"Fallin'" | ||||
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Single by Alicia Keys | ||||
from the album Songs in A Minor | ||||
B-side | "Rear View Mirror" | |||
Released | April 2, 2001 | |||
Studio | KrucialKeys (New York City) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | J | |||
Songwriter(s) | Alicia Keys | |||
Producer(s) | Alicia Keys | |||
Alicia Keys singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Fallin'" on YouTube |
"Fallin'" is the debut single of American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys from her debut studio album, Songs in A Minor (2001). Written and produced by Keys,"Fallin'" is generally considered her signature song. [1] It was released as the lead single from Songs in A Minor on April 2,2001,by J Records. The official remix features rappers Busta Rhymes and Rampage.
"Fallin'" attained global commercial success,reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top 10 in several countries,topping the charts of Flanders,the Netherlands,and New Zealand. In 2009,"Fallin'" was named the 29th most successful song of the 2000s,on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. [2] Critically acclaimed,it won three Grammy Awards in 2002,including Song of the Year,Best R&B Song,and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance,and was also nominated for Record of the Year.
"Fallin'" was written and produced solely by Keys. [3] When asked about the lyrical background for the song,Keys told Billboard :"I wanted to write a song for someone who was 10 or 12 years old –like a young Michael Jackson. Even though he was young,he was singing some deep stuff back then. [The song] is about the ins and outs of a relationship. Sometimes,you're completely head-over-heels in love with someone,and sometimes you can't stand that person. You fall in and out,sometimes it goes back and forth,and that's just what relationships are about." [4]
According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing,"Fallin'" is set in 12/8 time with a "free" tempo of 60 beats per minute. [5] It is composed in the key of E minor,with Keys' vocal range spanning from the low-note of B3 to the high-note of E5. [5] The song has a basic chord progression of Em–Bm7–Em–Bm7 as it follows a "moderate blues tempo" throughout the chorus of the song. [5]
NME called "Fallin'" a "[m]assive,massive massive hit" adding "Piano tinkles,drum machine coughs like an athsmatic[ sic ] whippet and Alicia strokes your spine with ice cubes and spatters your spotty back with hot candle wax". [6] The song was described as "gospel fervor of lovesick righteousness" by Beth Johnson of Entertainment Weekly . [7] Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times described the song as having "the neo-soul vitality of Macy Gray and Jill Scott." [8] Sam Faulkner of NME said that the song had "deeper moments [that] creep up and grab you exemplified." [9] Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters said that the song "combines Keys' natural blues register with a subtle,and brilliantly so,sample of James Brown's 'It's a Man's,Man's,Man's World'." [10] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone said "there's no denying the serious early Aretha vibe permeating the hit." [11]
Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said that "the gospel-tinged [song] starts out simply with measured piano and basic drum programming,eventually building to a crescendo of operatic proportions." [12] Steve Jones of USA Today described the song as "a bluesy ode to self-destructive love" and further commented that the song "is only a teaser for what she has to offer." [13] Simon Price of The Independent called the song Keys' breakthrough song and noted how the melody of the song is similar to Queen's "We Are the Champions". [14] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic pointed out the lack of depth in the song,saying it "doesn't have much body to it",which he felt was "a testament to Keys' skills as a musician." [15]
One of the most critically acclaimed singles of 2001,"Fallin'" was nominated for numerous awards. It connected well with National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and was nominated for four Grammy Awards at the 44th ceremony (2002):Song of the Year,Record of the Year,Best Female R&B Vocal Performance,and Best R&B Song. It ended up winning all but one of the four awards,as Record of the Year was awarded to U2's "Walk On". [16] At the 2001 Billboard Music Awards,"Fallin'" was nominated for the Hot 100 Single of the Year;however,it lost the award to Lifehouse's "Hanging by a Moment". The song was also nominated for Outstanding Song and Outstanding Music Video at the 2002 NAACP Image Awards;it did not win in either category.
On The Village Voice 's 2001 Pazz &Jop critics' poll,"Fallin'" appeared at number four. [17] In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "Fallin'" at number 713 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever". [18] In September 2011,"Fallin'" was placed at number 22 by VH1 on its list "100 Greatest Songs of the '00s". [19] "[G]ospel vibe and powerful vocals form Keys" led Complex to place the song on number two on its list "The 25 Best Alicia Keys Songs". [20] The Telegraph compiled a list of "100 songs that defined the Noughties" and placed "Fallin'" at number 97. [21] In December 2009, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 62 on their list "100 Best Songs of the Decade". [22] "Fallin'" placed at number 413 on Blender magazine's "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". [23] In 2011,the song was ranked at number five on Nerve's list "The 25 Greatest Love Songs of the 2000s". [24] In January 2024 Rollling Stone ranked "Fallin" at number7 on their list of "100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century". [25]
In the United States,"Fallin'" debuted at number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of June 16,2001. The song peaked atop the chart in its tenth week. [26] It remained on the chart for a total of 34 weeks and managed to chart on the 2001 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 at number two,behind Lifehouse's "Hanging by a Moment";however,it was the highest-charting number-one single on the chart in 2001. [27]
The accompanying music video for "Fallin'" was directed by Chris Robinson. The video opens with a radio playing "Girlfriend",where Keys is sitting at a piano. The plot has Keys traveling to a prison to visit her incarcerated boyfriend. [28] The plot is continued in the video for Keys' next single "A Woman's Worth",which explores what happens when Keys' boyfriend is released and,with her help,adjusts back to regular life. Keys said in an interview that originally,she was supposed to be the one incarcerated,and her boyfriend was visiting her.
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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Songs in A Minor . [36]
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [104] | 3× Platinum | 210,000‡ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [105] | Platinum | 40,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [106] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [107] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [108] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [109] | Gold | 250,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [110] | Platinum | 500,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [111] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Netherlands (NVPI) [112] | Platinum | 60,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [113] | Gold | 5,000* |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [114] | Platinum | |
Portugal (AFP) [115] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [116] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF) [117] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [118] | Platinum | 40,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [119] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [120] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | ||||
March 28, 2001 | J | |||
April 10, 2001 | Urban adult contemporary radio | |||
April 17, 2001 | ||||
August 14, 2001 | 12-inch vinyl | |||
Germany | August 20, 2001 | BMG | ||
Sweden | September 3, 2001 | Maxi CD | J | |
France | September 24, 2001 | BMG | ||
Australia | October 15, 2001 | |||
United Kingdom | October 29, 2001 |
| RCA | |
France | November 27, 2001 | CD | BMG |
Songs in A Minor is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, released on June 12, 2001, by J Records.
"Ms. Jackson" is a song by the American hip hop duo Outkast, consisting of André 3000 and Big Boi. It was released on October 24, 2000, as the second single from Outkast's fourth album, Stankonia. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week on February 17, 2001, and reached number one in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Rolling Stone ranked it 55th on its "100 Best Songs of the 2000s" list in June 2011 and at number 145 on its "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2021. On October 2011, NME placed it at number 81 on its list of the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
"Wifey" is a song by American R&B trio Next. The song was written by Eddie Berkeley, Keir Gist, band member Robert "RL" Huggar, and singer Lil' Mo for the group's second studio album, Welcome II Nextasy (2000). The song was released as the album's lead single on May 8, 2000. "Wifey" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart while reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It also entered the top 20 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In 2001, the song won an AWARD Rhythm & Soul Award for in the Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs category.
"U Remind Me" is a song by American singer Usher. It was written by Edmund "Eddie Hustle" Clement and Anita McCloud and produced by Clement along with duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for Usher's third studio album 8701 (2001). A mid-tempo R&B track, the song is about a man who meets a woman who seems like a nice catch, but he decides not to enter a relationship with her because she looks too much like an ex-girlfriend with whom he had a bad breakup.
"Pop Ya Collar" is a single by American recording artist Usher, released to US radio on October 17, 2000. It was written by himself, Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, and Kandi Burruss. The song was produced for his cancelled third studio album All About U. The project was abandoned following the leak of the song and several other tracks onto online music store Napster, several months prior to its release of October 31, 2000. The song was instead later included on non-US editions of his official third studio album, 8701.
"A Woman's Worth" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her debut studio album Songs in A Minor (2001). A soul-R&B ballad, it was written by Keys and Erika Rose and produced by Keys. The song was released as the second single from Songs in A Minor on September 25, 2001, by J Records, following the worldwide success of her debut single "Fallin'".
"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" is a song by Prince. It is a ballad of romantic longing with some gospel elements. On his original recording of the song, which was released as the non-album B-side to his 1982 single "1999", Prince performs most of the song in his falsetto range, with his own bluesy piano playing providing the only instrumental accompaniment. The song's first album appearance was on his 1993 compilation The Hits/The B-Sides. It was later included on the soundtrack to the 1996 film Girl 6. Prince also performs the song on his 2002 live album One Nite Alone... Live!.
"Girlfriend" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her debut studio album Songs in A Minor (2001). It was written by Keys, Jermaine Dupri, and Joshua Thompson, while production was helmed by Dupri and Keys. The song is built around an interpolation from Ol' Dirty Bastard's 1995 song "Brooklyn Zoo". Due to the inclusion of the sample, Robert Diggs and Russell Jones are also credited as songwriters. "Girlfriend" was released as the fourth and final single from Songs in A Minor outside the United States on November 25, 2002, by J Records.
"If I Ain't Got You" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her second studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Inspired by the 2001 death of singer Aaliyah, the September 11 attacks, and other events in the world and in Keys' life, the song is about "how material things don't feed the soul". It was released as the second single from The Diary of Alicia Keys on February 17, 2004, by J Records. The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 photograph Le Violon d'Ingres.
"U Know What's Up" is a song by American R&B singer Donell Jones. It was written by Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lighty, Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton, and Veronica McKenzie for his second studio album, Where I Wanna Be (1999), while production was helmed by Ferrell and Darren Lighty for Untouchables Entertainment.
"Most Girls" is a song by American singer Pink, released as the second single from her debut album, Can't Take Me Home (2000). It was released on June 6, 2000, and, after spending 16 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaked at number four on November 25. The song also reached number one in Australia, where it was certified platinum, number two in Canada and New Zealand, and number five in the United Kingdom.
"Thank You" is a song written and performed by English singer-songwriter Dido. The song made its first appearance in 1998 on the soundtrack of the movie Sliding Doors. It was later included on Dido's 1999 debut album, No Angel, and was released as a single on 18 September 2000. The same year, American rapper Eminem sampled the track for his hit single "Stan", which helped propel "Thank You" and No Angel to mainstream success.
"So Fresh, So Clean" is a song by American hip hop duo Outkast from their fourth studio album, Stankonia (2000), featuring uncredited vocals from singer-songwriter Sleepy Brown. It was produced by longtime collaborators Organized Noize. The song reached number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in October 2020.
"Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" is a song by American R&B singer Blu Cantrell, written and produced by Dallas Austin and included on Cantrell's debut album, So Blu (2001). The song was released in the United States on April 23, 2001, as Cantrell's debut single. It is her most successful single in the US and her only single to enter the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number two for two weeks in July 2001. It experienced similar success worldwide, becoming a top-10 hit in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
"We Come 1" is a song by British electronic band Faithless from their third studio album, Outrospective (2001). The song was issued as the album's lead single on 4 June 2001, two weeks before Outrospective was released. The remixes by Wookie and Dave Clarke that appear on the single releases are included on the bonus disc of the album Reperspective: The Remixes.
"Karma" is a song by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, taken from her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Written by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and Taneisha Smith, the song takes influence from hip hop and classical music. It was released as the album's fourth and final single on November 1, 2004, by J Records. Peaking at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it's the album's only single not to top a Billboard chart. A mashup of "Karma" with Stevie Wonder's 1972 hit "Superstition" titled "Karmastition", produced by Go Home Productions, was also released.
"No One" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her third studio album As I Am (2007). It was written and produced by Keys and Kerry Brothers Jr., with additional writing by DJ Dirty Harry. The song was released as the lead single from As I Am on October 9, 2007, by J Records.
"I Want You Back" is a song by American boy band NSYNC, from their debut studio album, NSYNC (1997). It was released in Germany on January 15, 1997, as the band's debut single. The dance-pop and pop song was later released in the United States on February 17, 1998, and in the United Kingdom on February 15, 1999. It was written and produced by Max Martin and Denniz Pop. In its initial release, "I Want You Back" peaked at number four in Germany, and topped the charts in the Netherlands. After releasing internationally, the song charted at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and at number five on the UK Singles Chart. Two music videos for "I Want You Back" were released for the song's initial release and global re-release, which were directed by Alan Calzatti, and Jesse Vaughan and Douglas Biro respectively.
"Adrienne" is the second single from American rock band the Calling's debut album, Camino Palmero (2001). When Aaron Kamin and Alex Band wrote the song, they both had girls in mind, but according to the band, they changed the name in the song to "Adrienne" because they did not want to get sued. Released on April 15, 2002, "Adrienne" reached number 16 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and was a minor hit in Europe and Australia.
"Doesn't Mean Anything" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. It written and produced by Keys and longtime partner Kerry "Krucial" Brothers for her fourth studio album The Element of Freedom (2009), with its lyrics speaking about the importance of love against materialism and fake needs. The song was released as the lead single from The Element of Freedom on September 15, 2009, by J Records.
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