The Bottom (song)
| "The Bottom" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Daughtry | ||||
| from the EP Shock to the System (Part Two) | ||||
| Released | July 25, 2025 | |||
| Length | 3:52 | |||
| Label |
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| Songwriters |
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| Daughtry singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "The Bottom" on YouTube | ||||
"The Bottom" is a song by American rock band Daughtry. Released on July 25, 2025, as the lead single from Shock to the System (Part Two), it became Daughtry's third number-one song on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
Background and release
Singer Chris Daughtry said the song reflects a period in which he felt musically uninspired and described it as being about "climbing out of my own hole and reclaiming my own identity again". Daughtry added that he believed "everyone has their own personal bottom".[1] He said the song represents a period in his life during which he felt stuck and experienced artistic self-doubt, saying he second-guessed everything he wrote. He described it as "my way back to myself", saying he was "climbing my way back to a place [where] I felt like I was supposed to be".[2]
"The Bottom" was released alongside the announcement of Shock to the System (Part Two).[3]
Composition and lyrics
Revolver wrote that the song contrasts themes of hopelessness and thoughts of being "lost and forgotten" with "a primal urge to keep fighting".[2] The song is built on a "swaggering groove" that cuts through a haze of distortion, with Daughtry flexing his vocal range with a "hypnotic cadence". It includes the lyric, "I was down in a hole until I clawed my way back from the bottom".[3] Rock Hard wrote that the song's lyrics describe getting back up and fighting one's way back after being down.[4] Sputnikmusic wrote that the song focuses on Daughtry's own life challenges while also referring to things beyond the loss of his mother and daughter. The review linked the lyric about climbing back "from the bottom" to the potential for rebirth hinted at in "The Reckoning" from Shock to the System (Part One).[5]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Chris Daughtry, Scott Stevens and Marti Frederiksen, with additional noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Bottom" (Brian Craddock, Elvio Fernandes, Johnny Cummings) | 3:52 |
| 2. | "The Day I Die" | 4:00 |
| Total length: | 7:52 | |
Notes
- All tracks stylized in all caps.
Music video
The music video opens with Chris Daughtry waking up after being buried underground and fighting through the dirt to climb out of his grave. He then performs in front of a group of dancing zombies before he and his bandmates are consumed by light and explode at the end.[7]
Chart performance
"The Bottom" reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart dated February 28, 2026. The song became Daughtry's third number-one single on the chart.[8]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Apple Music.[9]
Daughtry
- Chris Daughtry – lead vocals, songwriter
- Brian Craddock – guitar, songwriter
- Elvio Fernandes – background vocals, keyboards, songwriter
- Marty O'Brien – bass
Additional musician
- Scott Stevens – programming, songwriter, producer, recording engineer, editing engineer
Additional credits
- Marti Frederiksen – songwriter, producer, recording engineer, editing engineer
- Johnny Cummings – songwriter
- Evan Frederiksen – recording engineer, editing engineer
- Chris Baseford – mixing engineer
- Irene Genova – assistant mixing engineer
- Ted Jensen – mastering engineer
Charts
| Chart (2025–2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Mainstream Rock (Billboard Canada)[10] | 27 |
| US Rock & Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[11] | 11 |
| US Mainstream Rock Airplay (Billboard)[8] | 1 |
References
- ↑ Appleford, Steve (September 15, 2025). "Chris Daughtry: 'It's About Climbing Out of My Own Hole and Reclaiming My Identity Again'". Spin. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
- 1 2 Adams, Gregory (September 16, 2025). "Chris Daughtry on Seether tour, Bad Omens fandom, battling self-doubt and more". Revolver. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
- 1 2 "Daughtry Announces New EP 'Shock To The System (Part Two)', Shares 'The Bottom' Single". Blabbermouth.net. July 26, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
- ↑ Michels, Alexandra (July 28, 2025). "Daughtry - 'The Bottom' von "Shock To The System (Part Two)" ausgekoppelt". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved June 28, 2026.
- ↑ Shamus (April 7, 2026). "Review: Daughtry - Shock To The System (Part Two)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
- ↑ "The Bottom - Single by Daughtry". Spotify. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
- ↑ Johnson, Josh (October 29, 2025). "Daughtry rises from the grave in new 'The Bottom' video". ABC Audio. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
- 1 2 Rutherford, Kevin (February 20, 2026). "Daughtry's 'The Bottom' Is No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
- ↑ "The Bottom - Song by Daughtry". Apple Music.
- ↑ "Canada Mainstream Rock for the week of October 11, 2025". Billboard Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Daughtry Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2026.