"I'm Going Down" is a song written and produced by Norman Whitfield, and performed by Rose Royce in 1976. It is from the film Car Wash and is featured on its soundtrack. In 1994, it was covered by Mary J. Blige.
"I'm Going Down" | ||||
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![]() Side A of US vinyl single | ||||
Single by Rose Royce | ||||
from the album Car Wash: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
B-side | "Yo Yo" | |||
Released | September 1976 | |||
Recorded | 1976 | |||
Genre | R&B, soul, soft rock | |||
Length | 3:37 | |||
Label | Whitfield/MCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
Producer(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
Rose Royce singles chronology | ||||
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The Rose Royce (original) version received moderate success. It peaked at number seventy on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number ten on the R&B singles chart. In the film Car Wash, the song serves as a double entendre, as it complements the screen time of Maureen, a forlorn prostitute who desperately seeks a chance at true love with Joe, even as she turns tricks.
Charts (1977) | Peak position |
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Canada Top Singles (RPM)[1] | 58 |
France (SNEP) | 5 |
Italy (FIMI) | 13 |
US Billboard Hot 100[2] | 70 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[3] | 10 |
"I'm Goin' Down" | ||||
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![]() US retail cassette variant of standard artwork | ||||
Single by Mary J. Blige | ||||
from the album My Life | ||||
Released | January 18, 1995 (1995-01-18) | |||
Recorded | 1994 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 3:44 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"I'm Goin' Down" on YouTube | ||||
In 1994, American R&B singer artist Mary J. Blige covered "I'm Going Down", titled "I'm Goin' Down", for her second studio album My Life (1994). Her version was produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs and Chucky Thompson. Released as the album's second single, Blige's version peaked at number thirteen on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number twenty-two on the US Billboard Hot 100. In mid-1995, Blige released a remix featuring Mr. Cheeks of The Lost Boyz featuring co-production from "Prince" Charles Alexander and Mark "Led" Ledford, and contains portions of "The What" (1994) by American rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Method Man. "I'm Going Down" is frequently performed at many of Blige's concerts and as well as live sets.
Music writer James Masterton noted in his weekly UK chart commentary, that Blige "sparkles" on "a rather fabulous cover" of the old Rose Royce song.[4] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described it as a "exceptional ultra soulful sparse dramatic 61.7bpm Rose Royce remake in authentic mid-Sixties slow Stax/Volt type".[5]
The accompanying music video for Blige's "I'm Goin' Down" was directed from January 14–15, 1995 by Matthew Rolston and was shot in black and white, with Blige as a lounge singer performing the song in a club, and wearing an-all black suit with a matching hat, walking downstairs (being duplicated over and over again). In the end, the bar patrons applaud her as she walks offstage.
The video was later published on Blige's official YouTube channel in December 2009. It has amassed more than 22.3 million views as of September 2021.[6]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "I'm Going Down" (Album Version) | 3:45 |
2. | "You Bring Me Joy" (Smoove Soul Mix) | 5:24 |
3. | "You Bring Me Joy" (E-Smoove's Joyous Club Mix) | 10:12 |
4. | "You Bring Me Joy" (Smoove Funk Mix) | 4:38 |
Credits adapted from the My Life liner notes.[8]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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"Oh, Boy" off of Cam'ron's third album Come Home with Me samples the original Rose Royce song. Mariah Carey also sampled the song in her 2002 album Charmbracelet for the song "Boy (I Need You)". Both songs were composed by hip-hop producer Justin "Just Blaze" Smith and are almost identical.
On the episode season 3 finale of Sister, Sister, Tamera (Tamera Mowry) covered the song for a talent show, winning a bet that her sister Tia (Tia Mowry) had with her enemy—and Tamera's opponent, Marva.
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Singles | |
Related articles |
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