Down (blink-182 song)
Encyclopedia
"Down" is the third single from Blink-182
's 2003 self-titled album. It was released in June 2004. The song peaked at number ten on the Billboard
Modern Rock Tracks
chart, but quickly fell off and was a mixed success. It is the band's tenth song to reach the top 10 on the chart. It peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart
. It has also been released as a downloadable track for the Rock Band
video game.
in the liner notes of the album, the song came from a picture he had in his head about a girl and a boy in a car with it raining outside (hence the 'Down, Down, Down, Down' chorus) and how much the boy wants to kiss her and make her stay (another reason many suspect for the chorus). It has also been said that this was an "ode" to Mark's ex-girlfriend, before he met his wife.
An alternate arrangement of the song is available on the "Part 2" single, called the "T.L.A. Arrangement", which was done by the song's mixer
Tom Lord-Alge
. It is slightly different, featuring an extended ending where Hoppus's vocals are sung over the main chorus instrumental. Also the main guitar riff is panned
completely to the left as opposed to it having a small presence at the right on the main version.
"Down" has been played live by DeLonge's band Angels & Airwaves
as an intro
to their first single "The Adventure
".
features aerial footage of Los Angeles
and the band attending a backyard party. A police officer, played by actor Terry Crews
, enters the party in search of a gang member, who escapes, and whom the officer pursues. At one point in the video, Crews clearly mouths the word fuck
as the gang member escapes over the wall.
Travis Barker
recorded the video with a broken foot.
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
's 2003 self-titled album. It was released in June 2004. The song peaked at number ten on the 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...
Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart, but quickly fell off and was a mixed success. It is the band's tenth song to reach the top 10 on the chart. It peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It has also been released as a downloadable track for the Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
video game.
Background
According to Tom DeLongeTom DeLonge
Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr. is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the American pop punk band Blink-182 as well as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Angels & Airwaves...
in the liner notes of the album, the song came from a picture he had in his head about a girl and a boy in a car with it raining outside (hence the 'Down, Down, Down, Down' chorus) and how much the boy wants to kiss her and make her stay (another reason many suspect for the chorus). It has also been said that this was an "ode" to Mark's ex-girlfriend, before he met his wife.
An alternate arrangement of the song is available on the "Part 2" single, called the "T.L.A. Arrangement", which was done by the song's mixer
Audio 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...
Tom Lord-Alge
Tom Lord-Alge
Tom Lord-Alge is a four-time Grammy Award–winning record producer and mixer. He is the youngest of Vivian Lord's five children, Mark Lord-Alge, Lisa Lord-Alge, Chris Lord-Alge, Jeff Lord-Alge and Tom Lord-Alge...
. It is slightly different, featuring an extended ending where Hoppus's vocals are sung over the main chorus instrumental. Also the main guitar riff is panned
Panning (audio)
Panning is the spread of a sound signal into a new stereo or multi-channel sound field. A typical physical recording console pan control is a knob with a pointer which can be placed from the 8 o'clock dial position fully left to the 4 o'clock position fully right...
completely to the left as opposed to it having a small presence at the right on the main version.
"Down" has been played live by DeLonge's band Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch...
as an intro
Introduction (music)
In music, the introduction is a passage or section which opens a movement or a separate piece. In popular music this is often abbreviated as intro...
to their first single "The Adventure
The Adventure
"The Adventure" is a song by American alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves and the lead single from their 2006 debut album, We Don't Need to Whisper. It was also the first full song to be heard by fans. "The Adventure" entered the UK singles chart at its peak position, #20.The song received...
".
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...
features aerial footage of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and the band attending a backyard party. A police officer, played by actor Terry Crews
Terry Crews
Terrence Alan "Terry" Crews is an American actor, comedian, voice artist and a former player in the National Football League....
, enters the party in search of a gang member, who escapes, and whom the officer pursues. At one point in the video, Crews clearly mouths the word fuck
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
as the gang member escapes over the wall.
Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...
recorded the video with a broken foot.
Trivia
- At their August 29, 2009 show in Hartford, Blink played this song after their tribute to DJ AM.
Track listing
- T.L.A. stands for Tom Lord-AlgeTom Lord-AlgeTom Lord-Alge is a four-time Grammy Award–winning record producer and mixer. He is the youngest of Vivian Lord's five children, Mark Lord-Alge, Lisa Lord-Alge, Chris Lord-Alge, Jeff Lord-Alge and Tom Lord-Alge...
- Side 2 of the Picture Disc, contains only artwork and information, not music
- The "behind the scenes" video is the same one featured on the "Blink-182" Tour Edition DVD and the "Greatest Hits" Deluxe DVD
Chart positions
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
10 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
24 |
| Germany Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
76 |
| AUS Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
35 |