So Far Away (Staind song)
{{Infobox song
| name = So Far Away
| cover = So Far Away (Staind song).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Staind
| album = 14 Shades of Grey
| recorded = 2003
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:03
| label = Elektra
| writer =
- Aaron Lewis
- Mike Mushok
- Johnny April
- Jon Wysocki
| producer = Josh Abraham
| prev_title = Price to Play
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = How About You
| next_year = 2003
}}
"So Far Away" is a song by American rock band Staind, released to post modern radio on June 23, 2003 as the second single from their fourth album 14 Shades of Grey. The song enjoyed much success on both rock and mainstream radio, reaching number-one on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks for fourteen consecutive weeks, one of the longest runs in the chart's history, and number-one on the Modern Rock Tracks for seven non-consecutive weeks. The song also became the band's second top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 24.
In May 2021, for the 40th anniversary of Mainstream Rock Tracks, Billboard ranked "So Far Away" at number 20 on its list of the 100 most successful songs in the chart's history;{{cite magazine|first=Kevin|last=Rutherford|title=Shinedown & Days of the New Rule Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Charts|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9581948/shinedown-days-of-the-new-top-greatest-of-all-time-mainstream-rock-charts/|access-date=November 29, 2023|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603220935/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9581948/shinedown-days-of-the-new-top-greatest-of-all-time-mainstream-rock-charts/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603233707/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-mainstream-rock-songs|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-of-all-time-mainstream-rock-songs|title=Greatest of All Time Mainstream Rock Songs|archive-date=June 3, 2021|access-date=November 29, 2023|url-status=live|magazine=Billboard}} in September 2023, the magazine ranked the song at number 89 on a similar retrospective list for the 35th anniversary of Modern Rock Tracks (which by then had been renamed to Alternative Airplay).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/alternative-airplay-chart-35th-anniversary-foo-fighters-all-time-low-rule-1235408126/|title=Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, ‘Monsters’ New Top Song|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|magazine=Billboard|date=September 7, 2023|access-date=November 29, 2023}}{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006001750/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-alternative-songs/|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-alternative-songs/|title=Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs|archive-date=October 6, 2023|access-date=November 29, 2023|url-status=live|magazine=Billboard}}
Reception
Bram Teitelman of Billboard reviewed the song favorably, predicting a rock radio smash due to "the lyrics' sunny disposition and a return to the sonic qualities that radio previously embraced." Teitelman called it a "midtempo song anchored by frontman Aaron Lewis' expressive vocals."{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3w0EAAAAMBAJ&q=staind+so+far+away+review&pg=PA31|title= Billboard|last1=Teitelman|first1=Bram |date=July 5, 2003 |website=Google Books |publisher=Billboard Magazine |access-date=September 15, 2016 |quote=|page=31}} Katherine Turman described the song as "an honest and grateful musing on success";[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000942LT "14 Shades of Grey: Staind"]. Amazon. Retrieved 22 June 2006. fans however feel that the song represents Aaron Lewis moving on in life and speaking of hope and uncertainty,[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4485 "So Far Away by Staind"]. Songfacts. Retrieved 22 June 2006. along with the running theme of 14 Shades of Grey. The song was featured in the ninth episode of the third season of the series Smallville, and was used for a TV spot for the 2004 Marvel superhero film The Punisher. The song was also featured on twelfth episode of the fourth season of the TV series SEAL Team.
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Nigel Dick, and is a collage of clips of the band's live performances, some shots of Aaron Lewis' oldest daughter Zoe Jane (who was 1 at the time of filming), and other tour footage. It was filmed during a live performance at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY.
Track listing
=American release=
- "So Far Away"
- "So Far Away" (Radio Edit)
- "Novocaine" (Non Album Track)
- "Zoe Jane" (Live at KROQ)
=UK release=
- "So Far Away" (Radio Edit)
- "Mudshovel" (Live)
- "Home-Grown Promo Footage" (Multimedia)
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2003–2004)
!scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|24|artist=Staind|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 14, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|16|artist=Staind|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 14, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Staind|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 14, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Staind|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 14, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|17|artist=Staind|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 14, 2020}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Staind|title=So Far away|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2003|certyear=2022|accessdate=30 December 2024|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}