How You Remind Me by Nickelback

Album: Silver Side Up (2001)

Charted: 4 1

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In an interview with MTV, Nickelback's lead singer Chad Kroeger said that he wrote the song about his old girlfriend Jodi, with whom he had a rather dysfunctional relationship. He kept the lyrics very ambiguous, however, which accounts for much of the song's success, as many people could relate to an ex who started pointing out all of your faults at the same time and caused considerable heartbreak: "This time I'm mistaken, for handing you a heart worth breaking." Silver Side Up was Nickelback's third album, and many of the songs were about relationships and personal issues.
Kroeger brought the song to the band a week before recording the album, thinking of it as a possible last-minute addition. The band finished the song in about 10 minutes and knew they had something special. This was a contrast to most of the album's material, which was written even before their previous album, The State (2000).
This was a huge surprise hit for Nickelback's record company, Roadrunner Records, which was expecting Slipknot to provide their commercial success for 2001. Instead, it was Nickelback. The album was released on September 11, 2001. This was the first single and most popular song, resulting in many listeners associating the song with remembrances of the tragedies of that day. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
A wildly popular song that covered a range of formats, "How You Remind Me" was the most-played song of 2002 on US radio stations. It was also the most-played radio song in the US during the first decade of the 21st century, with over 1.2 million spins. It was followed on this list by Train's "Drops of Jupiter," which was played over 1.1 million times during the '00s.
"How You Remind Me" was only the fifth song by a Canadian group hit #1 on the US Hot 100. The previous four:

"American Woman" by The Guess Who in 1970.

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive in 1974.

"When I'm With You" by Sheriff in 1989.

"One Week" by Barenaked Ladies in 1998.

Another Canadian group didn't reach the top until "Rude" by Magic in 2014.
Sum 41 was known to cover this song from time to time with slight changes to the lyrics. They played it on MTV's New Year's countdown to 2002.
Near the end of this song, the band drops out and Kroeger bellows, "for handing you a heart worth breaking!"

It was the band's drum tech Andrew Mawhinney who came up with the idea for this hook. Kroeger recalled: "He goes, 'you guys should do a big stop right at the last chorus'."

The band gave Mawhinney $5000 for coming up with the suggestion.
Chad Kroeger's fiancée, Avril Lavigne, covered the song in 2012 for One Piece Film Z, the 11th Japanese anime feature film based on the shonen manga series One Piece by Eiichiro Oda. The couple married the following year.
In spring 2026, Nickelback teamed up with rapper Megan Thee Stallion for a campaign celebrating the return of the Flamin' Hot Dill Pickle flavor from Cheetos, the corn-cheese puff snack made by Frito-Lay. The resulting track, "Pickle's Back," is a reimagining of "How You Remind Me."

It wasn't Megan's first rodeo with the brand: in 2022, she partnered with Frito-Lay for a Super Bowl LVI commercial advertising their Flamin' Hot line, and released the accompanying single "Flamin' Hottie," which samples Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It" and pays homage to her love of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

Megan credited the song's ubiquity for making the collaboration feel natural. "I feel like growing up listening to a song like 'How You Remind Me', it's just in your brain," she told Billboard. "You hear it on the radio all the time, you hear it in TV shows, you just know the song. You know the words, without ever having really learned the words. I feel like it's just very nostalgic."

On putting her own stamp on the track, she said: "It was very fun figuring out how to Meg-ify Nickelback." She added that the band's enthusiasm surprised her: "I was like, 'Does Nickelback know who the hell I am?' So when we met and they were fans too, I was like, 'Not Nickelback is hot boys!'"

Comments: 37

Julie from ChicagoSounds to me the guy has hit rock bottom, he’s depressed and now possibly is an alcoholic. The girlfriend or wife is no longer in the picture and has left him with some deep emotional and psychological wounds. He has realized he was not the problem and his Ex was the whole problem. However, “society” deems it inappropriate for him to show emotion so he drowns it as much as he can. The words, “Are we having fun yet?” most likely came from the Ex in a very condescending tone when she was upset at him, which still sticks with him.
Dahlya from EdmontonI can't speak for the rest of the song... But the line, "Are we having fun yet!?" likely comes from my husband. He used to manage a rehearsal studio that Nickelback rehearsed at in Vancouver, BC. Chad lived in the studio for a while. Supposedly when my husband was grumpy, he would be super loud going down the hallway and scream, "Are we having fun yet!?".
Tom Cat from PhiladelphiaJoe from Berkeley Heights has the right idea. --

First I'd like to say - Nickelback is not a horrible band. I'd like to see some of you negative commenters write meaningful lyrics and play music like this band.

This is a mature song for people who have had real-life experiences - I've been thru a situation like this; as-have many others. This tune is about a charade of a long-term relationship or marriage to a narcissist' wife. Only to find-out you were blind to what was going on - until you finally are able to see the abuse you've been through. It's quite sad.
Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganYou dudes got it all wrong. I think Addison got it the closest to what I think it means. Check this out: the dude has a gf that he loves but the chick keeps pointing out every little thing the dude does wrong. He tries to keep her satisfied but he can't feel good about himself because every single time he builds up confidence she slags him down. He knows he's not perfect but gets all passive-aggressive making comments like, "I know that living with me must have damn near killed you," like SHE'S the victim. It pushes his addictions further like drinking alcohol. He questions if the relationship is even worth it at this point as the words echo in his head, "Are we having fun yet?!" Well, that's my spin on it. Still, even I could be wrong. Later, dudes!
Pookie from IndianaNB does not suck. seriously. This band helped me through a lot of crazy s&&it
Amber from AlabamaI love this song. I grew up with this song.
Michael from Las Cruces, NmGreat band, Great song. This is basically how I feel about my ex and my new (potential) girlfriend.
Megan from Stevenson, AlThis is a great song! I love it. I love Nickelback, I don't care what people think.
Erik from Brownwood, Txi agree... i like the long road the best but the new stuff is just not their style...i heard a rumor that nickelback uses a computer program to see if their melody is appealing to the human ear? any one hear this?
Randy from Rio De Janeiro, -This song has some pretty good lyrics: These five words in my head, scream "Are we having fun yet?", so much anger and power there, and something that most people instantly relate to.
Phil from High Wycombe, United KingdomMost played song in 2002 I think. I agree, Silver Side Up was musical genius, later stuff is still good, but Silver Side Up is their best work in my opinion.
Austin from Smallsville, NeNickelback used to be good. Silver side up was a great album. But there new stuff is too popish.
Gabreya from Pine Bluff, AkThis is like one of the top best rock songs I've ever heard. And it's one Nickelback's best songs! At least this song talks about how he's moving on and all the crap she has put him through had taken its toll on him. It's a confident song. The end kind of sounded a little wierd with those synthesizers but it was cool.
Addison from Alberta, CanadaI think this song is about a guy who changed his life alot, and then found a girl who seemed perfect for him, but the girl keeps criticizing him. (I hope this is the right spelling, I'm disleksic) And he's disappointed (Handin' you a heart worth breakin') because he really loves her, but she thinks he is fony.
Sorry agen for spelling
Robert from Cadillac, MiTony, hopefully in the real world your ability to spell will make up for your lack of taste in music. But we'll call a truce anyway especally since you're also apparently reading challenged as well. If it wern't so, you would have read that the comment was made by me(Rob) not by Kara. And besides anyone can make a typo. Nickelback isn't a guitar driven band. They are lyrically driven band which means that they write "music" that goes with the "lyrics" It is not the number of chourds and catchy riffs you use in a song, its how you use them in the song in correspondence with lyrics. You can use as many of those as you want but if they dont go with the lyrics, it kinda defeats the whole perpous of writing a song dont you think?
Ryan from Marion, IaThere's a website that plays this song at the same time as "Someday", and the music lines up almost exactly. Quite embarrassing on Nickelback's part.
Rhys from Newport, Walesright people who wanna comment bad things about this song you sad people do you have a life? its a amazing song and nickelback are one of the best bands out.
Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaNickleback just makes me cry reminding me of old music how rockin' it was and now bands can make horrible pieces of garbage like this and people actually buy it! I don't see how this is 'talent' - any 15 year old could do the same. The lyrics are ok I guess but the music is so whiny and MONOTONOUS - just the same 4 chords over and over and over and over. Didn't we all know someone in high school who could write songs that sounded just like this?
Tony from Topeka, KsLet's stop kidding ourselves, huh? This band sucks. Oh, and Kara, I found it amusing that you wrote about people not spelling correctly... and misspelled "derogatory" in the same sentence.
Graham from North Bay, CanadaThis was actually the 3rd Canadian single to hit #1 in the US. As "One Week" by The Barenaked Ladies accomplished that feat in 1998 as well.
Hope from Florence, MtThis band does not suck, Adrian! They are great! I love this song. It's very good. I've never heard Sum 41 sing it. I like Sum 41 though, so I bet that version is good too.
Kara from Cadillac, MiWho are you people? It's interesting that the ones with the most derrogatory statements can't even spell correctly! And have no idea what this song is about. By the way- The State was NOT the first Nickelback album, The Curb was. Doubt you've ever heard it- in fact, have you heard this one? How You Remind Me is an awesome song. Lyrically and musically. The song is obviously about how she uses and abuses him and in doing so tempts his darker side- hence the cycle of issues that ensues. Are we having fun yet? Before you criticize it- try to get it. Rob.
Graham from Glasgow, ScotlandI think Nickelback sadly fit in to the genre of being just another depressing grunge band with monotonous monotone vocals. This song typifies them in that its depressing. I hate bands that use rock n roll to get a point across or sing about boring political/social issues. Rock n Roll is meant to be fun not depressing. I listen to the vocals and then compare it to someone like the late Bon Scott (AC/DC). There was a real rock n roll singer who sang about ?fun? instead of some morose social issue.
Joe from Berkeley Heights, Nj"i think he's saying he's tried living every way and it's never worked out...sounds like a song of utter depression and hopelessness to me"

Sounds more like he's angry at a woman to me. She took advantage of him and didn't love him and he finally realized it. "Livin' with me must have damn near killed you" meant that the guilt must have been ridiculous for her, living with him when she was just using him.
Alison from Kill Devil Hills, Ncnickelback kicks ass!!!!i cant wait to see them again!
Paul from Galway, IrelandIt's about Chad Croeger(the lead singer)'s girlfriend. When she heard the song she was onlivious to the fact that it was about her.......women
Hailey from New York, Nynickelback rocks!!
Kelsi from Ionia, MiThis song is the best ever besides photograph. This song made me a better person because i changed so many peoples lives because of dumb things i did. I have more and better friends cuz this song!!!!!
Morgan from New York, NyThis song has changed my life forever!!Ever since I was 18 and graduating high school!!I love nickelback !!!
Rebecca from Clayton, Gai think he's saying he's tried living every way and it's never worked out...sounds like a song of utter depression and hopelessness to me
Nathan from Defiance, OhI wish I could sound like a wussy, whiny, pseudo-rock band? That makes a ton of sense. I am on this link because I have heard this song, and have to find some outlet for my anger. I can't fathom how people smart enough to read and write like this song, or that this turd was made in the first place. This song sucks. When you turn thirty and look back, you'll see this song sucks.
Casie from Denver, CoNickelback just makes me cry reminding me of my old life how great it was and now i have a really bad life. Well this is one of the songs,what he means is that his life is really bad,he acts like someone he is not but when he is with her it hurts so bad beeing with her but he acts like he is and when he thinks of her it reminds him who he really is.
Matt from Millbrae, Canickelback has got to be one of the best present-day bands out there. Not that that's saying much, but they're a hell of a lot better than good charlotte and simple plan and all that other pop rock garbage.
Adrian from Merthyr Tydfil, AlThis band suck
Vicky from Someplace Special, Txi love this song and nickelback!!!! woohoo!!!!!!!!!!
Benjamin from Brooklyn, Nyhow you remind of what i really am
about a woman that she makes him realize who is is, that he the type of person say, to care when she doesn't say sorry, and that the things she does bother him, thats why he was mistaken by handing her a heart worth breakin....
Andy from Halifax, EnglandThis song was covered by sum41, i think it was performed during a new-years eve gig.

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