author= |date=September 27, 2012 |access-date=December 11, 2017 }}
Although the song is called "50 Ways to Say Goodbye", the song only references 11 unique excuses.
Critical reception
Nick Bassett of The Re-View compared "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" to its predecessor, saying that "whilst it lacks that Summery carefree vibe [of "Drive By"], this newbie is still buoyed by a jaunty radio-friendly chorus".{{cite web|title=Train: 50 Ways To Say Goodbye (Official Music Video)|url=http://there-view.tumblr.com/post/26151220829/train-debut-new-video-for-50-ways-to-say-goodbye|access-date=July 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210061231/http://there-view.tumblr.com/post/26151220829/train-debut-new-video-for-50-ways-to-say-goodbye|archive-date=December 10, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
Music video
The music video was directed by Marc Klasfeld and features David Hasselhoff, Taryn Manning, Jonathan Lipnicki, and a Mariachi trio, in addition to band members Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford, and Scott Underwood (Stafford and Underwood have since left the band). The video is set in a supermarket with Monahan explaining to Hasselhoff and various other customers and staff members the absence of his girlfriend. Stafford portrays the store cashier and Underwood plays the butcher, while the girlfriend is played by Manning. The grocery store scenes are interspersed with cutaways to the various excuses Pat makes for his girlfriend's absence, as well as scenes of the band performing onstage. Towards the end of the video, a fan (Lipnicki) holding up signs consoling Pat for the supposed loss of his girlfriend finally holds up a sign that says "Rack City Bitch", a reference to "Rack City" by Tyga. At the end of the video, Pat's girlfriend is revealed to be alive and says hello to him and Hasselhoff, who stand awkwardly as she continues her shopping.
Track listing
- ;Digital download
- "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – 4:08
- ;CD single{{cite web|title=Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye|url=http://www.sonymusic.de/Train/50-Ways-To-Say-Goodbye/P/2669980|publisher=Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH|access-date=December 15, 2012|language=de|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217065920/http://www.sonymusic.de/Train/50-Ways-To-Say-Goodbye/P/2669980|archive-date=February 17, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
- "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – 4:08
- "Brand New Book" – 3:47
Credits
- Pat Monahan - songwriter, lead vocals
- Espen Lind - songwriter, producer, additional guitars, bass, keyboards, backing vocals, programming
- Amund Bjorklund - songwriter, producer, programming
- Jimmy Stafford - guitar
- Scott Underwood - drums
- Hector Maldonado - bass
- Jerry Becker - keyboards
- Brad Magers - horns
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2012–2013) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|16|artist=Train|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|2|artist=Train|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Canada|17|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|artist=Train|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|33|artist=Train|rowheader=true|access-date=December 7, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|8|artist=Train|rowheader=true|access-date=December 7, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Czech Republic|4|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|year=2012|week=50|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Finnishdownload|7|artist=Train|song=50 Ways to Say Goodbye|week=32|year=2012|rowheader=true|refname=FIN download|access-date=February 11, 2015}} |
| scope="row"|Iceland (Tonlist){{cite web|url=http://www.tonlist.is/Music/Chartlist/506/|title=Icelandic Singles Chart|publisher=Tonlist.is|access-date=May 11, 2013}}
|align="center"|12 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Israelairplay|8|artist=Train|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|year=2012|week=45|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20){{cite web|url=http://www.olt20.com/Train#fragment-2&panel1-5|title=The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Train|publisher=The Official Lebanese Top 20|date=July 1, 2012|access-date=October 7, 2016}}
|align="center"|7 |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|14|year=2012|week=34|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|22|artist=Train|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|23|date=20120818|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UK|50|date=20120818|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|20|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|artist=Train|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|11|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|artist=Train|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|4|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|artist=Train|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|4|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|artist=Train|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|17|song=50 Ways To Say Goodbye|artist=Train|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2013)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/adult-contemporary-songs "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2013"]. Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
|align="center"|46 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "50 Ways to Say Goodbye"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2012|certyear=2012|access-date=September 21, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Train|title=50 Ways to Say Goodbye|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|digital=true|access-date=September 21, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Train|title=50 Ways to Say Goodbye|relyear=2012|certyear=2015|source=radioscope|access-date=May 26, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|artist=Train|title=50 Ways to Say Goodbye|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|id=18740-207-1|access-date=February 17, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|artist=Train|title=50 Ways to Say Goodbye|relyear=2012|certyear=2021|access-date=April 7, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Country
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| Adult contemporary radio airplay |rowspan="2"| Columbia Records, Sony Music |
| July 31, 2012{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|title=Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ...}}
| Mainstream radio airplay |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Train singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Marc Klasfeld
Category:Songs written by Amund Bjørklund
Category:Songs written by Espen Lind
Category:Songs written by Pat Monahan
Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Walker
Category:Song recordings produced by Espionage (production team)