Losing a Whole Year

"Losing a Whole Year" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). Elektra Records released the song in Japan as the album's second single on December 15, 1997, and in the United States on February 23, 1998, as the fourth single from the album. The song was written by frontman Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan, whilst production was helmed by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. According to Jenkins, the song is about lamentation due to the end of a relationship.

"Losing a Whole Year"
Single by Third Eye Blind
from the album Third Eye Blind
B-side"Horror Show"
ReleasedDecember 15, 1997 (1997-12-15)
Studio
GenreAlternative rock
Length
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Third Eye Blind singles chronology
"How's It Going to Be"
(1997)		 "Losing a Whole Year"
(1997)		 "Jumper"
(1998)
Music video
"Losing a Whole Year" 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. An alternative rock song, the song's concept was quickly developed after a band member jokingly used the phrase "losing a whole beer." The instrumentation used in the song includes guitars, drums, and percussion. Third Eye Blind initially planned to release the song as their debut single, although they opted for "Semi-Charmed Life" at the suggestion of Elektra Records.

Background

"I'm really proud of my contributions to the different voices on the guitar on that one. I just messed around and got these chords that would made this lush sound. I had this little Tascam four-track and we were at Stephan's having some beers and working on it acoustically and this beer spilled on the recorder and we had a bit of "Losing" with this warped falsetto and someone said, "Losing a whole beer," which became "Losing a Whole Year."[1]

—Kevin Cadogan talking to Billboard about the origin of the song.

"Losing a Whole Year" was written by Stephen Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan. The song originated from a guitar riff that Cadogan had written, with Jenkins commenting that "the words were how that riff made me feel".[2] Jenkins further discussed the meaning of the song, stating that it is about "a rich girl from Bernal Heights" and that it is "just lamenting the end of a relationship and all of its wasted time".[2]

The band intended to release "Losing a Whole Year" as the lead single from Third Eye Blind (1997), although "Semi-Charmed Life" was released instead at the suggestion of Elektra Records.[1]

Composition

"Losing a Whole Year" is an alternative rock song.[3] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, the song is written in the key of E major and is set at a tempo of 108 beats per minute with a time signature of 4
4 for most of the song except for two measures of 11
8 before the guitar solo and four during the ending.[4] Jenkin's vocal range spans one octave, from F#4 to A5.[4]

Critical reception

"Losing a Whole Year" was released as a single from Third Eye Blind's 1997 self-titled album.[5] The song received a positive reaction from music critics. Chuck Eddy of Spin magazine called it one of the band's "catchiest" songs.[6] Allmusic's Mike DeGagne agreed, writing that "its pop-friendly makeup of frolicking guitar and a welcoming tempo make it one of the band's most catchiest tunes."[7]

Chart performance

"Losing a Whole Year" stayed on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for 14 weeks and peaked at number 13 on May 2, 1998.[8] The song also appeared on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1998, peaking at number 36.[9]

Music video

Third Eye Blind planned to make two music videos for "Losing a Whole Year", but ultimately only one was released.[10] The video features the band performing the song in front of an audience of three laughing women. At the end of the video, two cars crash into each other right in front of the band members.

Cover versions

In 2009, American post-hardcore band A Lot Like Birds, on their album Plan B, included a cover of "Losing A Whole Year" at the end of their song "Sesame Street is No Place for Vengeance" as a hidden track.

Track listings and formats
  • Japanese CD single and German CD 1[11][12]
  1. "Losing a Whole Year" (LP version) – 3:21
  2. "Horror Show"  – 4:02
  3. "Graduate" (remix) – 3:26
  • Australian CD single and German CD 2[13][14]
  1. "Losing a Whole Year" (remix - Strings Up) – 3:01
  2. "Losing a Whole Year" (radio mix) – 3:18
  3. "Losing a Whole Year" (remix) – 3:12

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Third Eye Blind album liner notes.[15]

Charts
Peak chart positions of "Losing a Whole Year"
Chart (1998) Peak
position
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[16] 13
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[17] 36

Release history
Release history and formats for "Losing a Whole Year"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Japan December 15, 1997 CD Elektra [18]
United States February 23, 1998 Alternative radio [19]

References
  1. "'There Was No Overnight Success': An Oral History of Third Eye Blind's Self-Titled Debut". Billboard. April 6, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  2. "Losing a Whole Year". stephanjenkins.com. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
  3. "The 88 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1998". Spin. p. 5. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  4. Third Eye Blind (1997). "Third Eye Blind 'Losing a Whole Year' Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. Tirone, Mike. "San Fran Band, Third Eye Blind to perform at Loyola" Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine. loyolagreyhound.com. January 21, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  6. Eddy, Chuck. "Third Eye Blind / Smash Mouth". Spin. May 1998, p. 142.
  7. DeGagne, Mike. "Losing a Whole Year". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  8. "Losing a Whole Year - Third Eye Blind". billboard.com. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  9. "Third Eye Blind". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  10. "Third Eye Blind Really Wants To Direct". mtv.com. April 13, 1998. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  11. Losing a Whole Year (German CD-one single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 7559-63882-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Losing a Whole Year (Japanese CD single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. AMCY-2384.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Losing a Whole Year (Australian CD single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 755963832 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Losing a Whole Year (German CD-two single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 7559-63832-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Third Eye Blind (CD liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 1997. 62012-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  17. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  18. "ルージング・ア・ホール・イヤー | サード・アイ・ブラインド" [Losing a Whole Year | Third Eye Blind] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  19. "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report. No. 2192. February 13, 1998. p. 50.
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