When I'm Gone (Simple Plan song)

"When I'm Gone" is the first single from Simple Plan's self-titled third studio album, Simple Plan. It was released via iTunes and lala.com on October 29, 2007, in conjunction with a live webchat from the band.

"When I'm Gone"
Single by Simple Plan
from the album Simple Plan
Released	October 29, 2007
Recorded	2007
Genre	Alternative rock,[1] pop punk[2]
Length	3:49 (Album version) 3:42 (Radio edit)
Label	Lava, Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Pierre Bouvier Chuck Comeau Nate Hills Arnold Lanni
Producer(s)	Danja, Dave Fortman[3]
Simple Plan singles chronology
"Crazy" (2005) "When I'm Gone" (2007) "Your Love Is a Lie" (2008)
Audio sample
When I'm Gone file help

History

A 25-second preview of the song was premiered on October 24, 2007 on simpleplan.com.^[4] The full song was premiered on simpleplan.com on October 29, 2007. It was done so in conjunction with a webchat with the band members, who answered fan questions during the chat.

The song was made available on iTunes the same day and the album was available for preorder on lala.com the following day (with a download of the single immediately available).^[5][6][7]

Music video

The band flew to Los Angeles on November 8, 2007 and filmed the video. It was filmed on Sunset Blvd and then in a soundstage outside North Hollywood. Perez Hilton filmed a cameo.^[8]

A 40-second pre-production preview of the video was aired on TRL and added to Simple Plan's website on November 6, 2007.^[9]

The video was premiered on MTV.com on December 10, 2007, and MuchMusic on December 11. Frank Borin and the band directed the video.

The music video has been available through the band's official channel on YouTube since December 13, 2007 and has since gotten over 17 million views as of December 2013 ^[10]

The music video is about a young woman, played by Zoe Myers, who drives around town to cope with her recent breakup with a former lover, played by Bouvier. She has not got over him, which makes her see him everywhere she goes. In the end, she freaks out and calls Bouvier. Bouvier sees who is calling and ignores the call and continues to enjoy his bottle of beer. Scenes with the band playing against a black backdrop are shown throughout the video.

Reception

The song received a lot of airplay in 2007, making it the most successful single from the album. The song also received positive reviews from critics. Rolling Stone called it "a seize-the-day anthem with a cathartic refrain". Entertainment Weekly in their review of the album recommended downloading "When I'm Gone".

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2007–08) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 14 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 37 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13] 12 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[14] 20 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 11 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[16] 8 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[17] 9 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[18] 25 Germany (GfK)[19] 42 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 39 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[21] 10 Mexico Anglo (Monitor Latino)[22] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 78 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[24] 63 Scotland (OCC)[25] 24 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 23 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 31 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 26 Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[29] 5

Year-end charts Chart (2008) Position Australia (ARIA)[30] 93 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[31] 62 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[32] 176

Track listing

Digital single^[33] and European CD single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"When I'm Gone"	3:42

All tracks are written by Simple Plan, Nate Hills and Arnold Lanni, except where noted

iTunes single^[34]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"When I'm Gone"	3:49
2.	"When I'm Gone" (Live in NYC)	3:33

U.S. 7" single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"When I'm Gone"	3:51
2.	"When I'm Gone" (Acoustic version)	3:30

Australian and European CD single / iTunes EP^[35]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"When I'm Gone"		3:49
2.	"Running Out of Time" (non-album track)	Simple Plan Lanni	3:16
3.	"When I'm Gone" (Acoustic version)		3:29
Total length:			10:33

References

1. "Simple Plan When i'm Gone". AllMusic.
2. Simple Plan. "When Im Gone Bass Tab version 1". Ultimate Guitar.com.
3. "Simple Plan Back In Action With Third Album". Billboard. 2007-10-24.
4. "Simple Plan Snippet". Simple Plan. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
5. "Simple Plan Visual Browser". Simple Plan. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
6. "Simple Plan Stream Chat". Simple Plan. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
7. "Simple Plan Blog". Simple Plan. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
8. Simpleplan.com Simple Plan information on music video.
9. Simpleplan.com 30 Second Preview of 'When Im Gone and details of TRL Broadcast.
10. Simple Plan - When I'm Gone (Official Video). YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
11. "Simple Plan – When I'm Gone". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
12. "Simple Plan – When I'm Gone" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
13. "Simple Plan – When I'm Gone" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
14. "Simple Plan – When I'm Gone" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
15. "Simple Plan Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
16. "Simple Plan Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
17. "Simple Plan Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
18. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 4. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
19. "Simple Plan – When I'm Gone" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
20. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Simple Plan". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
21. "Simple Plan Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
22. "Continúa el trío Belanova en primeros lugares de popularidad" (in Spanish). Informador. March 24, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
23. "Simple Plan – When I'm Gone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
24. "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: May 1, 2008". TopHit. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
26. "Simple Plan – When I'm Gone". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
27. "Simple Plan – When I'm Gone". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
29. "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. 2008-03-01. Archived from the original on 2007-07-02.
30. "2008 Annual ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
31. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
32. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2008". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
33. "When I'm Gone – Single". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
34. "When I'm Gone – EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
35. "When I'm Gone – EP". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 9, 2017.