The composition “Counting Stars” was released in 2013 by the American pop-rock band OneRepublic. The song was written by the band’s frontman Ryan Tedder, who also produced it together with Noel Zancanella.
The Story Behind the Song Counting Stars by OneRepublic
If we talk about the meaning of “Counting Stars”, then the song is about love and the desire of a loving person to do everything for his beloved, giving up material earthly goods.
The track became one of the band's most popular singles, topping the charts in many countries. The song reached number one in Canada and the UK, reached number two in the US, and entered the top 10 in more than 20 countries. The single sold over 1 million copies in the UK.
Tedder began writing “Counting Stars” while waiting for Beyoncé to arrive for a studio recording session. He shared in an interview:
“The idea for 'Counting Stars' came to me in the summer of 2012 while I was in the Hamptons. I was working in a huge house, the biggest I'd ever been in, rented by Jay-Z and Beyoncé. I was focused on making a new album for OneRepublic called Native and was determined not to get distracted by working with other artists.
I broke that promise, though, because I was doing studio sessions with Beyoncé that same year. When Jay-Z and Beyoncé invite you to stay at their Hamptons house, it's impossible to say no!
I spent about five days there, and on the second day I woke up early in the morning, searching the internet for something that could inspire me to work with Beyoncé. I ended up finding an unusual composition with a folk sound that immediately struck me like a flash. I didn’t like the verses and the lyrics, but the atmosphere and the rhythm of the song captured me.
That's what inspired me to write 'Counting Stars'. I even thought about pitching it to Beyoncé for her album, but I soon realized it wasn't the style that would suit her. The idea for the chorus came instantly, and then I went home and spent the next three months finishing up 'Native'.”
Ryan Tedder started writing the song in New York City but finished it on the Greek island of Santorini. In an interview, he noted:
“When I feel like I have something special, something that feels big and inevitable – and that doesn’t always happen – I consciously try to get it to the point where I realize, ‘This is powerful, I’m sure it will resonate, but I want to finish it in a unique place that inspires me.’ We’d been planning a trip to Santorini for three years, and I decided, ‘This is the perfect place to finish this piece.’”
Tedder shared that he was pleased to see how many people resonated with the profound song:
“I think it’s our responsibility as a band, and that’s what sets us apart. I’ve been inspired by U2 for two decades, starting with ‘Achtung Baby.’ I think they’re probably the only band of their caliber that deals with themes that go beyond the typical relationship issues or self-centered “I’m the best” statements. I discussed this with Bono when we toured together, and he made a similar point.
I felt a responsibility to create and perform music that touches on themes that have deep human meaning. If most people sing about passion, love, lust or money, then someone has to talk about life, faith, hope and things like that. If you look at their illustrious career, they've only had two number one hits, and I think both were 25 years ago.
But that’s not the point – it’s about what songs feel real. I’d rather have a song that goes to number 15 on the charts but is meaningful and part of the cultural context we live in than a number one hit that takes off for a moment, becomes the dance track of the summer, and then quickly fades away.”
Lyrics and translation of the song OneRepublic Counting Stars
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