Like a Stone: Difference between revisions

"Like a Stone"
"Like a Stone"
Single by Audioslave
from the album Audioslave
Released	January 20, 2003
Recorded	2001–2002
Genre	Alternative rock; hard rock; post-grunge;
Length	4:54 (album version)
Label	Epic; Interscope;
Songwriter(s)	Brad Wilk; Chris Cornell; Tim Commerford; Tom Morello;
Producer(s)	Rick Rubin; Audioslave;
Audioslave singles chronology
Music video
	"Like a Stone" on YouTube
Audio sample
	file; help;

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"Like a Stone" is a song by the American rock supergroup Audioslave, released as the second single from their eponymous debut studio album Audioslave on January 20, 2003. The song topped both the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks charts, and reached number 31 on the Hot 100 chart, making it their biggest US hit. "Like a Stone" has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), and Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa (AFP). It is also certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It became the fifth best performing alternative song on the Alternative Songs chart of the decade and the eighth best performing rock song on the Mainstream Rock chart of the decade.

Background and composition

Bassist Tim Commerford claimed that the song is about an old man waiting for death, who sits in a house alone after all his friends and family have passed on, waiting to be reunited with them.^[5]^[6]^[7] However, while Commerford originally thought it was a song about love and romance,^[5] the band's singer and songwriter Chris Cornell explained that "It's a song about concentrating on the afterlife you would hope for, rather than the normal monotheistic approach: You work really hard all your life to be a good person and a moral persona and fair and generous, and then you go to hell anyway."^[8]

The melancholy tone and certain parts of the lyrics of "Like a Stone" have prompted some to wonder if Cornell wrote the song about the late Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley, who died in April 2002. Cornell denied this, saying "No. I'm not one of those guys where, like, something happens and then I go run around, 'Ooh, 9/11, and now it's 9/12, let me write about that. I wrote the lyrics before he died. [...] You can misinterpret that stuff pretty easy, but I don't tend to sit down and plan on writing about a specific issue. They come up or they don't."^[9]

Music video

The music video for "Like a Stone" was filmed in January 2003^[10] and released on February 22, 2003.^[11] It was conceived and directed Meiert Avis, a Grammy-winner who has also directed videos for State Radio, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, J-Lo and many others.^[12] The video was produced by Oualid Mouaness, edited by Jim Rhoads and set in an old Spanish mansion in Silver Lake, Los Angeles where Jimi Hendrix once lived and wrote music in.^[12] Commerford's then 1-year-old son, Xavier was featured in the video.^[13] It shows the band performing inside the mansion where they also set up a recording booth.^[14] According to Avis, the strange green/blue color palette of the video was to suggest bruising and abuse.^[12]

The music video reached over 1 billion views on YouTube in October 2022.^[15]

UK CD single: track listing

A CD single version of "Like A Stone" released in the United Kingdom in 2003 contained the following tracks.^[16] All lyrics written by Chris Cornell; all music composed by Audioslave, except "Super Stupid" written by George Clinton, Eddie Hazel, Billy Bass Nelson and Tawl Ross.

"Like a Stone" – 4:54
"Like a Stone" (live on BBC Radio 1) – 4:58
"Gasoline" (live on BBC Radio 1) – 4:45
"Set It Off" (live on Late Show with David Letterman) – 4:01
"Super Stupid" (live on BBC Radio 1)
"Like a Stone" (music video)

Charts

Weekly charts

2003 weekly chart performance for "Like a Stone"
Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[17]	35
Italy (FIMI)^[18]	40
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[19]	14
US Billboard Hot 100^[20]	31
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[21]	23
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[22]	1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[23]	1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[24]	27

2017 weekly chart performance for "Like a Stone"
Chart (2017)	Peak position
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[25]	43
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[26]	14
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[27]	7

Year-end charts

2003 year-end chart performance for "Like a Stone"
Chart (2003)	Position
Brazil (Crowley)^[28]	56
Colombia (B & V Marketing)^[29]	2
US Billboard Hot 100^[30]	96

2017 year-end chart performance for "Like a Stone"
Chart (2017)	Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[31]	91

Certifications

Certifications for "Like a Stone"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[32]	Gold	35,000^‡
Portugal (AFP)^[33]	Gold	20,000^‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[34]	Gold	30,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[35]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[36]	Gold	500,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
^ Cosores, Philip (July 4, 2017). "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. p. 10. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
^ Loudwire Staff (October 2, 2020). "The 66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century". Loudwire. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
^ Geffen, Sasha (October 7, 2013). "In Defense of Post-Grunge Music". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Irwin, Corey (November 18, 2022). "20 Years Ago: Audioslave Arrives With Powerhouse First Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
^ Audioslave (DVD). Interscope Records/Epic Records. July 29, 2003.
^ "Songfacts - Like A Stone by Audioslave". Songfacts. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2007.
^ "The Audioslave Fan Forum - Audioslave FAQ". audioslaved.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2007.
^ "AUDIOSLAVE Select 'Like A Stone' As Second Single". Blabbermouth.net. December 11, 2002. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
^ "AUDIOSLAVE Film New Video, Hit The Road". Blabbermouth.net. January 8, 2003. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
^ "AUDIOSLAVE: 'Like A Stone' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. February 22, 2003. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Avis, Meiert (April 13, 2014). "Audioslave - Like A Stone – Meiert Avis". meiertavis.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
^ Kennelty, Greg (October 12, 2022). "AUDIOSLAVE's "Like A Stone" Video Passes One Billion Views On YouTube". Metal Injection. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
^ "Audioslave - Like a Stone (Official Video)". YouTube. October 25, 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
^ Rowley, Glenn (October 12, 2022). "Audioslave's 'Like a Stone' Joins YouTube's Billion Views Club". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
^ "CD single - Audioslave". 45worlds. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
^ "Audioslave – Like a Stone". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
^ "Audioslave – Like a Stone". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
^ "Audioslave – Like a Stone". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
^ "Audioslave Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
^ "Audioslave Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
^ "Audioslave Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
^ "Audioslave Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
^ "Audioslave Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
^ "Audioslave Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
^ "Audioslave Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2003". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
^ "DISCOS DEL 2003 PARA RECORDAR". El Tiempo (Colombia). Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
^ Pedro. "Longbored Surfer - 2003". LongboredSurfer.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2017 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
^ "Portuguese single certifications" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
^ "Spanish single certifications – Audioslave – Like a Stone". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
^ "British single certifications – Audioslave – Like a Stone". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
^ "American single certifications – Audioslave – Like a Stone". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 13, 2017.

External links

"Like a Stone" (Official music video) on YouTube

[FMQB-1] "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2016.

[2] Cosores, Philip (July 4, 2017). "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. p. 10. Retrieved September 13, 2020.

[3] Loudwire Staff (October 2, 2020). "The 66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century". Loudwire. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.

[4] Geffen, Sasha (October 7, 2013). "In Defense of Post-Grunge Music". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 30, 2023.

[ucr-5] Irwin, Corey (November 18, 2022). "20 Years Ago: Audioslave Arrives With Powerhouse First Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.

[6] Audioslave (DVD). Interscope Records/Epic Records. July 29, 2003.

[7] "Songfacts - Like A Stone by Audioslave". Songfacts. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2007.

[8] "The Audioslave Fan Forum - Audioslave FAQ". audioslaved.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2007.

[9] "AUDIOSLAVE Select 'Like A Stone' As Second Single". Blabbermouth.net. December 11, 2002. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2018.

[10] "AUDIOSLAVE Film New Video, Hit The Road". Blabbermouth.net. January 8, 2003. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.

[11] "AUDIOSLAVE: 'Like A Stone' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. February 22, 2003. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.

[avis-12] Avis, Meiert (April 13, 2014). "Audioslave - Like A Stone – Meiert Avis". meiertavis.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2019.

[13] Kennelty, Greg (October 12, 2022). "AUDIOSLAVE's "Like A Stone" Video Passes One Billion Views On YouTube". Metal Injection. Retrieved July 16, 2024.

[14] "Audioslave - Like a Stone (Official Video)". YouTube. October 25, 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.

[15] Rowley, Glenn (October 12, 2022). "Audioslave's 'Like a Stone' Joins YouTube's Billion Views Club". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.

[16] "CD single - Audioslave". 45worlds. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.

[sc_Australia_Audioslave-17] "Audioslave – Like a Stone". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 4, 2023.

[sc_Italy_Audioslave-18] "Audioslave – Like a Stone". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 13, 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_Audioslave-19] "Audioslave – Like a Stone". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 4, 2023.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Audioslave-20] "Audioslave Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.

[sc_Billboardadultpopsongs_Audioslave-21] "Audioslave Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_Audioslave-22] "Audioslave Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2015.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Audioslave-23] "Audioslave Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2015.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_Audioslave-24] "Audioslave Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.

[25] "Audioslave Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2024.

[sc_UKrock_-26] "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2023.

[sc_Billboardrocksongs_Audioslave-27] "Audioslave Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2023.

[28] "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2003". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.

[29] "DISCOS DEL 2003 PARA RECORDAR". El Tiempo (Colombia). Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.

[lbs-30] Pedro. "Longbored Surfer - 2003". LongboredSurfer.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.

[31] "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.

[AustraliasingleCertRef-32] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2017 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

[PortugalsingleCertRef-33] "Portuguese single certifications" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 23, 2022.

[SpainAudioslaveLike_a_StonesingleCertRef-34] "Spanish single certifications – Audioslave – Like a Stone". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

[United_KingdomAudioslaveLike_a_StonesingleCertRef-35] "British single certifications – Audioslave – Like a Stone". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2023.

[United_StatesAudioslaveLike_a_StonesingleCertRef-36] "American single certifications – Audioslave – Like a Stone". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 13, 2017.

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@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 | artist     = [[Audioslave]]
 | album      = [[Audioslave (album)|Audioslave]]
-| released   = {{start date|2003|01|21}}<ref name=FMQB>{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock |publisher=Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated |accessdate=October 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |archivedate=March 22, 2013 }}</ref>
+| released   = {{start date|2003|01|20}}<ref name=FMQB>{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock |publisher=Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated |accessdate=October 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 |archivedate=March 22, 2013 }}</ref>
 | recorded   = 2001–2002
 | genre      =
 * [[Alternative rock]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/10/|title=Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best|last=Cosores|first=Philip|magazine=[[Consequence of Sound]]|date=July 4, 2017|accessdate=September 13, 2020|page=10}}</ref>
-* [[hard rock]]<ref>{{cite web|last= Loudwire Staff |title= The 66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century|website= [[Loudwire]] |url= https://loudwire.com/best-hard-rock-songs-21st-century/|date= October 2, 2020|accessdate= September 10, 2022}}</ref>
+* [[hard rock]]<ref>{{cite web|last= Loudwire Staff|title= The 66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century|website= [[Loudwire]]|url= https://loudwire.com/best-hard-rock-songs-21st-century/|date= October 2, 2020|accessdate= September 10, 2022|archive-date= April 12, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220412202427/https://loudwire.com/best-hard-rock-songs-21st-century/|url-status= live}}</ref>
+* [[post-grunge]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://consequence.net/aux-out/in-defense-of-post-grunge-music/|title=In Defense of Post-Grunge Music|last=Geffen|first=Sasha|magazine=[[Consequence of Sound]]|date=October 7, 2013|accessdate=December 30, 2023}}</ref>
 | length     = {{duration|m=4|s=54}} {{small|(album version)}}
 | label      = {{hlist|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]}}
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 }}
 }}
-"'''Like a Stone'''" is a song by the American [[Rock music|rock]] supergroup [[Audioslave]], released as the second single from their eponymous debut [[studio album]] ''[[Audioslave (album)|Audioslave]]'' in January 2003. The song topped both the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks]] and [[Alternative Songs|Hot Modern Rock Tracks]] charts, and reached number 31 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] chart, making it their biggest US hit. "Like a Stone" has been certified Gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA). It became the fifth best performing alternative song on the Alternative Songs chart of the decade and the eighth best performing rock song on the Mainstream Rock chart of the decade.
+"'''Like a Stone'''" is a song by the American [[Rock music|rock]] supergroup [[Audioslave]], released as the second single from their eponymous debut [[studio album]] ''[[Audioslave (album)|Audioslave]]'' on January 20, 2003. The song topped both the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks]] and [[Alternative Songs|Hot Modern Rock Tracks]] charts, and reached number 31 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] chart, making it their biggest US hit. "Like a Stone" has been certified Gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA), and [[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa]] (AFP). It is also certified Silver by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI). It became the fifth best performing alternative song on the Alternative Songs chart of the decade and the eighth best performing rock song on the Mainstream Rock chart of the decade.
 ==Background and composition==
-Bassist [[Tim Commerford]] claims that the song is about an old man waiting for death, who sits in a house alone after all his friends and family have passed on, waiting to be reunited with them.<ref>{{cite video |date=July 29, 2003 |title=[[Audioslave (DVD)|Audioslave]] |medium=DVD |publisher=[[Interscope Records]]/[[Epic Records]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Songfacts - Like A Stone by Audioslave |publisher=Songfacts |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2676 |accessdate=May 14, 2007 }}</ref> However, while Commerford originally thought it was a song about love and romance, band's singer and songwriter [[Chris Cornell]] explains that "It's a song about concentrating on the afterlife you would hope for, rather than the normal monotheistic approach: You work really hard all your life to be a good person and a moral persona and fair and generous, and then you go to hell anyway."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Audioslave Fan Forum - Audioslave FAQ |publisher=audioslaved.com |url=http://www.audioslaved.com/modules.php?name=FAQ2#35 |accessdate=May 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194938/http://www.audioslaved.com/modules.php?name=FAQ2#35 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
+Bassist [[Tim Commerford]] claimed that the song is about an old man waiting for death, who sits in a house alone after all his friends and family have passed on, waiting to be reunited with them.<ref name="ucr">{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Corey |date=November 18, 2022 |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/audioslave-debut-album/ |title=20 Years Ago: Audioslave Arrives With Powerhouse First Album |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603150751/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/audioslave-debut-album/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite video |date=July 29, 2003 |title=[[Audioslave (DVD)|Audioslave]] |medium=DVD |publisher=[[Interscope Records]]/[[Epic Records]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Songfacts - Like A Stone by Audioslave |publisher=Songfacts |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2676 |accessdate=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=May 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506181729/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2676 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, while Commerford originally thought it was a song about love and romance,<ref name="ucr"/> the band's singer and songwriter [[Chris Cornell]] explained that "It's a song about concentrating on the afterlife you would hope for, rather than the normal monotheistic approach: You work really hard all your life to be a good person and a moral persona and fair and generous, and then you go to hell anyway."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Audioslave Fan Forum - Audioslave FAQ |publisher=audioslaved.com |url=http://www.audioslaved.com/modules.php?name=FAQ2#35 |accessdate=May 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194938/http://www.audioslaved.com/modules.php?name=FAQ2#35 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
-The melancholy tone and certain parts of the lyrics of "Like a Stone" have prompted some to wonder if Cornell wrote the song about the late [[Alice in Chains]] singer [[Layne Staley]], who died in April 2002. Cornell has denied this, saying "No. I'm not one of those guys where, like, something happens and then I go run around, 'Ooh, [[September 11 attacks|9/11]], and now it's 9/12, let me write about that. I wrote the lyrics before he died. [...] You can misinterpret that stuff pretty easy, but I don't tend to sit down and plan on writing about a specific issue. They come up or they don't."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/audioslave-select-like-a-stone-as-second-single/ |title=AUDIOSLAVE Select 'Like A Stone' As Second Single |date=December 11, 2002 |website=Blabbermouth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222113819/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/audioslave-select-like-a-stone-as-second-single/ |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>
+The melancholy tone and certain parts of the lyrics of "Like a Stone" have prompted some to wonder if Cornell wrote the song about the late [[Alice in Chains]] singer [[Layne Staley]], who died in April 2002. Cornell denied this, saying "No. I'm not one of those guys where, like, something happens and then I go run around, 'Ooh, [[September 11 attacks|9/11]], and now it's 9/12, let me write about that. I wrote the lyrics before he died. [...] You can misinterpret that stuff pretty easy, but I don't tend to sit down and plan on writing about a specific issue. They come up or they don't."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/audioslave-select-like-a-stone-as-second-single/ |title=AUDIOSLAVE Select 'Like A Stone' As Second Single |date=December 11, 2002 |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222113819/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/audioslave-select-like-a-stone-as-second-single/ |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>
 ==Music video==
-The music video for "Like a Stone" was conceived and directed [[Meiert Avis]], a [[Grammy Award for Best Performance Music Video|Grammy]]-winner who has also directed videos for [[State Radio]], [[U2]], [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[J-Lo]] and many others.<ref name="avis">{{Cite web |url=http://meiertavis.com/archives/565 |title=Audioslave - Like A Stone – Meiert Avis |last=Avis |first=Meiert |date=April 13, 2014 |website=meiertavis.com |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208105848/http://meiertavis.com/archives/565 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The video was produced by Oualid Mouaness, edited by Jim Rhoads and set in an old Spanish mansion in [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles|Silver Lake]] in Los Angeles where [[Jimi Hendrix]] once lived and wrote.<ref name="avis"/> Commerford's then 1-year-old son, Xavier was featured in the video.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} It shows the band performing inside the mansion where they also set up a recording booth.<ref name="video">{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QU1nvuxaMA |title=Audioslave - Like a Stone (Official Video) |date=October 25, 2009 |website=YouTube |accessdate=January 31, 2022}}</ref> According to Avis, the strange green/blue color palette of the video was to suggest bruising and abuse.<ref name="avis"/>
+The music video for "Like a Stone" was filmed in January 2003<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2003 |title=AUDIOSLAVE Film New Video, Hit The Road |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/audioslave-film-new-video-hit-the-road |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818151527/https://blabbermouth.net/news/audioslave-film-new-video-hit-the-road |url-status=live }}</ref> and released on February 22, 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2003 |title=AUDIOSLAVE: 'Like A Stone' Video Posted Online |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/audioslave-like-a-stone-video-posted-online |website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818151537/https://blabbermouth.net/news/audioslave-like-a-stone-video-posted-online |url-status=live }}</ref> It was conceived and directed [[Meiert Avis]], a [[Grammy Award for Best Performance Music Video|Grammy]]-winner who has also directed videos for [[State Radio]], [[U2]], [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[J-Lo]] and many others.<ref name="avis">{{Cite web |url=http://meiertavis.com/archives/565 |title=Audioslave - Like A Stone – Meiert Avis |last=Avis |first=Meiert |date=April 13, 2014 |website=meiertavis.com |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208105848/http://meiertavis.com/archives/565 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The video was produced by Oualid Mouaness, edited by Jim Rhoads and set in an old Spanish mansion in [[Silver Lake, Los Angeles|Silver Lake]], Los Angeles where [[Jimi Hendrix]] once lived and wrote music in.<ref name="avis"/> Commerford's then 1-year-old son, Xavier was featured in the video.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |date=2022-10-12 |title=AUDIOSLAVE's "Like A Stone" Video Passes One Billion Views On YouTube |url=https://metalinjection.net/its-just-business/audioslaves-like-a-stone-video-passes-one-billion-views-on-youtube |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref> It shows the band performing inside the mansion where they also set up a recording booth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QU1nvuxaMA |title=Audioslave - Like a Stone (Official Video) |date=October 25, 2009 |website=YouTube |accessdate=January 31, 2022 |archive-date=January 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131034450/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QU1nvuxaMA |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Avis, the strange green/blue color palette of the video was to suggest bruising and abuse.<ref name="avis"/>
+The music video reached over 1 billion views on [[YouTube]] in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/audioslave-like-a-stone-one-billion-views-youtube-1235154828/|title=Audioslave’s ‘Like a Stone’ Joins YouTube’s Billion Views Club|date=October 12, 2022|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Glenn|last=Rowley|access-date=July 9, 2023|archive-date=July 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709162407/https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/audioslave-like-a-stone-one-billion-views-youtube-1235154828/|url-status=live}}</ref>
-As of October 9, 2022, the music video has reached over 1 billion views on [[YouTube]].<ref name="video"/>
 ==UK CD single: track listing==
-A [[CD single]] version of "Like A Stone" released in the United Kingdom in 2003 contained the following tracks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.45worlds.com/cdsingle/cd/6735715 |title=CD single - Audioslave|website=45worlds |accessdate=January 24, 2020}}</ref> All lyrics written by [[Chris Cornell]]; all music composed by [[Audioslave]], except "Super Stupid" written by [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]], [[Eddie Hazel]], [[Billy Bass Nelson]] and [[Tawl Ross]].
+A [[CD single]] version of "Like A Stone" released in the United Kingdom in 2003 contained the following tracks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.45worlds.com/cdsingle/cd/6735715 |title=CD single - Audioslave |website=45worlds |accessdate=January 24, 2020 |archive-date=January 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124192750/http://www.45worlds.com/cdsingle/cd/6735715 |url-status=live }}</ref> All lyrics written by [[Chris Cornell]]; all music composed by [[Audioslave]], except "Super Stupid" written by [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]], [[Eddie Hazel]], [[Billy Bass Nelson]] and [[Tawl Ross]].
 #"Like a Stone" – 4:54
 #"Like a Stone" {{small|(live on [[BBC Radio 1]])}} – 4:58
@@ Line 52: / Line 53: @@
 ===Weekly charts===
-{|class="wikitable sortable"
+{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
+|+ 2003 weekly chart performance for "Like a Stone"
-!Chart (2003)
-!Peak<br />position
 |-
+! scope="col"| Chart (2003)
-{{singlechart|Australia|35|artist=Audioslave|song=Like a Stone}}
+! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
 |-
-{{singlechart|Italy|40|artist=Audioslave|song=Like a Stone|accessdate=August 13, 2020}}
+{{single chart|Australia|35|artist=Audioslave|song=Like a Stone|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2023}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|New Zealand|14|artist=Audioslave|song=Like a Stone}}
+{{single chart|Italy|40|artist=Audioslave|song=Like a Stone|rowheader=true|access-date=August 13, 2020}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|31|artist=Audioslave|accessdate=August 13, 2020}}
+{{single chart|New Zealand|14|artist=Audioslave|song=Like a Stone|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2023}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|23|artist=Audioslave|accessdate=August 13, 2020}}
+{{single chart|Billboardhot100|31|artist=Audioslave|rowheader=true|access-date=August 13, 2020}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Audioslave|accessdate=April 9, 2015}}
+{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|23|artist=Audioslave|rowheader=true|access-date=August 13, 2020}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Audioslave|accessdate=April 3, 2015}}
+{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Audioslave|rowheader=true|access-date=April 9, 2015}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|27|artist=Audioslave|accessdate=August 13, 2020}}
+{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Audioslave|rowheader=true|access-date=April 3, 2015}}
+|-
+{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|27|artist=Audioslave|rowheader=true|access-date=August 13, 2020}}
 |}
-{|class="wikitable" border="1"
-! Chart (2017)
+{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
-! Peak<br>position
+|+ 2017 weekly chart performance for "Like a Stone"
+! Chart (2017)
+! Peak<br/>position
 |-
+!scope="row"|Canada Digital Song Sales (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/audioslave/chart-history/cns/|title=Audioslave Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=July 9, 2024}}</ref>
-{{singlechart|Billboardrocksongs|7|artist=Audioslave}}
+| style="text-align:center;"| 43
 |-
+{{single chart|UKrock|14|date=20170526|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2023}}
-|US Rock Digital Song Sales (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/audioslave/chart-history/rkt/ |title=Audioslave Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=November 4, 2017}}</ref> ||align="center"| 5
+|-
+{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|7|artist=Audioslave|rowheader=true|access-date=July 4, 2023}}
 |-
-|US Rock Streaming Songs (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/music/audioslave/chart-history/rock-streaming-songs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508131959/https://www.billboard.com/music/audioslave/chart-history/rock-streaming-songs |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 8, 2018 |title=Audioslave Chart History (Rock Streaming Songs) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=November 4, 2017}}</ref> ||align="center"| 14
 |}
 {{col-2}}
 ===Year-end charts===
-{| class="wikitable sortable"
+{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
+|+ 2003 year-end chart performance for "Like a Stone"
-!align="left"|Chart (2003)
+!scope="col"| Chart (2003)
-!align="center"|Position
+!scope="col"| Position
 |-
-|align="left"|Brazil ([[Crowley Broadcast Analysis|Crowley]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2003/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2003|date=April 3, 2018 |publisher=[[Crowley Broadcast Analysis]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref>
+!scope="row"| Brazil ([[Crowley Broadcast Analysis|Crowley]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maistocadas.mus.br/2003/|title=Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2003|date=April 3, 2018|publisher=[[Crowley Broadcast Analysis]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022|archive-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130045218/https://maistocadas.mus.br/2003/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+| 56
-|align="center"|56
 |-
-|align="left"|Colombia (B & V Marketing)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-1047730|title=DISCOS DEL 2003 PARA RECORDAR|publisher=El Tiempo (Colombia)|access-date=September 14, 2022}}</ref>
+!scope="row"| Colombia (B & V Marketing)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-1047730|title=DISCOS DEL 2003 PARA RECORDAR|publisher=El Tiempo (Colombia)|access-date=September 14, 2022|archive-date=January 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131023836/https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-1047730|url-status=live}}</ref>
+| 2
-|align="center"|2
 |-
-|align="left"|[[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref name="lbs">{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/2003|title=Longbored Surfer - 2003|work=LongboredSurfer.com|author=Pedro|accessdate=October 22, 2014}}</ref>
+!scope="row"| [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref name="lbs">{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/2003|title=Longbored Surfer - 2003|work=LongboredSurfer.com|author=Pedro|accessdate=October 22, 2014|archive-date=October 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007194436/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/2003|url-status=live}}</ref>
+| 96
-|align="center"|96
 |}
-{| class="wikitable"
+{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
+|+ 2017 year-end chart performance for "Like a Stone"
-!Chart (2017)
+!scope="col"| Chart (2017)
-!Position
+!scope="col"| Position
 |-
-|US Hot Rock Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 5, 2020}}</ref>
+!scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 5, 2020}}</ref>
+| 91
-|align="center"|91
 |}
+{{col-end}}
-===Certifications===
+==Certifications==
-{{Certification Table Top}}
+{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Like a Stone"}}
 {{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2017|access-date=November 15, 2021}}
 {{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2022|id=file_2022-05-13-15-04-29.pdf|access-date=23 May 2022}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2024|title=Like a Stone|artist=Audioslave|accessdate=October 15, 2024}}
+{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|title=Like a Stone|digital=true|artist=Audioslave|relyear=2003|certyear=2023|id=19547-2096-1|access-date=15 December 2023}}
 {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2005|title=Like a Stone|digital=true|artist=Audioslave|accessdate=August 13, 2017}}
 {{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
-{{col-end}}
 ==References==

v t e Audioslave
Chris Cornell Tom Morello Tim Commerford Brad Wilk
Studio albums	Audioslave Out of Exile Revelations
DVDs	Audioslave Live in Cuba
Singles	"Cochise" "Like a Stone" "Show Me How to Live" "I Am the Highway" "What You Are" "Be Yourself" "Your Time Has Come" "Doesn't Remind Me" "Original Fire" "Revelations"
Related articles	Discography Songs Rage Against the Machine Soundgarden Axis of Justice Temple of the Dog Wakrat
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