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.[1]

"50 Ways to Say Goodbye"
Single by Train
from the album California 37
B-side"Brand New Book"
ReleasedJune 11, 2012 (2012-06-11)
Genre
Length4:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Train singles chronology
"Drive By"
(2012)		 "50 Ways to Say Goodbye"
(2012)		 "Bruises"
(2012)
Music video
"50 Ways to Say Goodbye" on YouTube

Although the song is called "50 Ways to Say Goodbye", the song only references 11 unique excuses.

Composition

"50 Ways to Say Goodbye" is a pop rock song in the key of E♭ 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."[2]

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.[3]

The theme of the song also follows the 1998 release of The Vandals’ "My Girlfriend's Dead" from their album Hitler Bad, Vandals Good, written by Warren Fitzgerald, in which rather than face the reality that his girlfriend left him, he tells that his girlfriend died in a variety of ways.[4]

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".[5]

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 who was 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
  1. "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – 4:08
  1. "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – 4:08
  2. "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

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[33] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[34] Platinum 80,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[36] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Country Date Format Label
United States June 11, 2012[37] Adult contemporary radio airplay Columbia Records, Sony Music
July 31, 2012[38] Mainstream radio airplay

References
  1. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA".
  2. Harris, Kristin (April 30, 2015). "Train's Pat Monahan Explains Some Of Their Most Iconic Lyrics". BuzzFeed. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  3. "Train Frontman Reveals Original Gruesome Title of "50 Ways to Say Goodbye"". September 27, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  4. "The Vandals - "My Girlfriend's Dead"".
  5. "Train: 50 Ways To Say Goodbye (Official Music Video)". Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  6. "Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye" (in German). Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  7. "Train – 50 Ways To Say Goodbye". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. "Train – 50 Ways To Say Goodbye" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  9. "Train Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. "Train Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  11. "Train Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  12. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201250 into search.
  13. "Train: 50 Ways to Say Goodbye" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  14. "Icelandic Singles Chart". Tonlist.is. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  15. "Media Forest Week 45, 2012". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  16. "The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Train". The Official Lebanese Top 20. July 1, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 2012" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  18. "Train – 50 Ways To Say Goodbye" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  19. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  21. "Train Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  22. "Train Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  23. "Train Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  24. "Train Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  25. "Train Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  26. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2012". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2012" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  29. "Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  30. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  31. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
  32. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  33. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  34. "Canadian single certifications – Train – 50 Ways to Say Goodbye". Music Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  35. "British single certifications – Train – 50 Ways to Say Goodbye". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  36. "American single certifications – Train – 50 Ways to Say Goodbye". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  37. "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases - Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates - ..."
  38. "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ..."
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