Fallin'
Encyclopedia
"Fallin'" is a song recorded, written, and produced by American recording artist Alicia Keys
for her debut album, Songs in A Minor
. Released to radio
and music video
outlets in 2001, it is generally considered her signature song
. "Fallin'" became Keys' first number-one single in the United States and her first top five hit in several countries. It is also Keys' second biggest single to date after 2007's "No One
". In 2009 the single was named the 29th most successful song of the 2000s, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. Rolling Stone
ranked it number sixty-two on their Top 100 Songs of the 2000s decade. The song charted at 413 in Blender
magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born. "Fallin'" 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
. The single set the record for the song with the largest cumulative audience in the history of pop radio with 93 million, but was broken by pop singer Katy Perry
, with the single "E.T.
" in 2011.
. When asked about the background behind 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."
-soul
song with gospel influences. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
, the song is set in 12/8 time with a "free" tempo of 60 beats per minute. 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. 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.
The song was described as "gospel fervor of lovesick righteousness" by Beth Johnson of Entertainment Weekly
. Robert Hilburn of The Los Angeles Times described the song as having "the neo-soul
vitality of Macy Gray
and Jill Scott
." Sam Faulkner of NME
said that the song had "deeper moments [that] creep up and grab you exemplified." Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters
said that the song "combines Key's natural blues register with a subtle, and brilliantly so, sample of James Brown
's 'It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World'." Barry Walters of Rolling Stone
said "there's no denying the serious early Aretha
vibe permeating the hit." 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." 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."
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
". 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." In the The Village Voice
s 2001 Pazz & Jop
critics' poll, the song appeared at number four on the list. At the 44th Grammy Awards, the song won three Grammy
awards for Song of the Year
, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
, and Best R&B Song
.
for the week of June 16, 2001. The song stayed on the chart for thirty-four weeks before eventually peaking at number one on the chart. It managed to chart on the 2001 Billboard Year-End
Hot 100 at number two behind Lifehouse
's "Hanging by a Moment
".
as the song was nominated in 2002 for four Grammy Award
s: 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 awards she was nominated for (Record of the Year was awarded to U2
's "Walk On").
At the 2001 Billboard Music Award
s, "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 Award
s; it did not win in either category.
for "Fallin'", directed by Chris Robinson
. Unlike most other contemporary R&B
videos, the video for "Fallin'" was a low-key clip with no dancing. 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. 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 she was supposed to be the one incarcerated, and her boyfriend was visiting her.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
for her debut album, Songs in A Minor
Songs in A Minor
Songs in A Minor is the debut studio album by American recording artist Alicia Keys. It was released in the United States on June 5, 2001 by J Records. After graduating from high school, Keys signed with Columbia Records to begin her music career. She recorded an album in 1998 under the label,...
. Released to radio
Music radio
Music radio is a radio format in which music is the main broadcast content. After television replaced old time radio's dramatic content, music formats became dominant in many countries...
and music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
outlets in 2001, it is generally considered her signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
. "Fallin'" became Keys' first number-one single in the United States and her first top five hit in several countries. It is also Keys' second biggest single to date after 2007's "No One
No One (Alicia Keys song)
"No One" is a song by American recording artist Alicia Keys from her third studio album, As I Am. Written and produced by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and George M. Harry, and released as the album's lead single in September 2007...
". In 2009 the single was named the 29th most successful song of the 2000s, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked it number sixty-two on their Top 100 Songs of the 2000s decade. The song charted at 413 in Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born. "Fallin'" won three Grammy Awards in 2002, including Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
, Best R&B Song
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song has been awarded since 1959. From 1969 to 2000 it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, from 1962 to 1968 it was known as Best Rhythm & Blues Recording, and from 1959-1961 as Best Rhythm & Blues Performance...
, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality R&B songs...
, and was also nominated for Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
. The single set the record for the song with the largest cumulative audience in the history of pop radio with 93 million, but was broken by pop singer Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
, with the single "E.T.
E.T. (song)
"E.T." is a song by American recording artist Katy Perry taken from her third studio album Teenage Dream . The song was written by Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, and Joshua Coleman, while the production was handled by Gottwald under his stage name Dr. Luke, Martin and Ammo. "E.T." was...
" in 2011.
Background
The song was written by Alicia Keys as the lead single from her debut studio album, Songs in A MinorSongs in A Minor
Songs in A Minor is the debut studio album by American recording artist Alicia Keys. It was released in the United States on June 5, 2001 by J Records. After graduating from high school, Keys signed with Columbia Records to begin her music career. She recorded an album in 1998 under the label,...
. When asked about the background behind the song, Keys told Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, "I wanted to write a song for someone who was 10 or 12 years old -- like a young Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
. 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."
Composition and critical reception
"Fallin'" is described as a R&BContemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
-soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
song with gospel influences. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a music publishing company co-owned by The Michael Jackson Family Trust and Sony. The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision in 1955 by Lew Grade. In 1957, ATV acquired Pye Records as a wholly owned subsidiary...
, the song is set in 12/8 time with a "free" tempo of 60 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of E minor
E minor
E minor is a minor scale based on the note E. The E natural minor scale consists of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. The E harmonic minor scale contains the natural 7, D, rather than the flatted 7, D – to align with the major dominant chord, B7 .Its key signature has one sharp, F .Its...
with Keys' vocal range spanning from the low-note of B3 to the high-note of E5. The song has a basic chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
of Em–Bm7–Em–Bm7 as it follows a "moderate blues tempo" throughout the chorus of the song.
The song was described as "gospel fervor of lovesick righteousness" by Beth Johnson of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
. Robert Hilburn of The Los Angeles Times described the song as having "the neo-soul
Neo soul
The term neo soul was originally coined by Kedar Massenburg of Motown Records in the late 1990s as a marketing category following the commercial breakthroughs of artists such as D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell...
vitality of Macy Gray
Macy Gray
Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
and Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
." Sam Faulkner of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
said that the song had "deeper moments [that] creep up and grab you exemplified." Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
said that the song "combines Key's natural blues register with a subtle, and brilliantly so, sample of James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
's 'It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World'." Barry Walters of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
said "there's no denying the serious early Aretha
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
vibe permeating the hit." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
said that "the gospel-tinged [song] starts out simply with measured piano and basic drum programming, eventually building to a crescendo
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
of operatic proportions." Steve Jones of USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
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."
Simon Price of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
called the song Keys' breakthrough song and noted how the melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
of the song is similar to Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's "We Are the Champions
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
". Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
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." In the The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
s 2001 Pazz & Jop
Pazz & Jop
The Pazz & Jop critics' poll is a poll of music critics run by The Village Voice newspaper. It is compiled every year from the top ten lists of hundreds of music critics...
critics' poll, the song appeared at number four on the list. At the 44th Grammy Awards, the song won three Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
awards for Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality R&B songs...
, and Best R&B Song
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song has been awarded since 1959. From 1969 to 2000 it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, from 1962 to 1968 it was known as Best Rhythm & Blues Recording, and from 1959-1961 as Best Rhythm & Blues Performance...
.
Chart performance
In the United States, "Fallin'" debuted at number ninety-eight on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for the week of June 16, 2001. The song stayed on the chart for thirty-four weeks before eventually peaking at number one on the chart. It managed to chart on the 2001 Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November...
Hot 100 at number two behind Lifehouse
Lifehouse (band)
Lifehouse is an American rock band from Los Angeles. The band came to mainstream prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their debut studio album, No Name Face. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, beating out Janet Jackson and Alicia...
's "Hanging by a Moment
Hanging by a Moment
"Hanging by a Moment" is a song by American alternative band Lifehouse. It was the first single released from their debut studio album, No Name Face . The track was written by Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade, who said that he wrote the song in about five minutes without thinking about what would...
".
Awards
As one of the most critically acclaimed singles of 2001, "Fallin'" was nominated for several awards. "Fallin'" connected well with NARASNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
as the song was nominated in 2002 for four Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s: Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
, Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality R&B songs...
, and Best R&B Song
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song has been awarded since 1959. From 1969 to 2000 it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, from 1962 to 1968 it was known as Best Rhythm & Blues Recording, and from 1959-1961 as Best Rhythm & Blues Performance...
. It ended up winning all but one of the awards she was nominated for (Record of the Year was awarded to U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
's "Walk On").
At the 2001 Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
s, "Fallin'" was nominated for the Hot 100 Single of the Year; however, it lost the award to Lifehouse
Lifehouse (band)
Lifehouse is an American rock band from Los Angeles. The band came to mainstream prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their debut studio album, No Name Face. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, beating out Janet Jackson and Alicia...
's "Hanging by a Moment
Hanging by a Moment
"Hanging by a Moment" is a song by American alternative band Lifehouse. It was the first single released from their debut studio album, No Name Face . The track was written by Lifehouse lead singer Jason Wade, who said that he wrote the song in about five minutes without thinking about what would...
". The song was also nominated for Outstanding Song
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Song:...
and Outstanding Music Video
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Music Video:-Stats:As of the 2010 ceremony, Alicia Keys has the most wins with 3. Whitney Houston, R. Kelly & Will Smith have 2 wins.*Most Nominations**1. Alicia Keys - 8 nominations...
at the 2002 NAACP Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
s; it did not win in either category.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Fallin'", directed by Chris Robinson
Chris Robinson (director)
Chris Robinson is an American film director working mostly with music videos and commercials. He has directed commercials for brands such as iPod, Coca Cola and Verizon and music videos for songs like "Fallin'" and "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys, "Roc Boys" by Jay-Z, the grammy nominated...
. Unlike most other contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
videos, the video for "Fallin'" was a low-key clip with no dancing. The video opens with a radio playing "Girlfriend
Girlfriend (Alicia Keys song)
"Girlfriend" is a song by American singer–songwriter Alicia Keys. It was written by Keys, Jermaine Dupri, and Joshua Thompson and produced by Dupri for her debut album, Songs in A Minor ....
", where Keys is sitting at a piano. The plot has Keys traveling to a prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
to visit her incarcerated boyfriend. The plot is continued in the video for Keys' next single, "A Woman's Worth
A Woman's Worth
"A Woman's Worth" is a song by American singer–songwriter Alicia Keys. A piano-driven soul ballad with elements of contemporary R&B and neo soul, it was written by herself and musician Erika Rose and produced by Keys for her debut album, Songs in A Minor .The track was released as the album's...
", which explores what happens when Keys' boyfriend is released and, with her help, adjusts back to regular life. Keys said in an interview that she was supposed to be the one incarcerated, and her boyfriend was visiting her.
Track listings and formats
-
- CD single
- "Fallin'" (Radio Edit) — 3:16
- "Fallin'" (Album Version) — 3:30
- "Fallin'" (Extended Remix, feat. Busta Rhymes & Rampage) — 4:15
- "Fallin'" (Remix, w/o Rap) — 3:35
- "Fallin'" (Remix Instrumental) — 4:15
- "Fallin'" Video
-
- Enhanced CD single
- "Fallin'" (Radio Version) — 3:16
- "Fallin'" (Remix, feat. Busta Rhymes & Rampage) — 4:15
- "Rear View Mirror" — 4:03
- "Fallin'" Video/Picture Gallery/Lyrics
-
- European single
- "Fallin'" (Radio Edit) — 3:16
- "Fallin'" (Instrumental) — 3:06
- "Fallin'" (Call Out Hook) — 0:10
-
- Promo sleeve single
- "Fallin'" — 3:30
- "Fallin'" (Remix, feat. Busta Rhymes & Rampage) — 4:15
-
- Promo single
- "Fallin'" (Radio Edit) — 3:16
- "Fallin'" (Remix, feat. Busta Rhymes & Rampage) — 4:15
Personnel
- Alicia Keys – lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, all instruments (except for violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
), producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, arrangerArrangementThe American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents... - Miri Ben-AriMiri Ben-AriMiri Ben-Ari is an Israeli violinist, who currently resides in the United States.Ben-Ari grew up playing classical music; she started training at age 5 and at age 12, she was presented with a violin by Isaac Stern. During her mandatory Israeli military service, she was chosen to play for the...
– violin - Kerry "Krucial" Brothers – drum programmingDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
- Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals
- Tammy Saunders – backing vocals
- Andricka Hall – backing vocals
- Russ ElevadoRussell ElevadoRussell Elevado , is a recording engineer and record producer based in New York City. Elevado's achievement for recording and mixing contemporary R&B recording artist D'Angelo's critically acclaimedVoodoo album, gained him a Grammy award in 2000...
– mixerAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
Chart positions
| Chart (2001–2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 52 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 20 |
| Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders) | 14 |
| Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia) | 26 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 3 |
| French Singles Chart | 87 |
| German Singles Chart | 12 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 21 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 21 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 10 |
| UK Singles Chart | 54 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 9 |
| Chart (2002) | Position |
| French Singles Chart | 35 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 36 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (2000–09) | Position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Singles Chart | 21 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 29 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Platinum |
| Austria | Gold |
| Belgium | Platinum |
| France Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
Gold |
| Germany Bundesverband Musikindustrie The Bundesverband Musikindustrie or simply BVMI represents the music industry in Germany. The association represents the interests of nearly 350 labels and music industry related enterprises.... |
Gold |
| Netherlands NVPI The NVPI is the Dutch tradeassociation of the entertainment industry... |
Platinum |
| New Zealand Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
Platinum |
| Norway | Platinum |
| Sweden | Platinum |
| Switzerland | Platinum |
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Gold |
Chart procession and succession
See also
- Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal PerformanceGrammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal PerformanceThe Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality R&B songs...
- List of best-selling singles of 2001 (Germany)
External links
- Fallin' at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...