Drowning (Backstreet Boys song)

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"Drowning"
Single by Backstreet Boys
from the album The Hits – Chapter One
B-side"Back to Your Heart"
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2001 (2001-09-25)
RecordedJuly 1[1]  – September 2000[2]
StudioPolar, Cherion (Stockholm, Sweden)
GenrePop
Length4:28
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Backstreet Boys singles chronology
"More than That"
(2001) 		"Drowning"
(2001) 		"Incomplete"
(2005)
Music video
"Drowning" on YouTube

"Drowning" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys, released on September 25, 2001, as the only single from their compilation album, The Hits – Chapter One.

Background[edit]

The song was written by Andreas Carlsson, Rami and Linda Thompson, and produced by Rami and Kristian Lundin. The song was initially recorded for the Black & Blue album but was excluded due to the limited track listings left.[citation needed] Several elements of the song, such as the piano intro and the chorus, are very similar to "Långsamt farväl" released by the Swedish artist Mauro Scocco in 1997. Andreas Carlsson, co-writer of "Drowning", sang backing vocals on Lisa Nilsson's version of "Långsamt farväl" released in 2003.[3] In Finland, "Drowning" was compared to the 1995 song "Älä sano huomisesta" by Hausmylly.[4]

Country remixes of the song were also recorded, produced by Dann Huff.[5]

Chart performance[edit]

The song peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on November 13, 2001. It reached the top ten in several European countries, reaching number three in Sweden, number four in the UK, and number five in Norway.

Music videos[edit]

Official version[edit]

The official music video was directed by Nigel Dick, who directed their music videos for "As Long as You Love Me" and "All I Have to Give".[6] It featured the band gathered around monuments and an old building resembling a church.

The video is notable for its frequent used of the contre-jour technique, which puts the subject directly against the source of light, thus giving a clear, dark outline of the figure. In the video, the group are often seen as silhouettes moving and singing against the background. This was filmed in Los Angeles.[citation needed]

Unreleased version[edit]

Before the final video was produced, a different concept was in production. The concept was eventually abandoned and the official video was produced instead. One of the preliminary cuts of this original video was leaked to the public. This video was done, then canceled and replaced by the end of the month.[citation needed]

It features the band members dressed in black outfits, which can be seen in the photograph on the CD single cover.[citation needed] The video was shot mainly using green screen to place the band on an arid salt flat. The sun is initially shining, but dark clouds quickly fill the sky in the first chorus, and it begins to rain in the second verse. A flood of water fills the area and the storm continues to get worse. At the key change, and at the end of the song, the band members are hit with a large wave. Through the rest of the video they simply sing in a shallow depth of water.[citation needed]

Track listings[edit]

Personnel[edit]

  • Kristian Lundin – producer, recording engineer, mix engineer
  • Rami – producer, recording engineer, mix engineer
  • John Amatiello – assistant recording engineer, Pro Tools engineer
  • Thomas Lindberg – bass
  • Esbjörn Öhrwall – guitar
  • Jonathan Lindström – pedal steel guitar
  • Tom Coyne – mastering

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications and sales for "Drowning"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[51] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[52] Gold 30,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[53] Gold 4,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[54] Gold  

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for "Drowning"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States September 25, 2001
Jive [55]
Australia November 5, 2001 CD [56]
United Kingdom December 31, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
 [57]
Japan October 23, 2002 CD [58]

In popular culture[edit]

"Drowning" and their other single "The One" were both licensed and used in the 2002–2003 anime television series Hanada Shōnen Shi. "Drowning" was used for the ending theme, while "The One" was the opening theme.[59]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Manning, Kara (June 30, 2000). "Howie D. Chats About Candid BSB Photo Book". MTV News. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  2. ^ MTV News Staff (September 19, 2000). "Backstreet Boys To Get "Black And Blue" On New LP". MTV News. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  3. ^ "Personlig tillbakablick" [Personal Retrospective] (PDF). Groove (in Swedish). No. 2. 2003. p. 14. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "Plagioiko Backstreet Boys Hausmyllyä?" [Did the Backstreet Boys Plagiarize Hausmylly?]. Findance.com (in Finnish). September 28, 2007. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning (Dann Huff Remixes)". Discogs. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Dick, Nigel. "Details of Backstreet Boys Videos".
  7. ^ Drowning (UK CD1 liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 2001. 9252862.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Drowning (UK CD2 liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 2001. 9253082.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Drowning (UK cassette single sleeve). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 2001. 9252864.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Drowning (European CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records, Trans Continental Records. 2001. 9252769.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Drowning (Australian CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2001. 9252762.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Drowning (Japanese CD single liner notes). Backstreet Boys. Jive Records. 2001. ZJCI-30022.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  14. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  15. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  16. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  17. ^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  18. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  19. ^ "Billboard - Google Books". November 10, 2001. Retrieved February 26, 2014 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "Backstreet Boys: Drowning" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  21. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  22. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Drowning". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  23. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning". Top Digital Download. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 45, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  25. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  26. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  27. ^ "Encabezan Luis Miguel y Westlife listas de popularidad en CA" (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico). February 2, 2002. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  28. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning". VG-lista. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  29. ^ Billboard – Google Books. December 8, 2001. Retrieved February 14, 2012 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ a b "Top of the Year 2001" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on December 9, 2002. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  32. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning" Canciones Top 50.
  33. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  34. ^ "Backstreet Boys – Drowning". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  36. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  37. ^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  38. ^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  39. ^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  40. ^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  41. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2001". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  42. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 26, 2002. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  43. ^ "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 26, 2002. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  44. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  45. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  46. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2001" (in German). Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  47. ^ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 60.
  48. ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)". Jam!. January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004.
  49. ^ "Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  50. ^ "The Year in Music 2002: Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. December 28, 2002. p. YE-96. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  51. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  52. ^ "Brazilian single certifications" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  53. ^ "Single Top-20 Uge 50, 2001". Hitlisten. Archived from the original on October 9, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  54. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  55. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1420. September 21, 2001. pp. 46, 48. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  56. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 05 Nov 2001" (PDF). ARIA. November 5, 2001. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  57. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 22, 2001. p. 26. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  58. ^ "ドゥラウニング～なんでこんなに好きなんだろう | バックストリート・ボーイズ" [Drowning~Why Do I like It So Much? | Backstreet Boys] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  59. ^ Anime News Network
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