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Falling (Harry Styles song)

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"Falling"
BRITs live version cover
Single by Harry Styles
from the album Fine Line
Released7 March 2020 (2020-03-07)
Studio
  • RAK (London)
  • Harpoon House (Los Angeles, California)
GenrePop-soul
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kid Harpoon
Harry Styles singles chronology
"Adore You"
(2019) 		"Falling"
(2020) 		"Watermelon Sugar"
(2020)
Music video
"Falling" on YouTube

"Falling" is a song by English singer-songwriter Harry Styles. This ballad was released through Erskine and Columbia Records on 7 March 2020 as the third single from his second studio album, Fine Line (2019).[1] The song was written by Styles and Kid Harpoon, the latter of whom also handled the song's production.

Background and release

[edit]

"Tom had come up to my place to grab something, and he'd sat at the piano and I'd just got out of the shower. He started playing, and we wrote it there. So I was completely naked when I wrote that song."

—Harry Styles, Rolling Stone.[2]

Styles and songwriter/producer Kid Harpoon first worked together on Styles' self-titled debut album (2017) on two songs: "Carolina" and "Sweet Creature".[3] He would also become later the music director of Styles' first world solo tour.[4] While working on his second album, Styles was seeing in the studio working on new music with Harpoon on 15 May 2019.[5] While talking about Styles and the recording process of the album, Harpoon claimed: "He's got this wise-beyond-his-years timelessness about him. That's why he went on a whole emotional exploration with these songs. He went through this breakup that had a big impact on him."[6] Harpoon then suggested Styles to write about his feelings towards it, saying:" He had a whole emotional journey about her, this whole relationship. But I kept saying, 'The best way of dealing with it is to put it in these songs you're writing.'"[6] Regarding "Falling" in particular, he told: " Harry lives round the corner from me in LA and one day he wanted a lift somewhere, so I popped up there and he was getting out of the shower. I started playing piano while I was waiting for him, he was singing and in an hour we had written 'Falling'."[7] The song was eventually released as the album's third single on 7 March 2020 to UK adult contemporary stations.[8]

Composition

[edit]

Written by Styles and its producer Kid Harpoon, "Falling" is a "hushed" soul piano ballad,[9][2] that runs for four minutes long. In an interview Styles commented that the song was lyrically about slipping back into old ways, becoming a person he didn't want to be again and trying to be a better person.[9] In an interview with Radio.com, Styles states that "Falling" is, "That feeling of kind of being overwhelmed, you know you can feel like you’re drowning sometimes… and the fact that it's coming from the piano, I guess it's like writing these songs are what helps but also they can hurt you sometimes."[10] According to Laura Snapes from The Guardian, "the line, 'no one to blame but the drink in my wandering hands', from Falling, has prompted tabloid headlines."[11] In another line, he sings: "I'm well aware I write too many songs about you."[12] In fact, the song was said to be written about his breakup with ex-girlfriend Camille Rowe.[13][14][12] Hannah Mylrea from NME also noted that "he alludes to the fact he cheated on his ex, admitting that 'there's no one to blame but the drink in my wandering hands."[15]

Critical reception

[edit]

Most critics were positive with the song. Bryan Rolli from Consequence of Sound named it a "gorgeous piano ballad [...] a readymade mid-set tearjerker if there ever was one."[16] Alexandra Pollard from The Independent called it a "moody, Moog-y lamentation."[12] Writing for Slant Magazine, Anna Richmond praised its introspectiveness and noted that "the line 'What am I now? What if I'm someone I don't want around' is one of Fine Line's most moving moments."[17] Jon Pareles of The New York Times described it as a "hymnlike, bitterly self-accusatory [song]."[18] Susan Hansen of Clash praised it, saying that it "holds much appeal. It's a song where piano and Moog bass form a relaxed base for introspection and sincerity."[19] Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield was less favourable, calling it a "forgettable ballad," although he praised Styles for the lyrical content, claiming: "If there's a nontoxic masculinity, Harry Styles just might've found it."[20]

Accolades

[edit]
Awards and nominations for "Falling"
Organization Year Category Result Ref.
ADG Excellence in Production Design Award 2021 Short Format: Web Series, Music Video or Commercial Won[a] [21]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Falling" debuted at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart and later peaked at number 15, making it the fourth song from Fine Line to chart in the UK top 20.[22][23] In November 2020, it received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling 600,000 units in the UK, to be followed by double platinum in 2022.[24] In the US, "Falling" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of 1 million track-equivalent units.[25]

Music video

[edit]

The music video, directed by Dave Meyers, was released on 28 February 2020.[26][27] The production design by François Audouy was awarded an Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design award, which was the first time the ADG had recognized a music video with a trophy in its 20-year history.[28]

Synopsis

[edit]

The video opens up with Styles in an apartment, drenched and gasping for air. The video flashes in Styles’ first verse, and begins to feature him alone in the apartment with a piano. As he sings the ballad, the room slowly fills with water, until, in the end, he is fully submerged, drowning.

Live performances

[edit]

On 18 February 2020, Styles performed the song for the first time at the 2020 Brit Awards.[29][30]

Cover versions

[edit]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Fine Line.[35]

Recording

[edit]

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Falling"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[59] 4× Platinum 280,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[60] Gold 15,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[61] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[62] 4× Platinum 320,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[63] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[64] Gold 100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[65] Gold 35,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[66] 2× Platinum+Gold 150,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[67] Gold 15,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[68] Gold 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[69] Platinum 50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[70] Platinum 10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[71] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release formats for "Falling"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various 18 February 2020 Digital download Live at the BRITs
[72]
United Kingdom 7 March 2020 Adult contemporary Original [8]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The award goes to:
    Production Designer: François Audouy
    Art Director: A. Todd Holland
    Set Designer: Scott Herbertson
    Concept Illustrator: Landon Lott
    Set Decorator: Neil Wyzanowski

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Harry Styles Readies A Video For New 'Fine Line' Single "Falling"". Idolator. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (13 December 2019). "Harry Styles Reveals the Secrets Behind 'Fine Line'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Who Are the Producers on Harry Styles' Album?". Billboard. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. ^ Spanos, Brittany (29 September 2017). "Inside Harry Styles' Intimate First Solo Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Harry in a studio with Kid Harpoon - May 15". Harry Styles Daily via Twitter.
  6. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (26 August 2019). "The Eternal Sunshine of HARRY STYLES". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  7. ^ Homewood, Ben (18 February 2020). "Showers, sunshine and song: Kid Harpoon tells the story of Harry Styles' Fine Line". Music Week. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Radio 2 New Music Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  9. ^ a b Zaleski, Annie (17 December 2019). "With Fine Line, Harry Styles transforms into a California-pop iconoclast". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Harry Styles Goes Behind the Drenched Video for 'Falling'". www.radio.com. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  11. ^ Snapes, Laura (13 December 2019). "Harry Styles: Fine Line review – idiosyncratic pop with heart and soul". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  12. ^ a b c Pollard, Alexandra (6 December 2019). "Harry Styles review, Fine Line: A dextrous, audacious album a little too in thrall to music's greats". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  13. ^ "What Are The Lyrics To Harry Styles' 'Falling' And Is The Song About His Ex Camille Rowe?". Capital FM. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  14. ^ Haylock, Zoe (13 December 2019). "Everything We Know About Harry Styles's Ex-Girlfriend, Based on Fine Line". Vulture. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  15. ^ Mylrea, Hannah (9 December 2019). "Harry Styles – 'Fine Line' review: packed with personality and charm (and saucy lyrics)". NME. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  16. ^ Rolli, Bryan (19 December 2019). "Harry Styles Pivots to Power Pop on the Breezy Fine Line". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  17. ^ Richmond, Anna (15 December 2019). "Review: Harry Styles's Fine Line Eschews Boundaries for Youthful Self-Discovery". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  18. ^ Pareles, Jon (12 December 2019). "Camila Cabello and Harry Styles, Teen-Pop Alumni, Think Bigger". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  19. ^ Hansen, Susan (12 December 2019). "Harry Styles - Fine Line - Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  20. ^ Catucci, Nick (11 December 2019). "Harry Styles Is a Rock God and a Gentleman on 'Fine Line'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  21. ^ "ADG Awards Winner & Nominees". adg.org. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  22. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (24 March 2020). "Harry Styles, The Killers, Niall Horan And Drake: 5 Major Moves On This Week's U.K. Singles Chart". Forbes. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Official Charts, Harry Styles, Single:Falling, Week of April 16". Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  24. ^ a b "British single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  25. ^ a b "American single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  26. ^ "Harry Styles Announces 'Falling' Video With Water-Soaked Teaser: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Harry Styles Will Release "Falling" Music Video On February 28". Nerds and Beyond. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  28. ^ "Make. Believe". François Audouy. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  29. ^ Zemler, Emily (19 February 2020). "Watch Harry Styles Perform 'Falling' at 2020 BRIT Awards". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  30. ^ Alter, Rebecca (18 February 2020). "Harry Styles Floods the Stage During Emotional Performance at the BRIT Awards". Vulture. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  31. ^ "Watch Little Mix's Harmonized Cover of Harry Styles' 'Falling'". 16 September 2020.
  32. ^ "Gabrielle announces new album following Masked Singer reveal".
  33. ^ Falling (Original Song: Harry Styles) by JK of BTS, retrieved 28 October 2021
  34. ^ ""Falling (Harry Styles)" Cover by NAYEON - Vocals Only", Youtube, retrieved 26 December 2021
  35. ^ Fine Line (booklet). Columbia. 2019. 19439705122.
  36. ^ "Harry Styles – Falling". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  37. ^ "Harry Styles – Falling" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  38. ^ "Harry Styles Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  39. ^ Komerički, Goran (1 June 2020). "ARC 100 - datum: 1. lipnja 2020" (in Croatian). HRT. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  40. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 51. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Harry Styles Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  42. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 51/2019". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  43. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Harry Styles". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  44. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 51. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  45. ^ "2019 51-os SAVAITĖS (gruodžio 13-19 d.) (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  46. ^ "Harry Styles – Falling". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  47. ^ "Harry Styles – Falling". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  48. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  49. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 02. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  50. ^ "Digital Chart – Week 10 of 2020". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  51. ^ "Harry Styles – Falling". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  52. ^ "Harry Styles – Falling". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  53. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  54. ^ "Harry Styles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  55. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  56. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  57. ^ White, Jack (10 January 2021). "Ireland's Official Top 50 biggest songs of 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  58. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  59. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  60. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  61. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Harry Styles – Failling" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  62. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling". Music Canada. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  63. ^ "Danish single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  64. ^ "French single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  65. ^ "Italian single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  66. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 28 November 2022. Type Harry Styles in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Falling in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  67. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  68. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  69. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 February 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Falling in the search box.
  70. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  71. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Harry Styles – Falling". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  72. ^ "Falling (Live From The BRIT Awards, London 2020) by Harry Styles". Amazon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
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