Yellowcard’s single “Better Days” has officially reached No. 1 on the charts! This marks a record-breaking moment for the band, as they now hold the title for the longest time between their first chart entry and hitting the top spot. The song jumped from fifth to first place on August 30, capping off a remarkable 22-year journey since they first appeared on the charts.
The band broke Fall Out Boy’s previous record of 17 years and nine months. Yellowcard’s first chart entry, “Way Away,” peaked at No. 25 back in 2003. They came close with “Lights and Sounds,” which reached No. 4 in 2006, but the top spot remained elusive until now.
“Better Days” received a massive boost in airplay, being played 2,148 times on radio stations from August 17-23, according to Mediabase. The track outperformed Green Day’s “One Eyed Bastard” and Foo Fighters’ “Today’s Song” to claim the crown.
The success of “Better Days” isn’t just limited to alternative radio. The song also climbed to No. 14 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, reaching 2.5 million listeners—a significant 11% increase, according to Luminate.
In 2025, nine acts have achieved their first Alternative Airplay No. 1, making it the most since 1997 when 11 new artists topped the chart. Yellowcard has signed with Better Noise Music for their next album, also titled “Better Days,” following their self-titled album from 2016, which peaked at No. 5 on the Top Alternative Albums chart. Fans are excited to see what’s next for the band!
