Falling Down (Selena Gomez & the Scene song)

"Falling Down"
A young woman wearing a blue shirt kneels and poses during a photo-shoot, wearing zebra-printed pants, and high-top boots. The floor is metallic, and the background is filled with several small pink circles.
Single by Selena Gomez & the Scene
from the album Kiss & Tell
Released August 25, 2009
(see release history)
Format Digital download
Genre
Length 3:05
Label Hollywood
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ted Bruner
  • Trey Vittetoe
Selena Gomez & the Scene singles chronology
"Falling Down"
(2009)		 "Naturally"
(2010)
Music video
"Falling Down" on YouTube

"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 as well as 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 U.S. 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.

Background and release

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 25 August 2009.[3][4] It was also released for digital download in Australia on 25 September 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]

Composition and critical reception
"Falling Down"
"Falling Down" makes heavy usage of guitars and drums, accompanied by synths.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"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 Lavigne.[1] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy said the song sounded "suspiciously similar to Pink's 'U + Ur Hand'."[8] The song is set in common time, and has a tempo of 140 beats per minute.[9] It is written in the key of D minor, and Gomez's vocals span from the low note of A3 to high note of D5.[9] It follows the chord progression Dm–C–Dm-C.[9] 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!"[10] Rob Perez of NocheLatina called the track one of the best on the album.[11] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy said the song and its lyrics sounded "uninspired."[8]

Chart performance

The song debuted on the 12 September 2009 edition of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at #93. It later peaked at #82.[12] It became the band's first charting single in the United States. In the same week, "Falling Down" also appeared on the Canadian Hot 100 Canada, debuting at #69.[13] It spent two weeks on the chart, falling to #82 in its second week.[13] It re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #92 for the week ending 9 January 2010.[14] The song managed to peak at #11 on the Australian Hitseekers Singles Chart.[15] On the Japan Hot 100 "Falling Down" debuted at #24 on the week dated 6 March 2010.[13] A week later, it peaked at #15 on the chart.[13] The song has sold 566,000 copies.[16]

Music video

Selena Gomez & the Scene on a black circular stage in the "Falling Down" music video.

The music video to "Falling Down", directed by Chris Dooley, was first seen on Disney Channel, succeeding Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie on 28 August 2009.[17][18] It became available for purchase on iTunes the next day.[19]

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.

Track listing

  1. "Falling Down" — 3:05

Credits and personnel

Source[20]

Charts

Charts (2009–10) Peak
position
Canadian Hot 100[13] 69
Japan Hot 100[13] 15
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] 82

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[21] 566,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format
Canada[3] 25 August 2009 Digital download
United States[4]
Australia[5][22] 25 September 2009

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lamb, Bill. "Selena Gomez and the Scene - "Falling Down"". About.com. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  2. ↑ Martin, Lara (2009-08-05). "Selena Gomez reveals first single details". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Falling Down - Single". iTunes Canada. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Amazon.com: Falling Down: Selena Gomez and the Scene: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Falling Down". Apple Inc. September 25, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Brooks, Tamara (2009-09-29). "'Dancing with the Stars': Kathy Ireland, Debi Mazar & Louie Vito face elimination in Week 2". Zap2it. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  7. ↑ Sanders, Helen (2010-04-12). "Selena Gomez Drives Fans Wild In London". EntertainmentWise.com. Giant Digital. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Copsey, Robert (2010-04-19). "Selena Gomez & The Scene: 'Kiss & Tell'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Selena Gomez & The Scene - Falling Down Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group.
  10. ↑ "Single review: Selena Gomez - Naturally". CBBC. 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
  11. ↑ Perez, Rob (2010-03-04). "Fresh Beats: Selena Gomez’s Kiss & Tell". NocheLatina. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  12. ↑ "Selena Gomez and The Scene - Falling Down". acharts.us. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 "Falling Down - Selena Gomez". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  14. ↑ "Ke$ha Controls Hot 100 Summit For A Second Week". Billboard. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  15. ↑ "ARIA Hitseekers - Week Commencing 4th January 2010 (Singles)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (Pandora Archive) (1036): 23. 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  16. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/1569263/ask-billboard-why-do-some-songs-fade-out-and-others-end-cold?page=0%2C2&utm_source=twitter
  17. ↑ "Disney Channel to Present World Premiere of Selena Gomez and the Scene'S Music Video "Falling Down," Friday, AUGUST 28" (DOC) (Press release). Disney Channel. August 20, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  18. ↑ "Selena Gomez - Falling Down". Disney.com. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  19. ↑ "Falling Down". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  20. ↑ Gomez, Selena (2009). Kiss & Tell (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Selena Gomez & the Scene. Hollywood Records.
  21. ↑ "American single certifications – Selena Gomez – Falling Down". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  22. ↑ "Falling Down". getmusic.com.au. Retrieved 2009-10-02.

External links