| "Falling Down" | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Selena Gomez & the Scene | |||||||||||||
| from the album Kiss & Tell | |||||||||||||
| Released | August 25, 2009 (see release history) |
||||||||||||
| Format | Digital download | ||||||||||||
| Recorded | December, 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Genre | Dance-pop, pop rock | ||||||||||||
| Length | 3:05 | ||||||||||||
| Label | Hollywood | ||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Ted Bruner, Trey Vittetoe, Gina Schock | ||||||||||||
| Producer | Ted Bruner, Trey Vittetoe | ||||||||||||
| Selena Gomez & the Scene singles chronology | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
"Falling Down" is a song performed by the American band Selena Gomez & the Scene. It was co-written and produced by Ted Bruner and Trey Vittetoe. Gina Schock of the Go-Go's also receives writing credits. The song was released on August 25, 2009 as the lead single from their debut album, Kiss & Tell. The upbeat dance-pop song contains heavy usage of synths has prominent pop rock characteristics and lyrically is a mix of elaboration of a bad relationship and according to Gomez, a ridicule of fame. Most critics complimented Gomez's delivery and catchy lyrics. "Falling Down" received minor commercial success in multiple countries, charting in the lower regions of the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100. The song's accompanying music video features Gomez at a photo-shoot, and she and the band performing on a stage. The band performed the song a number of times, including on the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars.
Contents |
The song was written by Ted Bruner, Trey Vittetoe and Gina Schock of the Go-Go's, who also contributed to other songs on Gomez's debut album. Lyrically, "Falling Down" is said to be in regards to accusations of wrongdoing and has a sense of longing for a non-benefiting relationship.[1] However in an interview, Gomez stated, during an interview that the song ultimately is a ridicule of the Hollywood life and fame, that was the meaning behind "Smile for the camera, 'cause they're all about to trash ya'." Gomez further elaborated on the concept of the song on an interview with Just Jared Jr., saying,
"It's basically about Hollywood and what people think about it and essentially how plastic it is sometimes. It's fun and I think girls can relate to it somewhat, for me it was because of Hollywood but it can really relate to a mean girl, an ex-boyfriend, to whoever."[2]
The single was released for digital download in the United States and Canada on August 25, 2009.[3][4] It was also released for digital download in Australia on September 25, 2009.[5] Gomez & the Scene first performed the song live on the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars. During the performance, professional dancers Derek Hough and Karina Smirnoff danced to the song.[6] Tamara Brooks of Zap2it commented "The song's catchy but Selena doesn't look entirely comfortable on stage to me. It's very...rehearsed. But the dancing was faboo."[6] Additionally, they performed the song at numerous concerts in 2009 and 2010, including their House of Blues Tour, the Kiss & Tell Tour and their Fairs & Festivals tour.[7]
"Falling Down" is a pop song that carries characteristics of dance-pop and pop rock.[1] It features "aggressive" guitar and drum lines powered by "bloopy" synths.[1] Bill Lamb of About.com noted that the song seemed to be influenced by Avril Lavgine.[1] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy said the song sounded "suspiciously similar to Pink's 'U + Ur Hand'."[8] Bill Lamb of About.com gave the single 4 out of 5 stars, calling the song "catchy" and commending Gomez's "sassy" vocals and its lyrics.[1] Lamb also noted that "The mix leaves in Gomez' [sic] occasional breathless delivery that only conveys more immediacy for the song."[1] A CBBC reviewer complimented the song's "catchy lyrics," stating "you will have them in your head for days!"[9] Rob Perez of NocheLatina called the track one of the best on the album.[10] Robet Copsey of Digital Spy said the song and its lyrics sounded "uninspired."[8]
The song debuted on the September 12, 2009 edition of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number ninety-three. It later peaked at eighty-two.[11].It became the band's first and lowest charting single in the United State to date. In the same week, "Falling Down" also appeared on the Canadian Hot 100 Canada, debuting at number sixty-nine.[12] It spent two weeks on the chart, falling to eighty-two in its second week.[12] It re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number ninety-two for the week ending January 9, 2010.[13] The song managed to peak at eleven on the Australian Hitseekers Singles Chart at number eleven.[14] On the Japan Hot 100 "Falling Down" debuted at number twenty-four on the week dated March 6, 2010.[12] A week later, it peaked at number fifteen on the chart.[12]
The music video to "Falling Down", directed by Chris Dooley, was first seen on Disney Channel, succeeding Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie on August 28, 2009.[15][16] It became available for purchase on iTunes the next day.[17]
The music video commences with shots of Gomez singing the first lines, "whoa, whoa," and bright lights shining upon her; she is wearing a gray shirt, black tights and boots and has long brown hair. Then, the rest of the band, composed of four male members, is seen as Gomez dances and nods her head. The background in the music video is a large projection of patterned geometrical figures that constantly alter to divergent colors. Gomez is then seen in a "photo shoot-like" set wearing a white shirt and a zebra-patterned skirt. As the video progresses Gomez and the rest of the band are seen singing, dancing, playing instruments and using props. Gomez holds a mirror and plastic roses, which she then throws away, in conjunction to the song's lines. The video ends with Gomez taking a quick bow while still holding her microphone.
Source[18]
| Charts (2009–10) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Hitseekers Singles Chart[14] | 11 |
| Canadian Hot 100[12] | 69 |
| Japan Hot 100[12] | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] | 82 |
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Canada[3] | August 25, 2009 | Digital download |
| United States[4] | ||
| Australia[5][19] | September 25, 2009 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||