"If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" | ||||
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Single by Kelsea Ballerini | ||||
from the album Subject to Change | ||||
Released | December 5, 2022 | |||
Recorded | Starstruck Studios | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:46 | |||
Label | Black River | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Kelsea Ballerini singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" on YouTube |
"If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to country music radio on December 5, 2022, as the second single from Ballerini's fourth studio album, Subject to Change . [1] It was written by Ballerini, Shane McAnally and Julian Bunetta, with the latter two also producing the track. Lyrically, the song is about a supportive female friendship, with Ballerini noting that she will stick with her friend through whatever trouble she ends up getting into.
The song was the final one written for Subject to Change, as the majority of the album had already been cut. Ballerini and her collaborators decided to book one final writing day in case they had anything left in the tank and, when reviewing the topics covered by the songs on the album, realized there wasn't one that honored her friendships. Of this, Ballerini explained, "friends was a huge theme on my last record - the two lyrics that popped up the most on that Kelsea record were 'home' and 'friends, and so it was like I was doing a disservice to a pillar in my life to not have a song that carried that through." Speaking to Billboard , Ballerini stated that the song was written to evoke thoughts of the 1991 film Thelma & Louise and The Chicks' "Goodbye Earl", noting that “these really beautiful best-friend stories that had a tinge of murder attached” helped to inspire the song. Buetta, in turn, composed an upbeat, cheery melody and instrumentation on his guitarlele to contrast with the darkly comedic lyrics. Similarly, Ballerini took roughly two hours to record her vocals and was careful to ensure that the song's tongue-and-cheek message was conveyed effectively. [2]
Sonically the song reflects the country pop and neotraditional country styles, with Ballerini explaining that “we really wanted to lean into a very ’90s country feel, and so we brought in fiddle for the song, which I think to me makes it. That’s also why there’s a Chicks reference to it, which everyone picks up on, which was absolutely intentional. I didn’t want to make it sound like anything else on the record. I wanted it to be its own moment.”" [2]
In interviews, Ballerini discussed the song's significance in her personal life at the time, citing that her female friends were vital while she was going through her divorce from Morgan Evans, stating “sometimes you put out a single because you think that it's the most radio-friendly, and sometimes you put out a single because it's actually reflective of where you're at in your life," she said. "And then sometimes, both things can be true.” [3]
The song's concept video premiered on September 16, 2022 and features Ballerini in a pastel-colored room engaging in various activities such as applying make-up, reading a book, calling a friend, cleaning and drinking wine, seemingly unfazed as the weather outside slowly worsens, ending with hurricanes, explosions and thunder and lightning.
The official music video was released on March 31, 2023.
Ballerini performed an acoustic version of the song live on her episode of CMT Storytellers , which aired on February 16, 2023. [4] Ballerini included the song as part of the setlist of her 2022–2023 Heartfirst Tour. Ballerini performed the song at the 2023 CMT Music Awards accompanied by RuPaul's Drag Race stars Manila Luzon, Kennedy Davenport, Jan Sport and Olivia Lux. [5]
Chart (2022–2023) | Peak position |
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Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [6] | 85 |
Canada Country ( Billboard ) [7] | 2 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [8] | 16 |
US Country Airplay ( Billboard ) [9] | 17 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [10] | 32 |
"Goodbye Earl", written by Dennis Linde, is a country murder ballad. Initially recorded by the band Sons of the Desert for an unreleased album in the late 1990s, the song gained fame when it was recorded by Dixie Chicks on their fifth studio album, Fly. After charting from unsolicited airplay in late 1999, the song was released as that album's third single in 2000, peaking at #13 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The CD single includes a 'B-Side' cover of "Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette. In 2021, it was listed at No. 469 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".
Jesse Lee is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Atlantic Nashville in 2007, she released her debut single "It's a Girl Thing" in 2009, which debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated for June 6, 2009. A second single, "Like My Mother Does," was released in 2010, which failed to chart. Jesse and Atlantic Records parted ways after three and a half years together. She is signed as a songwriter with Disney Music Group. In addition to her solo career, Lee co-wrote Kelsea Ballerini's "Peter Pan".
Black River Entertainment is an independent record label in Nashville, Tennessee, specializing in country music. The company is partially owned by Terry Pegula. The label’s roster includes Kelsea Ballerini and she is the label’s main focus. The company also contains Black River Publishing and Sound Stage Studio both out of Nashville.
Kelsea Nicole Ballerini is an American country pop singer and songwriter. She began songwriting as a child and signed a contract with Black River Entertainment in 2014, releasing her debut studio album the following year, The First Time. Her second studio album, Unapologetically, followed in 2017.
"Love Me Like You Mean It" is a song co-written and recorded by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Josh Kerr, Forest Glen Whitehead and Lance Carpenter. It was released on July 8, 2014, as Ballerini's debut single and the lead single from her debut studio album, The First Time, released on May 19, 2015, by Black River Entertainment. The song is about a young woman showing interest in a man. The song was previously released in promotion of Ballerini's 2014 self-titled EP.
"Dibs" is a song co-written and recorded by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini for her debut studio album The First Time (2015). Ballerini co-wrote the song with Josh Kerr, Ryan Griffin, and Jason Duke. It was released to American country radio by Black River Entertainment on July 20, 2015 as the album's second single. The song was previously included on Ballerini's 2014 self-titled EP.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2016.
"Peter Pan" is a song co-written and recorded by American recording artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to American country radio by Black River Entertainment as the third single from her debut studio album The First Time (2015). Ballerini co-wrote the song with Forest Glen Whitehead and Jesse Lee. The track is a country pop ballad about a lost love being compared to the song's namesake as a metaphor for being immature and having a tendency to run off to his own fantasy.
American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini has released four studio albums, two extended plays, one compilation album, one remix album, and 14 singles, including two as a featured artist. Her first three singles all reached the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making Ballerini the first female artist since Wynonna Judd in 1992 to accomplish this feat. The third such single, "Peter Pan", also made Ballerini the first female to top the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts simultaneously since the latter was reformatted in 2012.
"Miss Me More" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini for her second studio album, Unapologetically (2017). Ballerini co-wrote the song with David Hodges and Brett McLaughlin. "Miss Me More" was released digitally on October 20, 2017, as the album's third and final promotional single, and was later serviced to American country radio on October 15, 2018, as the third and final single from the album. Ballerini named her 2019 tour after the single.
"I Hate Love Songs" is a song recorded by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini for her second studio album, Unapologetically (2017). Ballerini co-wrote the track with Shane McAnally and Trevor Rosen. The song was released to American country radio on March 12, 2018, serving as the second single for the album.
Center Point Road is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Thomas Rhett, released on May 31, 2019, through Big Machine Label Group imprint Valory Music Co. It was supported by the lead single "Look What God Gave Her". Rhett co-wrote and co-produced all 16 tracks on the album, sharing production duties with Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Julian Bunetta, The Stereotypes, and Cleve Wilson. The album also features collaborations with Little Big Town, Jon Pardi, and Kelsea Ballerini. The album received a nomination for Best Country Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020.
"Homecoming Queen?" is a song by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini, released on September 6, 2019, as the lead single from her third studio album Kelsea, which was released on March 20, 2020. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Jimmy Robbins and Nicolle Galyon. "Homecoming Queen?" peaked at numbers 14 and 17 on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts respectively. It also reached number 65 on the Hot 100 chart. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 70,000 copies as of February 2020. The song achieved similar prominence in Canada, reaching number 15 on the Country chart and number 35 on the All-Format chart. The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Shane Drake, features Ballerini in a dressing room as she goes from a glamorous image to a more stripped down look. An alternate recording of the song is also included on Ballerini's first remix album, Ballerini.
"Hole in the Bottle" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to country radio on May 27, 2020, as the third single from Ballerini's third studio album Kelsea. A remix of the song, featuring fellow country singer Shania Twain was released on November 13, 2020. An alternate recording of the song is also included on Ballerini's first remix album, Ballerini.
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"The Other Girl" is a song performed by American singer-songwriters Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey. It was released to country radio in the United States on April 20, 2020, as the second single from Ballerini's third studio album Kelsea (2020). Ballerini and Halsey co-wrote the song with Ross Copperman and Shane McAnally. It was released to pop radio formats in June 2020. The track received positive reviews from music critics who praised the lyrical storytelling and both women's performances. In the US, "The Other Girl" peaked at numbers 19 and 52 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, respectively. It also reached number 95 on the US Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. For promotion, Ballerini and Halsey performed the song live on the American television show CMT Crossroads on March 25, 2020. The song won a CMT Music Award for Performance of the Year, marking both artists' first award at the ceremony. An alternate solo recording of the song is also included on Ballerini's first remix album, Ballerini.
"I Quit Drinking" is a song by American singer Kelsea Ballerini and American pop band LANY. It was released on June 9, 2021, via Black River Entertainment and Warner Chappell Music. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Nicolle Galyon and Paul Jason Klein, while Jimmy Robbins and Noah Conrad produced it.
"Heartfirst" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to country music radio on April 8, 2022, as the first single from Ballerini's fourth studio album, Subject to Change. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Alysa Vanderheym and Little Big Town member Karen Fairchild.
Subject to Change is the fourth studio album by American country pop artist Kelsea Ballerini. The album was released on September 23, 2022, through Black River Entertainment. Ballerini co-produced the album along with Shane McAnally, Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, and Alysa Vanderheym. "Heartfirst" was released as its first single on April 8, 2022.
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