I Don't Want to Be

{{Short description|2004 single by Gavin DeGraw and theme song of One Tree Hill}}

{{Infobox song

| name = I Don't Want to Be

| cover = I_Don't_Want_to_Be_single_art.jpg

| alt = A man wearing a grey t-shirt and yellow ball cap is lying down on a pile of leaves.

| type = single

| artist = Gavin DeGraw

| album = Chariot

| B-side =

"Just Friends"
"Get Lost"

| released = {{start date|2004|2|17}}

| recorded =

| studio =

Sunset Sound, The Hook, Larrabee East (Los Angeles)
The Hit Factory (New York City)

| genre = Pop rock{{cite magazine|last= Rolling Stone Staff|title= The 50 Greatest Minivan Rock Songs|magazine= Rolling Stone|date= April 28, 2020|url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/minivan-rock-50-greatest-songs-9364720/|accessdate= January 11, 2025|quote=Chariot,” DeGraw’s follow-up to “I Don’t Want To Be,” follows the same winning pop-rock formula...}}

| length = 3:37

| label = J

| writer = Gavin DeGraw

| producer = Mark Endert

| next_title = Chariot

| next_year = 2005

}}

"I Don't Want to Be" is a song by American singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw from his 2003 debut album, Chariot. The song gained exposure after the chorus was featured as the opening theme to The WB/The CW teen drama series One Tree Hill, and it was released as a radio single on February 17, 2004. It peaked at number 10 in the United States in 2005 and became a top-20 hit in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

The song is certified double platinum in the US, having sold and streamed over two million units. In 2012, the song reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart, its highest position, due to the finale of One Tree Hill{{'}}s ninth and final season airing, which also featured DeGraw.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} The song's music video follows the message of the lyrics, featuring a girl investigating her high school peers while they are frozen in time, and she eventually decides to be herself.{{cite web|url=https://societyofrock.com/behind-the-mask-gavin-degraws-i-dont-want-to-be-will-dig-deep-into-who-you-really-are/|title=Behind the Mask: Gavin DeGraw's 'I Don't Want to Be' Will Dig Deep into Who You Really Are|date=February 29, 2016 |publisher=Society of Rock|access-date=January 10, 2022}}

Background and composition

Gavin DeGraw wrote the song as a message to adolescents, encouraging them to be themselves and to not let outside factors change their personalities. DeGraw explained:

{{Blockquote|text=["I Don't Want to Be"] was heavily influenced by the identity crisis right now that exists amongst youth. It's almost like you can go into any town in the country and the kids don't necessarily have an identity of their own; it's like whatever is on television is who they are.}}

Upon finishing the song, DeGraw was happy with the results, but he was unsure if the song would become a hit despite being able to "have an impact on people's psyche and on their tapping toe".{{cite web|url=https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/degraw.htm|title=Gavin DeGraw Discusses His Platinum Chariot Album, and His Hit Single 'I Don't Want to Be'|last=Roberge|first=Nicole|date=December 4, 2013 |publisher=Songwriter Universe|access-date=January 10, 2022}} Musically, the track is written in the key of C minor and proceeds at a moderately slow tempo of 76 beats per minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0145901|title=I Don't Want to Be by Gavin DeGraw – Digital Sheet Music|website=Musicnotes.com|date=March 16, 2015 |id=MN0145901|access-date=January 10, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.notediscover.com/song/gavin-degraw-i-don-t-want-to-be|title=I Don't Want to Be ● Gavin DeGraw|publisher=Note Discover|access-date=January 10, 2022}}

Track listings

UK and Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=I Don't Want to Be|others=Gavin DeGraw|year=2005|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=J Records|id=82876 702222}}{{cite AV media notes|title=I Don't Want to Be|others=Gavin DeGraw|year=2004|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=J Records|id=82876-64530-2}}

"I Don't Want to Be" (album version) – 3:37
"I Don't Want to Be" (Stripped/acoustic version)
"Just Friends" (album version) – 3:24
"I Don't Want to Be" (video)

European CD single 1{{cite AV media notes|title=I Don't Want to Be|others=Gavin DeGraw|year=2005|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=J Records|id=82876 645302}}

"I Don't Want to Be" (album version) – 3:38
"I Don't Want to Be" (Stripped version) – 4:04
"Get Lost" – 4:26
"I Don't Want to Be" (video)

European CD single 2{{cite AV media notes|title=I Don't Want to Be|others=Gavin DeGraw|year=2005|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=J Records|id=82876 645312}}

"I Don't Want to Be"
"I Don't Want to Be" (Stripped version)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes.

Studios

Recorded at Sunset Sound, The Hook, Larrabee East (Los Angeles) and The Hit Factory (New York City)
Mixed at Larrabee North (Los Angeles)

Personnel

Gavin DeGraw – lyrics, music, vocals, piano
Michael Ward – guitars
Alvin Moody – bass
Joey Waronker – drums
Mark Endert – production, recording, mixing
Steve Gryphon – additional editing, additional programming

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2005/RR-2005-01-07.pdf\|title=R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30\|magazine=Radio & Records\|issue=1588\|page=25\|date=January 7, 2005\|access-date=October 15, 2020}} \|4
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2004–2012) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Australia\|19\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|song=I Don't Want to Be\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Austria\|44\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|song=I Don't Want to Be\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|99\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|song=I Don't Want to Be\|songid=74944\|access-date=March 31, 2020\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Hungary\|27\|year=2005\|week=27\|access-date=August 19, 2020\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|25\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|13\|year=2005\|week=24\|access-date=December 10, 2019\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|21\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|song=I Don't Want to Be\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|30\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|song=I Don't Want to Be\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Norway\|6\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|song=I Don't Want to Be\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|20\|date=20120602\|access-date=August 19, 2020\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Sweden\|15\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|song=I Don't Want to Be\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|46\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|song=I Don't Want to Be\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UKsinglesbyname\|27\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|artistid=13983\|access-date=August 19, 2020\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|10\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultpopsongs\|9\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardpopsongs\|1\|artist=Gavin DeGraw\|access-date=November 11, 2018\|rowheader=true}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2004) !Position
scope="row"\|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA34\|title=Year in Music & Touring: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=116\|issue=52\|page=YE-74\|date=December 25, 2004\|access-date=December 20, 2023}} \|18
scope="row"\|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs\|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor\|volume=12\|issue=51\|page=22\|date=December 17, 2004}} \|97

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2004)

!Position

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA34|title=Year in Music & Touring: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=116|issue=52|page=YE-74|date=December 25, 2004|access-date=December 20, 2023}}

|18

scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor|volume=12|issue=51|page=22|date=December 17, 2004}}

|97

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2005) !Position
scope="row"\|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web\|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2005\|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2005\|publisher=Dutch Top 40\|access-date=December 10, 2019}} \|48
scope="row"\|Sweden (Hitlistan){{cite web\|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=2005&dspp=1\|title=Årslista Singlar, 2005\|publisher=Sverigetopplistan\|language=sv\|access-date=December 10, 2019}} \|88
scope="row"\|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web\|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/2005-2/\|title=Billboard Top 100 – 2005\|website=BillboardTop100of.com\|access-date=December 10, 2019}} \|58
scope="row"\|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=2005 The Year in Charts: Top Mainstream Top 40 Songs\|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor\|volume=13\|issue=50\|page=26\|date=December 16, 2005}} \|13

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2005)

!Position

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2005|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2005|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=December 10, 2019}}

|48

scope="row"|Sweden (Hitlistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=2005&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 2005|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=December 10, 2019}}

|88

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/2005-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 2005|website=BillboardTop100of.com|access-date=December 10, 2019}}

|58

scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=2005 The Year in Charts: Top Mainstream Top 40 Songs|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor|volume=13|issue=50|page=26|date=December 16, 2005}}

|13

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Gavin DeGraw|title=I Don't Want to Be|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|source=radioscope|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Gavin DeGraw|title=I Don't Want to Be|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|id=14671-4543-1|access-date=March 8, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Gavin DeGraw|title=I Don_t Wanna Be|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|access-date=March 31, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label(s) !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\|United States \|February 17, 2004 \|{{hlist\|Contemporary hit\|hot AC\|triple A radio}} \|rowspan="4"\|J \|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-02-13.pdf\|title=Going for Adds\|magazine=Radio & Records\|issue=1542\|page=25\|date=February 13, 2004\|access-date=May 19, 2021}}
August 16, 2004 \|Contemporary hit radio \|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-08-13.pdf\|title=Going for Adds\|magazine=Radio & Records\|issue=1568\|page=19\|date=August 13, 2004\|access-date=May 19, 2021}}
scope="row"\|Australia \|September 6, 2004 \|rowspan="2"\|CD \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.aria.com.au/ISSUE758.pdf\|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20041019140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20041020-0000/ISSUE758.pdf\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=2004-10-19\|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th September 2004\|publisher=ARIA\|page=28\|date=September 6, 2004\|access-date=May 19, 2021}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\|United Kingdom \|June 20, 2005 \|{{cite magazine\|title=New Releases: Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=35\|date=June 18, 2005}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"|United States

|February 17, 2004

|{{hlist|Contemporary hit|hot AC|triple A radio}}

|rowspan="4"|J

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-02-13.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1542|page=25|date=February 13, 2004|access-date=May 19, 2021}}

August 16, 2004

|Contemporary hit radio

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-08-13.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1568|page=19|date=August 13, 2004|access-date=May 19, 2021}}

scope="row"|Australia

|September 6, 2004

|rowspan="2"|CD

|{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/ISSUE758.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20041019140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20041020-0000/ISSUE758.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-10-19|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th September 2004|publisher=ARIA|page=28|date=September 6, 2004|access-date=May 19, 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"|United Kingdom

|June 20, 2005

|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=June 18, 2005}}

Use in media

The chorus of the song is the opening theme to One Tree Hill.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/07/25/one-tree-hill-cast-reunites-karaoke/|title=One Tree Hill cast reunites, performs theme song|last=Lujan|first=Adam|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 25, 2016|access-date=May 19, 2021}} DeGraw performed the song on a season 1 episode of One Tree Hill. He returned for the season five finale to perform the song with Jackson Brundage.https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a276732/one-tree-hill-theme-tune-to-return/ In the eighth season, several artists covered it for the season's theme music, including Spinnerette, Grace Potter, Against Me!, Kate Voegele, Tegan and Sara, Susie Suh, Patrick Stump, The New Amsterdams, Laura Veirs (who sung the intro), Lucero (who sung the intro) and Matthew Ryan (who sung the bridge in his version).https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2010/09/1555-one-tree-hill-theme-song-returns-performed-by-various-artists/ DeGraw also performed the song for the series finale to celebrate their 10th anniversary of Tric.
The song appears in the game Karaoke Revolution Party and is available as part of the downloadable content in the game Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore.

References

Category:2003 songs

Category:2004 debut singles

Category:Gavin DeGraw songs

Category:J Records singles

Category:One Tree Hill (TV series)

Category:Songs about teenagers

Category:Songs written by Gavin DeGraw

Category:Television drama theme songs