I Don't Want to Be
Encyclopedia
"I Don't Want to Be" is a song by Gavin DeGraw
appearing on his 2003 debut album Chariot
. It was released as a single in Australia
in 2004, and in the UK
in 2005.
The single became Gavin DeGraw's biggest hit to date, mainly due to the premiere of One Tree Hill
, of which the song is the opening theme. peaking at number ten in the U.S. in early-2005, and was certified Double Platinum
, having sold over 2,000,000 paid downloads. It is also DeGraw's only single to break the UK Top 40.
was featured in the 2004 music video
, opposite Scott Mechlowicz
.
According to DeGraw, this song got him out of college debt.
Gavin DeGraw
Gavin Shane DeGraw is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is known for his songs "Chariot", "Follow Through", "I Don't Want to Be" , "In Love with a Girl", and "Not Over You".-Early life:DeGraw grew up in the Catskills in South Fallsburg,...
appearing on his 2003 debut album Chariot
Chariot (album)
Chariot is the debut studio album by singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, first released in 2003 on J Records. It was re-released in 2004 as "Chariot ," which included all of the original "Chariot" content as well as a bonus disc...
. It was released as a single in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2004, and in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 2005.
The single became Gavin DeGraw's biggest hit to date, mainly due to the premiere of One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, of which the song is the opening theme. peaking at number ten in the U.S. in early-2005, and was certified Double Platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
, having sold over 2,000,000 paid downloads. It is also DeGraw's only single to break the UK Top 40.
Trivia
Shiri ApplebyShiri Appleby
Shiri Freda Appleby is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell...
was featured in the 2004 music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, opposite Scott Mechlowicz
Scott Mechlowicz
Scott David Mechlowicz is an American actor. He began his professional acting career in 2003, working in commercials and television, and is best known for his lead roles in the films EuroTrip, Mean Creek, Peaceful Warrior, Gone, Undocumented, and Cat Run.- Early life :Mechlowicz was born in New...
.
According to DeGraw, this song got him out of college debt.
Track listing
- "I Don't Want to Be" (Album version)
- "I Don't Want to Be" (Stripped version)
- "Just Friends" (Album version)
- "I Don't Want to Be" (Video)
Chart positions
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
19 |
| Austrian Singles Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
44 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 9 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
25 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 30 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 6 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 15 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
38 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
10 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
1 |
Use in media
- 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.
- DeGraw performs the song on a Season 1 episode of One Tree HillOne Tree Hill (TV series)One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
. He returned for the season 5 finale to perform the song with Jackson Brundage, who portrays James Lucas Scott on the show. - Many American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestants have sung "I Don't Want to Be" on the show, including Matt GiraudMatt GiraudMatthew Scott "Matt" Giraud is a dueling piano player from Kalamazoo, Michigan and the fifth place finalist of the eighth season of the reality television series American Idol.-Early life:...
and Michael SarverMichael SarverJeremy Michael Sarver is an American singer from Jasper, Texas, who was the tenth place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
(both from Season 8), Chris RichardsonChris RichardsonChristopher Michael "Chris" Richardson is an American singer-songwriter who was the fifth-place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol.-Personal life:...
(from Season 6) , Elliott YaminElliott YaminElliott Yamin , born Efraym Elliott Yamin, is an American singer known for his hit single "Wait for You" and placing third on the fifth season of American Idol....
(from Season 5), Bo BiceBo BiceHarold Elwin "Bo" Bice, Jr. is an American singer and musician who placed second to Carrie Underwood in the fourth season of American Idol. He has recorded three studio albums, including one on RCA Records...
(from season 4), and Casey JamesCasey JamesCasey Everett James is an American singer and guitarist from Fort Worth, Texas, who was the third-place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
(from season 9). - In the most recent season of One Tree Hill, several artists are covering it for this season's theme music, including SpinneretteSpinneretteSpinnerette is an alternative rock, indie rock solo project of Australian musician Brody Dalle. For this project she has collaborated with Tony Bevilacqua , Jack Irons and Alain Johannes...
, Against Me!Against Me!Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida and relocated to Gainesville, Florida in 1999. Their first full-length album, released on No Idea Records in 2002, was Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose. They have released music on Misanthrope Records, Crasshole Records,...
, Kate VoegeleKate VoegeleKate Elizabeth Voegele is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress. She is signed to Interscope Records. She is also known for her part as Mia Catalano in the CW TV series One Tree Hill.-Career:...
, Susie SuhSusie SuhSusie Suh is a Korean-American adult alternative/folk-rock singer-songwriter. Her music is often compared to Fiona Apple, Sarah McLachlan, and Aimee Mann. Suh cites Joni Mitchell and Beth Gibbons among her influences.[]...
and Patrick StumpPatrick StumpPatrick Vaughn Stump is an American singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and music critic. He is the composer, lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, and is also a solo artist...
.