Switchfoot Taps Jon Bellion for Reimagined Version Of Smash Single “Meant To Live”

GRAMMY-winning rock band Switchfoot teamed with GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter/producer Jon Bellion (Eminem, Rihanna, Jonas Brothers) to radically reimagine one of their biggest hits, 2003's "Meant To Live," which is out now. 

Originally appearing on Switchfoot's iconic triple-platinum LP 'The Beautiful Letdown,' this new version trades the heavy riffing guitars of the original for a lush string arrangement by legendary arranger John Metcalfe (Coldplay, Blur, Peter Gabriel) and a passionate performance by Jon Bellion, whose heartfelt vocal delivery allows Switchfoot lead singer Jon Foreman's stunning lyrics to take center stage. Recorded at London's legendary Abbey Road Studios, this new arrangement of "Meant To Live" reaffirms Switchfoot's legacy as one of the most influential rock groups of the 21st century. 

Stream "Meant To Live (Jon Bellion Version)" HERE 

Speaking about the track, Bellion noted: "I think Meant to Live is one of the best written songs of all time. That song is actually one of the reasons I got into music. I remember the energy on the song that was so healing, honest, and I felt like a human being. That song opened a lot of insight for me on how to write records where you can connect with me. I thought, 'if it doesn't connect with me like Switchfoot Meant to Live connected with me when I was a kid then I shouldn't be writing it. If you would have told me 15 years ago that I would be covering this song cause the band would be approaching me for one of my favorite songs of all time to reimagine the song in a way I saw fit I'd be completely honored."

Switchfoot's Jon Foreman recalls how the track came into being: "Years ago Jon Bellion mentioned Switchfoot in a tweet as an inspiration for a song he was working on. I hit Jon back to tell him that I've loved his stuff for years. Since then we've stayed in touch, texting from time to time. Fast forward to this year-when we started re-recording 'The Beautiful Letdown'; we had a lot of friends reach out with stories about how that album had impacted their lives - one of those friends was Jon Bellion... hearing Abbey Road strings playing a John Metcalfe arrangement with Jon Bellion's voice singing those lyrics felt like a graduation (maybe the graduation that this college dropout never got!). It's like I'm hearing the song for the first time, and I wonder who wrote it, and where music even comes from-Bellion and I were talking about it the other day, how this version of the song truly illuminates the lyrics in a new way."

2023 marks the 20 year anniversary of 'The Beautiful Letdown,' and in celebration, Switchfoot released a re-imagined version of the album earlier this year that features newly recorded versions of classic hits like "Meant To Live" (160M streams), "Dare You To Move" (235M streams) and more. 

Switchfoot will kick off their massive 30+ date tour of North America at the tail end of Summer. The run of shows sees the band performing 'The Beautiful Letdown'from front to back in its entirety in major markets like Chicago, Boston, Orlando, Detroit, Seattle, Los Angeles and more. Numerous shows on the tour are already sold out or have very few tickets remaining such as The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA, House of Blues in Chicago, IL, and The Bluestone in Columbus, OH. Full itinerary below. 

Friday, August 25, 2023 - Sugar Hill, GA - The Bowl - SOLD OUT 

Saturday, August 26, 2023 - Birmingham, AL - Avondale Brewing Company

Sunday, August 27, 2023 - Hattiesburg, MS - Saenger Theater

Wednesday, August 30, 2023- Memphis, TN- Minglewood Hall

Thursday, August 31, 2023- Huntsville, AL- Mars Music Hall

Thursday, September 14, 2023- St Louis, MO- The Pageant

Friday, September 15, 2023- Fayetteville, AR- JJ's Live 

Saturday, September 16, 2023- Tulsa, OK- Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Sunday, September 17, 2023- Huston, TX- The Heights Theatre

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre 

Thursday, September 21, 2023 - Dallas, TX - AT&T PAC - Strauss Square

Friday, September 22, 2023 - Houston, TX - The Heights Theater - SOLD OUT

Saturday, September 23, 2023 - San Antonio, TX - The Espee

Sunday, September 24, 2023 - Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues

Thursday, September 28, 2023 - Nashville, TN - The Ryman - SOLD OUT

Friday, September 29, 2023 - Columbus, OH - The Bluestone

Saturday, September 30, 2023- Greeneville, TN- Niswonger Performing Arts Center

Sunday, October 1, 2023 - Chattanooga, TN - The Signal

Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall

Friday, October 6, 2023 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - The Parker Playhouse

Saturday, October 7, 2023 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live

Sunday, October 8, 2023 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues

Monday, October 9 - Charlotte, NC - Knight Theatre

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 - Durham, NC - Fletcher Hall

Thursday, October 12, 2023 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

Friday, October 13, 2023 - Richmond, VA - The National

Saturday, October 14, 2023 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa

Sunday, October 15, 2023 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont

Thursday, October 19, 2023 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount

Friday, October 20, 2023 - Atlantic City, NJ - The Concert Venue at Harrah's Resort

Saturday, October 21, 2023 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwood Resort & Casino

Sunday, October 22, 2023 - Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe

Thursday, October 26, 2023 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore 

Friday, October 27, 2023 - Clear Lake, IA - Surf Ballroom

Saturday, October 28, 2023 - Omaha, NE - Steelhouse

Thursday, November 2, 2023 - Denver, CO - Ogden

Saturday, November 4, 2023 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 - Seattle, WA - The Moore Theatre

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - Portland, OR - Roseland

Friday, November 10, 2023 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades - SOLD OUT 

Saturday, November 11th, 2023 - Bakersfield, CA - Fox Theater  

Sunday, November 12, 2023 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern