 " Adam 's Song " was mainly a commercial success in the United States , but it also was a top 25 hit in Canada and Italy as well . In the US , it debuted on Billboard 's Modern Rock Tracks chart at number 38 in the issue dated March 18 , 2000 . Over the following weeks , it gradually ascended the chart to a peak of number two in the issue dated April 29 . It remained at that position for seven weeks , held off the top position by " Otherside " by the Red Hot Chili Peppers , and " Kryptonite " by 3 Doors Down . On May 13 , the single peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart . In CMJ New Music Report , a trade magazine that contained exclusive charts of non @-@ commercial and college radio airplay and independent and trend @-@ forward retail sales , " Adam 's Song " was a number one hit on their Commercial Alternative Cuts chart in the issue dated May 15 , 2000 . The song made its sole appearance on Billboard 's Hot 100 Airplay chart on that same date , peaking at number 79 . The song 's last appearance on the Modern Rock Tracks chart came on September 9 , 2000 ; as a whole , it spent 26 weeks on the chart . In the Billboard issue for July 19 , 2003 , Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems recognized the single with the BDS Certified Award for 100 @,@ 000 radio spins . The song later made an appearance on Billboard 's Rock Digital Songs at position 38 shortly after the release of the band 's sixth album , Neighborhoods , in October 2011 . 
