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Falling Down (Duran Duran song)

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"Falling Down"
Single by Duran Duran featuring Justin Timberlake
from the album Red Carpet Massacre
B-side"(Reach Up for The) Sunrise" (live)
Released12 November 2007 (2007-11-12) (UK)
Recorded2007
Genre
Length
  • 5:42 (album version)
  • 3:40 (radio edit)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Justin Timberlake
Duran Duran singles chronology
"Nice"
(2005) 		"Falling Down"
(2007) 		"All You Need Is Now"
(2010)
Music video
"Falling Down" on YouTube

"Falling Down" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran from their 2007 album Red Carpet Massacre, which was sent to radio and made available to download from iTunes USA on 25 September 2007. It was recorded in two sessions in Blueprint Studios, Manchester and Sarm Studios, London. It is the only song on the album produced solely by Justin Timberlake and the band. All other songs are produced by Danja and Timbaland.

According to the band's official website, the single wasn't released on CD in the USA, due to the decline of physical singles being released in the US over passing time. However, the single was still released on CD in several European countries on 12 November 2017 and an 8-track promo CD was also released featuring remixes by artists such as Sebastian Leger and T-empo.

The single was the band's last to be released on Epic Records.

Background

[edit]

In 2021, Britney Spears' conservatorship battle became front and center in the public eye, and many learned that while Spears was facing one of her most traumatic years in the press back in 2007, Justin Timberlake was probing his ex-partner's mental health issues in this song. Duran Duran confirmed "Falling Down" was about Spears in multiple interviews back in 2007 and 2008. In an interview in October 2007, main songwriter and keyboardist Nick Rhodes called "Falling Down" a satirical, social, pop-cultural commentary.[1] Asked if Kate Moss served as inspiration, Rhodes added: "She doesn't appear in the video, but she and Lindsay and Britney and Amy have all provided us with inspiration." Drummer Roger Taylor confirmed that the song was loosely based on Spears: "I suppose it's loosely based on her, but not [only] on one celebrity—just celebrity culture in general."[2]

Music video

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The music video for "Falling Down" centres around models in rehab with the members of Duran Duran acting as doctors and therapists, wearing white suits and thick glasses, counselling a group of the models and passing round pills. The band has publicly stated that Spears served as inspiration for the main character in the music video.[2] Lead singer Simon Le Bon said that he hadn't spoken to Timberlake about the video after its release, but assumed he would be pleased. "I haven't spoken to him since the video has been made public, but he likes his pretty girls, so he probably would like it." He also commented on Spears' mental health issues which were also ongoing at the time. "I just wish she could accept help," Le Bon added.[citation needed]

Apart from the MTV-friendly version, an "R-rated" version featuring topless models was also made. It was shot in Los Angeles and directed by Anthony Mandler who also did the video for the Killers' "When You Were Young".[3] Models Allie Crandell and Tatiana Kovylina starred in the video.[4]

The music video premiered on 16 October on Yahoo! Music.

Commercial performance

[edit]

In the UK, the single charted at No. 52, the second worst-performing single in Duran Duran's history after "Someone Else Not Me". Contrarily, "Falling Down" was a surprise hit in Italy, where it peaked at No. 2.

Track listing

[edit]

CD: Epic / 88697 19130 2 (UK)

[edit]
  1. "Falling Down" – 5:42
  2. "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise" (live) – 3:26

CD: Epic / (US promo)

[edit]
  1. "Falling Down" (radio edit) – 3:40
  2. "Falling Down" (extended version) – 5:42

CD: Epic 8-track promo (UK)

[edit]
  1. "Falling Down" (Sebastian Leger vocal mix) – 7:25
  2. "Falling Down" (Sebastian Leger dub) – 6:14
  3. "Falling Down" (T-empo main mix) – 7:36
  4. "Falling Down" (Freeks main mix) – 7:12
  5. "Falling Down" (Ashanti Boys main mix) – 6:03
  6. "Falling Down" (Freeks instrumental) – 7:12
  7. "Falling Down" (Sebastian Leger radio mix) – 3:48
  8. "Falling Down" (radio edit) – 3:40

CD: Epic 8-track promo (US)

[edit]
  1. "Falling Down" (single edit) – 3:40
  2. "Falling Down" (album version) – 5:42
  3. "Falling Down" (Ashanti Boys main mix) – 6:03
  4. "Falling Down" (Freeks main mix) – 7:12
  5. "Falling Down" (Sebastian Leger vocal mix) – 3:48
  6. "Falling Down" (Freeks instrumental) – 7:12
  7. "Falling Down" (Sebastian Leger dub) – 6:14
  8. "Falling Down" (Jeff Barringer mix) – 3:44

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Falling Down"
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[5] 6
Germany (GfK)[6] 79
Italy (FIMI)[7] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[8] 60
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 52
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[10] 25

Additional personnel

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  • Justin Timberlake – producer, background vocals
  • Jean-Marie Horvat – mixer
  • Dom Brown – guitar

References

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  1. ^ Kelly, Alice (28 June 2021). "Justin Timberlake And Duran Duran Co-Wrote A Song Mocking Britney Spears In 2007". Tango. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Duran Duran Talk about 'Britney' Video". People. 15 November 2007. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  3. ^ Duran Duran shoot x-rated music video
  4. ^ "Tatiana Kovylina – Page 8". the Fashion Spot. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  5. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 43. týden 2007 in the date selector. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Duran Duran – Falling Down" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Duran Duran – Falling Down". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Duran Duran – Falling Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Duran Duran: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Duran Duran Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
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