Face Down (The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus song)

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"Face Down"
Single by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
from the album Don't You Fake It
ReleasedJuly 4, 2006
Genre
Length3:12
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
  • Ronnie Winter
Producer(s)David Bendeth
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus singles chronology
"Face Down"
(2006) 		"False Pretense"
(2007)
Alternative cover
Acoustic version cover

"Face Down" is the debut single by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus from their debut album, Don't You Fake It (2006). The song peaked at number 24 in the United States and number four in New Zealand. It tied 30 Seconds to Mars' "The Kill" as the longest-running song on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart without reaching number one, at 52 weeks. "Face Down" remains the band's most successful single. Four versions were released, including an acoustic version.

Lyrics and video[edit]

"Face Down" is notable for lyrics that detail suffering from domestic abuse. Written by lead singer Ronnie Winter, the song is about the domestic abuse that he and his brother lived through as children. [8] He's said the "lyrics are deeply personal" and he wanted to "help kids who are in similar situations cope."[9]

The music video parallels the song in its treatment of violence in a relationship. After arriving home, a young woman examines a bruise on her lower back, and begins to look for and examine items that she associates with her boyfriend (e.g. pictures, a card, letters). As she does so, objects around her start to suddenly move as if thrown or destroyed by the unseen hand of an abuser. The level of damage done escalates throughout the video, though the young woman does not react or acknowledge the growing violence around her. After a chair flies through the living room window, she takes the pictures and letters and throws them into a garbage can outside her house. This unfolding scene is juxtaposed with shots of the band performing the song in a living room with lighting and decor which appear to be the young woman's.[5]

The music video for the symphonic version (released 2022) shows the story from the original music video continued. She is now in a relationship with another woman and is fighting through her PTSD by producing videos about abuse to help others who might be suffering like she once did.

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (2006-2007) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 43
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 24
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[13] 18
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[14] 38
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[15] 10
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[16] 3

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (2007) Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 44
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 52
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[19] 6

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[21] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

In popular culture[edit]

"Face Down" is featured on Saints Row 2's soundtrack.[22] It was also featured on the MX vs. ATV Untamed soundtrack.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Say You're Right Again: Celebrating 10 Years Of RJA's "Face Down"". One Music PH. July 6, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Lara Parker; Pablo Valdivia (December 2, 2015). "29 Emo Songs You Haven't Though About Since 2007". BuzzFeed. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  3. ^ Ian Cohen; David Anthony; Nina Corcoran; Emma Garland; Brad Nelson (February 13, 2020). "The 100 Greatest Emo Songs of All Time". Vulture.com. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "The 10 best songs from the 10 worst emo bands". Louder. 14 July 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Sherman, Maria (June 29, 2016). "'Face Down' Turns 10: Why The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' Domestic-Abuse Anthem Still Resonates". MTV. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  6. ^ Ruoff, Michelle (July 15, 2020). "Best Pop Punk Songs of All Time". Live365. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Sharp, Tyler (June 14, 2018). "15 Modern Hard Rock Songs You've Already Forgotten About". Loudwire. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  8. ^ "RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS ON TROUBLING, JOYFUL SIGNIFICANCE OF "FACE DOWN"". Alternative Press Magazine. November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus". Billboard. August 2, 2006. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  10. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. May 26, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Face Down". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  12. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. April 28, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  13. ^ "Adult Pop Airplay". Billboard. July 21, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  14. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. March 17, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  15. ^ "Pop Airplay". Billboard. May 12, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  16. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. February 17, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  17. ^ "End of Year Charts 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  19. ^ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "British single certifications – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Face Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "American single certifications – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Face Down". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  22. ^ James Orry (October 7, 2008). "Full Saints Row 2 track list revealed". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  23. ^ Bozon (October 9, 2007). "MX vs. ATV Untamed - Track Listing". IGN. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
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