Amber
by 311

Album: From Chaos (2001)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • 311 lead singer Nick Hexum was dating Nicole Scherzinger when he wrote this song. Scherzinger, who went on to fame as a member of the Pussycat Dolls, was engaged to Hexum for a while, but they broke up in 2004 and were never married (Hexum later married his wife Nikki and had two children).

    Scherzinger is the likely inspiration for the song, but Hexum won't admit it. In his 2015 Songfacts interview, he said, "There have been people who have speculated that, and I won't confirm nor deny."

    Before their split, Hexum and Scherzinger recorded two duets together: "Summertime" and "Mele Kalikimaka."
  • In this reggae-tinged song, Hexum sings, "Amber is the color of your energy."

    He told us: "It was just a cool analogy, because I love soft lights and colors - like the color of a sunset. Blue light is harsh, and amber light doesn't hurt your eyes, so to say the color of someone's energy is amber is kind of a cool way to compliment."
  • The video was directed by the team of Emmett Malloy and Brendan Malloy, who also did the 311 video for "Creatures (For a While)." Nicole Scherzinger appears in the clip cavorting with Hexum in the surf.
  • This was used in the Adam Sandler movie 50 First Dates. It doesn't appear on the soundtrack, but 311's cover of "Love Song," which plays under the credits, does.

Comments: 4

  • Melf... from Aruba...I just love 311...
  • Joey from Westville, Nygreat band, great song.
  • Jon from Los Angeles, CaActually... most people never changed the lyrics to that. I've been to many many shows and never once heard that before. I think my "many people" you mean you and your drunk friends.
  • Michael from Costa Mesa, CaMost people when they heard this song changed the lyrics to "Whoa, Amber is the color of my urine stream" (as a reference to drinking alot of beer and having to use the restroom) This was played on KROQ 106.7 here in the Los Angeles/Orange County area here in Southern California
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."