S.O.S (Jonas Brothers song) explained

S.O.S
Cover:SOS Jonas Brothers.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Jonas Brothers
Album:Jonas Brothers
B-Side:"Year 3000" (Album Version)
Released:August 3, 2007
Recorded:2007
Length:2:33
Label:Hollywood
Producer:John Fields
Prev Title:Hold On
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:When You Look Me in the Eyes
Next Year:2007

"S.O.S" is a song by American pop group Jonas Brothers. The song was released as the third single on August 3, 2007, from their second studio album Jonas Brothers. It was also their debut international single in Europe in May 2008 and in the United Kingdom in early June 2008.

Background and composition

"S.O.S" was written from a personal experience Nick Jonas had went through. He had gone through a bad night and had a hard time, and ended up composing it into a song.[1] In an interview with Elvis Costello, Nick said that "S.O.S" was one of the songs that came to him in the middle of the night. He wrote the song in only ten minutes. In a TikTok posted on the 15-year anniversary of the song, Nick further revealed that he wrote the song alone in a hotel room at thirteen years old. He also said that the original title was "A Call I'll Never Get", but when making the track list for the album, everyone kept calling it "S.O.S", so they ended up going with that title instead.[2]

Chart performance

In August 2007, "S.O.S" debuted at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] In the week following its debut, the song rose to number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100,[4] becoming the band's first single to reach the top 20. The single sold very well digitally, having peaked at number four on Billboards Hot Digital Songs chart for two consecutive weeks in September 2007.[5] It has sold 1.5 million copies in the US.[6]

In Australia, "S.O.S" debuted inside the top 50 at number 48 on the ARIA Charts on April 13, 2008. It later peaked at number 47. The song entered the German charts for the week of June 13, 2008, at number 26.

In the UK, "S.O.S" was a moderate success, entering the UK Singles Chart at number 16 and rising the next week to number 13.[7] However, despite large amounts of video airplay, it fell 11 places to number 24 the following week.[8] In the fourth week on the UK Singles Chart, the single dropped another eight places to number 32.[9] The song sold 2,000,000 copies worldwide becoming one of the best-selling songs of 2007. The song was later used as the B-side to "When You Look Me in the Eyes".[10]

Music video

The music video was filmed in June 2007 on board the, a retired ocean liner moored in Long Beach, California, and was directed by Declan Whitebloom.[11] It premiered on August 3, 2007, via YouTube.[12] It also features a cameo by Moises Arias. The song is about having troubled relationships with girlfriends. In the video, Nick is seen waiting for his significant other at a restaurant table, who then arrives with two friends. He then walks off, annoyed that she was not alone.[13] Kevin appears, walking, when he gets a text which states, "I like u...but I don't like u):." He then throws the phone in a wastebasket.[13] Joe approaches a girl who appears to be waving at him, but Moises Arias appears behind him and walks off with the girl instead. In the end, the brothers see three new girls and chase after them. These scenes are intercut with footage of the Jonas Brothers performing on the ship's deck in front of an electric sign that says 'S.O.S.'[13]

Track listing

US and Europe maxi CD single[14]

  1. "S.O.S" (Album Version) – 2:33
  2. "Hello Beautiful" (Live) – 3:22
  3. "Year 3000" (Album Version) – 3:21

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "S.O.S"
Chart (2007–2008)Peak
position
Colombia (EFE)[15] 8
Costa Rica (EFE)2
European Hot 100 Singles[16] 24
Mexico Anglo (Monitor Latino)[17] 4
Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[18] 6

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "S.O.S"
Chart (2008)Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 57
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 81
France (SNEP)[21] 61
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 188

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
GermanyMay 30, 2008CD singleUniversal[23]
United KingdomJune 16, 2008Polydor[24]

Notes and References

  1. Exclusive: The Jonas Brothers Take Us Track-by-Track Behind the Meanings of the Music From Their Second Album. J-14. Ed Gross. August 7, 2017. August 23, 2024.
  2. Web site: Nick Jonas on TikTok . 2022-11-29 . TikTok . en.
  3. Jonathan Cohen. Kingston's 'Girls' Not Budging From Atop Hot 100. Billboard. August 16, 2007.
  4. Jonathan Cohen. Kingston Still 'Beautiful' Atop Hot 100. Billboard. August 23, 2007.
  5. Jonas Brothers Chart History (Digital Song Sales). Billboard. August 23, 2024.
  6. Ask Billboard: Jonas Brothers Want to Know Their Album & Song Sales . Trust . Gary . . . February 17, 2015 . February 17, 2015.
  7. Web site: Official Singles Chart: 28 June 2008 - 4 July 2008. Official Charts Company. August 27, 2024.
  8. Web site: Official Singles Chart: 5 July 2008 - 11 July 2008. Official Charts Company. August 27, 2024.
  9. Web site: Official Singles Chart: 12 July 2008 - 18 July 2008. Official Charts Company. August 27, 2024.
  10. Web site: Jonas Brothers – When You Look Me In The Eyes. Discogs. August 30, 2024.
  11. Web site: Shot: Jonas Brothers - Declan Whitebloom, director. Video Static. Steven Gottlieb. June 28, 2007. August 30, 2024.
  12. Web site: Jonas Brothers - SOS Music Video - Official (HQ). YouTube. August 3, 2007 . August 30, 2024.
  13. Web site: The Jonas Brothers - SOS. The Guardian. Anna Pickard. June 30, 2008. August 30, 2024.
  14. Web site: Jonas Brothers - S.O.S.. Discogs. January 1, 2022.
  15. News: The best-selling music in America . June 20, 2008 . Excelsior California. August 4, 2024.
  16. Chart History : Jonas Brothers
  17. Web site: Top 20 Monitor Latino . Monitor Latino . April 27, 2008 . April 27, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080430010409/http://www.monitorlatino.com:80/charts_monitorlatino_mexico.htm . April 30, 2008 . es.
  18. Web site: Pop Rock. es. January 26, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070702054004/http://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/?i=poprock. July 2, 2007. Record Report.
  19. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2008. Ultratop. nl. June 20, 2020.
  20. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2008. Ultratop. fr. June 20, 2020.
  21. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 2008. SNEP. fr. August 20, 2020.
  22. Web site: 2008 Year-End UK Charts. UKChartsPlus. June 20, 2020.
  23. Web site: S.O.S.. Amazon.
  24. Web site: S.O.S. . Amazon UK .