Three Doors Down – "Kryptonite" (2000)

I really don't mind what happens now and then

As long as you'll be my friend at the end

It’s February, and all of you devoted 2 or 3 lines fans know what that means – it’s time for “29 Songs in 28 Days” once more.

As always, all the songs that will be featured in this year’s “29 Songs in 28 Days” will have something in common – with only one exception.  (That one exception will be the second post on February 4 – which will feature a song by Justin Timberlake, who is doing the Super Bowl LII halftime show this year.)

Let’s see how long it takes for one of you to figure out what this year’s “29 Songs in 28 Days” theme is.  It shouldn’t take long.  

H. L. Mencken

On the other hand – to paraphrase H. L. Mencken – no one ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of 2 or 3 lines readers.

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Kryptonite is an imaginary substance that is the Achilles’ heel of comic-book superhero Superman and other natives of the planet Krypton (which was Superman’s home planet).

When I started reading comic books, kryptonite came in two forms – there was green kryptonite (which weakened Superman and had the potential to kill him if his exposure to it lasted long enough) and red kryptonite (which caused greater weakening but had only temporary effects).

Over the years, DC Comics introduced one kryptonite variation after another.  There was blue kryptonite (which was an antidote for red kryptonite), white kryptonite (which killed all forms of plant life), gold kryptonite (which affected Superman’s ability to process sunlight, thereby nullifying all his superpowers), red-green kryptonite (which caused Superman to temporarily grow a third eye in the back of his head), red-gold kryptonite (which temporarily erased Superman’s memories), and red-green-blue-gold kryptonite (which caused Superman to divide into two separate beings – “Superman-Blue” and “Superman-Red,” each of whom had enhanced intelligence).

More recently, there has been pink, black, orange, and periwinkle kryptonite.  (The less said about them, the better.)

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The band Three Doors Down was formed in 1996 in Escatawpa, Mississippi – which is a very small town located just north of Pascagoula.  (Like any of you know where Pascagoula is.)

Three Doors Down’s lead singer and drummer, Brad Arnold, says he wrote “Kryptonite” in math class when he was 15.  

The band – which was originally a trio – recorded a demo of the song and gave it to a local radio station.  When the station played it, the response was very positive: “Kryptonite” was the most requested song on that station for 15 weeks.  One thing lead to another, and Three Doors Down was flown to New York City to perform at CBGB.

“The Better Life” album cover

“Kryptonite” was the first single from the group’s first album, The Better Life.  It made it to #3 on the Billboard “Hot 100,” and #1 on both the “Modern Rock” and “Mainstream Rock” charts.  If you don’t know the song, you must have not turned a radio on in 2000.

Here’s the official music video for “Kryptonite”:

Click below to buy the song from Amazon: