Mayday (Three Days Grace song)

"Mayday"
Single by Three Days Grace
ReleasedNovember 22, 2024 (2024-11-22)
Recorded2024
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length3:23
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Three Days Grace singles chronology
"I Am the Weapon"
(2022) 		"Mayday"
(2024)
Music video
"Mayday" on YouTube

"Mayday" is a song by Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. It was released on November 22, 2024, via RCA Records as the lead single from their upcoming eighth studio album. The song marks the return of vocalist Adam Gontier, who returned to the group in October 2024 after an 11-year absence, with Gontier now sharing lead vocal duties with Matt Walst.

Background

On October 2, 2024, the band revealed via social media that they were in the studio with founding frontman Adam Gontier teasing a possibility of new music in the works.[2] Gontier had left the band in January of 2013. The following day, they officially announced that Gontier had returned to the band full-time, with Matt Walst remaining a lead vocalist as well, making them a quintet for the first time since their 90s genesis as Groundswell.[3] On November 18, the group teased a new single posting a clip on social media with the caption "Our time of arrival is Friday, November 22nd."[4] On November 20, the band announced the release of a new single, titled "Mayday", which was released on November 22, 2024.[5]

The song is about "the current state of the world" of disillusionment, exhaustion, and denial, and refusing to accept defeat by keeping on moving forward.[6] Matt Walst said of the song's inspiration, "Sometimes life is turbulent, but beyond the clouds is blue skies. So, just keep going."[7]

Composition

"Mayday" was written by Adam Gontier, Matt Walst, Brad Walst, Barry Stock, Neil Sanderson, Ted Bruner and Zakk Cervini. The track was produced by Sanderson, Cervini, Dan Lancaster and Howard Benson.[8] The opening bass line is reminiscent of their 2006 single "Animal I Have Become" from their second studio album One-X, with screamed vocals from Walst in the beginning of the song.[1] The track is described as alternative rock with a melodic chorus, before leading into a heavier breakdown during the bridge.[1]

Critical reception

Gregory Adams of Revolver stated, "Sonically, Three Days Grace's latest single lean into a melodically-bruising modern rock aesthetic, with both singers on high alert as they take stock of the waking world."[9] Chad Childers of Loudwire remarked, "The new song 'Mayday' kicks off with a killer bass line before Matt Walst's screams and some more electronic backing blow up the intensity."[10]

Chart performance

"Mayday" peaked at number four on the Canada Active Rock chart.[11] It also reached number 20 on the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart,[12] as well as number one on the Mainstream Rock chart, becoming their eighteenth number-one song on the chart.[13] The song peaked at number one and two on the US Hard Rock Digital Song Sales and Digital Song Sales chart, respectively.[14][15]

Music video

The music video for "Mayday" premiered on November 22, 2024.[16] It was directed by Circus Head,[17] and the video's premise is the group in an airplane and mid-way through the video, chaos erupts after they fly through a lightning storm, causing heavy turbulence and panic.[18] In an interview with WRIF, drummer Neil Sanderson spoke about the concept of the video stating, "so, yeah, complete melee goes on on the plane. And it's kind of an analogy to just feeling like we're hurling through life at warp speed, and sometimes it doesn't feel like there is a pilot that's in control of things. But it's also a bit of a celebration, like, 'Hey, if we're going down, we're all going down together.'"[19]

Personnel

Credits for "Mayday" adapted from digital liner notes.[8]

Charts

Chart performance for "Mayday"
Chart (2024–2025) Peak
position
Canada Active Rock (Mediabase)[11] 4
Germany Airplay (TopHit)[20] 76
German Alternative Singles (GfK)[21] 1
Italy Rock Airplay (FIMI)[22] 23
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 36
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[15] 25
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 20
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[24] 2

Release history

Release history and formats for "Mayday"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Italy November 21, 2024 Contemporary hit radio Sony [25]
Various November 22, 2024 Digital download RCA [26]
United States Rock radio [7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Jon Hadusek (November 22, 2024). "Three Days Grace Unleash 'Mayday,' First Song Since Return of Singer Adam Gontier: Stream". Consequence.net. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Childers, Chad (October 2, 2024). "What Are Three Days Grace Teasing With Adam Gontier?". Loudwire. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Childers, Chad (October 3, 2024). "Three Days Grace Reunite with Gontier (with a twist)?". Loudwire. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "Three Days Grace Teases New Song with Adam Gontier's Return". 102.9 The Buzz. November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  5. ^ "Three Days Grace To Release 'Mayday', First Single Since Return Of Adam Gontier, On Friday". Blabbermouth.net. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Amy Chabot (November 22, 2024). "Three Days Grace Is Back!". Surge 105.1. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Joe Cingrana (November 22, 2024). "World Premiere: Three Days Grace - 'Mayday'". Audacy. Audacy, Inc. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Mayday (Digital liner notes). Three Days Grace. RCA Records. 2024.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Gregory Adams (November 22, 2024). "Hear Three Days Grace's First Song Since Adam Gontier's Return". Revolver. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Chad Childers (November 22, 2024). "Three Days Grace Release First New Song With Adam Gontier in 11 Years". Loudwire. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Canada-Active Rock: 11/30/2024 - 12/01/2024". Mediabase. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Three Days Grace Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Kevin Rutherford (January 3, 2025). "Three Days Grace Scores 18th Mainstream Rock Airplay No. 1 With 'Mayday'". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  14. ^ "Three Days Grace Chart History (Hard Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Three Days Grace Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  16. ^ Dylan Langille (November 20, 2024). "Three Days Grace Have A New Song Coming Out With Both Singers!". Surge 105.1. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Three Days Grace Releases 'Mayday', First Single Since Return Of Singer Adam Gontier". Blabbermouth.net. November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Taylor Fields (November 22, 2024). "Three Days Grace Hit Heavy Turbulence In 'Mayday' Music Video". iHeart. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Three Days Grace To Finish Recording New Album In January". Blabbermouth.net. November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "Top Radio Hits Germany Weekly Chart:Jan 2, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  21. ^ "Deutsche Alternative Charts - Week: 52 Year: 2024 Category: Single". Deutsche Alternative Charts. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  22. ^ "EarOne Airplay Rock". EarOne. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. December 26, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  23. ^ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  24. ^ "Three Days Grace Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  25. ^ "Three Days Grace - Radio Date". EarOne. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  26. ^ "'Mayday' Out November 22". threedaysgrace.com. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.