How's It Going to Be

"How's It Going to Be" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). It was released to radio as the third single from the album on October 20, 1997, by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan are credited as writers of the song. Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins, Eric Valentine, and Ren Klyce, with additional production and arrangement by Arion Salazar and Cadogan. According to Jenkins, the song is about the end of a relationship and the transition to acquaintanceship.

"How's It Going to Be"
Single by Third Eye Blind
from the album Third Eye Blind
B-side
ReleasedOctober 20, 1997 (1997-10-20)
Studio
GenreAlternative rock
Length4:13
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Third Eye Blind singles chronology
"Graduate"
(1997)		 "How's It Going to Be"
(1997)		 "Losing a Whole Year"
(1997)
Music video
"How's It Going to Be" on YouTube

The song was recorded in and around San Francisco at Toast Studios, Skywalker Ranch, and H.O.S. by Valentine. Tom Lord-Alge was responsible for the mixing of the track, which was made at South Beach Studios in Miami Beach. "How's It Going to Be" was one of the first demos recorded for Third Eye Blind, being recorded alongside the first iteration of "Semi-Charmed Life". An alternative rock song, the song's concept was developed after Cadogan played an autoharp, which inspired feelings of nostalgia among the band members. The instrumentation used in the song also includes guitars, drums, and a cello.

"How's It Going to Be" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Cadogan's distinct use of an autoharp in the instrumentation. The song peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving Third Eye Blind their second entry on the chart and their second top ten hit. Internationally, "How's It Going to Be" was a top 40 hit in three countries. On the 1998 year-end charts, the song peaked at number sixty-seven on the Canada Top Singles chart and number eleven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, respectively.

Writing and inspiration

"How's It Going to Be" was written by Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan. In an interview with Jenkins published in Billboard, he explained:

The song’s inspiration came about when Third Eye guitarist Kevin Cadogan was tinkering around with an autoharp, ‘which is a vintage-sounding instrument that you can’t really play without it having a sort of nostalgic sound to it. That inspired this emotional condition in me,’ Jenkins says. That condition surrounds the idea of lost love, of realizing that there may come a despairing day when the two meet and no longer know each other. ‘I think we all feel violated when we find that a relationship actually has time limits, that it’s not unconditional. That’s the thing that aches in people,’ he explains. ‘That’s something everybody can relate to, even when you know you have no business being with this person anymore.’[1]

Recording and mixing

The recording sessions for "How's It Going to Be" took place in and around San Francisco, California at Toast Studios, Skywalker Ranch, and H.O.S.[2] Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins, Eric Valentine, and Ren Klyce, with additional production and arrangement by Arion Salazar and Kevin Cadogan.[2] The song was engineered by David Gleeson, with additional engineering by Valentine.[2] Tom Lord-Alge was responsible for the mixing of the track, which was made at South Beach Studios in Miami Beach, Florida.[2]

Composition

"How's It Going to Be" is an alternative rock song.[3][4] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, the song is written in the key of F major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 78 beats per minute.[5] Jenkin's vocal range spans one octave, from C4 to A5.[5]

Critical reception

Arielle Gordon of Pitchfork praised Kevin Cadogan's use of an autoharp on the song's opening chords.[6]

Chart performance

In the United States, "How's It Going to Be" debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the issue dated December 6, 1997.[7] The song reached its peak after eleven weeks, peaking at number nine for the issue dated February 14, 1998.[7] The song spent a total of 52 weeks on the chart, with the week of November 28, 1998, being its final appearance on the chart.[7]

Music video

The music video was directed by Nigel Dick and was filmed between September 6 and 7, 1997 in Spring Street, Los Angeles.[8] In the video, the band members are in a car parked on a city street. On the opposite sidewalk, they spot a woman carrying many items (implied as an ex-girlfriend) enter a nearby building and immediately bring their instruments inside. They follow her to her office. As the band performs in front of the office, the woman hides behind a divider as another employee calls building security.

Live performances

The song was regularly performed on Third Eye Blind's debut headlining tour, The Bonfire Tour (1998).[9]

Cover versions

In 2011, PT Walkley sang a cover of this song for the romantic film Something Borrowed.

In 2015, American indie rock band Widowspeak released a cover of "How's It Going to Be" on their single Two Covers.[10]

Track listings and formats
  1. "How's It Going to Be"  – 4:16
  2. "Horror Show"  – 4:10
  1. "How's It Going to Be"  – 4:13
  2. "Graduate" (Remix) – 3:25
  3. "Horror Show"  – 4:10
  1. "How's It Going to Be"  – 4:12
  2. "Semi-Charmed Life"  – 4:27
  3. "Horror Show"  – 4:10

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from Third Eye Blind album liner notes.[2]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[29] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release history and formats for "How It's Going to Be"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 20, 1997 Alternative radio Elektra [30]
October 21, 1997 Contemporary hit radio [31]
November 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
United Kingdom March 9, 1998 [32]

References
  1. Third Eye Blind Finds Another Audience Connection With Latest Crossover Cut. Billboard. January 31, 1998.
  2. Third Eye Blind (Inlay cover). Third Eye Blind. Elektra. 1997. 62012-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. "The 79 Best Alternative Rock Songs Of 1997". Spin. April 25, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  4. Ygelsias, Matthew (May 21, 2007). "The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist". The Atlantic.
  5. Third Eye Blind (1997). "Third Eye Blind 'How's It Going to Be' Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  6. Gordon, Arielle (January 23, 2022). "Third Eye Blind: Third Eye Blind Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  7. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  8. "Productions 1997".
  9. "Third Eye Blind Look to Summer Tour, Recording". MTV News. April 28, 1998. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  10. "Widowspeak – "How's It Going To Be" (Third Eye Blind Cover) (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. September 15, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  11. How's It Going to Be (US CD Single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 64130-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. How's It Going to Be (AUS CD Single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 7559-64130-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. How's It Going to Be (US Cassette liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 64130-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. How's It Going to Be (EU Maxi Single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 7559-63891-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. How's It Going to Be (FRA CD-one Single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 7559-63854-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. How's It Going to Be (FRA CD-two Single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. E3863CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 278.
  18. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3457." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  19. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3436." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  20. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.1 – 22.1. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 16, 1998. p. 22. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  21. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  23. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  24. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  25. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  26. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  27. "RPM's Top 100 Hits of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 68, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  28. "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  29. "American album certifications – Third Eye Blind – How's It Going to Be". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  30. "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report. No. 2177. October 17, 1997. p. 60.
  31. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1219. October 17, 1997. p. 39.
  32. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 7, 1998. p. 35.
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