B-side "Brand New Book" Label Columbia
Sony | Length 4:08 | |
Released June 11, 2012 (2012-06-11) Format CD single
digital download Genre Pop rock
Latin pop
folk rock | ||
"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 officially impacted adult contemporary and pop radio in the United States on June 11, 2012. It peaked at number 20 on the Hot 100. It was certified gold by the RIAA on September 20, 2012. The success of the song led to an android app titled "50 Ways to Survive". The app's gameplay is inspired by the lyrics of the song and also features an instrumental version of the song playing in the background.
Contents
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. Some believe the song also steals the riff from "The Phantom Of The Opera."
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 he was dumped by her.
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". The melody of the song has also been compared with the song "The Phantom of the Opera" from the eponymous musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Music video
The music video was directed by Marc Klasfeld and features David Hasselhoff, Taryn Manning, Jonathan Lipnicki, and a Mariachi trio. It is set in a supermarket (Jimmy portrays the checker and Scott plays the butcher), with cutaways to the various excuses Pat makes for his girlfriend's absence and the band performing onstage.
- "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – 4:08
- "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" – 4:08
- "Brand New Book" – 3:47