No Surprise

Album: Leave This Town (2009)
Charted: 15
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Songfacts®:

  • This midtempo rocker was the lead single from Daughtry's sophomore album.
  • The band debuted the song on the May 6, 2009 episode of American Idol. Chris Daughtry said in a press release: "American Idol fans have been so loyal to this band, we wanted to give them the first listen to our new single."
  • Daughtry wrote the song with his pal Chad Kroeger, who is the lead singer of Nickelback, plus former lead singer of The Click Five Eric Dill and Danish songwriter/producer Rune Westberg.
  • Daughtry's manager, Stirling McIlwaine, told Billboard magazine why this was chosen as the first single from Leave This Town. He explained: "You're looking for something that's obviously going to be radio-friendly. The second requirement is, 'Will it be a great launching point for the campaign? Will it tell people he's back? Does it have the signature Daughtry sound?' That's the song that raised its hand."
  • The song's music video was directed by Nathan Cox. In it, the song's theme of love gone wrong is expressed through the character's relationship with the town where he lives. The clip was shot at a quarry pit in Irwindale, about 30 miles east of Los Angeles.

    The lead actress was dating British comedian Russell Brand at the time. They had been going out for three months but split after Brand was unfaithful to her.

    The truck at the beginning of the video was barely working - its transmission was almost shot.
  • When Kroeger played Daughtry the chorus, the Nickelback frontman admitted that Dill, Westberg and he had made no progress with the rest of the tune. "I was like, 'Yeah, man, I love it, let's work on it'," Daughtry recalled to HitFix. "So the chorus had already set the tone for the song so we already knew what the story was about so it was just a matter of let's set it up: You had this thing on your mind or your heart for the longest time and the longer you keep it in, the harder it is talk about it or confront the other person, so just picture this guy in the mirror going over what he's going to say. I think everybody, whether it's a relationship or anything that's difficult in life, everybody's experienced that moment and so, it is about letting go, it is about saying, we knew this was coming, why don't we both accept it and we'll thank each other tomorrow."

Comments: 6

  • Jordie from Phx, AzThis song is exactly how i feel about me and my ex. he was my first love and we broke up a little over a year ago but since then we have always come back together and cant leave each other we would always go to our favorite place and lay together. everyone said we used to light up each other so much every time someone said our names the other one would just glow. we were so in love after every guy that broke my heart he was the one i went back to after the girl he dated after me he came back. and just yesterday he called everything off and part of me is relieved but im deeply hurt because this time i think he means it but theres nothing here in this heart left to borrow theres nothing left here in this soul to stay. daughtry is amazing and all of his lyrics are to die for he has the voice that will carry on.
  • Dana from Maysville, KyDoes anyone know the real meaning to this song?

    I love this song so much!
  • Makayla from Louisville, Kythis is my absolute favoriet song in the whole wide world and i have commented on a lot of songs and not just today but this is without a doubt the best song ever i have the song and music video on my ipod and i always listen to it non stop! daughtry is the best band ever and i never ever get tired of hearing chris daughtry's voiceand i do not think i ever will!!!!!!!!
  • Makayla from Louisville, Kythis my absolute favorite song in the entire world! IT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Tricia from Rockville Centre, NyThis song was an omen for me. I was off and on...with an ex that always found his way back..and then disappeared once again and when this song premiere the relationship was taking a detour to the off again. The words to the song described exactly how I felt with him and how I was preparing myself to tell him this is it! THe opening lyrics were exact a match:
    "I've practiced this for hours, gone round and round
    And now I think that I've got it all down
    And as I say it louder, I love how it sounds
    Cause I'm not taking the easy way out
    Not wrappin' this in ribbons
    Shouldn't have to give a reason why"
    It's no surprise I won't be here tomorrow
    I can't believe that I stayed till today
    There's nothing here in this heart left to borrow
    There's nothing here in this soul left to say

    So ironic. Daughtry's voice is so amazing and the background of the song is like a sweet echo as well!
  • Tricia from Rockville Centre, NyThis song was an omen for me. I was off and on...with an ex that always found his way back..and then disappeared once again and when this song premiere the relationship was taking a detour to the off again. The words to the song described exactly how I felt with him and how I was preparing myself to tell him this is it! THe opening lyrics were exact a match:
    "I've practiced this for hours, gone round and round
    And now I think that I've got it all down
    And as I say it louder, I love how it sounds
    Cause I'm not taking the easy way out
    Not wrappin' this in ribbons
    Shouldn't have to give a reason why"
    It's no surprise I won't be here tomorrow
    I can't believe that I stayed till today
    There's nothing here in this heart left to borrow
    There's nothing here in this soul left to say

    So ironic. Daughtry's voice is so amazing and the background of the song is like a sweet echo as well!
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