"Kryptonite" is a song by the American rock band 3 Doors Down. It was originally released as a demo for local play by 97.9 WCPR-FM in Biloxi, Mississippi, then was picked up by several radio stations during November and December 1999.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), p. 633. The song was officially serviced to radio as 3 Doors Down's debut single on January 18, 2000.
"Kryptonite" first charted on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, reaching number one for nine weeks, then topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for 11 weeks; it was 2000's most successful song for both rankings. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's highest-charting single in the United States. The song was also successful internationally, peaking at number six in Canada, number seven in Australia, and number 13 in New Zealand.
Composition and inspiration The song "Kryptonite" was written by 3 Doors Down's vocalist and drummer, Brad Arnold, in a mathematics class when he was 15; it was one of the first songs he ever wrote. Considered a post-grunge track, the song is composed in the time signature of common time, the key of B minor with a tempo of "double time feel" 100 bpm, and the vocal range of B3-F♯5, according to Musicnotes.com.
About the song's meaning, Arnold has said:
The band gave their demo tape to local Mississippi radio station WCPR-FM who started playing the EP version of "Kryptonite" and it became the No. 1 requested song on the station for over 15 weeks. The station's program director sent the song to manager Phin Daly who in turn showed it to Bill McGathy, his employer at In De Goot Entertainment. The band was booked in New York to perform a showcase at the CBGB music club. Daly told HitQuarters: "Once they got on stage and started playing, it was apparent the magic was in the music. So we moved to sign them."
Music video Directed by Dean Karr and filmed in March 2000, the music video presents an old man who was a big-time action hero on 1950s TV. The scene cuts between the band hanging around on the roof of the apartments where the old man lives, spying on a man harassing a woman. When the man drags her away, the old man dons his superhero suit and follows. In between shots of the old hero chasing the bad guy and failing to protect himself against a group of goths, the band is shown playing in a club (the Cowboy Palace Saloon in LA) with several other elderly people dressed as caricatures of comic villains. Several of these people are seen riding a mechanical bull during the final chorus. The video comes to a close when the old man dives through the skylight and catches the bad guy off guard, possibly knocking him out by falling on top of him. The video ends with the old man smiling, giving a thumbs up to the camera, having successfully completed his mission.
Live performances "Kryptonite" was first performed live in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on January 15, 1997. As of February 10, 2026, it has been performed 722 times, making it the most performed song by 3 Doors Down.
Track listings European CD single "Kryptonite" (LP version) – 3:56 "Smack" (LP version) – 2:29
German CD single "Kryptonite" (LP version) – 3:56 "Wasted Me" – 3:11 "Life of My Own" (live from Atlanta) – 4:36 "Kryptonite" (acoustic) – 3:49
European and Australian maxi-CD single "Kryptonite" (LP version) – 3:55 "Wasted Me" – 3:11 "Duck and Run" (LP version) – 3:52 "Kryptonite" (video) – 3:53
Personnel Personnel are taken from the US promo CD liner notes. Brad Arnold – vocals, drums, lyrics, music Matt Roberts – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, music Chris Henderson – rhythm guitar Todd Harrell – bass guitar, music Paul Ebersold – production
Charts
Weekly charts +Chart (2000–2001)Peakposition
+Chart (2021)PeakpositionCanada Digital Songs (Billboard)8US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)8
+Chart (2026)Peakposition
Year-end charts +Chart (2000)PositionNetherlands (Dutch Top 40)107New Zealand (RIANZ)38US Billboard Hot 10015US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)25US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)1US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)8US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)1
+Chart (2001)PositionAustralia (ARIA)41Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)78US Billboard Hot 10044US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)28US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)46
Decade-end charts +Chart (2000–2009)PositionUS Billboard Hot 10043US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)3US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)22
Certifications
Release history +RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJanuary 18, 2000June 5, 2000June 6, 2000Contemporary hit radioUnited KingdomApril 16, 2001CDUniversal
See also Kryptonite Superman in other media Pocket Full of Kryptonite
References