I Don't Want to Be

"I Don't Want to Be"
"I Don't Want to Be"
Single by Gavin DeGraw
from the album Chariot
Released	February 17, 2004
Length	3:37
Label	J
Songwriter(s)	Gavin DeGraw
Producer(s)	Mark Endert
Gavin DeGraw singles chronology

"I Don't Want to Be" is a song by American singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw from his 2003 debut album, Chariot. The song gained exposure after being featured as the opening theme to The CW teen drama series One Tree Hill, and it was released as a radio single on February 17, 2004. It peaked at number 10 in the United States in 2005 and became a top-20 hit in Australia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

The song is certified gold in the US, having sold over 500,000 downloads. In 2012, the song reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart, its highest position, due to the finale of One Tree Hill's ninth and final season airing, which also featured DeGraw.^{[citation needed]}

Track listings[]

US promo CD^[1]

"I Don't Want to Be" – 3:38
"I Don't Want to Be" (call out hook) – 0:10

UK enhanced CD single^[2]

"I Don't Want to Be" (album version) – 3:37
"I Don't Want to Be" (Stripped version) – 4:04
"Just Friends" (album version) – 3:24
"I Don't Want to Be" (video)

European CD single 1^[3]

"I Don't Want to Be" (album version) – 3:38
"I Don't Want to Be" (Stripped version) – 4:04
"Get Lost" – 4:26
"I Don't Want to Be" (video)

European CD single 2^[4]

"I Don't Want to Be"
"I Don't Want to Be" (Stripped version)

Charts and certifications[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (2004–2012)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[5]	19
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[6]	44
Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)^[7]	4
Germany (Official German Charts)^[8]	99
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)^[9]	27
Ireland (IRMA)^[10]	25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[11]	13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[12]	21
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[13]	30
Norway (VG-lista)^[14]	6
Scotland (OCC)^[15]	20
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[16]	15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[17]	46
UK Singles (OCC)^[18]	27
US Billboard Hot 100^[19]	10
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[20]	9
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[21]	1

Year-end charts[]

Chart (2004)	Position
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[22]	18

Chart (2005)	Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[23]	48
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[24]	88
US Billboard Hot 100^[25]	58

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[26]	Silver	200,000
United States (RIAA)^[27]	Gold	500,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	February 17, 2004 (2004-02-17)	Contemporary hit hot AC triple A radio	J	^[28]
United States	August 16, 2004 (2004-08-16)	Contemporary hit radio		^[29]
Australia	September 6, 2004 (2004-09-06)	CD		^[30]
United Kingdom	June 20, 2005 (2005-06-20)	CD		^[31]

Use in media[]

The song is the opening theme to One Tree Hill.^[32] DeGraw performed the song on a season 1 episode of One Tree Hill. He returned for the season five finale to perform the song with Jackson Brundage. In the eighth season, several artists covered it for the season's theme music, including Spinnerette, Grace Potter, Against Me!, Kate Voegele, Tegan and Sara, Susie Suh and Patrick Stump. DeGraw also performed the song for the series finale to celebrate their 10th anniversary of Tric.
The song appears in the game Karaoke Revolution Party and is available as part of the downloadable content in the game Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore.

References[]

^ I Don't Want to Be (US promo CD liner notes). Gavin DeGraw. J Records. 2004. J1DJ-58848-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ I Don't Want to Be (UK enhanced CD single liner notes). Gavin DeGraw. J Records. 2005. 82876 702222.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ I Don't Want to Be (European CD single liner notes). Gavin DeGraw. J Records. 2005. 82876 645302.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ I Don't Want to Be (European CD single liner notes). Gavin DeGraw. J Records. 2005. 82876 645312.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1588. January 7, 2005. p. 25. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
^ "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Gavin DeGraw". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
^ "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". VG-lista. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^ "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Gavin DeGraw: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^ "Gavin DeGraw Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Gavin DeGraw Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "Gavin DeGraw Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^ "2004 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 116 no. 52. December 25, 2004. p. YE-74. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2005". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
^ "Årslista Singlar, 2005" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2005". BillboardTop100of.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
^ "British single certifications – Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^ "American single certifications – Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Wanna Be". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1542. February 13, 2004. p. 25. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1568. August 13, 2004. p. 19. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th September 2004" (PDF). ARIA. September 6, 2004. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 18, 2005. p. 35.
^ Lujan, Adam (July 25, 2016). "One Tree Hill cast reunites, performs theme song". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

[1] I Don't Want to Be (US promo CD liner notes). Gavin DeGraw. J Records. 2004. J1DJ-58848-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[2] I Don't Want to Be (UK enhanced CD single liner notes). Gavin DeGraw. J Records. 2005. 82876 702222.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[3] I Don't Want to Be (European CD single liner notes). Gavin DeGraw. J Records. 2005. 82876 645302.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[4] I Don't Want to Be (European CD single liner notes). Gavin DeGraw. J Records. 2005. 82876 645312.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Australia_Gavin_DeGraw-5] "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_Austria_Gavin_DeGraw-6] "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[7] "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1588. January 7, 2005. p. 25. Retrieved October 15, 2020.

[sc_Germany_Gavin_DeGraw-8] "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 31, 2020.

[sc_Hungary_-9] "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 19, 2020.

[sc_Ireland2_Gavin_DeGraw-10] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Gavin DeGraw". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_Dutch40_-11] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 10, 2019.

[sc_Dutch100_Gavin_DeGraw-12] "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_New_Zealand_Gavin_DeGraw-13] "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_Norway_Gavin_DeGraw-14] "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". VG-lista. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_Scotland_-15] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 19, 2020.

[sc_Sweden_Gavin_DeGraw-16] "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_Switzerland_Gavin_DeGraw-17] "Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Gavin_DeGraw-18] "Gavin DeGraw: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 19, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Gavin_DeGraw-19] "Gavin DeGraw Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_Billboardadultpopsongs_Gavin_DeGraw-20] "Gavin DeGraw Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Gavin_DeGraw-21] "Gavin DeGraw Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

[22] "2004 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 116 no. 52. December 25, 2004. p. YE-74. Retrieved November 2, 2021.

[23] "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2005". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 10, 2019.

[24] "Årslista Singlar, 2005" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 10, 2019.

[25] "Billboard Top 100 – 2005". BillboardTop100of.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.

[United_KingdomGavin_DeGrawI_Don't_Want_to_BesingleCertRef-26] "British single certifications – Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Want to Be". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 19, 2020.

[United_StatesGavin_DeGrawI_Don't_Wanna_BesingleCertRef-27] "American single certifications – Gavin DeGraw – I Don't Wanna Be". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 19, 2020.

[28] "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1542. February 13, 2004. p. 25. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

[29] "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1568. August 13, 2004. p. 19. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

[30] "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 6th September 2004" (PDF). ARIA. September 6, 2004. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

[31] "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 18, 2005. p. 35.

[32] Lujan, Adam (July 25, 2016). "One Tree Hill cast reunites, performs theme song". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 19, 2021.

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v t Gavin DeGraw
Studio albums	Chariot Gavin DeGraw Free Sweeter Make a Move Something Worth Saving
Compilations	Finest Hour: The Best of Gavin DeGraw
Singles	"I Don't Want to Be" "Chariot" "Follow Through" "In Love with a Girl" "Cheated on Me" "Not Over You" "Sweeter" "Soldier" "Best I Ever Had" "She Sets the City on Fire"
Featured singles	"Brother"

v t One Tree Hill
Seasons	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Episodes	"Pilot" "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept" "4 Years, 6 Months, 2 Days"
Characters	Lucas Scott Nathan Scott Peyton Sawyer
Related	Mark Schwahn Official soundtracks "I Don't Want to Be"