"Fade" is a song by American rock band Staind. It was the third single from their album Break the Cycle. The song was a crossover success for the band, peaking at number 3 and 4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock song charts respectively, and at number 62 on the Billboard all-format Hot 100 chart. Background The origins of the song trace back the recording sessions in the late 1990s, prior to the band releasing their second studio album, their first major record label album Dysfunction in 1999. The song's guitar riff was initially written for a six minute long "epic" sounding track, according to band guitarist Mike Mushok. The song was dropped from consideration for Dysfunction, and not worked on for three or four years, but Mushok, impressed with the melodies added by frontman Aaron Lewis, continued to keep it in the back of his mind for inclusion for future album's consideration. He eventually rewrote and re-arranged the track during the band's Break the Cycle sessions, where it made the cut for the album. In 2002, Mushok reflected that he believed the song to be his best personal performance of any songs he had ever recorded. The song's first official release was on May 8, 2001, on the band's third studio album, Break the Cycle, a release that would eventually be certified five times platinum by the RIAA, indicated 5 million units shipped. After the release of "It's Been Awhile" and "Outside", "Fade" would later be released as the album's third single on September 4, 2001. The song performed well at rock radio, peaking at number 3 and 4 respectively on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock and Mondern Rock song charts respectively, and even crossed over to the all-format radio stations, peaking at 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A live version of the song was released on the compilation album The Family Values Tour 2001, while an acoustic version of the song later appeared on the release Staind - MTV Unplugged in November 2002. The song also received its own music video, which alternates between the band performing in a crumbling watch tower and footage of a man in an office space. Composition and themes The song maintains a standard verse-chorus song structure, with a bridge prior to the final chorus. The verses contains strummed, clean electric guitar notes being played, before expanding into loud,