Face Down (The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus song)

Last updated
"Face Down"
Face Down Red Jumpsuit.jpg
Single by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
from the album Don't You Fake It
ReleasedJuly 4, 2006
Genre
Length3:12
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s)
  • Ronnie Winter
Producer(s) David Bendeth
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus singles chronology
"Face Down"
(2006)		"False Pretense"
(2007)
Alternative cover
Face Down Acoustic.jpg
Acoustic version cover

"Face Down" is a song by American rock band the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus from their debut album, Don't You Fake It (2006). Released as the band's debut single, the song peaked at number 24 in the United States and number four in New Zealand. It tied 30 Seconds to Mars' "The Kill" as the longest-running song on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart without reaching number one, at 52 weeks. "Face Down" remains the band's most successful single. Four versions were released, including an acoustic version.

Contents

It has since been certified quadruple platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and double platinum in New Zealand by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ). Even though the song never charted in the United Kingdom, it has since been certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Background

"Face Down" is notable for lyrics that detail suffering from domestic abuse. Written by lead singer Ronnie Winter, the song is about the domestic abuse that he and his brother lived through as children. [9] He has said the "lyrics are deeply personal" and he wanted to "help kids who are in similar situations cope." [10]

Music video

The music video parallels the song in its treatment of violence in a relationship. After arriving home, a young woman examines a bruise on her lower back, and begins to look for and examine items that she associates with her boyfriend (e.g. pictures, a card, letters). As she does so, objects around her start to suddenly move as if thrown or destroyed by the unseen hand of an abuser. The level of damage done escalates throughout the video, though the young woman does not react or acknowledge the growing violence around her. After a chair flies through the living room window, she takes the pictures and letters and throws them into a garbage can outside her house. This unfolding scene is intercut with shots of the band performing the song in the woman's living room. [6]

Legacy

In 2021, Paris Fawcett of Louder ranked the album at number five on the list of "The 10 best songs from the 10 worst emo bands". She wrote: "Like many of the bands on this list, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus struck it big on their debut album and spent the rest of their career trying to repeat those former glories. [...] Despite its subject content, the song is still raging fun to sing along to, and if you prefer your emo with a bit of scream, go check out the original version." [11]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [22] 2× Platinum60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [23] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [24] 5× Platinum5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

"Face Down" is featured on the soundtrack of the video games Saints Row 2 and MX vs. ATV Untamed . [25] [26] The song also featured in the film Georgia Rule.

References

  1. ↑ "Say You're Right Again: Celebrating 10 Years Of RJA's "Face Down"". One Music PH . July 6, 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-08-17. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  2. ↑ Lara Parker; Pablo Valdivia (December 2, 2015). "29 Emo Songs You Haven't Though About Since 2007". BuzzFeed . Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  3. ↑ Ian Cohen; David Anthony; Nina Corcoran; Emma Garland; Brad Nelson (February 13, 2020). "The 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time". Vulture.com. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "The 10 best songs from the 10 worst emo bands". Louder . 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ "The 25 Best Emo Songs of All Time". Variety. 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  6. 1 2 Sherman, Maria (June 29, 2016). "'Face Down' Turns 10: Why The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' Domestic-Abuse Anthem Still Resonates". MTV . Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  7. ↑ Ruoff, Michelle (July 15, 2020). "Best Pop Punk Songs of All Time". Live365 . Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (June 14, 2018). "15 Modern Hard Rock Songs You've Already Forgotten About". Loudwire . Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ "RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS ON TROUBLING, JOYFUL SIGNIFICANCE OF "FACE DOWN"". Alternative Press Magazine. November 15, 2019. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus". Billboard . August 2, 2006. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  11. ↑ Fawcettpublished, Paris (2021-07-14). "The 10 best songs from the 10 worst emo bands". Louder. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  12. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard . May 26, 2007. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  13. ↑ "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Face Down". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. April 28, 2007. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Adult Pop Airplay" . Billboard. July 21, 2007. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Mainstream Rock Airplay" . Billboard. March 17, 2007. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Pop Airplay" . Billboard. May 12, 2007. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Alternative Airplay" . Billboard. February 17, 2007. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  19. ↑ "End of Year Charts 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 26, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  22. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Face Down". Radioscope. Retrieved March 21, 2025.Type Face Down in the "Search:" field.
  23. ↑ "British single certifications – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Face Down". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  24. ↑ "American single certifications – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Face Down". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  25. ↑ James Orry (October 7, 2008). "Full Saints Row 2 track list revealed". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  26. ↑ Bozon (October 9, 2007). "MX vs. ATV Untamed – Track Listing". IGN . Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
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