{{Short description|1997 single by Third Eye Blind}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox song | name = How's It Going to Be | cover = Higtb-thirdeyeblind.jpg | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = Third Eye Blind | album = Third Eye Blind | B-side = * "Horror Show" * "Semi-Charmed Life" | released = {{Start date|1997|10|20}} | recorded = | studio = * Toast * Skywalker Ranch * H.O.S. (San Francisco) | genre = Alternative rock | length = {{Duration|m=4|s=13}} | label = Elektra | writer = * Stephan Jenkins * Kevin Cadogan | producer = * Stephan Jenkins * Eric Valentine * Ren Klyce | chronology = Third Eye Blind | prev_title = Graduate | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = Losing a Whole Year | next_year = 1997 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|rE1oIhSgTgI|"How's It Going to Be"}}}} }} "'''How's It Going to Be'''" is a song by the American rock band Third Eye Blind from their debut album ''Third Eye Blind'' (1997). It was released to radio as the third single from the album on October 20, 1997, by Elektra Records. Frontman Stephan Jenkins and guitarist Kevin Cadogan are credited as writers of the song. Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins, Eric Valentine, and Ren Klyce, with additional production and arrangement by Arion Salazar and Cadogan. According to Jenkins, the song is about the end of a relationship and the transition to acquaintanceship.
The song was recorded in and around San Francisco at Toast Studios, Skywalker Ranch, and H.O.S. by Valentine. Tom Lord-Alge was responsible for the mixing of the track, which was made at South Beach Studios in Miami Beach. "How's It Going to Be" was one of the first demos recorded for ''Third Eye Blind'', being recorded alongside the first iteration of "Semi-Charmed Life". The song's concept was developed after Cadogan played an autoharp, which inspired feelings of nostalgia among the band members. The instrumentation used in the song also includes guitars, drums, and a cello.
"How's It Going to Be" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Cadogan's distinct use of an autoharp in the instrumentation. The song peaked at number 9 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, giving Third Eye Blind their second entry on the chart and their second Top 10 hit. Internationally, "How's It Going to Be" was a Top 40 hit in three countries. On the 1998 year-end charts, the song peaked at number 67 on the Canada Top Singles chart and number 11 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart.
==Writing and inspiration== "How's It Going to Be" was written by Stephan Jenkins and Kevin Cadogan. In an interview with Jenkins published in ''Billboard'', he explained: {{quote|The song’s inspiration came about when Third Eye guitarist Kevin Cadogan was tinkering around with an autoharp, ‘which is a vintage-sounding instrument that you can’t really play without it having a sort of nostalgic sound to it. That inspired this emotional condition in me,’ Jenkins says. That condition surrounds the idea of lost love, of realizing that there may come a despairing day when the two meet and no longer know each other. ‘I think we all feel violated when we find that a relationship actually has time limits, that it’s not unconditional. That’s the thing that aches in people,’ he explains. ‘That’s something everybody can relate to, even when you know you have no business being with this person anymore.’<ref name=Billboard>{{cite book|title=Third Eye Blind Finds Another Audience Connection With Latest Crossover Cut|date = 31 January 1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22I+think+we+all+feel+violated+when+we+find+that+a+relationship+actually+has+time+limits,+that+it%27s+not+unconditional,%22+explained+Jenkins+to+Billboard.&pg=PA86|publisher=Billboard}}</ref>}}
==Recording and mixing== The recording sessions for "How's It Going to Be" took place in and around San Francisco, California at Toast Studios, Skywalker Ranch, and H.O.S.<ref name="album"/> Production on the song was helmed by Jenkins, Eric Valentine, and Ren Klyce, with additional production and arrangement by Arion Salazar and Kevin Cadogan.<ref name="album"/> The song was engineered by David Gleeson, with additional engineering by Valentine.<ref name="album"/> Tom Lord-Alge was responsible for the mixing of the track, which was made at South Beach Studios in Miami Beach, Florida.<ref name="album"/>
==Composition== {{Listen | filename = How's It Going to Be.ogg | pos = left | title = "How's It Going to Be" | description = A 29-second sample of Third Eye Blind's "How's It Going to Be" song where the bridge is played. | format = Ogg }} "How's It Going to Be" is an alternative rock song.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/04/best-alternative-rock-songs-1997/6/|title=The 79 Best Alternative Rock Songs Of 1997|date=2017-04-25|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Spin}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Yglesias |first1=Matthew |title=The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2007/05/the-ultimate-nineties-alt-rock-playlist/40279/ |website=The Atlantic|date=21 May 2007 }}</ref> According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, the song is written in the key of F major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 78 beats per minute.<ref name="sheet">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0040950|title=Third Eye Blind 'How's It Going to Be' Digital Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com|last=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|access-date=June 25, 2020}}</ref> Jenkin's vocal range spans one octave, from C<sub>4</sub> to A<sub>5</sub>.<ref name="sheet"/>
==Critical reception== Arielle Gordon of ''Pitchfork'' praised Kevin Cadogan's use of an autoharp on the song's opening chords.<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/third-eye-blind-third-eye-blind/|title=Third Eye Blind: Third Eye Blind Album Review|last=Gordon|first=Arielle|date=January 23, 2022|work=Pitchfork|accessdate=January 27, 2022}}</ref>
==Chart performance== In the United States, "How's It Going to Be" debuted at number 36 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart for the issue dated December 6, 1997.<ref name="hot100"/> The song reached its peak after eleven weeks, peaking at number 9 for the issue dated February 14, 1998.<ref name="hot100"/> The song spent a total of fifty-two weeks on the chart, with the week of November 28, 1998, being its final appearance on the chart.<ref name="hot100"/>
==Music video== The music video was directed by Nigel Dick and was filmed in 1997 on September 6 and 7 on Spring Street, Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nigeldick.com/films/productions-1997/|title = Productions 1997}}</ref> In the video, the band members are in a car parked on a city street. On the opposite sidewalk, they spot a woman carrying many items (implied as an ex-girlfriend) enter a nearby building and immediately bring their instruments inside. They follow her to her office. As the band performs in front of the office, the woman hides behind a divider as another employee calls building security.
==Live performances== The song was regularly performed on Third Eye Blind's debut headlining tour, The Bonfire Tour (1998).<ref name="bonfire">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/151692/third-eye-blind-look-to-summer-tour-recording/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205325/http://www.mtv.com/news/151692/third-eye-blind-look-to-summer-tour-recording/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2021|title=Third Eye Blind Look to Summer Tour, Recording|date=April 28, 1998|work=MTV News|accessdate=June 23, 2021}}</ref>
==Cover versions== In 2011, PT Walkley sang a cover of this song for the romantic film ''Something Borrowed''.
In 2015, American indie rock band Widowspeak released a cover of "How's It Going to Be" on their single ''Two Covers''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1830669/widowspeak-hows-it-going-to-be-third-eye-blind-cover-stereogum-premiere/news/|title=Widowspeak – "How's It Going To Be" (Third Eye Blind Cover) (Stereogum Premiere)|date=September 15, 2015|work=Stereogum|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref>
==Track listings and formats== * '''US and Australian CD, US cassette'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=How's It Going to Be|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=US CD Single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=64130-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=How's It Going to Be|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=AUS CD Single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=7559-64130-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=How's It Going to Be|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=US Cassette liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=64130-4}}</ref> # "How's It Going to Be" – 4:16 # "Horror Show" – 4:10
* '''European maxi and French CD 1'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=How's It Going to Be|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=EU Maxi Single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=7559-63891-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=How's It Going to Be|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=FRA CD-one Single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=7559-63854-2}}</ref> # "How's It Going to Be" – 4:13 # "Graduate" (Remix) – 3:25 # "Horror Show" – 4:10
* '''French CD 2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=How's It Going to Be|others=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=FRA CD-two Single liner notes|publisher=Elektra Records|id=E3863CD}}</ref> # "How's It Going to Be" – 4:12 # "Semi-Charmed Life" – 4:27 # "Horror Show" – 4:10
==Credits and personnel== Credits and personnel are adapted from ''Third Eye Blind'' album liner notes.<ref name="album">{{cite AV media notes|others=Third Eye Blind|title=Third Eye Blind|year=1997|type=Inlay cover|publisher=Elektra|id=62012-2}}</ref> * Stephan Jenkins – vocals, producer * Kevin Cadogan – guitar, vocals, autoharp * Arion Salazar – bass, vocals * Michael Urbano – drums * Ari Gorman – cello * Eric Valentine – engineer, producer * Ren Klyce – producer
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "How It's Going to Be" !Chart (1997–1998) !Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite Ryan|page=278}}</ref> |93 |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|6|chartid=3457|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Canadarock|4|chartid=3436|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}} |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2964445#page/n7/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.1 – 22.1. 1998)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=22|date=January 16, 1998|access-date=October 3, 2019}}</ref> |32 |- {{singlechart|Scotland|47|date=19980321|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}} |- {{singlechart|UK|51|date=19980321|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|9|artist=Third Eye Blind|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019|refname="hot100"}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|6|artist=Third Eye Blind|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|5|artist=Third Eye Blind|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|5|artist=Third Eye Blind|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|14|artist=Third Eye Blind|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Year-end chart performance for "How It's Going to Be" !Chart (1998) !Position |- !scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume%2068-No.%2012-December%2014,%201998.pdf|title=RPM's Top 100 Hits of '98|magazine=RPM|volume=68|issue=12|page=20|date=December 14, 1998|access-date=August 27, 2019}}</ref> |67 |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1998|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1998|access-date=August 28, 2010}}</ref> |11 |- !scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1998: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=52|page=YE-96|date=December 26, 1998}}</ref> |14 |- !scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=6|issue=52|page=45|date=December 25, 1998}}</ref> |34 |- !scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1998: Hot Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=52|page=YE-84|date=December 26, 1998}}</ref> |15 |- !scope="row"|US Triple-A (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=6|issue=52|page=35|date=December 25, 1998}}</ref> |21 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "How's It Going to Be"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Third Eye Blind|title=<!-- Source does not load apostrophes correctly -->It Going to Be|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1997|certyear=2023|access-date=August 30, 2023}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Release history and formats for "How It's Going to Be" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States |October 20, 1997 |Alternative radio |rowspan="4"|Elektra |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Be on the Lookout|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2177|page=60|date=October 17, 1997}}</ref> |- |October 21, 1997 |Contemporary hit radio |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1219|page=39|date=October 17, 1997}}</ref> |- |November 1997 |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |March 9, 1998 |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=March 7, 1998}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Third Eye Blind}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:How's It Going to Be}} Category:Third Eye Blind songs Category:1997 songs Category:1997 singles Category:Music videos directed by Nigel Dick Category:Songs written by Stephan Jenkins Category:Songs written by Kevin Cadogan Category:Song recordings produced by Eric Valentine Category:Elektra Records singles