"Semi-Charmed Life" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind from their eponymous debut studio album (1997). It was released to radio as the lead single from the album on February 18, 1997, by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins is credited as the sole writer of the song, although guitarist Kevin Cadogan has disputed the song's authorship through litigation. Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins and Eric Valentine. According to Jenkins, the song is about a crystal meth addiction and the feeling that "your life is always about to change and never be reliable." The song was recorded and mixed in and around San Francisco at Toast Studios, Skywalker Ranch, H.O.S., and The Site by Valentine. "Semi-Charmed Life" was one of the first demos recorded for Third Eye Blind and the song went through five iterations before the band settled on its final version. An alternative rock and power pop song with a rap-influenced singing style, the song's "doo, doo, doot" refrain was directly inspired by Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side". The instrumentation used in the song includes guitars, brushes, and a drum machine. The concept of the song was developed through Jenkins' observations of friends using crystal meth at a Primus concert. "Semi-Charmed Life" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the radio-friendly nature of the song and considered it a quintessential Nineties track. Some reviewers, however, felt that the hook was crafted in a manner that would quickly become tiresome. The song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving Third Eye Blind their first entry on the chart. Internationally, "Semi-Charmed Life" was a top 40 hit in six countries. The song remains Third Eye Blind's most successful single, being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and peaking at number 53 on the all-time US Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. Writing and inspiration Frontman Stephan Jenkins is credited as the sole songwriter of "Semi-Charmed Life". Jenkins intended to write a song that acted as a San Francisco response to Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side", with the "doo, doo, doot" chants present throughout the song being directly inspired by Reed's song. In regards to the song's style, Jenkins explained that it was meant to reflect changes that occurred in the San Francisco music scene at the time, particularly a growing interest in hip