Falling Down (Oasis song)

Music

An excerpt of the B-side song "Those Swollen Hand Blues" appears at the end of "Mucky Fingers", the second track of Oasis' 2005 album Don't Believe the Truth.

The lyric: "Catch the wheel that breaks the butterfly" references the quotation: "Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?" from Alexander Pope's "Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot".

Reception

The song debuted at number 10 in the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 21,448, but the song only achieved a chart position of number 37 in the UK download chart in the same week, most likely because it was available as a download release before the new album was released. (Upon the release of Dig Out Your Soul the previous October, "Falling Down" charted briefly at number 125 on download sales alone). "Falling Down" is the sixth Oasis single to be sung by Noel rather than Liam. It is also the second Oasis song to be used in a TV series (the first being "Half the World Away"). Due to strong download sales of the track, the B-side "Those Swollen Hand Blues" made the UK charts at number 190 on the day "Falling Down" made the top ten.

"Falling Down" posted a subtle improvement from its predecessor, "I'm Outta Time", on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 10 in its chart entry week. This was something of a return to form for the band, after "I'm Outta Time" charting at number 12 made it the first Oasis single released in the UK to fail to reach the top 10 since "Shakermaker" in 1994. Between the two releases the band had put out 22 singles which made the top 10. However, it still showed a decline in the band's fortunes; from the release of "Whatever" at the end of 1994 until the release of "I'm Outta Time", the band had only had one single which failed to reach the top four in the charts, and that had been 2007's "Lord Don't Slow Me Down", which was only a minor promotional release and a non-album track and also download only.

Personnel

Other uses

The song was released as downloadable content for the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour on 29 January 2009.

The song was used in the opening sequence for the Production I.G anime Eden of the East, which first aired on Fuji TV's noitaminA timeslot on 9 April 2009. American and Canadian distributor FUNimation Entertainment announced a license for the series and later announced that they will be able to include the song in their release but only on the first episode. However, only the first episode retains the original opening on Blu-ray. The remaining episodes use the international theme song, "Michael ka Belial", by Saori Hayami.

Alternative versions

Various alternative versions of the song have been produced: remixes by Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez and producer Dave Sardy – the "It's the Gibb" remix – and electronic band The Prodigy are featured on the CD single and the second digital bundle; the A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble remix, by Amorphous Androgynous, is released on the 12" vinyl and second digital bundle versions; and The Chemical Brothers remix previously featured as the B-side to "The Shock of the Lightning". In his tour blog, "Tales from the Middle of Nowhere", Gallagher described the 22-minute A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble remix as "A staggering piece of music. Monumental even."

Music video

The video depicts a woman (played by actress Natasha O'Keeffe), who is supposed to be part of the Royal Family who enjoys parties, one night stands and drugs. When she meets the band in the video, the members refuse to shake her hand because of the way she hides her party lifestyle . When the 'Princess' offers her hand to Noel Gallagher he, standing alongside Liam, declines to bow and turns away in disdain, which seems to be a reference to his and brother Liam's Irish background. Prince Charles appears at the conclusion of the video.

Track listing

All songs written by Noel Gallagher.

1. "Falling Down" (album version with extended intro) – 4:27
2. "Those Swollen Hand Blues" – 3:19
3. "Falling Down" (The Gibb Mix) – 5:12
4. "Falling Down" (The Prodigy version) – 4:27

1. "Falling Down" (album version with extended intro)
2. "Those Swollen Hand Blues"

1. "Falling Down" (Amorphous Androgynous A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble remix) – 22:27

1. "Falling Down" (album version with extended intro)
2. "Those Swollen Hand Blues"
3. "Falling Down" (demo)

1. "Falling Down" (The Gibb Mix)
2. "Falling Down" (The Prodigy version)
3. "Falling Down" (Amorphous Androgynous A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble remix)

1. "Falling Down" (album version with extended intro) – 4:27
2. "Those Swollen Hand Blues" – 3:19
3. "Falling Down" (Amorphous Androgynous A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble remix) – 22:27
4. "Falling Down" (The Gibb Mix) – 5:12
5. "Falling Down" (The Prodigy version) – 4:27

1. "Falling Down" (music video; original version)
2. "Falling Down" (music video; Eden of the East version)