"Drive" is a song by American rock band Incubus, released on November 14, 2000, as the third single from their third album, Make Yourself (1999). It is the band's biggest hit and breakthrough single, eventually reaching the top of the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart on March 3, 2001, and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 28. It also reached number four in Portugal, number 13 in New Zealand, number 34 in Australia, and number 40 in the United Kingdom. In 2001, "Drive" won a Billboard Award for Modern Rock Single of the Year. Director Bill Draheim documented the making of "Drive" in Save Me from My Half-Life Drive.
Content
According to lead singer Brandon Boyd, "The lyric is basically about fear, about being driven all your life by it and making decisions from fear. It's about imagining what life would be like if you didn't live it that way."
Reception
Sean Adams of Drowned in Sound gave the song an 8 out of 10 in his 2001 review. He wrote that "maybe it can be called a rock ballad, I mean it does have the odd harmony, drum smack and a guitar or two. What makes this different is the lil’ samples and scratches and the voice of Brandon." Adams also added, "by stereotypical definition Brandon Boyd is a heartthrob, but to thousands (at the moment), rather than millions and that is because for some reason Incubus haven't had the kick from the media they deserve."
Music video
Directed by Phil Harder and based on M.C. Escher's Drawing Hands, the music video features a simple musical session intercut with a rotoscoped animation of Brandon Boyd drawing himself, which was handled by both Boyd and drummer Jose Pasillas. The non-animated scenes were shot in the McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota. The video was nominated for Best Group Video at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards but lost to 'N Sync.
Track listings
US CD single
"Drive" (album version) – 3:52
"Drive" (orchestral studio version) – 3:55
Australian maxi-CD single
"Drive" – 3:52
"Crowded Elevator" – 4:44
"Stellar" (acoustic) – 3:16
"Pardon Me" (acoustic) – 3:46
"Drive" (acoustic) – 3:52
UK CD single
"Drive" "Drive" (acoustic) "Clean" (live) "Drive" (video)
UK 7-inch EP
A1. "Drive" (live orchestral version) – 4:05
B1. "Favourite Things" (live) – 3:45
B2. "Pardon Me" (live) – 4:18
European CD1
"Drive" (album version) – 3:52
"Pardon Me" (live) – 4:18
European CD2
"Drive" (album version) – 3:52
"Drive" (orchestral studio version) – 3:55
"Favorite Things" (live) – 3:45
"Pardon Me" (live) – 4:18
"Clean" (live)
Credits and personnel
Credits are taken from the European CD2 liner notes.
Studios
Recorded at NRG Recording Studios (North Hollywood, Los Angeles) Mastered at A&M Studios (Hollywood, California, US)
Incubus
Incubus – production
Brandon Boyd – writing
Mike Einziger – writing
Dirk Lance – writing
Chris Kilmore – writing
José Pasillas – writing
Additional musicians
Dave Holdridge – cello, digital editing
Other personnel
Scott Litt – production, mixing
Rick Will – mixing
Michael "Elvis" Baskette – engineering
Matt Griffin – assistant engineering
Evan Hollander – assistant engineering
Stephen Marcussen – mastering
Brandy Flower – design
Danny Clinch – photography
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
External links
Website of the animated short film 'I move so I am' (The Netherlands, 1997) of animator Gerrit van Dijk on which the official music video "Drive" was based.