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It's Been Awhile

{{Short description|2001 single by Staind}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{For|the Invincible episode|It's Been A While}}

{{Infobox song

| name = It's Been Awhile

| cover = staind it's been awhile.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Staind

| album = Break the Cycle

| released = March 27, 2001

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = * Post-grunge{{cite web|last=Geffen|first=Sasha|date=October 7, 2013|title=In Defense of Post-Grunge Music|url=https://consequence.net/aux-out/in-defense-of-post-grunge-music/|access-date=January 30, 2017|website=Consequence}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/list/best-post-grunge-songs/|title=50 Best Post-Grunge Songs|last=Graves|first=Wren|website=Consequence|date=May 20, 2024|access-date=April 1, 2025}}

  • nu metal{{Cite web | url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/09/10-nu-metal-songs-that-dont-totally-suck/ | title=10 Nü-Metal Songs That Don't Totally Suck | date=September 12, 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/165791-aaron-lewis-the-road-2495795013.html|title=Aaron Lewis: The Road|author=Gary Suarez|magazine=PopMatters|date=December 12, 2012|access-date=May 2, 2021|quote="Strip off a few pesky layers of grime from a nu metal power ballad like "It's Been Awhile" or "Outside" and you'll find a country song hidden at its core."}}
  • alternative metal{{cite web|last=Grierson|first=Tim|title=Top 10 Essential Alt-Metal Songs|url=http://rock.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/BestAltMetalSongs.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231323/https://rock.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/BestAltMetalSongs.htm|archive-date=March 3, 2016|access-date=September 22, 2021|publisher=About.com}}
  • hard rock{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/staind-its-been-awhile-top-21st-century-hard-rock-songs/|title= No. 34: Staind, 'It's Been Awhile' - Top 21st Century Hard Rock Songs|date=June 28, 2012|website=Loudwire|last=Ramanand|first=Liz|access-date=January 4, 2024}}

| length = 4:25

| label = * Flip

| writer = * Aaron Lewis

| producer = Josh Abraham

| prev_title = Home

| prev_year = 2000

| next_title = Outside

| next_year = 2001

| misc = {{external music video|

{{YouTube|araU0fZj6oQ|"It's Been Awhile"}}}}

}}

"It's Been Awhile" is a song by American rock band Staind, released on March 27, 2001, as the lead single from their third studio album, Break the Cycle (2001). The song is Staind's most successful, becoming a number-five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 2001. It spent a second-best 20 weeks at number one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart (behind "Loser" by 3 Doors Down) and a then-record 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 595. Worldwide, the single became a top-20 hit in Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Background

Aaron Lewis originally wrote this song around 1996 along with "Outside" slightly prior to the release of Dysfunction and performed it with a short-lived acoustic side project called J-CAT, before abruptly shelving it until 2000 during the recording sessions of Break the Cycle.{{cite web |title=J-CAT - It's been Awhile |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzJuvsB6EQA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/KzJuvsB6EQA |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |last=Halbersberg |first=Elianne |title=Staind |url=https://www.mixonline.com/live-sound/staind-367748 |website=mixonline |date=September 2001 |publisher=Mix Online |access-date=September 1, 2001}}

Reception

Eric Aiese of Billboard reviewed the song favorably, saying that the group handles the ballad well and packs "a lot of punch into the cut." Aiese said that the song "may be the group's greatest splash yet."{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FikEAAAAMBAJ&q=staind+it%27s+been+awhile+review&pg=PA48|title= Billboard|last=Aiese|first=Eric |date=May 12, 2001 |website=Google Books |publisher=Billboard Magazine |access-date=September 15, 2016}}

Music video

The music video was directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. It had its world premiere on MTV's Total Request Live program on April 13, 2001.{{cite web |title=UTRL - daily recap |url=http://www.efanguide.com/~trl/database/dailyrecap/010413.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020324022214/http://www.efanguide.com/~trl/database/dailyrecap/010413.htm |archive-date=March 24, 2002 |access-date=August 12, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}} The music video begins with Aaron Lewis going through some old photographs, one of which is a picture of his wife. The video switches between him writing a letter to his wife and the band performing in a room full of candles. There are brief shots of Aaron alone in the streets and looking at himself in the mirror while having second thoughts. Throughout the video, Aaron is seen smoking cigarettes. At the end of the video, one of those cigarettes falls onto the floor and burns down his apartment.

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

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UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=It's Been Awhile|others=Staind|year=2001|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Flip Records, Elektra Records|id=E7252CD1, 7559-67252-2}}

  1. "It's Been Awhile" (clean edit) – 3:51
  2. "Suffocate" – 3:17
  3. "It's Been Awhile" (album version) – 4:25
  4. "It's Been Awhile" (enhanced video)

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=It's Been Awhile|others=Staind|year=2001|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Flip Records, Elektra Records|id=E7252CD2, 7559-67253-2}}

  1. "It's Been Awhile" (live version) – 4:40
  2. "Spleen" – 4:40
  3. "It's Been Awhile" (acoustic version) – 4:31

{{col-2}}

European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=It's Been Awhile|others=Staind|year=2001|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Flip Records, Elektra Records|id=7559-67248-5}}

  1. "It's Been Awhile" (edit) – 3:56
  2. "It's Been Awhile" (acoustic version) – 4:31

Australian maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=It's Been Awhile|others=Staind|year=2001|type=Australian maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Flip Records, Elektra Records|id=7559-67228-2}}

  1. "It's Been Awhile" (edit) – 3:56
  2. "It's Been Awhile" (acoustic version) – 4:31
  3. "Suffocate" – 3:17

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

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

!scope="col"|Chart (2001–2002)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

scope="row"{{single chart|Australia|24|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=November 21, 2011}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Austria|54|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=November 21, 2011}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Flanders|46|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=November 21, 2011}}
scope="row"|Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2001.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 2001|website=Cross Canada Countdown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2001.pdf|archive-date=7 April 2005|access-date=April 11, 2024}}

|4

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-09-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=19|issue=39|page=11|date=September 22, 2001|access-date=July 18, 2020}}

|39

scope="row"{{single chart|Germany|43|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|songid=4858|access-date=November 21, 2011}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Ireland2|18|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Dutch40|7|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=November 21, 2011}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Dutch100|19|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
scope="row"{{single chart|New Zealand|13|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Scotland|12|date=20010915|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Sweden|23|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=November 21, 2011}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Switzerland|79|artist=Staind|song=It's Been Awhile|access-date=November 21, 2011}}
scope="row"{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|15|artist=Staind|artistid=8929|access-date=January 3, 2021}}
scope="row"{{single chart|UKrock|1|date=20010915|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Billboardhot100|5|artist=Staind}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|9|artist=Staind|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|6|artist=Staind}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Staind}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Staind}}
scope="row"{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|3|artist=Staind}}
scope="row"|US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Top 40 Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=42|page=67|date=October 20, 2001}}

|4

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

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

!Chart (2001)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2001.html|title=BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020701174353/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_2001.html|archive-date=July 1, 2002|access-date=March 26, 2022}}

|6

scope="row"|New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/2001-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 2001|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=May 1, 2020}}

|50

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2001|title=Billboard Top 100 – 2001|access-date=August 31, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304120640/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2001|archive-date=March 4, 2009}}

|14

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 2001|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=52|page=YE-82|date=December 29, 2001}}

|22

scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 2001: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=52|page=YE-70|date=December 29, 2001}}

|1

scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=9|issue=51|page=60|date=December 21, 2001}}

|13

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 2001: Hot Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=52|page=YE-72|date=December 29, 2001}}

|2

scope="row"|US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)

|23

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

!Chart (2002)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2002.html|title=Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906183811/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2002.html|archive-date=September 6, 2004|access-date=March 23, 2022}}

|80

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=10|issue=51|page=16|date=December 20, 2002}}

|28

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=May 1, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Staind|title=It's Been Awhile|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2021|source=radioscope|access-date=December 30, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Staind|title=It's Been Awhile|award=Silver|relyear=2001|certyear=2020|id=16349-87-1|access-date=May 1, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Staind|title=It's Been Awhile|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2008|access-date=May 1, 2020|refname="RIAA"}}

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

|March 27, 2001

|{{hlist|Active rock|alternative radio}}

|rowspan="4"|{{hlist|Flip|Elektra}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-03-23.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1394|pages=98, 105|date=March 23, 2001|access-date=April 21, 2021}}

May 22, 2001

|Contemporary hit radio

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-05-18.pdf|title=CHR/Pop: Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1402|page=39|date=May 18, 2001|access-date=April 21, 2021}}

scope="row"|Australia

|June 18, 2001

|CD

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue590.PDF|title=The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 18th June 2001|publisher=ARIA|page=24|date=June 18, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue590.PDF|archive-date=February 20, 2002|access-date=April 21, 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|September 3, 2001

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2001/Music-Week-2001-09-01.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting September 3, 2001: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=23|date=September 1, 2001|access-date=August 16, 2021}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Staind}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2000s ballads

Category:2001 singles

Category:2001 songs

Category:Elektra Records singles

Category:Flip Records (1994) singles

Category:Music videos directed by Fred Durst

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Song recordings produced by Josh Abraham

Category:Songs written by Aaron Lewis

Category:Songs written by Mike Mushok

Category:Staind songs