"Home" is a 2007 song by American rock band Daughtry from their self-titled debut album. The song had been climbing up the U.S. charts for a few weeks before the song was announced as the second single from the album. The song was covered by Irish musician Kian Egan that served as the lead single from his debut album also titled Home.
Song meaning
Chris Daughtry told Entertainment Weekly: "I had already made it through to Hollywood, but I’m still at home at this point, because once you make it through auditions there’s this whole torturous waiting period. And I got in that mindset of what this is going to be like. I’m going to be away from my family for the first time and I’m not working a job anymore. This is weird. I was wrapping my head around something a little more radio friendly and just started strumming and wrote “Home” within 15 to 20 minutes. I played it for (then-RCA Records CEO) Clive Davis once I was off the show and had a meeting with him. I played it in front of him with my guitar and he pretty much signed me on the spot."[1]
Music video
Screenshot from the music video of the band performing, with the fans in the foreground
The video for "Home" was directed by Danny Clinch, and filmed in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina (Chris Daughtry's hometown) on March 23, 2007. The video consists mostly of the live performance of the song during the band's free concert in Greensboro, which was filmed at night and features shining green light effects during the performance. The video also focuses on several of the estimated 24,000 fans in attendance at the concert. Scenes of this are intercut with various experiences the band has had on tour, such as showing the band backstage, on the tour bus, signing autographs, and just hanging out and having a good time.
Critical reception
Chuck Taylor of Billboard, called the single an "anthemic rock power ballad".[2]
On December 6, 2007, "Home" was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
This song was number 75 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007.[3]
"Home" charted on the Hot 100 weeks before its release as a single, and became the band's second top-five single on the chart, peaking at number five. The song topped both the Billboard Adult Top 40 and the Adult Contemporary charts, spending ten consecutive weeks at number one on the Adult Top 40 ("It's Not Over" spent nine weeks at number one on the chart), as well as becoming the band's first number one on the AC chart, where it spent ten non-consecutive weeks at the top. The song became an unexpected hit on the Christian charts as well, reaching number twelve on the Hot Christian Songs chart. It was also a top five hit on the Canadian Hot 100. As of January 2011, the song has sold 2,012,000 digital downloads,[5] and the single was certified 3xPlatinum by the RIAA in September 2019.[6]
"Home" was covered by Irish musician Kian Egan, who is best known as a member of the boy bandWestlife. It was the first single from Egan's debut album with the same name. The song had its first Irish airplay on Ryan Tubridy's show on RTÉ 2fm on February 10. Egan said: "I've always absolutely loved this song. It means so much to me to be able to perform it, and for it to be the first track from my solo album is an incredible privilege.[31]
Background and production
Egan said, "It's not very well known on this side of the world, I don't think. It was a massive hit in America a few years ago for a band called Daughtry. The reason why this was chosen was that it struck a nerve with me every time I was listening to my iPhone or my iPod. It feels right. It sounds the way I want it to sound for people to hear me for the first time. That's the other thing for me, an awful lot of people have never heard me sing a full song, they've heard snippets here and there. For me it was really important to have a song that I was really feel happy with and how I sounded on and it stood out for me so that's why we decided to go with it. I went into studio and I cut loads of songs and this one stood out from the start."[32]
Critical reception
Brendon Veevers of RenowenedforSound.com stated that "Chris Daughtry-penned title track and while the original was a country-fuelled rocker for the American Idol chart-toppers, Egan delivers his version of the number with an equal amount of gusto as he swings his vocals around a rich production full of Americana influenced guitar riffs and a spectacular orchestral arrangement that provides the spine to the power-ballad quality of the track."[33] Wynona Grant of FortitudeMagazine.co.uk describe the song as "a good, upbeat tune. Flourishes of electric guitar is a definite step up from expectations."[34]EntertainmentNow.tv describe the song "million miles away from Westlife's sound, but the rockier edge and guitar work are enough to make it distinctive."[35] "Egan's raspy vocals fit the song brilliantly, and his Irish tone makes for a perfect radio friendly hit. The track itself is a great choice for Kian, who admits he doesn't want to stray too far from Westlife's sound, but he does like rock music and guitars. The result is a polished track which wouldn't sound out of place on BBC Radio 2 (no bad thing)."[36]
Music video
Kian teased fans by sharing a picture taken during his album photo shoot.[37] In the music video, the handsome star sports designer stubble and casual clothing for the laid-back ballad as he sings lyrics such as 'I'm going home, to the place where I belong.' Kian wears a dark navy jacket and a jumper and jeans throughout the video as clips from his stint on I'm A Celebrity play on the wall, as well as a shot of his wife, Jodi Albert.
"Home" was chosen to replace Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" as the farewell song on the sixth season of American Idol in 2007.[42] The song was played every time a contestant was voted off, with the exception of Phil Stacey.
"Home" was played on the TV series Criminal Minds in the season three episode "About Face," (original airdate October 31, 2007) as the FBI profilers successfully rescued a woman at the conclusion of the episode.
“Home” was played as the eviction song of ‘Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition Plus’.
"Home" was on the movie soundtrack for Wanderlust.
"Home" was featured on an episode on the American animated sitcom Family Guy (Season 15 Episode 5)
"Home" was the theme song for Chesapeake Shores from seasons two through six.
