The Timeless Resonance of Hoobastank's 'The Reason' Explained: A Message of Pure Clarity
Hoobastank's hit song 'The Reason' continues to captivate audiences even two decades later In an exclusive interview, band members Doug Robb and Dan Estrin delve into the enduring appeal of the track, highlighting its pure and relatable message Discover why this timeless anthem still resonates with fans today
Content starts: Hoobastank, the band behind “The Reason,” discusses how to write a lasting hit song in the latest episode of We’s “Anatomy of a Song.” Doug Robb and Dan Estrin of the band spoke to Us about the title track of the band’s 2003 album, The Reason, which is set for a special 20th Anniversary Edition release on DSPs on Friday, January 12. "The Reason" was released as the LP’s second single in January 2004, and it became a radio and commercial sensation, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving 4x platinum status in the United States.
“We’ve been attempting to analyze and break down that song,” revealed vocalist Robb, 49, during an interview with guitarist Estrin, 47. Despite their efforts, the duo admits that they “wish we could pinpoint exactly what it was” that made the song so popular. Robb believes that its appeal stems from the fact that it was not written according to a specific formula.
Elizabeth Wiltshire
"The process of creating the song wasn't about catering to the audience or following a specific formula," he explains. "People do write songs by analyzing what's popular or what phrases to use - they turn it into a science, stripping away the romance. But this song was different. It was written with genuine emotion and an authentic message. It came together quickly and there was no overthinking or second-guessing. The success of the song, I believe, comes from its authenticity. It's a message that was personal to me, not meant to be universally relatable. It wasn't about trying to appeal to a wide audience, just staying true to my own experience."
Estrin recalls the process of creating the guitar parts, explaining that he was still living at his mom’s house and was "constantly just working on music." While sitting in the guest room, he experimented with different sounds and stumbled upon something that grabbed his attention. "It was somewhat unique or different from what I had been coming up with," he says, "or maybe it was an evolution of what I had been doing already because the riff - on a song from the first record called ‘Crawling in the Dark,’ it’s not terribly different."
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Estrin found the chord progression he created to be "pretty interesting" and continued to experiment with other chords that resonated with him. He recorded the progression and sent it to Robb, who then worked on incorporating his own lyrics, poems, and phrases into the music.
Robb eventually revealed that the song, "The Reason," is actually about himself. After being repeatedly asked about the subject of the song, he came to the realization that it reflected his own struggles and the need to change his behavior in order to resolve his issues.
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"The Reason" has resonated with audiences since its initial release, and most recently, it has sparked a viral TikTok trend. To honor its enduring impact, Hoobastank unveiled a limited edition physical LP to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Reason in December. This special vinyl release showcased reimagined artwork and exclusive Polaroids from renowned rock photographer Kevin Estrada. Additionally, the album featured a bonus track - Hoobastank's reinterpretation of Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy."
Elizabeth Wiltshire
Watch the video above to hear Robb and Estrin discuss how "The Reason" has become the soundtrack to their fans' lives, their perspective on its trend on TikTok, and some of the most unusual places they've heard the song during their 20+ year career in this episode of "Anatomy of a Song."
