Counting Stars

The song's harmonic identity is defined by its unwavering commitment to a single four-chord loop. Distinctively, it eschews the 'axis of awesome' (I-V-vi-IV) in favor of a minor-key variation that prioritizes the subtonic (VII) over a traditional dominant, giving it a folk-rock sensibility that feels both driving and melancholic.

Lead singer Ryan Tedder wrote the song while staying in the Hamptons in a house shared with Beyoncé and Jay-Z. While he was there to write for Beyoncé's self-titled album, he spent his downtime developing the folk-pop sound of 'Counting Stars.' He initially considered pitching it to a pop artist like P!nk, but decided it was the perfect direction for OneRepublic's third album.

As the standout single from the album Native, 'Counting Stars' redefined OneRepublic's sound by blending Ryan Tedder’s polished pop production with earthy acoustic folk elements. The track became a global phenomenon, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining one of the most successful digital singles of the 2010s.