Say (All I Need) (song)

***Say (All I Need)*** is a song by OneRepublic. It is the first track on and third single released from their debut album *Dreaming Out Loud* and follows the global success of their previous top ten singles, "Apologize" and "Stop and Stare". OneRepublic vocalist Ryan Tedder has commented that "Say (All I Need") is his "favorite track on the album." All five members of the band share writing and composing credits on the song. The single was released in the UK on June 2, 2008 and features their Live Lounge cover of Duffy's single "Mercy". The single was released on June 24, 2008 in the United States.

The song was recorded at Rocket Carousel Studios in Culver City by producer Greg Wells and engineer Drew Pearson. The chorus of the song was featured during the most recent season of *The Hills*. Also it featured in the pilot episode of the TV series, *The Vampire Diaries*. On July 3, 2008, OneRepublic made a guest appearance on *So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. season 4)* for a live performance of "Say (All I Need)". In France, the song was recorded as a duet with the French R&B singer Sheryfa Luna and was renamed as *Say (À l'infini)*.

## Track listing

1. "Say (All I Need)" - 3:50
2. "Mercy" (Radio 1 Live Lounge session Duffy cover) - 3:43

### French track listing

1. "Say (À l'infini)" (feat. Sheryfa Luna) - 3:55
2. "Say (All I Need)" - 3:51

## Appearance of the Dancer

The dancer is a man with black hair. He wears an orange striped buttoned shirt, which consists of a blue jacket blazer, brown pants and blue shoes. His glove is purple and he has a yellow illuminated outline.

## Background

We see the background looks like a theatre of masks and that matching red shoes.

## Music video

The official music video for "Say (All I Need)" was filmed in Paris, France and directed by Anthony Mandler. Filmed partially in black and white the video begins with the sound of church bells waking up Ryan Tedder. He dons a jacket and grabs a small black journal and leaves the house. As he leaves the house he passes by Chris Cornell, who makes a cameo appearance. The music begins and we see Tedder walking and sometimes running throughout the city near such famous Paris landmarks as the Sacre Coeur, seemingly in search of something, while other members of the band are seen in different locations throughout the city. Drew Brown is seen riding a Vespa scooter and Zach Filkins, Eddie Fisher, and Brent Kutzle have individual close-ups on a bridge and walking down some graffiti covered alleys. The band is also seen performing the song in an ex-meat abattoir in Paris, now artists apartments. As the music swells and begins to climax Tedder races through the city, enters a building and climbs a winding staircase to the top. Reaching the top, he steps out onto a rooftop with a breathtaking view of the city at sunset. He then takes the small black journal from his pocket and writes, "just say," ending the music video.

Tedder has given this explanation for the meaning of the song, "This song is about being happy with what you have in life, and not obsessing over what you don't have. Whether it's a person or relationship, love, or success, or even fame." "We wanted to make a piece of art and do something beautiful and inspiring," said Tedder.

## Chart performance

Months before the single's official release, "Say (All I Need)" had already started appearing on the charts relying on downloads alone. Its first appearance was in November, (shortly after *Dreaming Out Loud* was released) on *Billboard'*s Hot Digital Songs, debuting at number seventy-five. It dropped out a few weeks after. The song reappeared on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs after its official release in the United Kingdom and peaked at number fifty-one. The song made its way up the UK charts and a few other European charts, after its official release. The song was released to radio in the US in the third week of June 2008.

## Lyrics

Do you know where your heart is?
Do you think you can find it?
Or did you trade it for something
Somewhere better just to have it?

Do you know where your love is?
Do you think that you lost it?
You felt it so strong, but
Nothing's turned out how you wanted

Well, bless my soul
You're a lonely soul
'Cause you won't let go
Of anything you hold

Well, all I need
Is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head

Do you know what your fate is?
And are you trying to shake it?
You're doing your best dance,
Your best look
You're praying that you make it

Well, bless my soul
You're a lonely soul
'Cause you won't let go
Of anything you hold

Well, all I need
Is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head

all I need
Is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head

Do you think you can find it?
Do you think you can find it?
Do you think you can find it?
Better than you had it
Do you think you can find it?
Do you think you can find it?
Do you think you can find it?
Yeah, better than you had it (better than you had it)

all I need
Is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head

all I need
Is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head

Do you know where the end is?
Do you think you can see it?
Well, until you get there
Go on, go ahead and scream it
Just say...

## Credits

Credits adapted from the liner notes of *Dreaming Out Loud*

* Midnite Miracle (ASCAP)/Sony ATV

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ryan Tedder MTV
2. ↑ ASCAP Look-up
3. ↑ French Version
4. ↑ OneRepublic Recruit Chris Cornell For 'Say (All I Need)' Video