Written by lead singer Trevor Guthrie and produced by Charles Fisher, soulDecision, and Femi Jiya, it was recorded for their debut studio album No One Does It Better (2000).

In the group's home country, "Faded" first debuted on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart at number 76 the week of December 13, 1999.

It would go on to appear on the mainline RPM 100 Singles chart the week of December 27, 1999, the position of which is unknown due to that specific date not being archived.

It would go on to top the chart on March 10, 2000, displacing "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" by the Backstreet Boys.

In the United States, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of July 8, 2000, at number 94.